Updated September 29, 2026 · DebitCue Editorial Team
Capital One UK vs Petal
Capital One UK
Petal
Higher score in this comparison
What sets them apart
| Compare | Capital One UKReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | PetalReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | £0 | $0 |
| APR | 34.9% | 28.24% to 33.24%Lower |
| Currency conversion fee | 2.75% | 0%Lower |
| Rewards type | None | Cashback |
| Perks | Free CreditWise credit score and report, Up to 56 days interest free on new spends, Section 75 protection on spends between GBP 100 and GBP 30,000, Up to 2 credit limit increases a year, Free QuickCheck eligibility check with no impact to credit score, Round the clock fraud security | No foreign transaction fees, Cash back at select national merchants, Leap program path to a credit line increase, In app credit score tracking, Card freeze and fraud detection, Reports to the major credit bureaus, Contactless payment and mobile wallet support |
| Rewards rate | Not confirmed | 1% - 10% cash back at select national merchants, personalised offers |
| Balance transfer intro period | 18 months | Not confirmed |
| Balance transfer fee | 3% | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Credit needed (Poor), Card kind (Credit).
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Key differences
- Petal scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.1.
- APR is lower at Petal: 28.24% to 33.24% vs 34.9%.
- Currency conversion fee is lower at Petal: 0% vs 2.75%.
- Perks: only Capital One UK offers Free CreditWise credit score and report, Up to 56 days interest free on new spends, Section 75 protection on spends between GBP 100 and GBP 30,000.
- Perks: only Petal offers No foreign transaction fees, Cash back at select national merchants, Leap program path to a credit line increase.
- Support channels: only Capital One UK offers Chat.
Our verdict on each
Capital One UK
Capital One UK suits UK shoppers building a score or clearing a balance, offering a balance transfer intro of 18 and credit tools with no fee to hold. The representative APR of 34.9% makes it a card to clear rather than revolve.
Petal
Petal is a US credit card for people with poor credit who want no annual fee and no foreign transaction fee, and the trade-off is interest at 28.24% to 33.24%. Support runs on email, phone and help centre, and the card runs on visa abroad.
Score breakdown
| Area | Capital One UK | Petal |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.7Annual fee £0 and a 3% balance transfer fee keep costs low, against 34.9% interest and 2.75% abroad. | 9.4HigherAnnual fee of $0, monthly fee of $0 and currency conversion fee of 0% on the travel card. |
| Offer | 9.5HigherBalance transfer intro of 18, free credit score tools, and no rewards (none). | 9.2 |
| Trust | 9.0 | Not confirmed |
Pick Capital One UK if, pick Petal if
Pick Capital One UK if offer matter most.
Pick Petal if cost, apr, and currency conversion fee matter most.
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Capital One UK | Petal |
|---|---|---|
| Credit cards | 153 of 1020 | 102 of 1020 |
| Bad credit and credit builder cards | 10 of 23 | 5 of 23 |
What we checked
Capital One UK
- capitalone.co.uk: 14 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Petal
- petalcard.com: 13 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Capital One UK | Petal |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | No annual fee | No annual fee |
| Features | Not confirmed | Travel |
| Legal entity | Capital One (Europe) plc | Tilt Card, Inc. |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | United States |
| Founded | 1996 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Chat, Phone, Email, Help centreCovers more | Email, Phone, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Capital One UK | Petal | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| APR | 34.9%highest quarter | 28.24% to 33.24%highest quarter | 19.39% |
| Currency conversion fee | 2.75%highest quarter | 0%below the median | 1% |
| Balance transfer intro period | 18 monthsabove the median | Not confirmed | 15 months |
| Balance transfer fee | 3%at the median | Not confirmed | 3% |
Median across 312 listed cards.
Pros and cons
Capital One UK
Pros
- Aimed at poor credit, so applicants turned down elsewhere can still apply.
- Support runs on chat, phone and email, so help is easy to reach by phone, chat, email or a help centre.
- Credit building tools come as standard: a free credit score and report, an eligibility check that leaves the credit score untouched, and round the clock fraud security.
Cons
- Representative APR of 34.9% sits above the site average of 20.97%, so an unpaid balance costs quickly.
- Foreign purchases are charged 2.75% in currency conversion, above the site average of 1%.
- The rewards type is listed as none, so nothing comes back on everyday spending.
Petal
Pros
- Annual fee of $0 and monthly fee of $0 on the travel card
- Currency conversion fee of 0%, ranked 1 of 259 brands
- Cash back of 1% to 1.5% at select national merchants
Cons
- Interest runs at 28.24% to 33.24%, above the 20.45% typical for travel cards
- A credit card, so a balance left unpaid accrues interest at 28.24% to 33.24%
- Cash back is personalised, so the rate earned at each merchant varies
Who each suits
Capital One UK
Who it suits
- UK applicants with poor credit who want a mainstream card rather than a secured one.
- Balances being cleared, where the 18 transfer window and 3% fee on the balance transfer card keep the move contained.
- Cardholders who pay in full and would rather build a score than chase rewards.
Who should look elsewhere
- Not for frequent foreign spend, where Wise charges 0% on currency conversion against 2.75% on this card.
- Not for anyone after a deposit backed card, since Varo Believe Secured Credit Card has an annual fee of $0 on a secured basis.
- Not for shoppers who want a rewards earn on everyday buying, as the rewards type here is none and Chime Card (Secured Visa Credit Card) offers the same credit building route.
Petal
Who it suits
- People with poor credit who are starting to build a credit history
- US customers who travel and pay in foreign currency
- Cardholders who want cash back at select national merchants
Who should look elsewhere
- People who want a debit card for everyday spending from a balance
- Anyone who needs low interest, since the rate is 28.24% to 33.24%
- Wise, Bitpanda and Starling Personal Account Debit Card suit readers who want a debit card rather than credit
Current offers
Capital One UK
Current offer
First period offer
0% interest on balance transfers for up to 18 months and on purchases for up to 3 months: 0% for up to 18 months on balance transfers; 0% for up to 3 months on purchases
Balance Transfer card; up to 3% transfer fee (maximum 3%); up to GBP 8,000 starting credit limit; representative example assumes a GBP 1,200 credit limit with 34.94% p.a. variable interest on purchases giving 34.9% APR representative variable
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Petal
Current offer
Bonus
Cash back at select national merchants: 1% - 10% cash back
Personalized offers that vary through the year; must meet the individual offer terms; in the past six months Petal members received at least one cash back offer from an advertised merchant; on Petal 2 card page, alongside 1% - 1.5% cash back on everyday purchases.
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Capital One UK | Petal |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Yes | No |
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
Capital One UK
Is there an annual fee on the Capital One UK credit card?+
There is no annual fee. The card is sold on a no annual fee model, so the annual fee is £0 and the only real cost is interest. That interest is the part to watch, at a representative APR of 34.9%, because the card is aimed at poor credit and some applicants will revolve.
What rate applies if I do not clear the balance?+
The representative APR is 34.9%, above the site average of 20.97%. New purchases sit inside the interest free window the card offers, so the rate matters most once that window runs out or a transferred balance is still unpaid.
Petal
Does Petal charge an annual fee?+
No. The annual fee is $0 and the monthly fee on the travel card is $0. Petal is listed as a no annual fee card. There is no charge for holding the card, so the only real cost to watch is interest on a balance.
What interest does Petal charge?+
The rate is 28.24% to 33.24%, which sits above the 20.97% site median and the 24.74% median for no foreign fee cards. Since it is a credit card, a balance left unpaid will cost money, so clear it in full each month.
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Capital One UK
Petal