Updated September 29, 2026 · DebitCue Editorial Team
Ocean Finance Card vs Petal
Ocean Finance Card
Petal
Higher score in this comparison
Ocean Finance Card vs Petal: the differences
| Compare | Ocean Finance CardReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | PetalReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | £0 | $0 |
| APR | 39.9% | 28.24% to 33.24%Lower |
| Rewards type | None | Cashback |
| Perks | Credit limit of GBP 200 to GBP 8,000, Section 75 protection on purchases between GBP 100 and GBP 30,000, Mobile app to make payments and check balance, Free email and text alerts, Card usable online before the physical card arrives, Eligibility check does not affect credit score, No Apple Pay | 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 |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0% |
| Rewards rate | Not confirmed | 1% - 10% cash back at select national merchants, personalised offers |
| Balance transfer intro period | 6 months | Not confirmed |
| Balance transfer fee | 2.9% | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Credit needed (Poor), Card kind (Credit).
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Key differences
- Petal scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.2.
- APR is lower at Petal: 28.24% to 33.24% vs 39.9%.
- Perks: only Ocean Finance Card offers Credit limit of GBP 200 to GBP 8,000, Section 75 protection on purchases between GBP 100 and GBP 30,000, Mobile app to make payments and check balance.
- 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 Ocean Finance Card offers Chat.
Our verdict on each
Ocean Finance Card
Ocean Finance Card suits applicants with poor credit who want a UK credit card with no annual fee, £0, and a balance transfer option. Borrowing is the expensive part, with 39.9% charged on revolving balances, so the card only pays off if you clear balances or keep them off the card.
Petal
Petal suits US adults with poor credit who want a rewards credit card, charging an annual fee of $0 and a currency conversion fee of 0%. It carries an APR of 28.24% to 33.24%, so it suits people who clear balances each month and want spending to build a credit record.
Score breakdown
| Area | Ocean Finance Card | Petal |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.0There is no annual fee, £0, and a balance transfer fee of 2.9%, so cost sits in the interest on revolving balances. | 9.1HigherAnnual fee $0, monthly fee $0 and currency conversion fee 0%, against an APR of 28.24% to 33.24%. |
| Offer | 9.3A transfer window of 6 with a 2.9% fee is the only offer, and rewards on spending are none. | 9.5Higher |
| Trust | 9.3 | Not confirmed |
How they place
| Ranking | Ocean Finance Card | Petal |
|---|---|---|
| Credit cards | 132 of 1020 | 107 of 1020 |
| Bad credit and credit builder cards | 8 of 23 | 6 of 23 |
Availability and regulation
| Country | Ocean Finance Card | Petal |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Financial Conduct Authority 310069 | Not confirmed |
| United States | Not confirmed |
Additional countries for Ocean Finance Card: 1. Additional countries for Petal: 1.
Sources behind this comparison
Ocean Finance Card
- oceanfinance.co.uk: 13 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Petal
- petalcard.com: 13 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Ocean Finance Card | Petal |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | No annual fee | No annual fee |
| Features | Not confirmed | Rewards |
| Legal entity | Intelligent Lending Limited | Tilt Card, Inc. |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | United States |
| Founded | 1991 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Chat, Phone, Email, Help centreCovers more | Email, Phone, Help centre |
Debit cards
| Fact | Ocean Finance Card | Petal |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Cashback rate | Not confirmed | 1% to 1.5% |
| Card network | Not confirmed | Visa |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Ocean Finance Card | Petal | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| APR | 39.9%highest quarter | 28.24% to 33.24%highest quarter | 19.39% |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0%below the median | 1% |
| Balance transfer intro period | 6 monthslowest quarter | Not confirmed | 15 months |
| Balance transfer fee | 2.9%below the median | Not confirmed | 3% |
Median across 312 listed cards.
Pros and cons
Ocean Finance Card
Pros
- The card is built for applicants with poor credit, and the eligibility check does not affect your credit score.
- Purchase protection covers spending inside a range set out in Credit limit of GBP 200 to GBP 8,000, Section 75 protection on purchases between GBP 100 and GBP 30,000 and Mobile app to make payments and check balance, so a supplier that fails to deliver has a claim route.
- Support runs on chat, phone and email, and the mobile app covers payments and balance checks.
Cons
- 39.9% sits above the 34.9% upper end of bad credit cards, so carrying a balance is expensive.
- Rewards on spending are none, so nothing comes back on everyday purchases.
Petal
Pros
- No annual fee at $0 and no monthly fee at $0, first on annual fee among 301 brands compared
- A currency conversion fee of 0%, ranked first among 181 brands compared
- Cash back of 1% to 1.5% at select national merchants, a rewards type of cashback that suits building credit
Cons
- An APR of 28.24% to 33.24% sits above the site median of 20.97% and above 34.9% in the bad credit ranking
- The card is a credit card, not a debit card, so the cash back and the poor credit focus leave everyday banking to a separate account
- Cash back sits at select national merchants, with personalised offers setting the rate rather than a flat 1% to 1.5% on all spending
Who each suits
Ocean Finance Card
Who it suits
- Applicants with poor credit who want a limit without paying an annual fee.
- Borrowers moving a balance who can cover the 2.9% transfer fee and clear it inside the intro period.
- People who put an eligibility check that leaves their credit score alone, and the purchase protection in Credit limit of GBP 200 to GBP 8,000, Section 75 protection on purchases between GBP 100 and GBP 30,000 and Mobile app to make payments and check balance, above cash back.
Who should look elsewhere
- Starling Personal Account Debit Card fits day to day spending from money already in an account, with a borrowing rate of 15% instead of revolving card interest.
- Chime Card (Secured Visa Credit Card) suits customers shopping in the US who want a secured line, with an annual fee of $0.
- Varo Believe Secured Credit Card suits savers who prefer a secured card, with an annual fee of $0.
Petal
Who it suits
- Adults with poor credit who want a card that reports to the major credit bureaus while rewarding spending
- People who travel often and want a card with a 0% currency conversion fee
- Anyone avoiding an annual fee, since $0 is the same as the site median of €0 but ranks first among 301 brands
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who plans to carry a balance, since Varo Believe Secured Credit Card charges 0% on its card
- Readers who need a debit card for daily spending, where Starling Personal Account Debit Card at £0 a year fits the job
Current offers
Ocean Finance Card
Current offer
First period offer
0% for 6 months on balance transfers and purchases on the Ocean Credit Card: 0% for 6 months, 2.9% balance transfer fee
Representative 39.9% APR (variable) after the offer, purchase rate 39.94% APR (variable), credit subject to status
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Ocean Finance Card | Petal |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Yes | No |
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
Ocean Finance Card
What does it cost to hold the Ocean Finance Card?+
The annual fee is £0, so holding the card costs nothing to run. A balance transfer carries a fee of 2.9%, and anything left on the credit card balance is charged at 39.9% until it is paid.
What rate does the Ocean Finance Card charge?+
The rate is 39.9%, high against the bad credit card group, where the upper quartile sits at 34.9%. Interest only applies to balances you do not clear, so the card costs nothing extra if you pay in full each month.
Petal
What does Petal cost to hold?+
The annual fee is $0 and the monthly fee is $0, so holding the card costs nothing on either charge. That puts Petal first on annual fee among 301 brands compared. The credit side is what costs, with an APR of 28.24% to 33.24% if you carry a balance.
How much does spending abroad cost on Petal?+
The currency conversion fee is 0%, so purchases abroad are not charged an extra conversion cost. Petal ranks first on that measure among 181 brands compared. The site median conversion fee is 1%, so the gap to many rivals is clear.
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Ocean Finance Card
Petal