Writer: Brittney Mayer
Editor: Lillian Guevara-Castro
Reviewer: Ashley Fricker
Disclosure: When you apply through links on our site, we may earn a referral fee from our partners. For more, see our ad disclosure and review policy.
A popular plus-size apparel company, Torrid started as a subset of Hot Topic, a retailer specializing in "counterculture" apparel and accessories. While Torrid originally mimicked Hot Topic's alternative styles, it later branched out from the edgier retailer, becoming its own LLC in 2015. Today Torrid offers a wide range of more mainstream clothing styles for women and girls in sizes 10 to 30, with over 400 stores across the US.
Like many popular retailers, Torrid offers a closed-loop consumer credit card for those who want to save a little on their branded purchases. The Torrid Credit Card is good for the occasional coupon or special offer, but while the card doesn't have an annual fee, the extremely high APR makes it a questionable addition to your wallet.
Better Cards to Use at Torrid
Considering the lackluster perks associated with the Torrid Credit Card, it's not hard to think of better credit cards to use for saving on your apparel purchases. Whether you want to earn cash back or travel miles, even the most basic rewards credit card can provide a higher rate of return than the 0% offered by the Torrid card.
And that's not even starting in on the super high APR. If you ever carry a balance on your credit card, you're better off avoiding the Torrid Credit Card, particularly when there are so many awesome 0% APR intro-offer options available.
Cash Back
In today's credit card market, cash back credit card rewards have become commonplace, with nearly every card issuer having at least one quality cash back card in its arsenal. Moreover, you can even find cards for bad credit that offer solid rewards and more usability than the closed-loop Torrid card.
4.9
- $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
- Earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice, automatic 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases) and unlimited 1% on all other purchases.
- Choose 3% cash back on gas and EV charging station, online shopping/cable/internet/phone plan/streaming, dining, travel, drug store/pharmacy or home improvement/furnishings purchases.
- If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25%-75% more cash back on every purchase. That means you could earn 3.75%-5.25% cash back on purchases in your choice category.
- No annual fee and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
- 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 18.24% - 28.24% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 4%. Balance transfers may not be used to pay any account provided by Bank of America.
- Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
- This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
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Intro (Purchases)
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Intro (Transfers)
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Regular APR
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Annual Fee
|
Credit Needed
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|---|---|---|---|---|
0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases
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0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days (Balance Transfer Fee 3% for 60 days from account opening, then 4%)
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18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
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$0
|
Excellent/Good
|
Additional Disclosure: Bank of America is a CardRates advertiser.
0% APR
Letting credit card interest accrue on your purchases is an easy way to turn a great deal into an expensive mistake — particularly when they're high-interest fees like the 35.24% APR charged by the Torrid Credit Card. No cute top is worth paying 35%+ interest. Instead, if you know you'll need to carry a balance for a few months (or up to 18 months), you should turn to a card with a good introductory 0% APR offer that can give you interest-free financing for more than a year.
4.8
- $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
- Earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice, automatic 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases) and unlimited 1% on all other purchases.
- Choose 3% cash back on gas and EV charging station, online shopping/cable/internet/phone plan/streaming, dining, travel, drug store/pharmacy or home improvement/furnishings purchases.
- If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25%-75% more cash back on every purchase. That means you could earn 3.75%-5.25% cash back on purchases in your choice category.
- No annual fee and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
- 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 18.24% - 28.24% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 4%. Balance transfers may not be used to pay any account provided by Bank of America.
- Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
- This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
|
Intro (Purchases)
|
Intro (Transfers)
|
Regular APR
|
Annual Fee
|
Credit Needed
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases
|
0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days (Balance Transfer Fee 3% for 60 days from account opening, then 4%)
|
18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
|
$0
|
Excellent/Good
|
Additional Disclosure: Bank of America is a CardRates advertiser.
Travel Rewards
As with cash back cards, even the most basic travel rewards credit card will offer you better purchase rewards than the Torrid Credit Card — and these rewards can get you free flights and hotel stays. After all, what good is a new wardrobe if you have nowhere awesome to wear it?
4.9
- $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
- Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
- Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
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Intro (Purchases)
|
Intro (Transfers)
|
Regular APR
|
Annual Fee
|
Credit Needed
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
0% for 15 months
|
0% for 15 months
|
19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
|
$0
|
Excellent, Good
|
The Torrid Credit Card is actually pretty decent when it comes to rewards and savings. But it's APR is needlessly high, like, ridiculously high, making it easy to find better alternatives on basically every front. From purchase rewards on everything you buy to much lower interest rates, most regular consumer credit cards will be a better option and provide more utility.
Torrid Card Overall Rating: 1.5/5.0
The very first thing a potential applicant should notice about the Torrid Credit Card is its 35% APR, a number nearly twice as large as that charged by some of the better open-loop consumer cards. It's also an interest rate that makes it a pricey way to finance a purchase if you can't pay it off right away.
That said, the 5% off every purchase is a nice benefit for frequent shoppers (who pay their bills in full each month), and you'll save 40% off your first purchase when you open and immediately use the Torrid Credit Card online. And when your card arrives in the mail, you'll get anotherl $15 off $50 welcome offer.
Torrid Credit Card
- APR: 35.24% as of Feb 2024
- Annual Fee: $0
- Rewards: Save 5% off every purchase with your Torrid Card
As a member of the Torrid Rewards program, you'll earn 1X point per $1 spent, receiving a $10 reward for every 250 points you earn. If you spend more than $500 in a year, you'll be deemed a Torrid "loyalist" and boost your reward to $15 per 250 points earned. And those who spend $1,000 or more each year can qualify for VIP status and boost their rewards to $20 per 250 points earned. Torrid loyalist and VIP members also receive free standard shipping and special birthday offers.
While the Torrid Rewards program is free to join, adding its credit card to your wallet will also save you big on your first purchase, and 5% on every purchase thereafter.
Approval Requirements & Application
The card does have one thing that may make it more appealing to certain shoppers: flexible credit requirements. Your best chances of being approved will come if you have at least fair credit, but some reviewers have reported being approved with credit scores in the 500s.
To apply for a Torrid Credit Card, you can head to your favorite Torrid location, or apply online through the link below.
What Others Say About the Torrid Credit Card
Despite the so-so rewards, many reviewers are happy with their Torrid Insider Credit Card, particularly with the annual discounts. On the other hand, a number of reviewers report trouble accessing online accounts, making payments, and with unused cards being canceled without any advance warning.
The benefits are mediocre at best. Torrid emails and mails coupons every once in a while. Considering how expensive this store is, I think the rewards/discounts suck. This card is also connected to Insider. This is not a major credit card, it can only be used at Torrid stores and on their website. It is issued by Comenity. The Torrid card application listed a 26.24% APR and this is definitely high, especially for those people who procrastinate on making payments… Or can't resist spending money that they don't have. This card is a poor choice if you ever carry a balance. The Insider rewards gives a $10 rewards certificate per 200 points earned and that’s a 5% rebate. Aside from that, there are also specials and promotions and whatever the first purchase discount may be (which was 15% off the first purchase as I’m writing this). — WalletHub.com
”
I got approved for a Torrid insider credit card when my credit was in the 500's! I pay my bill on time, every time. I started with a $250 credit limit, and they just increased my limit to $690! I have had zero problems with this card. I have only had to call customer service two times, but it was only for reordering a new card that I lost. They were nothing but professional to me, and they handled my problem promptly! I am obsessed with Torrid! I recently added my husband as an authorized user, to help his credit. His credit, and mine, have gone up since having this card. I am forever grateful for Torrid Insider Credit Card. Thanks for the ability to buy awesome clothes! — CreditKarma.com
”
Even with the 30% off discounts, this credit card isn’t an obvious choice for many people. Interest and fees can quickly erode the value of the rewards. The Torrid Insider Credit Card works only if you pay your bill on time and in full each month. If you might carry a balance, a low APR credit card is a better choice. — CreditCardsExplained.com
”Is the Torrid Card Right for You?
For all intents and purposes, the Torrid Credit Card is little more than a discount card, saving you 5% on every purchase. But its hefty APR make this card a cautionary tale. You cannot carry a balance on this card, or your affordable fashion finds won't be affordable at all.
If you can commit to paying your balance off every time you use the card, it might be a solid addition to your wallet. But if your credit score qualifies you for a card with a lower APR and rewards you can earn everywhere, you're better off going that route.
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