Fortiva® Mastercard® Review
Overview
The Fortiva Mastercard is a subprime card that, in its cash-back version, dangles rewards to make the fees look palatable. They are not. It is widely marketed to people with poor or fair credit, and the fee structure does the real talking.
Depending on the offer, you may pay up to about $175 the first year, plus a monthly fee after year one, at up to roughly 36% APR. Whatever cash back you earn is generally swallowed by those fees.
Think twice if: you are tempted by the cash-back version, because the fees almost always outweigh the rewards.
Our 1.5 out of 5 rating
Each score weighs the rewards rate, value after the annual fee, welcome offer, points flexibility, and perks, with every point valued at a flat 1 cent. This is our editorial assessment to help you compare cards, not a guarantee of approval or of the value you will get.
Rewards: how it earns
Some versions advertise cash back, but with an annual fee up to about $175 and a monthly fee after year one, you would have to spend heavily just to break even, and most people never do. Treat the rewards as marketing.
| Category | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dining and restaurants | 1x | Base rate |
| Groceries | 1x | Base rate |
| Gas | 1x | Base rate |
| Travel | 1x | Base rate |
| Streaming | 1x | Base rate |
| Everything else | 1x | Everything else |
The fine print on rates: A subprime card that, on its cash-back version, dangles rewards while charging an annual fee (up to about $175 the first year) plus a monthly fee after year one, at up to ~36% APR. The fees generally swallow any cash back. A no-fee secured card is better.
Every point and mile above is valued at a flat 1 cent, the same honest standard we use for every card. Run your own spending through the calculator to see what this card would actually return for you.
Pros and cons
- No security deposit required
- Some versions offer cash back
- Reports to all three credit bureaus
- Annual fee up to about $175 the first year, plus a monthly fee after year one
- Up to about 36% APR; fees usually swallow any cash back
- A free secured card is a better way to build credit
The welcome bonus
No meaningful welcome bonus, just the fee structure.
Is the annual fee worth it?
The fees vary by offer but can be steep: up to about $175 the first year, dropping to $0 to $49, plus a monthly fee of about $8 (roughly $96 a year) starting after the first year, at up to about 36% APR. That load generally erases any cash back.
Benefits and protections
Beyond the rewards, the perks and protections worth knowing about include:
- Some versions offer cash back, but the fees usually outweigh it
- Annual fee up to about $175 the first year, then $0 to $49
- Monthly fee (about $8, roughly $96/year) starts after the first year
- Up to about 36% APR
- Reports to all three credit bureaus
Statement credits
This card does not come with recurring statement credits. Its value is in the rewards rate and welcome offer.
Who should get it, and who should skip it
If you can put down a deposit, a no-fee secured card, Discover it Secured or Capital One Platinum Secured, gives you real rewards or none but zero fees, and builds credit the same way. That beats paying Fortiva for cash back you will not keep.
The cash-back framing is the trap here. Once you subtract the fees, there is little left. Reach for a secured card instead.
Frequently asked questions
Best-card guides featuring this card
Offer details verified against issuer sources as of July 2026. Editorial opinions are our own. Cardocrat values all points at a flat 1 cent and never inflates redemptions.
