travel cards like wise

Wise Travel Debit Card Review: Fees, Exchange Rates, Limits and How to Use It

There are many things you need to keep track of as a digital nomad, such as visas , travel documents, and accommodation , to name a few.

But one of the most important things to work out is your finances. As a digital nomad, you are likely constantly moving between countries and switching currencies, so having a travel debit card is imperative .

The Wise debit card is an easy financial solution for frequent travelers, digital nomads, and expats . So, what is the fuss about this Wise travel card? How does it work? And most importantly, should you hop on the bandwagon and sign up for it?

I have been using the Wise Travel Card for quite some time now and, in this article, I will give you my honest opinion about it.

What is a Wise Travel Debit Card?

If you travel often, you have probably used or at least heard of Wise (formerly Transfer Wise) .

This UK-based tech company was founded in 2011 by Estonian businessmen Kristo Käärmann and Taavet Hinrikus on the principle of providing fast and fair exchange rates for international transfers without any sneaky fees or below-par exchange rates.

I have been personally using their Wise multi-currency account for years now, and it is still the primary way I transfer money abroad. But, I recently started using the Wise travel card , which added an entirely new dimension to my travels.

Can I Use The Wise Card For Traveling Abroad?

The Wise travel card it's not a credit card and functions pretty much like a regular debit card. You simply add funds to the account and insert, swipe, or tap to pay for items.

The main difference? With Wise, you can hold money in more than 40 different currencies and pay like a local for items in more than 160 countries worldwide without having to worry about hefty fees or markups on conversion rates.

Your Wise Travel Card is connected directly to your Wise account, so you can spend funds from your balances.

Who is the Wise Travel Card for?

Obviously, this is a “travel” card, so its primary purpose is for spending abroad while traveling . That said, you could totally use this for your day-to-day expenses. Traditional banks aren’t really designed to cater to frequent travelers or digital nomads , and the Wise Travel Card fills this gap.

For example, my wages are paid from the US, but I live abroad permanently, so I can easily transfer from my US-based bank to Wise and then simply use my Wise card for most of my daily expenses.

You should consider using the Wise Travel Card if one or more of the following applies to you:

• You frequently transfer funds from another country that uses a different currency.
• You travel internationally often and need a card with low currency conversion fees.
• You often shop online with international retailers that sell their products in a foreign currency.
• You own a business and need a card for international expenses.
• Your current bank card has high currency conversion fees and you want to get away from a traditional bank account
• Your current bank card has high fees for using international ATMs.

Wise Card Features for Traveling Abroad

If you have used a travel prepaid card like Revolut , Chime , or Monzo in the past, you can expect similar features from the Wise Travel Card. Let's see which ones are those:

• Low fees on conversions with the mid-market exchange rate
• Hold, spend, and exchange more than 40 different currencies in your Wise account
• Available to citizens and residents of more than 30 countries , including the UK, Canada, EU, USA, and Australia
• Manage, top up, freeze, and view your card balance in the Wise App
• Use at over 2 million ATMs with free monthly withdrawals up to certain limits.
• Create up to 3 digital virtual cards for free
• Auto currency convert feature to automatically convert your funds at your set rate
• Ability to make Contactless payments
• Connect to most popular eWallets like Google Pay, Apple Pay, and more
• Free spending of any currency you hold in your Wise account
• Biodegradable and eco-friendly card design

Pros and Cons of the Wise Debit Card for Travel

When I first started my digital nomad journey, I quickly came to a rude awakening when I found that my bank was charging exorbitant markups on foreign exchange and fees for ATM withdrawals .

If the same is happening to you, you’ll want to get your hands on this gem of a travel card . But before you sign up, let’s go over some of the upsides and downsides of the Wise Travel Card.

Pros and cons:

What to love about the wise debit card.

For me, the Wise card's standout features are the app's user-friendliness , the multi-currency account , and the low markup on exchange rates .

Being able to hold more than 40 currencies is a game changer. Transferring funds to different currencies in their app when I travel abroad is super easy. To give you an example, I spend quite a bit of time in Europe, the USA, and New Zealand. And with Wise , I can have separate accounts for USD, EUR, and NZD, which makes my life SO much more manageable when traveling to these countries!

On top of that, while there is a small markup fee on currency exchange, it is extremely minimal compared to other banks I have used .

What Could Be Improved About the Wise Debit Card?

The obvious downsides of the Wise Travel Card lie with ATM withdrawal limits , longer card delivery timeframes , and the lack of a premium option .

I am based in the USA, and my card took more than 2 weeks to arrive. Most digital nomads don’t spend too much time in each place, so this can make it difficult to receive your card initially if you are a frequent traveler .

Also, while card transactions are becoming the norm in many countries, cash is still king in several countries I have traveled to in the past few years. The Wise card is NOT exactly the ideal card for withdrawing cash . You’ll only get two transactions for free , and then you’ll be paying a usage fee as well as a 1.75% to 2% markup . This definitely isn’t a dealbreaker, but I hope Wise will improve this in the future.

What Currencies Can You Use With the Wise Travel Card?

One of the main reasons Wise has kept me on board as a customer all these years is their multi-currency account . This is truly the crown jewel of all of Wise’s features.

You can store 40+ currencies in various wallets in your Wise account , but this doesn’t mean you are limited to spending in those currencies. In fact, you can use the Wise debit card in more than 160+ countries ! If the currency you are spending in doesn’t have a wallet option, the Wise card will simply exchange the money into the payment currency at the time of your purchase .

For example, I was recently in Guatemala, and, unfortunately, I was not able to store Quetzal (the local currency) in my multi-currency account. But when I bought something, my funds were automatically converted from USD to Quetzal at the mid-market rate (plus 0.5%).

There are also 11 currencies for which you get account details to make bank transfers . This means you can transfer funds in the following currency balances directly from your Wise account to another bank account.

This is a feature of Wise that I use often. If I need to transfer funds from my US bank account to one in another country, I almost always use Wise as a “middleman” in order to avoid unexpected transfer fees .

While you won’t be able to make bank transfers in other currencies, you can hold them in your Wise account and spend with your travel card.

How Does the Wise Card Exactly Work?

As you can see, the Wise Travel Card is a wise decision for any traveler (see what I did there?), but how does it exactly work?

As with any new bank account or credit card, there is a bit of a learning curve when first using your Wise travel card . That said, using this card isn’t rocket science, so you’ll be saving money on exchange fees in no time!

How to Use the Wise Travel Card Abroad

The Wise travel card is specifically designed for spending money outside of your home country, so as you would expect, it is pretty easy to use abroad.

All you need to do is order your card , activate it, create a PIN, add money to your account, and you will be all set to use the card in a different country!

The Wise App

There is nothing more annoying than an app that is built for developers and not for the general public. Your banking and financial app should be easy to navigate and access.

I personally find the Wise app to be extremely user-friendly and intuitive . All features are easy to find, and when navigating through the app, I rarely got stuck or failed to find a setting.

I was easily able to change personal settings, connect bank accounts, exchange money, and send transfers from the app.

How to Order Your Wise Travel Card

Ordering your Wise Travel Card can take some time (mine took more than 2 weeks to arrive), so I recommend getting on this as soon as possible to ensure you have the card for your next trip!

These are the 3 simple steps you will need to go through:

Step 1: Create a Multi-Currency Account

If you don’t have one already, your first step will be to sign up for a Multi-Currency Account with Wise

Step 2: Start Using Your Virtual Card Immediately

After making an account and verifying your details, you will then be directed to choose a digital/virtual card or a physical card . Digital cards are free and can be added to Google/Apple Pay or used for online payments immediately!

Step 3: Order a Wise Debit Card (Recommended)

If you want instead a physical card, you can do so by clicking on the “Card” tab on the main page and then click on “ Order a Debit Card ”. Physical cards cost a one-off fee of 7 GBP/7 EUR/10 USD , and it will take 7 to 21 business days for the card to arrive, based on your location.

If you'd like to visualise the entire process, watch the instructional video below:

How to Activate Your Wise Card

Once your Wise travel card arrives, it is time to activate it and start spending ! Luckily, for most Wise account holders, you won’t need to take any steps to activate the card, simply make a chip and PIN payment, and the card is ready to go !

Activate Your Wise Card (for US and Japan Customers Only)

As I mentioned above, Wise customers in the USA or Japan must activate the card separately . This isn’t too much of a headache, just don’t forget you need to be in your home country .

Here is a step-by-step breakdown of activating your card if you are a US and Japan customer.

• Log into the Wise app and tap on “ Card ”.
• Then tap on “ Activate Card ”.
• You’ll then be prompted to enter a 6-digit code that you’ll find on your card.
• After entering the code, you’ll create your PIN .

If you'd like to visualise the steps to activate your Wise card for your region, watch the instructional video below:

How to Change the PIN for Your Wise Card

Did you forget your PIN? Don’t worry, it happens to the best of us!

Luckily, if you are a US card holder, you can easily change your PIN in the Wise app :

• Tap on “ Card ” in the Wise app
• Select “ Change PIN ”
• Enter your new PIN 2 times, and you are all set!

If you are a non-US Wise card holder , you cannot change your PIN in the app , unfortunately. Instead, you’ll need to change it using an ATM that supports PIN changes .

My best advice? Choose a PIN you’ll never forget, or keep it written down somewhere secure.

How to Add Money to Your Wise Travel Card

Your Wise travel card is linked to your Wise Multi-Currency account , so you’ll need to top up your Wise account with funds before using the card.

This is a pretty straightforward process:

• Logging into your account
• Choose which currency balance you want to add money to.
• Click “ Add ”.
• Choose which currency you want to use to top up the account.
• Type in the amount of money you want to add.
• Choose your payment method (bank transfer, debit card)
• Confirm the top-up and verify the money arrives in your balance.

Watch the instructional video below to visualise how to top up your Wise balance:

How to Freeze/Unfreeze Your Wise Card

One of the downsides of constant travel is that you put yourself at risk of fraud or losing your card. If you notice potential fraudulent transactions from your Wise card, or you believe your card is lost/stolen, you should freeze your card immediately . This way, you’ll avoid more fraud on your account.

Here are the steps to take to freeze your Wise Travel Card.

• After logging in to your Wise account, tap on “ Card .”
• Then simply click “ Freeze Card ”, or if you want to unfreeze, “ Unfreeze Card .”
• Fill out this transaction dispute form and contact customer support right away. They will be able to help you determine what to do next.

How to Replace a Lost or Stolen Wise Card

If you can confirm that your card has been lost or stolen, you’ll want to cancel the card and then order a new one.

• Log in to your Wise account and click on “ Card .”
• Tap “ Replace Card .”
• You’ll then be prompted to answer why you need a replacement card.
• Wait for the new card to arrive.

How to Use an ATM with Your Wise Travel Card

As mentioned above, ATM withdrawal is not the strongest feature with the Wise card, but you can definitely still use the card to take out cash. Spending with your Wise card is simple since the card can make contactless, chip, and swipe payments and is eligible for Google, Apple, Fitbit, and Garmin Pay. But how do you use an ATM with the Wise card?

Using an ATM with the Wise Travel Card is the same as using any other bank card. Simply insert your card into the machine, enter your PIN, determine how much cash you want to withdraw, and take your cash. Don’t forget to take your card back when you are done (I have made this mistake too many times…).

Wise Card ATM Limits

One of the biggest downsides with the Wise card is that you’ll have limited free ATM withdrawals. For all accounts, you’ll have 2 free ATM withdrawals each month, after which you will be charged an ATM usage fee and a percentage markup on the amount of cash you withdraw.

I use the Wise Travel Card for many of my day-to-day travel expenses, but I use my Charles Schwab Investor Checking account for ATMs. This card not only has a 0% ATM markup, but it also refunds any fees the ATM provider charges. This includes international withdrawals!

Wise Card Delivery Timeframe

Once you order your Wise Travel Card, you can expect it to take between 3 and 21 days to arrive, depending on your location. If you live in Singapore, you’ll get your card SUPER fast. Unfortunately for Americans like me, this isn’t the case.

Wise Travel Card Fees and Exchange Rates

One thing I really love is that using Wise itself is free, and you won’t have to pay an ongoing fee to Wise to use the card. In fact, there isn’t even a Premium account feature, so all users get 100% of the features for free. All this said, there are some charges and exchange rates you should know about before you start using the Wise Travel Card.

Comparison: How Does the Wise Card Holds Up Against Other Travel Cards?

Wise is a leader in the travel account realm, but it still has some major competitors. While all of these different companies vary, they all cater to digital nomads and frequent travelers. The table below will compare some key factors with Wise, Revolut, N26, and Chime.

You may also be interested in:

So, What Travel Card is the Best?

This is a close call and pretty dependent on where you are located. For example, N26 and Chime are awesome choices if you live in the EU or USA (respectively). But, with these options, you can’t hold different currencies like with Revolut and Wise.

For most digital nomads, Wise or Revolut will be the best option. You can hold a huge number of currencies, and they are available to many different nationalities. I have personally used both Wise and Revolut and can say they are both excellent options.

Spending Limits for the Wise Travel Card

The Wise Travel Card has set daily and monthly spending limits for all types of transactions. While these limits won’t be a deal breaker for the vast majority of users, they are still worth noting.

Keep in mind the above limits are for US Wise customers. The amounts will differ slightly for customers based in different regions.

Is It Safe to Use the Wise Travel Card?

Wise is a trusted and safe travel card provider, so you can rest assured that your funds will be protected when using the Wise Travel Card. A licensed and regulated financial institution, your funds are safeguarded in Wise. It is, however, worth noting that since Wise is not considered a bank, it is not FDIC insured. FDIC insures up to $250,000 of bank customer's money, but Wise works a bit differently. Wise safeguards users’ money and is required to ensure all customers have access to all of their funds.

So, is Wise safe to use? Yes, absolutely! We don’t recommend keeping all of your money in Wise, but in general, it is a perfectly secure financial institution.

Additionally, the company uses several security features to protect your data, including HTTPS encryption, a two-step login process, and 24/7 fraud prevention.

What to Do If Your Wise Card Is Lost, Stolen, or Compromised

If you lose your Wise card or suspect it to be stolen or compromised, you’ll need to act quickly to prevent any further fraud. Below, we will go over a step-by-step process for what to do if your card is lost, stolen, or compromised.

• Freeze your card in the Wise app.
• Contact Wise support if you suspect the card to be compromised.
• Cancel the card in the app if you confirm the card is lost or stolen or if fraud charges have been made.
• Order a new card.
• Wait for the new Wise card to arrive.

Bottom Line: Is the Wise Travel Card Worth it?

Time for the 1 million dollar question: Should you get the Wise Travel Card?

If you are a frequent traveler like me and you don’t already have a solid travel card with fair exchange rates, low ATM fees the answer is a resounding yes !

The Wise Travel Card is one of the best cards for digital nomads and expats, as it allows you to seamlessly spend money, withdraw cash, and transfer funds from anywhere around the globe without having to worry about excessive fees. The best part? After paying a one-time card order fee, your Wise account is completely free to use!

Ready To Save Money Abroad with Wise?

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International Money Made Simple

Top 7 Wise Alternatives

About Author: Hi, I’m Quinn Askeland. In 2014, I started Transumo after experiencing expensive, slow, and frustrating international money transfers and payments through banks. Once I discovered how to manage my own international currencies much better, I became driven to help others improve their transfers and payments. Fortunately, today, there are many excellent options. See My Full Bio .

I use Wise (formerly TransferWise) several times a week mostly for personal transfers, business and overseas travel.

But I don’t use them for everything. And perhaps you had a bad experience , want to send money instantly , need different payout methods (like cash) or send larger amounts . For large transfers, I think OFX or TorFX or Currencies Direct are better because they are have phone based customer support. For smaller transfers, cash transfers and even prepaid cards and multi currency accounts there are other great alternatives. Finally, I also want to let you know about Revolut which is Wise’s biggest competitor.

Let’s get stuck into it!

Disclosure: This post may contain offers and affiliate links to save you money and it also helps us to keep providing the best information. For more information, see our disclosures here .

Where Alternatives Can be Better

Instant Transfers Cash Transfers Even Lower Costs Larger Transfers (above $7000 USD) Personalised Service

When is Wise Work (And When it Doesn’t)

Wise has a great reputation on Trustpilot, with a 4.2/5 rating from more than 196K reviews. Most of the reviews are 5-star reviews (83%), while only a few are 1-star reviews (7%). People love Wise for its simple and speedy transfers.

Wise is a great way to transfer and even manage your international money especially if you want to send anything below $7000 USD ($7000 USD = Approx £4000 GBP, €6000 EUR, $10000 AUD, $10000 CAD, $10000 SGD, ¥800,000 JPY, ₹500,000 INR).

1.1 When Wise Works

Sending amounts below $7000 usd for individuals.

Generally, we highly recommend Wise for amounts below $7000 USD. Their focus on fast, inexpensive transfers as well as transparency and excellent online experience makes them hard to beat in many situations.

But don’t take our word for it.

For the best comparison we recommend starting with their fee calculator (opens new tab) and see for yourself what they charge. Perhaps write it down so you can compare with others we will discuss in a moment.

We have found, in terms of fees, they’re always low and transparent.

Fees depend on the amount, currency, and payment method.

Other fees include a low flat fee + a percentage fee based on the amount and currency (For example, the flat fee is about $0.90 USD for amounts below $7000 USD and the percentage fee ranges between 0.35%-1.5%).

What we also like is that there are no hidden fees because they have local bank accounts in all the areas they operate in.

For expats, travelers and people who earn overseas income.

If you live, work, or travel overseas frequently and send money home regularly to support your family, Wise goes way beyond simple money transfers.

You get a multi currency account to spend, send and receive your money. And you can hold money in over 40 currencies.

There is also a highly useful optional prepaid debit card to spend in over 40 currencies in over 150 countries.

Wise’s multi currency account (review) and associated Wise travel card (review) are especially useful to expats who need banking features in a new country to pay rent, buy groceries, or receive money like a local (Wise offers international bank details in 10 currencies). If you want to compare Wise with another service that enable you to get paid and pay others check out Wise Vs. Payoneer .

These features are great for international people who need the freedom to manage multiple currencies from one account.

1.2 When it doesn’t

If you’re sending more than $7000 usd.

As we uncover in our Wise review, there are things you should know about Wise for larger amounts, where things can get kind of messy.

In a nutshell, because of anti-money laundering (wiki) and anti-terrorism laws (wiki) , Wise (like any other financial service company) has to comply with a lot more regulations.

So while Wise makes it relatively easy to sign up for smaller amounts, and they have a wonderful online focused experience these positives can quickly turn into negatives.

This is because, you may need to provide more information or identity to make a transfer.

Unfortunately, this can end up in frozen accounts or transfer delays. And this can be an issue if you need money transferred urgently.

But there is something else:

Having the ability to easily call someone (ideally 24/7), can go a long way in resolving issues like transfer limits your bank may place (due to the same regulations). This can save time and a whole lot of stress.

For cash transfers

Currently, Wise only supports bank-to-bank or card-to-bank transfers. So if your recipient needs a payout in cash, Wise is not for you.

See Wise alternatives (below) for cash transfers below.

For instant transfers

If you’re looking to send money instantly (in a matter of minutes or at least hours), Wise may not be your best option.

Because Wise is focused on transfers that often involve banks at either end (which does help reduce fees) they may not always be the fastest.

In fact the whole process can take up to 5 days.

If instant transfers are your priority, we have a couple of great suggestions for you.

You need a wider selection of receiving countries

Although Wise supports money transfers to 60+ countries , your currency might still not be included.

Moreover, of the many currencies supported by Wise, some can only be transferred locally.

So if your supported receiving currency is not available on Wise, it’s worth looking at other services that have a wider receiving base internationally.

You need phone support

While Wise’s customer service is generally awesome, they’re an online-only platform.

So if you need more support (like speaking to a human on the phone) for setting up your transfer (especially large transfers over $7000 USD or £4500 GBP), or simply dealing with a frozen account. Wise is not the right service for you.

And since Wise is set up as a low-cost service, their customer service (though very responsive) can’t help with setting up transfers or tailoring services for you.

Here’s a recent reviewer who wasn’t too happy with Wise’s lack of in-person customer support:

If your transfers don’t matter to you then use “Wise” because they really don’t matter to them. They have no customer service when it goes wrong… Ross J

Ross is Not Alone: I have been reviewing and using Wise for years, but just in the last year, I believe something has changed and their customer service has become less awesome. For example, I have personally had a few issues now and the responses I get are sometimes very generic. Also others in my team have had issues. I think this is likely just growing pains and compliance but our experiences are not isolated. Over the years, Trustpilot has also seen them go from 4.7/5 in 2021 to 4.2/5 in 2024. To be fair, many other services have also lost their rankings over this same time frame so more difficult compliance may be to blame or perhaps Trustpilot changed its scoring system – or both. That said, I still think they are #1 for small transfers and light years ahead of banks but in some situations I also believe some alternatives may be better.

Note: The reality of using Wise for most people is very positive and our full Wise.com review looks at the positives and negatives in more detail. Spoiler Alert: They are pretty great, but it is insightful to see where the negative reviews come from and has helped us to find alternatives that may be better in some situations.

Quick Look — 7 Alternatives to Wise For Large and Small Amounts

Which Wise alternative is right for you?

Before we dive in deeper, here’s a quick snapshot so you can get the most out of your time here and make the right decision for your needs.

1. Revolut – Wise’s Closest Competitor

About: When it comes to multi-currency accounts and prepaid debit cards, Revolut (review) is considered to be Wise’s biggest rival.

Revolut offers personal and business plans to citizens and residents of the UK, US, European Economic Area (EEA), Singapore, Australia, Japan and Switzerland.

Double check if you can get a Revolut account here.

It supports deposits in more than 30 currencies and withdrawals in over 120 currencies and countries.

Best features:

• Free transfers within the EU and to other Revolut users
• Budgeting and analytical tools
• Cashback incentives
• Optional upgrades like airport lounges and spending rewards

Fees: Revolut has a transfer fee structure based on recipient country (Usually 0.3% – 0.75%) plus a small fixed fee. While Wise does not have a mark up on the exchange rate it does have a fee (0.66% on average) which is based on the currencies you are exchanging.

Transfers to other Revolut users, local payments without any exchange and payments within the Single European Payments (SEPA) area are free.

You can withdraw up to 5 ATM withdrawals or £200 (per rolling month) without any charges, after that a 2% fee applies. Please note that the maximum amount you can withdraw in cash per day is £3,000 or it’s equivalent in other currencies.

The debit card fee is £4.99 for the free plan and zero for premium plans (Plus, Premium and Metal).

When you use Revolut to exchange currencies on weekends, there will be a 1% markup applied to all currencies. However, during the weekdays when the market is open, Revolut matches the mid-market rate with no additional fees added. 

Wise, on the other hand, offers you a rate without any markup.

Support: Email, live chat and automated phone service for blocking cards.

Verdict: How does Revolut compare with Wise?

If you travel primarily within Europe, Revolut is the best choice for you because they offer free transfers within the SEPA.

If you’re deciding between Wise and Revolut, it’s worth noting that although Revolut may not operate in as many countries as Wise, they have some innovative features that make them stand out.

Revolut provides various budgeting and analytical tools on their app that Wise does not have. 

Unlike Wise, Revolut also allows you to link your bank account to their app, so you can keep track of all your finances in one place. 

Use Revolut if…

You frequently travel within Europe. OR You’re looking for a single app to manage your finances (UK/Europe) OR Revolut has a few additional features you might like.

2. Remitly – Small amounts home, fast

About: Remitly (review) supports transfers from 16 developed countries (including the US, Canada, the UK, etc.) to 50+ developing countries.

Make sure your countries are covered here  – for both countries!

They’re an international money transfer company with a unique mission: Helping expat workers send money home fast and at affordable rates.

Their focus is on personal transfers of small amounts.

• Express services (transfers can be completed in hours for an additional fee)
• Multiple ways for money to be received (direct deposit, cash pick-up, mobile wallet transfer, cash home delivery)

Currently Remitly is running a limited time new customer offer. Check out the Remitly offer.

Fees: Remitly’s fees depend on the amount, currency, and chosen service. They charge a flat fee and a margin on the exchange rate.

For some currency pairs (for example USD to INR), Remitly even waives the flat fees if you send more than $1000 USD.

Their Express service lets you send money in a matter of minutes or hours (depending on the recipient country), while their Economy service is an affordable option to send money home when you’re not in a hurry.

Other fees to watch out for include credit card fees for their Express service (3%) and fees charged by an intermediary or receiving bank.

Support: Online chat or troubleshooting on the phone (in English and Spanish)

Verdict: How does Remitly compare with Wise?

In terms of fees and exchange rate, Remitly is comparable to Wise (although we have found Wise to be slightly cheaper generally). However, Wise has a more transparent fee structure where you will see exactly the amount the receiver will get before you hit “send”.

With Remitly, there may be certain instances where you might get a surprise fee if you’re funding the transfer through a bank account (banks on either side might charge their own fee).

Use Remitly if…

You live and work in one of the 16 supported countries AND You need an option to send money instantly if required (and can fund the transfer with a credit card) OR You want cash pickup for the receiver

3. WorldRemit — Small amounts in cash

About: WorldRemit (review) supports both personal and business transfers.

They offer transfers to over 130+ countries worldwide in cash, bank transfer, or top-up mobile wallets.

Best Features:

• Multiple ways for money to be received (bank transfer, cash pick-up, mobile wallet transfer)
• Supports transfer to a wide range of countries (130+)
• Fast — most transfers are completed within minutes

Fees: WorldRemit’s fees are determined based on a number of factors, including transfer amount, currency pair, and payout method.

But they do have a nice bonus offer:

When you  sign up  you will get your first four transfers fee free (using the code ‘ 3FREE ‘*). * Offer available in US, UK, Australia, Belgium, Netherlands, South Africa, Sweden, New Zealand, and Norway only.

WorldRemit has introduced a flat fee for payout methods and a tiered exchange rate system (3 tiers).

With the flat fee for payouts, your fees remain fixed for each method (cash, bank transfer, or mobile wallet transfer), no matter how much you send.

For example, whether you send £100 GBP or £1000 GBP in cash from the UK to the Philippines, you will pay the same £2.49 GBP fee.

Next, the tiered exchange rate makes sure you get a better exchange rate if you send more money.

Other fees to watch out for include credit card fees and commissions charged by local partners.

Support: They’re easiest to reach by chat or email. While they have country-specific phone support, it’s hard to get a hold of their customer service team on the phone.

Verdict: How does WorldRemit compare with Wise?

WorldRemit beats Wise in terms of the number of countries it supports, speed of transaction, and payout methods. Although WorldRemit’s rates are better than going through the bank, Wise still comes out on top as the cheaper option.

Use WorldRemit if…

– You have family, employees, contractors, and suppliers in many countries and need a transfer provider with a wide base of receiving countries – You want the receiver to be to receive the money in cash – You need to transfer money quickly (minutes for most transactions)

4. CurrencyFair — Lowest cost

About: CurrencyFair (review) is one of the most affordable options for sending money to bank accounts internationally (in many cases, cheaper than Wise!).

But that is not the best bit:

You can also get  your first 10 transfers fee free here   (opens a new tab) .

Sometimes, currency matching can take a while. So if you don’t want to wait, CurrencyFair also has the option to step in and complete the transfer.

They support 38 currencies for sending and receiving money (21 for sending; 17 for receiving).

• One of the lowest exchange rates
• Choose to exchange at the prevailing rate or on their P2P marketplace (The CurrencyFair Exchange) — set your own rate and wait for another user who wants to buy your currency at your proposed rate.

Fees: CurrencyFair transfers range from 0.4%-0.6% of the amount + a fixed €3 EUR transfer fee (or equivalent) + a margin on the exchange rate.

They’re extremely affordable compared to banks and sometimes even Wise (whose fees ranged between 0.35%-1.65%).

Another cost you should be aware of is the receiving bank charges in countries where CurrencyFair doesn’t have a local bank account (they don’t have local bank accounts in Canada and New Zealand yet, so receiving CAD and NZD can be relatively expensive for smaller amounts as the receiving banks charge a fee usually $15 – $30).

Support: Email and chat

Verdict: How does CurrencyFair compare with Wise?

CurrencyFair is one of the services that consistently beats Wise in terms of exchange rates.

But here’s the big catch — there is the risk of additional “surprise” bank fees if they don’t have local bank accounts in the country where you sending money.

Other than that, this is definitely a service that’s worth trying if looking for the best rate is top of your priorities.

Use CurrencyFair if…

– You’re looking for the lowest rates for bank-to-bank international transfers – You want to send small amounts – You’re fine not having phone support

5. OFX – Amounts over $7000 USD

About: OFX (review) offers bank-to-bank transfers in 50+ currencies to over 190 countries.

OFX always out as a top pick of ours when it comes to international money transfer comparison over $7000 USD ($7000 USD = Approx £4000 GBP, €6000 EUR, $9500 AUD, $9500 CAD, $10000 SGD, ¥800,000 JPY, ₹500,000 INR).

And to make it even more affordable, OFX may charge a fixed fee of $15, however  if you  click here  you can avoid this fee for ever!

They also offer 24×7 phone support for troubleshooting and to help you set up your transfers.

In fact, they try to get all the necessary ID checks and regulatory checks out of the way when you sign up to avoid bottlenecks during transfers (including larger ones).

OFX also has an intuitive online platform and app, which makes it easy to keep an eye on rates, setup transfers, and track transfers.

Helpful 24/7 phone support Intuitive online platform Lock rates for up to 12 months

Fees: OFX has been built from the ground up to make large transfers affordable.

In some countries, for amounts below $10,000 OFX charges a flat fee of $15 on the exchange rate.

Bonus: OFX may charge a fixed fee of $15, however  if you  click here  you can avoid these fees all together.

But above that amount, the flat fee is waived and the margin reduces as the amount increases.

Sometimes the receiving bank may deduct a fee from your recipient. But you can speak to OFX’s customer support to understand how you can best manage or avoid this extra cost.

Support: 24×7 phone support and email

Verdict: How does OFX compare with Wise?

OFX is a better option than Wise when you want to send over $7000 USD because of the better rates and helpful phone support.

While “helpful phone support” may not sound like a big deal it is! All services like OFX, Wise and the banks you use have limitations once you start sending above about $7,000. This means each bank has its own limitations and rules on the amounts it will transfer (usually within certain timeframes). Transferring large amounts (over $7000) can mean that issues can occur during a transfer, which without great phone support can become a much bigger problem. With helpful phone support, these issues can be resolved very easily.

Of the recommended “above $7000 USD” transfer services on this list, OFX has one of the best rates. And yet, does not compromise on phone support — so you can always speak to an actual human to check on your transfers.

It also has an intuitive online platform that’s simple to use and navigate which makes initiating your transaction easy.

Their set up process is also streamlined where they get you to verify all your documents from the start to minimize any hiccups along the way.

Use OFX if …

– You want to get the best rates for larger-amount transfers ($7000 USD) – You live in the US, Canada, the UK, Europe, Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, or New Zealand (where they have local customer service 24/7) – You need a lot of flexibility for your large transfers (OFX allows you to lock rates for up to 12 months) – You want the option of phone support to stay on top of your transfer

6. Currencies Direct — Personalized Service

About: Currencies Direct is known for low-cost large transfers (above $7000 USD) since they typically don’t charge transfer fees.

They support both individuals and businesses and help you set up your transfer over the phone. They also offer tailored solutions based on your specific transfer needs.

You can send up to £25,000 GBP with Currencies Direct.

Start by getting the Currencies Direct exchange rate from  desktop or mobile here .

• No transfer fees
• Easily transfer larger amounts of money
• More personalized support through phone and email
• Caters to both personal and business transfers

Fees: In most cases, Currencies Direct only charges a margin on the exchange rate and no fees. If a fee is applicable, they let you know upfront.

However, intermediary banks or receiving banks may charge fees.

Support: phone and email

Verdict: How does Currencies Direct compare with Wise?

From the outset, you can clearly see that Currencies Direct is targeting a different market from Wise.

Currencies Direct is a lot more geared towards businesses or high-amount personal transfers while Wise focuses on smaller-amount personal transfers.

Because of this, their service is more personal. Unlike Wise, you can’t get an instant calculation of how much it would cost to transfer your money. You have to input your details on their website and someone will personally contact you.

This might seem inconvenient. But if you’re dealing with larger amounts, it’s much better to speak to a proper representative that can actually guide you through the process.

They also don’t support as many currencies as Wise (40 in total). So this may be a drawback for some.

Use Currencies Direct if …

– You want to send large bank transfers – You live in the UK, Canada (not Quebec), US, Spain, Portugal, South Africa, or India where they have physical offices (For transferring large amounts, we recommend going with a provided who has a physical presence in your country) – You want access to currency products like spot contracts or forward contracts – You appreciate high-touch support from your international money transfer provider

7. TorFX — Recommended for personal account manager

About: TorFX is actually owned by the same group as Currencies Direct. As a result, its customer is also one of the best in the money transfer market.

This makes them one of the most reliable (and frankly reassuring) services for sending large amounts (above $7000 USD) worldwide.

In fact, they’re happy to get on the phone with you to help you through the signup process and when you need to set up a transfer.

Start in the right spot:

AUS/NZ and Asia – Get  a quote online or by phone

UK and Europe – Get  a quote online or by phone

• Easily handles large amount transfers
• Personal account manager for individualized service
• Phone support
• Offers forward contracts, spot contracts, and market orders

Fees: TorFX doesn’t charge any fixed fees, but instead adds a margin to the exchange rate (mid-market rate). This makes them extremely affordable for your large transfers.

However, banks at either end may charge fees, so it’s a great idea to check with the receiving bank about typical fees for large amounts.

Support: Phone and email

Verdict: How does TorFX compare with Wise?

TorFX is another service on our list that differentiates itself from Wise by focusing on larger-amount transfers.

What stands out about TorFX is that you’ll get a personal account manager to help you through your transaction — crucial when you’re handling larger amounts and want to be able to communicate easily with the transfer service.

They also support a decent number of currencies (40+), but this is still not as many as Wise. And unfortunately, TorFX is not available in the US and Canada (their sister brand, Currencies Direct, handles that region). TorFX focuses on customers in the Australasia and European regions.

As you can tell we really like these two and we compare Wise Vs TorFX in greater detail.

Use TorFX if …

– You live in Australia, New Zealand, Asia, UK, and Europe and want to send money worldwide (TorFX has offices in the UK, Singapore, and Australia) – You want to send large amounts – You value individualised service and would like a personal account manager and phone support to guide you through the process – You don’t want to pay transfer fees

Bonus: XE – English, Spanish, and French telephone support

About: You can send up to $500,000 USD or equivalent with XE (review) and they support transfers in 98+ currencies to over 130 countries.

They’re one of the most trusted service providers for large bank-to-bank transfers.

• Supports a wide range for currencies
• Phone support in multiple languages

Fees: XE charges fixed fees and a margin on the exchange rate for amounts below $7000 USD.

Usually, they don’t charge a fixed fee for large transfers and keep these transfers affordable by reducing the margin as the amount goes up.

To start with as you can see here –  XE give you an instant quote  ( opens tab,  so you can keep reading).

Support: Phone

Verdict: How does XE compare with Wise?

Like Wise, XE is very focused on online transactions. So this is best for those who want to perform quick online transfers without personal support from a representative.

And although it handles transfers of all sizes, we’ve found that Wise’s rates for smaller transfers are consistently more competitive than XE.

The 2 areas where it beats Wise are in the number of currencies it supports and its rates for higher transfers (XE doesn’t charge a transfer fee for larger amounts).

However, they are less transparent on fees compared to Wise as banks on either side may still charge their own fees when you transfer with XE. Check out our Wise Vs XE money transfer comparison

Use XE if …

– You are comfortable performing large-amount transfers online – You live in the US, Canada, the UK, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand (where their customer support teams are based) – You’re looking for many receiving currency options – You need multilingual phone support for your transfers (although XE is mostly online-focused)

For the majority of people, Wise (formerly TransferWise) is awesome. And that’s why we have voted it the best money transfer company for amounts below $7000 USD / £4500.

But there are many moving parts to money transfer.

And, while most services try to be comprehensive and all-inclusive, it’s not always possible ( jump up to see our summary of when Wise may not be good for you ).

The main reasons why you would want to choose another service over Wise usually comes down to a few factors:

Larger amounts (above $7000 USD).

We found that OFX was designed from the ground up for larger amounts. This means that sign up can be more involved (but less likely to be an issue later on) and they have a mix of online with phone support (which is expensive for them to run, but can be vital for your larger transfers). To top it off, their fees are very competitive as their fees in percentage terms reduce as amounts increase.

Click  here  to learn how you can get transfers through OFX fee free.

But again, you may have other priorities that may come into play. (Maybe you need cash pickup for the receiver? Or your currency isn’t supported by a service you’re interested in.)

So it’s important to stay in the know about each service’s strengths ( we’ve summarized them here for you ) so you can choose the right one for your needs.

The reality is, in many cases, it makes sense to use more than one service.

So take your time to shop around and find a few that you can turn to, depending on the situation.

Happy Transfers!

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Great post! 👏 I’ve been checking out other options of Wise after they froze my transactions, and this breakdown is super helpful. Revolut looks interesting, is it safe/good to use for sending a significant amount? Thanks for sharing this info ✨

Glad you found us and found it helpful. Personally I would not send a large amount with Revolut and many others for a number of reasons.

The biggest is that (like Wise) they do not have customer support designed for large transfers.

Regulations mean there is potential for amounts to get frozen and the problem with services designed for smaller amounts is that they need to be super efficient and inexpensive to be competitive which means no telephone number to sort things out easily.

Check out OFX I use them personally for large amounts. Once my bank had an issue with a transfer and they called me to sort it out. I didn’t even know I had an issue and after the call the issue was resolved.

Hope this helps.

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Here Are the Four Best Travel Money Cards in 2024

François Briod

Co-Founder of Monito and money transfer expert, François has been helping Monito’s users navigate the jungle of money transfer fees, bad exchange rates and tricks for the last ten years.

Jarrod Suda

A writer and editor at Monito, Jarrod is passionate about helping people apply today’s powerful finance technologies to their lives. He brings his background in international affairs and his experiences living in Japan to provide readers with comprehensive information that also acknowledges the local context.

Links on this page, including products and brands featured on ‘Sponsored’ content, may earn us an affiliate commission. This does not affect the opinions and recommendations of our editors.

From the multitude of bank fees and ATM charges to hidden currency conversion fees, there's no question that spending your money abroad while travelling can be costly — and that's saying nothing about the cost of the holiday itself!

As you prepare for your trip abroad, the golden rule is that you'll save the most money by using the local currency of your destination. This means withdrawing local cash at foreign ATMs and using a debit card to pay directly in the local currency. For example, if you're from the UK, using your bank's debit card that accesses your British pounds will likely lose you money to hidden fees at ATMs abroad and at local merchants.

In general, we rate Revolut as the best travel card all around. Its versatile account and card can be used to spend like a local pretty much anywhere in the world. ✨ Get 3 months of free Revolut Premium as a Monito reader with our exclusive link .

If you're from the EU, UK, or US, here are a few more specific recommendations to explore:

• Best for travelling from the UK: Chase
• Best for travelling from the US: Chime ®
• Best for travelling from the Eurozone: N26

If it's not possible for you to spend in the local currency when travelling abroad, then spending in your home currency while using a card that doesn't charge any hidden exchange rate markups from your bank (e.g. only the VISA or Mastercard exchange rates to convert currency) is still a good bet for most people.

In this guide, we explore cards that waive or lower ATM fees and that hold multiple currencies. Spend on your holiday like a local and enjoy peace of mind after each tap and swipe!

Best Travel Cards (And More!) at a Glance

Best travel money cards.

• 01. What is the best best multi currency card? scroll down
• 02. Are prepaid currency cards really it? scroll down
• 03. Monito's best travel money card tips scroll down
• 04. FAQ about the best travel cards scroll down

Revolut: Best All-Rounder

Revolut is one of the most well-known fintechs in the world because it offers services across Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Oceania.

• Trust & Credibility 8.9
• Service & Quality 7.9
• Fees & Exchange Rates 8.3
• Customer Satisfaction 9.4

Revolut is available in many countries. You can double-check if it's available in yours below:

Here's an overview of Revolut's plans:

Revolut Ultra is currently only available in the UK and EU.

Like Wise, Revolut converts your currency to the local currency of your travel destination at an excellent exchange rate (called the 'Revolut Rate', which, on weekdays, is basically on par with the rate you see on Google), making it a good way to buy foreign currency before travelling abroad. As always though, bear in mind that Revolut's exchange rates might be subject to change.

Revolut's Standard Plan only allows currency exchange at the base mid-market exchange rate for transfers worth £1,000 per month. ATM withdrawals are also free for the first €200 (although third-party providers may charge a withdrawal fee, and weekend surcharges may also apply). These allowances can be waived by upgrading memberships.

N26: Good Bank For EU Travellers

One of the most well-known neobanks in Europe, N26 and its debit card operate in euros only. However, N26 is a partner with Wise and has fully integrated Wise's technology so that you never have to pay foreign transaction fees on your purchases outside of the eurozone. While N26 does not have multi-currency functionality, N26 will apply the real exchange rate on all your foreign purchases and will never charge a commission fee — making N26's card a powerful card for EU/EEA residents who travel across the globe.

• Trust & Credibility 7.9
• Service & Quality 8.0
• Fees & Exchange Rates 9.3
• Customer Satisfaction 8.1

These are the countries in which you can register for an N26 account:

And here is an overview of the various plans and account:

This low-fee option for banking is also ideal for travellers who do not belong to a European bank but frequent the Eurozone. For example, N26 is available for residents and citizens of Switzerland, Norway, and other European Economic Area countries that do not run on the Euro.

These citizens, who are in close proximity to the Eurozone, will save each time they spend with an N26 card while in Europe. N26 provides three free ATM withdrawals per month in euros but does charge a 1.7% fee per ATM withdrawal outside of Europe.

Take a look at our guide to the best travel cards for Europe to learn more.

Wise: Best For Multi-Currency Balances

Load up to 54 currencies onto this card at the real exchange rate, giving you access to truly global travel.

• Trust & Credibility 9.3
• Service & Quality 8.9
• Fees & Exchange Rates 7.6
• Customer Satisfaction 9.6

These are the countries in which you can order a Wise debit card:

Unlike banks, credit unions, airport kiosks, and foreign ATMs, Wise is transparent about never charging a hidden exchange rate margin when you convert your home currency into up to 54 currencies. The live rate you see on Google or XE.com is the one you get with Wise.

An industry-low commission fee per transaction will range from 0.35% to 2.85%, depending on the currency.

Chase: Great UK Bank For Travel

A recent arrival from the USA, Chase is one of the UK’s newest digital challenger banks and comes with a rock-solid reputation and no monthly charges, no currency conversion charges, no withdrawal fees, and no other charges for everyday banking from Chase. It’s a simple, streamlined bank account with an excellent mobile banking app and a great cashback offer. However, it doesn’t yet offer more advanced features like international money transfers, joint accounts, business banking, overdrafts and loans, and teen or child accounts.

• Trust & Credibility 10
• Fees & Exchange Rates 10
• Customer Satisfaction 8.7

Chime: Great Account For US Travelers

Chime  is a good debit card for international travel thanks to its no foreign transaction fees¹. Unlike multi-currency accounts like Revolut (which let you hold local currency), Chime uses the live exchange rate applied by VISA. This rate is close to the mid-market rate, and Chime does not add any extra markup to your purchases, although out-of-network ATM withdrawal and over-the-counter advance fees may still apply.

• Trust & Credibility 9.5
• Service & Quality 8.8
• Fees & Exchange Rates 9.8

While Chime waives ATM fees at all MoneyPass, AllPoint, and VISA Plus Alliance ATMs within the United States, this fee waiver does not extend to withdrawals made outside the country. For withdrawals abroad, Chime applies a $2.50 fee per transaction, with a daily withdrawal limit of $515 or its equivalent. This is in addition to any fees charged by the ATM owner. Therefore, we recommend Chime primarily for card purchases rather than relying on it for withdrawing cash while traveling internationally.

• No  foreign transaction fees ¹;
• Uses VISA's exchange rate ( monitor here ):
• A $2.50 fee per ATM withdrawal made outside of the United States;
• More info:  Read our  Chime review  or  visit their website .

Best Travel Money Cards in 2024 Compared by Country

In the table below, see our comparison summary of the four best travel cards for 2024 by country:

Last updated: 8 January 2024

What's The Best Prepaid Card to Use Abroad?

Travel cards come in many varieties, such as standard credit cards or debit cards with no foreign transaction fees or cards that waive all foreign ATM withdrawal fees.

What is a Multi-Currency Card?

Multi-currency cards are a specific type of travel card that allows you to own all kinds of foreign currencies, which you can instantly access when you pay with your card abroad. By spending the local currency in the region of travel , you bypass poor foreign exchange rates. ATMs and cashless payment machines will treat your card like a local card.

We have already mentioned a few multi-currency cards in this review, but we will also introduce Travelex . Travelex's Money Card also allows you to top up several foreign currencies — albeit at exchange rates slightly poorer than the real mid-market rate .

Wise Account

Wise has one of the best multi-currency cards available on the market.

Read our full review for more details.

Revolut is impressive for its vast options in currencies and its additional services.

Our in-depth review explores Revolut's services in detail.

Travelex offers a prepaid travel money card that supports 10 currencies and waives all ATM withdrawal fees abroad.

• Trust & Credibility 9.0
• Service & Quality 5.8
• Fees & Exchange Rates 7.1
• Customer Satisfaction 9.3

Travelex charges fees, which fluctuate according to the exchange rates of the day, in order to convert your home currency into the currencies that it supports. But once the currency is on the card, you'll be able to spend like a local. Learn more with our full review .

Don’t Let Banks, Bureaux de Change, and ATMs Eat Your Lunch 🍕!

Are you withdrawing cash at an ATM in the streets of Paris? Exchanging currencies at Gatwick airport? Paying for a pizza with your card during a holiday in Milano? Every time you exchange currencies, you could lose between 2% to 20% of your money in  hidden fees . Keep reading below to make sure you recognize and avoid them.

Currency Exchange Fees Eating My Lunch? What’s That?

You’re often charged a hidden fee in the form of an alarming exchange rate.

At any given time, there is a so-called “ mid-market exchange rate ” — this is the real exchange rate you can see on  Google . However, the money transfer provider or bank you use to exchange currencies rarely offers this exchange rate. Instead, you will get a much worse exchange rate. They pocket this margin between the actual rate and the poor exchange rate they apply, allowing the bank or money transfer provider to profit from the currency exchange. 

In other words, you or your recipient will receive less foreign currency for each unit of currency you exchange. All the while, the provider will claim that they charge zero commission or zero fees.

So the question now is… how can you avoid them? Thankfully, the best travel money cards will allow you to hold the local currency, which you can access instantly with a tap or swipe. Carrying the local currency avoids  exchange rate margins  on every purchase.

Top Travel Money Tips

• Avoid bureaux de change. They charge between 2.15% and 16.6% of the money exchanged.
• Always pay in the local currency and never accept the  dynamic currency conversion .
• Don't use your ordinary debit or credit card unless it's specifically geared toward international use. Doing this will typically cost you between 1.75% and 4.25% per transaction. Instead, use one of the innovative travel money cards below.

By opting for a travel card without FX fees, you can freely swipe your card abroad without worrying about additional charges. However, saving money doesn't stop there. To make the most out of your travel budget, consider using  Skyscanner , one of the most powerful flight search engines available that allows you to compare prices from various airlines and find the best deals.

With Skyscanner's user-friendly interface and comprehensive search options, you can discover cheap flights and enjoy your holidays with peace of mind and more money in your pocket.

Best Travel Money Card Tips

When you convert your home currency into a foreign currency, foreign exchange service providers will charge you two kinds of fees :

• Exchange Rate Margin:  Providers apply an exchange rate that is poorer than the true  "mid-market" exchange rate . They keep the difference, called an  exchange rate margin .
• Commission Fee:  This  fee  is usually a percentage of the amount converted, which is charged for the service provided.

With these facts in mind, let's see what practices are useful to avoid ATM fees, foreign transaction fees, and other charges you may encounter while on your travels.

Tip 1: While Traveling, Avoid Bureaux de Change At All Costs

Have you ever wondered how bureaux de change and currency exchange desks are able to secure prime real estate in tourist locations like the Champs-Élysées in Paris or Covent Carden in London while claiming to take no commission? It’s easy: they make (plenty of) money through hidden fees on the exchange rates they give you. 

Our study shows that Bureaux de Change in Paris charges a margin ranging from 2.15% at CEN Change Dollar Boulevard de Strasbourg to 16.6% (!!) at Travelex Champs-Élysées when exchanging 500 US dollars into euros for example. 

If you really want cash and can’t wait to withdraw it with a card at an ATM at your destination, ordering currencies online before your trip is usually cheaper than exchanging currencies at a bureau de change, but it’s still a very expensive way to get foreign currency which we, therefore, would not recommend.

Tip 2: Always Choose To Pay In the Local Currency

Don’t fall for the dynamic currency conversion trap! When using your card abroad to pay at a terminal or withdraw cash at an ATM, you’ve probably been asked whether you’d prefer to pay in your home currency instead of the local currency of the foreign country. This little trick is called dynamic currency conversion , and the right answer to this sneaky question will help you save big on currency exchange fees.

As a general rule, you always want to pay in the local currency (euros in Europe, sterling in the UK, kroner in Denmark, bahts in Thailand, etc.) when using your card abroad, instead of accepting the currency exchange and paying in your home currency. 

This seems like a trick question - why not opt to pay in your home currency? On the plus side, you would know exactly what amount you would be paying in your home currency instead of accepting the unknown exchange rate determined by your card issuer a few days later.

What is a Dynamic Currency Conversion?

However, when choosing to pay in your home currency instead of the local one, you will carry out what’s called a “dynamic currency conversion”. This is just a complicated way of saying that you’re exchanging between the foreign currency and your home currency at the exact time you use your card to pay or withdraw cash in a foreign currency, and not a few days later. For this privilege, the local payment terminal or ATM will apply an exchange rate that is often significantly worse than even a traditional bank’s exchange rate (we’ve seen margins of up to 8%!), and of course, much worse than the exchange rate you would get by using an innovative multi-currency card (see tip #3). 

In the vast majority of times, knowing with complete certainty what amount you will pay in your home currency is not worth the additional steep cost of the dynamic currency conversion, hence why we recommend always choosing to pay in the local currency.

Tip 3: Don't Use a Traditional Card To Pay in Foreign Currency/Withdraw Cash Abroad

As mentioned before, providers make money on foreign currency conversions by charging poor exchange rates — and pocketing the difference between that and the true mid-market rate. They also make money by charging commission fees, which can either come as flat fees or as a percentage of the transaction.

Have a look at traditional bank cards to see how much you can be charged in fees for spending or withdrawing $500 while on your holiday.

These fees can very quickly add up. For example, take a couple and a child travelling to the US on a two-week mid-range holiday. According to this study , the total cost of their holiday would amount to around $4200. If you withdraw $200 in cash four times and spend the rest with your card, you would pay $123 in hidden currency exchange and ATM withdrawal fees with HSBC or $110 with La Banque Postale. With this money, our travellers could pay for a nice dinner, the entrance fee to Yosemite Park, or many other priceless memories. 

Thankfully, new innovative multi-currency cards will help you save a lot of money while travelling. Opening an N26 Classic account and using the N26 card during the same US holidays would only cost $13.60.

Need Foreign Cash Anyway?

In many countries, carrying a wad of banknotes is not only useful but necessary to pay your way since not every shop, market stall, or street vendor will accept card payments. In these cases you'll have two options to exchange foreign currency cheaply:

1. Withraw at an ATM

As we've explored in great depth in this article, withdrawing money from a foreign ATM will almost always come with fees — at the very least from the ATM itself, and so it's therefore the best strategy to use a travel debit card that doesn't charge in specific ATM withdraw fees on its own to add insult to injury. That said, if you need cash, we recommend making one large withdrawal rather than multiple smaller ones . This way, you'll be able to dodge the fees being incurred multiple times.

2. Buy Banknotes (at a Reasonable Rate!)

As we've also seen, buying foreign currency at the airport, at foreign bank branches, or in bureaux de change in tourist hotspots can be surprisingly expensive. Still, not all exchange offices are equally pricey . If you're looking for a well-priced way to exchange your cash into foreign currency banknotes before you travel, Change Group will let you order foreign currency online and pick them up at the airport, train station, or a Change Group branch just before you leave for your holiday. A few pick-up locations in the UK include:

• London centre (multiple locations),
• Glasgow centre,
• Oxford centre,
• Luton Airport,
• Gatwick Airport,
• St. Pancras Station.

(Note that Change Group also has locations in the USA, Australia, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Austria, and Finland!)

Although its exchange rates aren't quite as good as using a low-fee debit card like Revolut, Change Group's exchange rates between popular currencies tend to be between 2% to 3%, which is still a lot better than you'll get at the bank or at a touristy bureau de change in the middle or Paris or Prague!

FAQ About the Best Travel Money Cards

Having reviewed and compared several of the industry's leading neobanks, experts at Monito have found the Wise Account to offer the best multi-currency card in 2024.

In general, yes! You can get a much better deal with new innovative travel cards than traditional banks' debit/credit cards. However, not all cards are made equal, so make sure to compare the fees to withdraw cash abroad, the exchange rates and monthly fees to make sure you're getting the best deal possible.

• Sign up for a multi-currency account;
• Link your bank to the account and add your home currency;
• Convert amount to the local currency of holiday destination ( Wise and Revolut convert at the actual mid-market rate);
• Tap and swipe like a local when you pay at vendors.

Yes, the Wise Multi-Currency Card is uniquely worthwhile because it actually converts your home currency into foreign currency at the real mid-market exchange rate . Wise charges a transparent and industry-low commission fee for the service instead.

More traditional currency cards like the Travelex Money Card are good alternatives, but they will apply an exchange rate that is weaker than the mid-market rate.

The Wise Multi-Currency Card is the best money card for euros because unlike banks, credit unions, airport kiosks, and foreign ATMs,  Wise  is transparent about never charging a hidden exchange rate margin when you convert your local currency into euros with them.

The live rate you see on Google or XE.com is the one you get with  Wise . An industry-low commission fee will range from 0.35% to 2.85%. USD to EUR transfers generally incur a 1.6% fee.

Learn more about how to buy euros in the United States before your trip.

There are usually three types of travel cards, prepaid travel cards, debit travel cards and credit travel cards. Each have pros and cons, here's a short summary:

• Prepaid travel cards: You usually need to load cards with your home currency via a bank wire or credit/debit card top-up. You're then able to manage the balance from an attached mobile app and can use it to pay in foreign currencies or withdraw cash at an ATM abroad tapping into your home currency prepaid balance. With prepaid travel cards, as the name indicates, you can't spend more than what you've loaded before hand. Some prepaid card providers will provide ways to "auto top-up" when your balance reaches a certain level that you can customize. On Revolut for example, you can decide to top-up £100/£200/£500 from your debit card each time your balance reaches below £50.
• Debit travel cards: Some innovative digital banks, like N26 or Monzo, offer travel debit cards that have the same advantages than a Prepaid Travel Cards, except that they're debit card directly tapping into your current account balance. Like a Prepaid travel card, you can't spend more than the balance you have in your current account with N26 or Monzo, but you can activate an overdraft (between €1,000 or €10,000 for N26 or £1,000 for Monzo) if you need it, for a fee though.

Note that even if they're Prepaid or Debit cards, you can use them for Internet payments like a normal credit card.

• Credit travel cards: You can find credit cards made for international payments offering good exchange rates and low fees to withdraw money abroad, but you'll need to pay interests in your international payment if you don't pay in FULL at the end of every month and interest on your ATM withdrawals each day until you pay them back.

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• We've reviewed 70+ digital finance apps and online banks
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Other Monito Guides and Reviews on Top Multi Currency Cards

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You’re probably all too familiar with the often outrageous cost of sending money abroad. After facing this frustration themselves back in 2013, co-founders François, Laurent, and Pascal launched a real-time comparison engine to compare the best money transfer services across the globe. Today, Monito’s award-winning comparisons, reviews, and guides are trusted by around 8 million people each year and our recommendations are backed by millions of pricing data points and dozens of expert tests — all allowing you to make the savviest decisions with confidence.

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What are you looking for?

Wise vs revolut: which is better in 2024 [detailed & unbiased].

‍ One of the top tips I can give you while travelling is to invest in a great travel card -  trust me you won’t regret it!

There are plenty to choose from, but this guide is going to dive into the similarities and key differences between Wise and Revolut . 

We started using Revolut back in 2016 on our backpacking trip around South America , and we’ve used Wise since early 2019 so we’ve got a few years of experience with both...

To give you a good idea of which travel card is most suited to you, I’m going to go through the pros and cons of each for both personal and business accounts. 

So, let’s get stuck in…

Travellerspoint

Great features of Wise for travel

First of all, let’s take a look at Wise and the features that benefit us travellers so much…

• Although not travel-specific, Wise is FREE to sign up for and there are no monthly fees
• You can hold money in 50+ currencies and convert between them for the real exchange rate
• With Wise, you can withdraw up to 200 GBP per month from international ATMs for FREE
• You can use the Wise debit card abroad like you would any other debit card
• You can freeze your card if it gets lost or stolen
• Low transfer fees
• Better exchange rate than many other platforms out there
• Wise is great for receiving payments in foreign currencies and then offering great exchange rates and low fees to convert to pounds
• Available in over 60 countries, and your card will be shipped out for you (for a fee)
• Wise offers virtual cards as well as plastic ones

Wise Business

Now, let’s take a look at the benefits of opening a Wise Business account ! 

Of course, this is tailored specifically towards individuals who are self-employed but if you’re a keen traveller and a digital nomad then it’s likely that you may fall under this bracket.

With a Wise Business account, you’ll have many benefits of business banking but without any hidden charges, monthly fees, or high rates.

So, what are these benefits?

Key Features of a Wise Business account

• International invoices can be paid in one click with a real (and live) exchange rate
• Charges regarding payments can be up to 19x cheaper than the likes of Paypal
• Quick payments - 50% of payments are instant or arrive within the hour
• You can easily make batch payments in just one click (up to 1,000 people)
• Money can be moved between currencies in seconds, avoiding high conversion fees
• Your Wise Business account can be connected with other platforms like Xero

The best part about having a Wise Business account is that they’re very affordable.

For those who are in the EEA or UK, there's one-off set-up fee of £45 (50 euros).

The price of this one-off fee will differ depending on where you're from (and where the business is registered), but typically you'll be paying between £16-£42. With some countries, it does cost more to verify your account so you may be charged a higher fee.

After that, you don't need to worry about any hidden or monthly fees which is a huge bonus, and you'll benefit from low transfer fees and high exchange rates.

Many business owners or freelancers tend to use the likes of PayPal, but as I’ve just mentioned transfers with Wise can save you a lot of money! Trust me, if you’re using PayPal the charges add up over the year…

However, Revolut has some fantastic features too so let’s take a look at them next...

Great features of Revolut for travel 

Here’s a quick overview of the features that may convince you to choose Revolut as your next travel card…

• Revolut offers the best exchange rate possible
• Travel insurance is included with the paid plans (Premium, Metal, and Ultra plans)
• A clear account overview of all expenses
• Compatible with Google Pay and Apple Pay
• Offers an easy sharing bills feature
• You’ll be able to receive international payments
• Quick currency conversions
• Some of the paid plans offer FREE airport lounges and a concierge service
• No-fee ATM withdrawals

Additional Revolut features

• The opportunity to get involved with cryptocurrency trading
• A stock trading market
• You can make charitable donations
• With Revolut, you can receive cashback on specific purchases

Revolut Paid features 

It’s important to note that Revolut has a wide variety of personal plans , and some of these aren’t free. Therefore, there will be several paid features that won’t be accessible on a free account.

Some of these ‘paid features’ include:

• Personalised Cards
• FREE card delivery
• 24/7 priority customer support 
• Daily interest on USD savings
• Higher monthly withdrawal limits

Comparing Revolut personal plans 

As you can see there are a variety of personal plans to choose from, so to make things easier I’ve dropped a screenshot of the differences below…

For a more in-depth comparison, I’m going to dive into the Plus, Premium, Metal, and Ultra plans. 

The Plus Plan - £3.99 per month

• Personalised Plus Card
• In-app priority customer support
• Two accounts for under 18s with full access
• Up to £1,000 purchase protection for a year on eligible items
• Refund protection that covers you for a full 90 days after purchases
• Ticketed events can be reimbursed up to £1000 if you can't make it due to a reason that's beyond your control (Insurance T&Cs apply)
• Earn up to 2.39% AER/Gross (variable) paid daily on your savings
• International transfers - money can be sent in 29+ currencies

The Premium Plan - £7.99 per month 

• Unlimited foreign exchange Monday-Friday
• Up to £400 free international ATM withdrawals per month, and a 2% fee afterwards
• Full purchase protection
• Travel Insurance is included with your monthly fee
• 20% off fees on every international transfer
• Earn up to 3% AER/Gross (variable) paid daily on your savings
• 5 commission-free stock trades every month
• Perks Plus - discounts off top brands
• Benefit from an additional virtual card to help against fraud
• Up to 5% cashback on accommodation
• Access to airport lounges at discounted rates

The Metal Plan - £14.99 per month

All the standard benefits plus…

• Up to £800 free international ATM withdrawals per month, and a 2% fee afterwards
• Earn up to 4% AER/Gross (variable) paid daily on your savings
• 10 commission-free stock trades every month
• 40% off fees on every international transfer
• Up to 10% cashback on accommodation
• Cashback on card payments (up to 0.1% on transactions in Europe and UK, and 1% elsewhere)
• Personal Liability Insurance up to £1 million
• Five accounts for under 18s with full access

The Ultra Plan - £45 per month (the plan I am on!)

With Ultra you get some extra benefits...

• Up to £2000 free international ATM withdrawals per month, and a 2% fee afterwards
• Free International Transfers
• Earn up to 4.75% AER/Gross (variable) paid daily on your savings
• Trip and event cancellation insurance
• Perks worth £4,000+ in annual benefits
• Unlimited lounge access
• Platinum-plated card
• Subscriptions for Sleep Cycle, Headspace, NordVPN, and Picsart
• Can request a call back when it comes to priority customer support

Revolut Business Accounts 

Likewise, Revolut also offers business accounts if you’re self-employed or you’re a business owner. 

We’ve used Revolut Business since 2021, as we wanted to make sure that we were losing as little as possible on fees once our business started to scale more! 

Unlike Wise, Revolut has a variety of business accounts available and some of them are paid accounts.

Comparing Revolut Business Accounts 

As well as the benefits included with personal plans, you’ll also get extra if you’ve got a business and opt for a business plan.

There are four types of Revolut business plans and honestly, which one you should choose will all depend on how big your business is, how much money you’re making, and how many international payments you’ll need to make.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the differences between each business plan…

You can find out some of the other differences between Revolut business accounts through their account pricing plans .

What’s great about purchasing a Revolut Business plan is that they’ve evolved their accounts so that you can now receive domestic USD and EURO payments. 

Before this, businesses would pay into my Wise account if the payment was in dollars or euros and then I’d have to exchange the currency over to my GBP account in Revolut Business. 

Luckily, the process is now much smoother. Now, I can get paid directly from business to the domestic USD & EURO accounts in Revolut Business. This helps you avoid any intermediary fees, although there is a limit on how much you can exchange for free.

You’ll find a couple of other fantastic reasons to upgrade your Revolut Business plan, but this is generally the key reason to do so and the main differentiator in their pricing structure!

If you need to exchange more than, say £10K a month, you can then upgrade your business plan further but just make sure that it makes financial sense to do so first. 

Revolut Pro

This platform have also introduced Revolut Pro, an account which is tailored towards freelancers and those with a side hustle. Although relatively new, it's already a great option as there are some brilliant benefits. These include: 

• The ability to create, track, and send invoices in seconds
• You can accept in-person payments with Revoluts card reader (transaction fees are 1.5%).
• You can create a QR code or payment link for customers to pay you (transactions fees are 2.5%)
• This account also allows you to receive payments via Apple Pay and digital wallets
• You'll earn cashback on payments used with the Revolut Pro card
• You can make and receive payments in 36 different currencies at an excellent exchange rate
• It's free to open, as you can sign up for standard Revolut account and then set up Revolut Pro through there

What are the key differences between Wise and Revolut?

Now, this is what you’ve all been waiting for…

There are several key differences between Wise and Revolut , so to make this section easier I’m going to split it up into personal accounts and business accounts. 

Then later, I’ll dive into the important differences between the companies in more depth…

Comparing Wise personal accounts Vs Revolut personal account 

As you can see there are plenty of differences between Wise and Revolut, especially when it comes to personal accounts. 

Although Wise and Revolut both offer free plans, Revolut’s paid personal plans offer a lot more flexibility in terms of monthly withdrawals and other features.

However, Wise operates in more countries and you can hold and exchange up to 50 currencies, which is a much higher amount than Revolut. 

We’ll dive into a more in-depth comparison of the key differences between the two later on…

Comparing Wise business accounts Vs Revolut business accounts

Although you may not have thought about using Wise or Revolut for a business bank account, both have a lot to offer.

Overall, from a business standpoint, we currently still have both, as there is some nice cohesion there between the two!

However, I’ve definitely started to cut Wise out more and more since the introduction of those domestic USD & EURO accounts with Revolut. 

Although that’s the case for me, Wise still stands out greatly in its sheer quantity of different currencies in order to receive payments, which makes its (relatively modest) fees definitely worth the convenience! 

Especially as this allows us to cut out PayPal 99% of the time, which is a nightmare when it comes to fees…

Revolut Vs Wise: A breakdown of the key differences…

Both Wise and Revolut have fantastic features, but it’s always important to compare them to see which one comes out on top! 

So, let’s take a look at some of the most important features when it comes to travel cards…

1. Withdrawing money from ATMs whilst abroad

Now, this is arguably one of the most important features that a travel card needs to have! 

If you’re not careful then withdrawing money from ATMs abroad can cost you a lot in fees, especially in Asian countries such as Thailand.

Both Wise and the Revolut Free accounts allow you to withdraw up to £200 per month at ATMs without fees. However, the paid personal plans with Revolut allow you to withdraw up to £2,000 a month which is a much larger amount (you can withdraw this amount with the Ultra Plan which is what we have).

If you don’t want to pay for this luxury, then you can have a card with both Revolut and Wise, and then this will allow you to withdraw up to £400 without fees. 

Due to the monthly limits, Revolut wins this hands down…

2. Foreign currency fees

If you’re planning to receive large foreign payments, then it’s always best to invest in a travel card that will help you save on fees! At the start, we used PayPal and I think we lost around 8-10% of the actual GBP value of our payments which is CRAZY.

After we signed up for Wise in early 2019, we saved so much money due to the great exchange rates and low fees when converting to GBP.

However, after TransferWise was rebranded to Wise in 2022, I’ve found that their fees have increased and they’re not as cheap as they once were! 

In fact, we now save more money through Revolut which is the clear winner in this regard ! 

3. Number of currencies the accounts can hold

Wise is the clear winner when it comes to the number of currencies available! 

This is another important factor to think about, especially if you’re a digital nomad or long-term traveller who likes to move around a lot. 

Wise allows you to receive and send money abroad from over 50 currencies in total, although some of these transfers can only occur via local transfer. 

There’s a full list of currencies on Wise’s website if you’re looking for more information…

Whereas, Revolut allows you to send and receive money from 25+ currencies, which is much lower. 

So, if you pick Wise you can hold and exchange over 50 currencies, whilst this is restricted to around 25 with Revolut. 

4. Replacing lost cards 

One of the best things about using Wise and Revolut is that they both allow you to ‘freeze’ your card if you misplace it or it’s been stolen. 

It’s an easy process with both companies as you simply have to head into your account and then go to your ‘manage card’ section.

Both companies will charge you a fee to replace the card of £5. However, if you’re located outside the UK expect to pay a lot more!

Depending on where you live, international delivery can cost upwards of £17.99.

Both Wise and Revolut come out on top for this one so there are no winners…

5. Transfer Fees

Both Wise and Revolut are known for having low transfer fees , especially compared to traditional banks and other platforms such as Paypal. 

However, it’s Revolut that takes first place when it comes to fees!

If you’re transferring money to other countries in Europe you won’t encounter any fees, although for international transfers there will be a fee on every transfer - unless you opt for a paid business account. 

It’s often a fixed fee which makes it better than Wise’s variable transfer fees , as they are always changing based on market fluctuations. 

Wise do have some fixed transfer fees, but even then Revolut offers more bang for your buck. This makes them the best option if you're sending money abroad!

6. Locations where you can open an account

Another key thing to think about when deciding on a travel card is, of course, your location. 

Although a company may offer great rates on international money transfers and market exchange rates, it’s useless if it’s not available in your country of origin. 

Revolut is only suitable for citizens of the European Economic Area (EEA), the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Japan, Brazil, Switzerland, and the United States.

Whereas Wise is available in over 60 countries at the minute. Due to its widespread availability, Wise is the clear winner here, but just make sure your country is included before downloading the app. 

These are just a couple of the key differences between Wise and Revolut, so let’s take a look at some of the differences (and similarities) that aren’t travel related… 

Other differences between Wise and Revolut that aren’t travel-related

1. User-friendliness

Here’s another key factor to consider when choosing between Wise and Revolut. Whilst abroad, you’re going to want a travel card that’s easy to use! 

We’ve been using our standard personal Revolut account since we began travelling in 2016, and throughout the years we’ve watched the app evolve for a better customer experience.  

Even though the app has been easy to use from the get-go, today, it’s much more functional. However, Wise is also very easy to use although its app isn’t as popular as the desktop version.

Both of these companies offer a user-friendly experience, although it’s Revolut that has to take the top spot due to the popularity of its app!

2. Customer Support

Customer support is one of the most important factors to consider when choosing a travel card!

Wise is known to offer fantastic customer service with an online help centre and a support team that can be contacted via email, Facebook messenger, phone, Twitter, and Whatsapp. 

The one thing to be aware of with the Revolut personal plans is that although you’ll have access to customer support, only the paid plans will have access to 24/7 priority customer support. 

The Revolut app offers 24-hour customer service anyway so there will always be someone available if you’re encountering any problems, but the response time will often differ depending on your plan - hence ‘priority support’. 

Even with this, Revolut is the winner because they have several live chat options and you can easily talk to the customer service team.

3. Reputation

With a rating of 4.4 on the Google Play Store and 4.9 on the Apple Store, the Revolut app has plenty of excellent reviews. The Revolut Business app also has a rating of 4.6 and 4.8 respectively.

In terms of positive reviews, people have commented on the convenience of virtual cards, being able to split bills, and the wide variety of features. 

However, people have left negative reviews regarding problems with customer support, and higher rates on weekends.

Wise has a rating of 4.7 on the Google Play Store and 4.5 on the Apple Store. These ratings are similar to Revolut, and there are plenty of positive reviews regarding smooth transfers and an easy-to-use design.

However, negative reviews have been left regarding the increased transaction fees, app malfunctions, and lack of customer support. 

There seems to be pros and cons to both, although Revolut has the higher ratings!

4. Additional Features 

In terms of additional features, this is another win that goes to Revolut.

Although Wise has plenty to offer in terms of transfers, banking, and helping to avoid fees, you won't find many other features on this platform.

Revolut, however, has plenty of awesome additional features including stocks, shares, and cryptocurrency. I’ve actually had a play around with these, and they’ve got much better since they’ve been rolled out. 

Not only that, but Revolut allows you the ability to set budgets, receive cashback when purchasing certain products, and use ‘saving vaults’.

That’s just a few of the additional features that they offer, and more can be found on their website!

Overall verdict: Wise Vs Revolut - which one is better for travel?

As you can see, Revolut seems to take first place in terms of both travel features and other differences such as user-friendliness and customer support. 

Although Wise has plenty to offer regarding availability and currencies, it’s Revolut that stands out to me! 

If you’re looking to pay for a personal plan, then Revolut has a lot more to offer than Wise in terms of both banking and travel advantages. 

Not only will you benefit from better exchange rates, cheaper transfer fees, and a user-friendly app, but some of their plans offer a free concierge service, airport lounge passes, and travel insurance perks.

You won’t find many other travel cards that offer these kinds of perks, and Wise definitely doesn’t offer anything of the sort either. 

Revolut also offers a variety of business accounts, and you can choose your plan accordingly based on the features and what's on offer. Whereas Wise just has the free business account so you won’t have access to as many great benefits.

Another fantastic thing about Revolut is that they offer the ‘pay feature’ which we’ve used a few times to receive payments from brands that don’t want to (or know how to) do an international bank transfer. 

This is incredibly handy for brands or companies who’d rather pay for something from us using a traditional credit card payment. 

We now have the Ultra Plan and although it's the most expensive paid personal plan, it's certainly worth the price in our opinion as it comes with a ton of awesome perks!

However, Wise has proved very useful on a personal level when it comes to direct debits! For example, during our travels in Canada and America, we were able to set up direct debits for gym memberships and other things. 

It is also still a key part of our business when it comes to receiving foreign payments. That being said, now that we have a paid Revolut business account, the markup fees they charge are actually less than Wise's newer, slightly higher commission structure.

As you can see, both these companies have a lot to offer but for me, Revolut easily takes first place! They offer a better user experience, and even with the free personal and business accounts, you’ll benefit from a lot more features. 

Not only that, but the Revolut exchange rate is just typically better!

For more information, you can check out our in-depth Revolut guide ...

Advice for new users

If you’re planning a trip and you’re not sure which app to download , then I’d recommend going with Revolut .

Whether you stick with their FREE account or you upgrade is totally up to you, but either way, you’ll get access to a ton of awesome features. 

However, for the best experience, it may be a good idea to download both Wise and Revolut so you can have a card from each one.

This will allow you to withdraw two lots of money from an ATM so you can avoid fees! Not only that, but you won’t truly know which one will work better for you without trying it yourself…

The future of Wise and Revolut

Although Revolut tips the scale for us, it’s important to state that both of these providers are fantastic in allowing you to handle your finances.

Everyone’s preference is different when it comes to travel cards, and you must make the decision based on what’s best for you rather than just going off our opinion!

At the time of writing, we believe Revolut has more to offer in terms of additional features but this may change in the future…

Companies are always keeping an eye on their competitors, and you might find that to even the playing field, Wise may introduce some more features in the next couple of years.

How to sign up for Wise and Revolut

Signing up for Wise or Revolut is extremely easy! The first step is downloading the app for each one…

• Find Wise here
• Find Revolut here

From there, you’ll need to enter some basic details like your name, birthday, email address, and home address. 

After you’ve signed up you can then request for your card to be sent out to you. Although this will only take a few working days in the UK, you’ll need to allow 2-3 weeks if you live abroad.

Other travel cards to try

This guide is focused on highlighting the differences and similarities between Wise and Revolut, however, there are a couple of other fantastic travel cards out there.

Here are two of the other companies that we’ve tried…

Monzo is one of the stand-out travel cards on the market with fantastic exchange rates, the ability to apply for an overdraft, and the fact that the cards are compatible with Apple and Google Pay. 

We always keep both Monzo and Revolut cards on us, and to be honest there’s no real difference between the two if your sole purpose is to spend abroad and draw out money. 

Both have £200 limits on ATM withdrawals (although Monzo has a 3% surcharge fee beyond that), so having one of each allows us to withdraw money with both and avoid charges. 

If you want to find out more then you can check out our Monzo Vs Revolut review …

2. Starling Bank

With Starling Bank , you'll have access to 24/7 customer support, be covered by the FSCS, and you can sign up digitally in minutes.

That being said, in all honesty, we’ve never been a big fan of Starling Bank compared to our favourites; Monzo and Revolut. 

They don’t offer a ton of additional features, and we found the exchange rate to be slightly worse than some of the other travel cards we’ve used. 

We got a card with them because they didn't have a cap on free monthly withdrawals, which is a huge bonus but this bank just didn't work for us.

However, some people really love Starling Bank so it's all about preference I guess! 

Wise Vs Revolut? Which one takes the top spot for you…

Choosing the perfect travel card isn’t an easy task when you’ve got to consider their money transfer services, currency exchange rates, and other fees. 

I hope this guide has given you a detailed comparison of Revolut and Wise (or TransferWise as it was previously known), and what each one has to offer. 

Companies are constantly upgrading their features too, so I’d recommend checking the websites yourself to see which travel card is most suited to you! 

Here are some other guides that you may find helpful if you’re planning a trip: 

• The Best Vacation Rental Sites
• In-depth SafetyWing Review
• Ultimate Travel Packing List

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Girl Eat World

A girl's adventure in food and travel around the world, wise debit card for travel: spend like a local when abroad.

I have been a regular Wise customer ever since it was still called TransferWise many years ago. I became a fan as soon as I started using their services – I even wrote some articles raving about them on my (other) personal blog.

For a while, I used Wise for its fair foreign exchange rate, so that I can receive any currency and convert it to Singapore Dollars without paying the unfair rate that banks usually give us.

When Wise released its debit card to the Singapore market in 2019, I was among the first batch to sign up for it. However, thanks to the pandemic which locked all of us in Singapore for two years, it wasn’t until my recent visit to the US that I was able to use the Wise Debit Card for its intended purpose. And it was then that I realized the true potential of it – the card truly allowed me to spend like I was a local! What a game changer in travel.

What is Wise?

OK, first of all – what is Wise ? Wise is not a bank. It is an international money transfer service. They were originally known as TransferWise, recently rebranded to just Wise in 2021. The main feature of Wise is that it lets you create multi-currency accounts, which lets you hold a balance in currencies that are not your home currency.

For example, I live in Singapore and my home currency is Singapore Dollars. With Wise, I am able to create a multi-currency account that let me receive transfers in US Dollars, British Pounds, Euro, and Japanese Yen – just to name a few – with practically no fees. Then, I am able to convert those currencies to Singapore Dollars at a very fair mid-market rate, also with minimal fees.

It saves me money and that makes me a very very happy camper.

What is the benefit of using Wise?

You might be wondering – why should I use Wise ? What is the difference between receiving a payment with PayPal or bank direct deposit vs using Wise? Well, the difference lies in conversion fees and foreign exchange rate , which PayPal and traditional bank charge an exorbitant amount for.

For example – I recently received a payment in PayPal for 1,942.31 Thailand Baht, which PayPal converted to $84.67 Singapore Dollars. If I had received the payment in Wise, it would have been converted to $87.39 Singapore Dollars.

This example is just a small amount, so the difference isn’t much – But if you are doing larger transactions and often, this could translate to a lot more difference!

On the other hand, if you accept payment via direct deposit to your bank account, then you’ll have no choice but to use your bank’s conversion rate which tends to not be the best rate in town.

How does the Wise Debit Card work?

In 2018, Wise released a debit card that lets you spend the balance you have in your Wise multi-currency account. It works just like any other debit card – except for one small difference: Wise Debit Card lets you spend in the 40+ currencies that Wise supports.

And that, coupled with the very fair rate Wise charges for currency exchange, is a very powerful thing when you use this card for your spending abroad! Especially in countries like US , Australia , and Singapore , where contactless payment is widely accepted.

For example, during my recent visit to NYC , I bought a US $100 pair of pants from my favorite brand. If I had charged this to my regular Singapore credit card, I would have been charged a 2.25% foreign currency fee, and it would be converted using the bank’s FX rate (and banks never give you a fair rate), which would translate to SG $136. But using the Wise Card, the US $100 spending converted to only SG $132!

Now $4 is not much savings, but repeat this for every single transaction I made during my entire stay in the US, and it translated to hundreds of dollars saved!

Unless your bank gives you a mid-market rate and no foreign transaction fees, you’ll stand to benefit from using the Wise Card. Overall, I find using the Wise card translated to be the same conversion rate as using cash converted at the best money changer, but without the hassle of converting, carrying and managing cash throughout your trip.

Another feature is that Wise Debit Card also lets you withdraw cash from ATMs using that same card, though I have yet to try this myself.

➡️ To start spending like a local, simply create a Wise account and apply for the Wise Card!

How can I use Wise Debit Card when I travel?

If everything I’ve written seems confusing to you, don’t worry! I’ve created a step-by-step how you can use the Wise card for your travel. Here goes:

Step 1: Create a Wise account

First of all, you do need to have a Wise account to be able to use the Wise card. So, register for an account right on their website! Do this about a month before you are due to travel , because you do need to provide some ID and go through verification before they can approve you for an account. It didn’t take too long for me in Singapore, but it might take some time for other countries.

Step 2: Apply for the Wise card

Once your Wise account has been approved, you can apply for the Wise card through the mobile app. Again, do this ahead of your travel as it may take them some time to send you the physical card.

You don’t actually need to get a physical card if you’re traveling to countries where mobile or contactless payment is accepted, like US , Australia , and Singapore . The Wise mobile app would have already let you create digital cards, which you can add to your smartphone wallet and use with contactless payments. But, I recommend getting the physical card anyway in case the merchant still lives in the stone age and needs to swipe your actual physical card. And we did actually encounter such a merchant in San Francisco!

Or, the physical card could also come in handy should you need to withdraw cash from the ATM at your destination country.

Step 3: Fund your Wise account

Before you travel, you’ll need to fund the Wise account so that you can spend the balance while you’re abroad. To do this, simply open a balance in your home currency, and use the details to send some funds. For security purposes, I suggest sending only what you plan to spend per trip so that you don’t have too much money in the Wise account.

For example, my home currency is Singapore Dollars. So in the Wise mobile app, I opened a Singapore Dollar (SGD) balance which gives me Singapore bank account details. Then, I simply transferred some Singapore Dollars to the Singapore bank account that Wise gave me. The transfer time varies per country and bank, but in Singapore, it is almost instant.

Step 4: Open a balance in the currency of the destination you are traveling to

You don’t actually have to do this because Wise will automatically convert your balance to whatever currency you’re spending, and it will choose the currency with the least conversion fee.

But if you want to have more control over how the balance is spent (like when you spot a really good fx rate), then I suggest you create a balance in the currency of the destination you’re going to. Then, you can convert some balance to that currency using the mobile app.

For example, suppose I am traveling to Australia. In my Wise app, I would open both a Singapore Dollar balance and an Australian Dollar balance. I would then transfer some Singapore Dollar to the balance. Then, whenever I notice Australian Dollar is getting weaker against Singapore Dollar, I would convert some amount to fund the trip.

Step 5: Always pay in the local currency of your travel destination

Let’s say all is well and you have received your Wise card (whether physical or digital) and you’re already in the midst of your travel, ready to spend the money. Sometimes, at point of sale, the cashier will ask which currency you want to spend in – your home currency, or the local currency of the destination you’re traveling in.

If given the option, ALWAYS pay in the local currency of the destination you are visiting . If you choose to pay in your home currency, you will trigger Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) – which is a scam, and it means funds will be deducted from the home currency balance, but converted at a conversion rate decided by the bank. This completely defeats the purpose of using a Wise card!

Let me give you an example: if I (as a Singaporean) am traveling in America, I might be asked at the point of sales whether I want to pay in US Dollars or Singapore Dollar. I will ALWAYS choose paying in the local currency (US Dollars – USD) when I’m traveling in the US. If I choose my home currency (Singapore Dollars – SGD), the funds will be taken from my SGD balance at the bank’s rate. The bank will simply tell Wise how much SGD to deduct, and Wise is completely unaware of the original USD transaction.

How can I use a Wise Debit Card safely when I’m abroad?

Wise Debit Card makes money management while traveling super convenient. I no longer needed to convert that much cash when I travel, I only keep some for emergencies. I was even able to use it as my travel card when I was in NYC since the metro now accepts contactless transactions. I simply added my Wise Debit Card to my Apple Wallet and tapped using Apple Pay to pay whenever I boarded the train!

Now, we all know credit card scams are very common. I myself have fallen victim when I used my credit card in Bali and Vietnam , so you definitely want to stay vigilant when you’re using your Wise Debit Card – just like any other card really!

Here are some tips to keep your Wise account and card details safe:

Security Tip #1: Use the digital card feature

As much as possible, limit the use of your physical debit card and never expose the card details by using it as-is when paying online. This is the golden rule because that’s how most card details get stolen – whether someone manually copied the detail, or the card details get stolen when you swiped your card, or the store you’re shopping online gets hacked.

Instead, Wise has a feature that lets you generate digital cards through their mobile app. This is a very handy feature – it gives you a card detail that only exists digitally but behaves like any physical card. You can delete and re-generate digital cards as needed, but you can only hold 3 digital cards at a time. If your digital card details get stolen or leaked, you can just freeze the compromised card through the Wise mobile app.

When traveling, I usually generate a digital card for the trip. Then I use that same digital card throughout the trip, and when the trip is done, I delete the digital card detail. Don’t delete it if you’re expecting a refund though!

Security Tip #2: Pay with your mobile wallet whenever possible

Mobile wallets, like Apple Pay or Google Pay, are one of the most secure ways of transacting in person. It obfuscates your card detail so that even if someone intercepts your card at the point of payment, they can’t know your actual card detail. Paired with the digital card feature and adding a digital card to your mobile wallet, it basically makes your account extra secure. No one will ever know your real card detail!

Security Tip #3: Freeze the cards until you need to use it

You can easily and instantly freeze and unfreeze any card details through the Wise mobile app. I always keep all physical and digital cards frozen until I am about to use them. This greatly reduces the chance of someone compromising my card and taking money from my Wise account.

Security Tip #4: Keep only the balance you need in your Wise account

Only transfer what you need for the trip to your balance. In the event that your card or account is compromised, this will help minimize damage because the thief will only have access to whatever balance is in your Wise account.

And there you have it! Wise Debit Card has definitely become an integral part of my travel. With all the security features around it, I feel confident to use the Wise card abroad at any destination.

As usual, please leave me a comment below if you have any questions!

Until next time 👌🏻

Note: I am just a regular, long-time, happy customer of Wise . I was not paid to write this review. As always, all thoughts and opinions are honest and remain my own.

• May 28, 2024

Hi there! Great review! I was wondering: – if you run out of money on your trip, can you still transfer and convert money while you’re abroad? – if, by the end of your trip, you can get your unused money back? Thank you!

• May 29, 2024

Yes, if you run out of money you should be able to transfer money to your Wise account and use it abroad. But it depends on your bank.

At the end of the trip, you can simply transfer back any money you don’t use to your bank account. However, unless you hold a multi-currency account, you might have to convert back any balance that is in a foreign currency.

• April 2, 2024

Thanks for the helpful info! I’m just wondering, since you are saying you save money on conversion rates compared to the bank – isn’t that outweighed by the debit fee and wise fee for doing the conversion? In one example, if I transfer $1000 CAD to EUR, the fees on that are $8.86 which seems more expensive than using the bank exchange rate and a card with no fees (ie. CIBC prepaid visa card). Could you please let me know what you think? Thanks!

it definitely depends on your bank charge. for me in singapore, we don’t have any card that doesn’t charge forex conversion fee.

• February 4, 2024

Hi Melissa! I came accross your post and it was very useful! I am myself a Wise user, but my doubt is: as a tourist in Singapore, how easy would it be to use my card and get some cash from regular ATMs? Are international Wise cards well accepted everywhere?

It would be wonderful if you could give me these details, as my trip to Singapore will take place within the next few weeks and I’m going on with preparations.

Hope to hear from you soon, many thanks!

Hey Tatiana. Singapore is where Wise has their APAC headquarters! you can use Wise pretty much everywhere here through the touchless function. If you have a smartphone, add a virtual card to your wallet and you are good to go. I haven’t tried withdrawing from ATM myself, but my siblings have and it is smooth process for them.

• March 28, 2024

What other cards should you take as a backup when travelling to Singapore from Australia?

• January 4, 2024

Very informative and useful information. Thank you.

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Travel Technology: Should I Use a Prepaid Travel Credit Card Like Wise?

by Carolyn Ray | Apr 9, 2024

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Last updated on April 19th, 2024

How to save money and convert multiple currencies while travelling

by Carolyn Ray

Welcome to our Travel Technology column, where I attempt to answer your questions about the mystifying, ever-changing and evolving world of technology. Having spent years working in the technology industry with IBM and other notable firms, I have always been an early adopter and feel qualified to share my personal experiences or find those who know more than me, which often includes our readers. I always encourage you to review other sources and consult with experts.

Topic of the week: Prepaid travel credit cards

One of the most frequent questions on our private Solo Travel Wisdom group is about prepaid travel credit cards.

Question: “Does anyone have experience with a Wise card? How are the exchange rates going from Canadian dollars to other currencies? Thank you for any guidance you can give me.” — Cheryl T.

My take : I much prefer having a digital card like Wise on my phone versus pulling my credit card out of my wallet when I want to pay for public transit or make payments at stores and restaurants. In most European countries, you can tap on and off public transportation, such as the metro, subway, or bus with your phone using your Wallet (on iPhone) which uses facial recognition for additional protection.The other feature I enjoy is currency exchange, which can be done at the touch of a button for a small fee. For example, if I am travelling to Switzerland and don’t have Swiss Francs, I can convert my Euros into this currency at the touch of a button, and then convert unused funds into a currency I need. As a business owner, I use Wise to make payments in different currencies and have found the fees significantly lower than Paypal. Wise also has a plastic credit card as well but I just use the digital one.

Editorial note: JourneyWoman may earn revenue from this article from the company mentioned if you choose to purchase their product, but there is no cost to you for this. Our perspective is informed by our readers and our personal experiences, not influenced by advertisers. We wouldn’t recommend a product we haven’t used ourselves and will state if an article of this type is paid for or sponsored by a company, which it is not in this case. Read our disclaimer here . 

What is a prepaid travel card?

A travel money card, also called a currency card, is a type of card which allows you to keep multiple currencies and use the card while travelling the world with no hidden fees to worry about.

Read More: How to Save Money on Travel: Tips From Experienced Solo Travellers

Benefits of a prepaid travel card.

Prepaid cards like Wise offer several benefits over physical credit cards, including no foreign transaction fees and lower rates than traditional credit cards.

Exchange rates : Both Revolut and Wise use the mid-market exchange rate, which is much better than the rate we might get at a bank, which also charges hidden fees. One difference with Revolut is that there is an extra 1.0% fee if you’d like to move RUB, THB or UAH. Revolut also charges a fee outside exchange hours, which can range between 0.5% – 2.0%.

Sending money : Fees vary slightly when sending money depending on the source of the funding. For example, if you’re funding your Wise account from your bank account, there is an Interac fee. I use Wise for business so the fees may be slightly higher than on personal accounts.

Receiving money : There is no charge to receive non-wire money on Wise . There is a fixed fee depending on the amount for SWIFT or wire transactions, between $4 and $10.

Read More: Travel Technology: What is an eSIM or Electronic Sim Card for Mobile Phones?

What women say about Wise and prepaid travel credit cards

“ Wise is an amazing resource. If you get the debit card, you can transfer money into a local currency account and use the debit card to withdraw it when in the country. You save a LOT on fees and currency conversion charges. — Mariellen W.

“Reminder to check which credit cards don’t have international fees. I forgot all about it this last trip & boy did those fees add up.” — MaKoa N.

“I have (a Wise card). I can’t really speak to your question about exchange rates but I have found it to be a great way to carry money internationally. It’s easy to load money onto it. It’s not connected to my own bank account so the risk of losing it is less damaging. It’s widely accepted so less need to carry anything else. I have nothing but positive experiences with it.” — Nancy T.

“I have Wise and I totally love it. You can go on their website and see that day’s exchange rate I believe. What you are not paying with this card is the 2 to 3% above that rate that bank cards charge to do a foreign transaction!!” — Cathi W.

“I used Wise to transfer money to an overseas vendor to pay for a trip in their currency. The exchange rate and service fees were less than using my credit card. It was easy once I read through the steps and provided confirmation of the transaction and delivery of the funds. I continue to weigh the savings vs credit card use (not accumulating points and insurance).” — Helen C.

“I also use Wise as a way to receive money from retreat participants in the currency of their choice and so that I can easily and seamlessly move through countries and access that same currency, having never paid exchange rates. I will caution anyone who holds large amounts (50K+) in any digital service, however. They are not a bank, and while highly regulated are not under the same protection as an institution.” — Tania C.

Please note: We make every effort to provide accurate and up-to-date information. While we may highlight certain positives of a finanical product, there is no guarantee that readers will benefit from the product. To the extent any recommendations or statements of opinion or fact made in a story may constitute financial advice, they constitute general information and not personal financial advice in any form. Readers of our stories should not act on any recommendation without first taking appropriate steps to verify the information in the stories consulting their independent financial adviser in order to ascertain whether the recommendation (if any) is appropriate, having regard to their investment objectives, financial situation and particular needs. Providing access to our stories should not be construed as investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any security or product, or to engage in or refrain from engaging in any transaction by JourneyWoman.  Read more in our Terms of Use of this site. 

Learn More About Travel Technology

Travel Technology: What is a VPN or Virtual Private Network?

by Carolyn Ray | May 18, 2024

Our Travel Technology series answers the question: ‘what is a VPN’, to help you protect your privacy on public networks.

Travel Technology: What is an eSIM or Electronic Sim Card for Mobile Phones?

by Carolyn Ray | Mar 31, 2024

Our Travel Technology series starts with a look at eSIMs, a new, cost-effective way for women to save money and stay connected on mobile phones.

Hold The Phone, Grandma: Safe Etiquette for Grandkid Holiday Snaps and Social Media

by Kathy Buckworth | Dec 22, 2023

Suggestions for grandparents when posting holiday photos on social media, particularly when traveling with grandchildren.

Carolyn Ray

As the CEO and Editor of JourneyWoman, Carolyn is a passionate advocate for women's travel and living the life of your dreams. She leads JourneyWoman's team of writers and chairs the JourneyWoman Women's Advisory Council and Women's Speaker's Bureau. She has been featured in the New York Times, Toronto Star and Zoomer as a solo travel expert, and speaks at women's travel conferences around the world. In March 2023, she was named one of the most influential women in travel by TravelPulse and was the recipient of a SATW travel writing award in September 2023. She is the chair of the Canadian chapter of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW), a member Women's Travel Leaders and a Herald for the Transformational Travel Council (TTC). Sometimes she sleeps. A bit.

We always strive to use real photos from our own adventures, provided by the guest writer or from our personal travels. However, in some cases, due to photo quality, we must use stock photography. If you have any questions about the photography please let us know. Disclaimer: We are so happy that you are checking out this page right now! We only recommend things that are suggested by our community, or through our own experience, that we believe will be helpful and practical for you. Some of our pages contain links, which means we’re part of an affiliate program for the product being mentioned. Should you decide to purchase a product using a link from on our site, JourneyWoman may earn a small commission from the retailer, which helps us maintain our beautiful website. JourneyWoman is an Amazon Associate and earns from qualifying purchases. Thank you! We want to hear what you think about this article, and we welcome any updates or changes to improve it. You can comment below, or send an email to us at [email protected] .

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Wise Travel Card Review: The Multi-Currency Debit Card For Travellers

By: Author Angela Price

Posted on Last updated: March 26, 2024

The Wise Travel Card is a Visa Debit card designed for international travellers and individuals who frequently make multi currency transactions. I was first introduced to the Wise card by another travel blogger who had been using it for a few years and could vouch for its credibility.

At the time, I was looking for a money transfer account that would allow different currencies to be paid into it without incurring the hefty conversion fees my high street bank was charging me. I also wanted an easy-to-use, app-based money card that I could use during my travels to check, top-up and convert balances whenever needed.

The Wise Travel Money Card sounded perfect because it would allow me to have one debit card holding credit balances in USD, EUR, and GBP, all in separate currency wallets. I could then use my Wise Euro credit balance to buy items charged in Euros and likewise for USD. My transactions would be like-for-like, with no hefty currency conversion fees appearing on a statement.

I could also exchange one currency wallet balance for another at any time via the Wise App. The app is easy to use, and with a press of a button, I can auto-convert my USD or EUR balances for GBP, which appear in my online GBP currency wallet immediately. Simple!

Wise also allows me to send, add, or request money at any time and even set up direct debits through the app.

In the time I have been using my Wise Travel Card, I have been very pleased with its functionality and am happy to let other travellers (and non-travellers) know about it. For transparency, please see the Wise Card Fees and Pricing.

This travel guide may contain affiliate links – please read my  disclaimer and privacy policy for more information.

Table of Contents

What Is The Benefit Of Using Wise?

• The Wise Debit Visa is linked to a Wise multi-currency account, allowing you to manage money in multiple currencies.
• One of the key features of Wise is its use of the real exchange rate, providing users with rates close to the mid-market rate without additional markups. This can result in cost savings compared to traditional banks.
• The card offers interest on your multi-currency balances, which is great if you don’t intend to withdraw your funds immediately.
• Wise typically offers transparent and competitive fees for international money transactions and currency conversions. Users may benefit from lower fees compared to traditional banks.
• The card supports contactless payments, allowing for quick and convenient transactions at merchants that accept contactless payments.
• The Wise Debit Card is a Visa, which means it’s an international debit card widely accepted globally. Users can use the card for online, in-person, and ATM withdrawals worldwide. It’s all you need in one card.
• Wise provides a mobile app that allows users to manage their multi-currency accounts, monitor transactions, and receive notifications. The Wise app also features such as spending analytics and budgeting tools.
• The card can be used to withdraw cash from ATMs around the world. Wise has partnerships with specific ATMs to offer fee-free or reduced-fee withdrawals up to a specific limit.
• Visa provides standard security features, and Wise offers additional security measures through its app, such as the ability to lock/unlock the card and receive instant transaction notifications.
• Users can activate and manage their Wise Debit Visa through the Wise mobile app.

Wise Card For International Travel

I recently used my Wise travel card while on holiday in Lanzarote, Spain . I paid for entrance fees and food and drink in Euros, which was debited from the Euro currency wallet in my Wise account. The debit card was so easy to use, and I knew I wasn’t going to be charged any additional fees as the transaction was made in EUR rather than being converted from GBP.

I also just purchased a flight online and paid in USD. This came from my Wise USD currency wallet, which was straightforward with no added foreign transaction fees.

How To Get Your Wise Card

I hope this post has helped outline the benefits of getting a Wise Travel Card. The details I have provided are a brief overview, so please visit the official Wise website for more in-depth details before signing up.

You can access a digital card in your app as soon as Wise accepts your application, but if you prefer a physical card like me, you can apply for one below.

The physical Wise card costs a one-off fee of £7. And yes, the card really is the same colour as Kermit the Frog from The Muppet Show!

APPLY FOR YOUR WISE TRAVEL DEBIT CARD

I am not a financial expert, nor did Wise pay me to write this article; however, I am now part of their affiliate scheme, and I will receive a small commission if you sign up through my link. This is at no extra cost to you and helps me keep this travel blog running.

The opinions in this review are based entirely on my own experiences using my Wise Debit Card. Before you sign up for a Wise Card, please be sure to do your own due diligence.

 I would like to receive occasional updates and new travel posts.

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6 Best Travel Cards for China

Getting an international travel card before you travel to China can make it cheaper and more convenient when you spend in Chinese Yuan. You'll be able to easily top up your card in USD before you leave the US, to convert seamlessly to CNY for secure and flexible spending and withdrawals.

This guide walks through our picks of the best travel cards available for anyone from the US heading to China, like Wise or Revolut. We'll walk through a head to head comparison, and a detailed look at their features, benefits and drawbacks.

6 best travel money cards for China:

Let's kick off our roundup of the best travel cards for China with a head to head comparison on important features. Here's an overview of the providers we've picked to look at, for customers looking for ways to spend conveniently overseas when travelling from the US:

Each of the international travel cards we’ve picked out have their own features and fees, which may mean they suit different customer needs. Keep reading to learn more about the features, advantages and disadvantages of each - plus a look at how to order the travel card of your choice before you head off to China.

Wise travel card

Open a Wise account online or in the Wise app, to order a Wise travel card you can use for convenient spending and withdrawals in China. Wise accounts can hold 40+ currencies, so you can top up in USD easily from your bank or using your card. Whenever you travel, to China or beyond, you’ll have the option to convert to the currency you need in advance if it’s supported for holding a balance, or simply let the card do the conversion at the point of payment.

In either case you’ll get the mid-market exchange rate with low, transparent fees whenever you spend in CNY, plus some free ATM withdrawals every month - perfect if you’re looking for easy ways to arrange your travel cash.

Wise features

Wise travel card pros and cons.

• Hold and exchange 40+ currencies with the mid-market rate
• Spend seamlessly in CNY when you travel
• Some free ATM withdrawals every month, for those times only cash will do
• Ways to receive payments to your Wise account conveniently
• Manage your account and card from your phone
• 9 USD delivery fee for your first card
• ATM fees apply once you've exhausted your monthly free withdrawals
• Physical cards may take 14 - 21 days to arrive

How to apply for a Wise card

Here’s how to apply for a Wise account and order a Wise  travel card in the US:

Open the Wise app or desktop site

Select Register and confirm you want to open a personal account

Register with your email, Facebook, Apple or Google ID

Upload your ID document to complete the verification step

Tap the Cards tab to order your card

Pay the one time 9 USD fee, confirm your mailing address, and your card will be on the way, and should arrive in 14 - 21 days

Revolut travel card

Choose a Revolut account, from the Standard plan which has no monthly fee, to higher tier options which have monthly charges but unlock extra features and benefits. All accounts come with a smart Revolut card you can use in China, with some no fee ATM withdrawals and currency conversion monthly, depending on the plan you pick. Use your Revolut account to hold and exchange 25+ currencies, and get extras like account options for under 18s, budgeting tools and more.

Revolut features

Revolut travel card pros and cons.

• Pick the Revolut account plan that suits your spending needs
• Hold and exchange 25+ currencies, and spend in 150 countries
• Accounts come with different card types, depending on which you select
• All accounts have some no fee currency exchange and some no fee ATM withdrawals monthly
• Some account tiers have travel perks like complimentary or discounted lounge access
• You need to upgrade to an account with a monthly fee to get all account features
• Delivery fees may apply for your travel card
• Fair usage limits apply once you exhaust your currency conversion and ATM no fee allowances
• Out of hours currency conversion has additional fees

How to apply for a Revolut card

Set up your Revolut account before you leave the US and order your travel card. Here’s how:

Download and open the Revolut app

Register by adding your personal and contact information

Follow the prompts to confirm your address and order your card

Pay any required delivery fee - costs depend on your account type

Chime travel card

Use your Chime account and card to spend in China with no foreign transaction fee. You’ll just need to load a balance in USD and then the money is converted to CNY instantly with the Visa rate whenever you spend or make a withdrawal. There’s a fee to make an ATM withdrawal out of network, which sits at 2.5 USD, but there are very few other costs to worry about. Plus you can get lots of extra services from Chime if you need them, such as ways to save.

Chime features

Chime travel card pros and cons.

• No Chime foreign transaction fees
• No ongoing charges for your account
• Lots of extra products and services if you need them
• Easy ways to manage your money online and in app
• Virtual cards available
• You'll need to inform Chime you're traveling to use your card abroad
• Low ATM limits
• Cards take 7 - 10 days to arrive by mail

How to apply for a Chime card

Here’s how to apply for a Chime account and order a travel card in the US:

Visit the Chime website or download the app

Click Get started and add your personal details

Add a balance

Your card will be delivered in the mail and you can use your virtual card instantly

Monzo travel card

Monzo cards can be ordered easily in the US and used for spending in China and globally. Monzo accounts are designed for holding USD only - but you can spend in CNY and pretty much any other currency easily, with no foreign transaction fee. Your funds are just converted using the network exchange rate whenever you pay or make a withdrawal.

Monzo doesn’t usually apply ATM fees, but it’s worth knowing that the operator of the specific ATM you pick may have their own costs you’ll need to check out.

Monzo features

Monzo travel card pros and cons.

• Good selection of services available
• No foreign transaction fee to pay
• No Monzo ATM fee to pay
• Manage your card from your phone conveniently
• Deposits are FDIC protected
• You can't hold a foreign currency balance
• ATM operators might apply their own fees

How to apply for a Monzo card

Here’s how to apply for a Monzo account and order a travel card in the US:

Visit the Monzo website or download the app

Click Get Sign up and add your personal details

Check and confirm your mailing address and your card will be delivered in the mail

Netspend travel card

Netspend has a selection of prepaid debit cards you can use for spending securely in China. While these cards don’t usually let you hold a balance in CNY, they’re popular with travelers as they’re not linked to your regular checking account. That increases security overseas - plus, Netspend offers virtual cards you can use to hide your physical card details from retailers if you want to.

The options with Netspend vary a lot depending on the card you pick. Usually you can top up digitally or in cash in USD and then spend overseas with a fixed foreign transaction fee applying every time you spend in a foreign currency. You’ll be able to view the terms and conditions of your specific card - including the fees - online, by entering the code you’ll find when your card is sent to you.

Netspend features

Netspend travel card pros and cons.

• Large selection of different card options depending on your needs
• Some cards have no overseas ATM fees
• Prepaid card which is secure to use overseas
• Manage your account in app
• Change from one card plan to another if you need to
• You may pay a monthly fee for your card
• Some cards have foreign transaction fees for all overseas use, which can be around 4%
• Selection of fees apply depending on the card you pick

How to apply for a Netspend card

Here’s how to apply for a Netspend account and order a travel card in the US:

Visit the Netspend website

Click Apply now

Complete the details, following the onscreen prompts

Get verified

Your card will arrive by mail - add a balance and activate it to get started

PayPal travel card

PayPal has a debit card you can link to your PayPal balance account, to spend in China as well as locally, in person and online. One advantage of PayPal is that there are lots of easy ways to add money in USD - but bear in mind that when you spend in CNY you’ll likely pay a foreign transaction fee of 2.5%. ATM fees apply when you make out of network withdrawals, too, which can push up the costs depending on how you use your card.

PayPal travel cards aren’t connected to your checking account which makes them a handy and secure way to spend, particularly if you already have a PayPal balance account.

PayPal features

Paypal travel card pros and cons.

• Globally accepted card
• Easy ways to top up your PayPal balance including cash and check
• Popular and reliable provider
• Use your card for spending online easily as well
• 2.5 USD fee for out of network ATM withdrawals
• 2.5% fee when you spend in a foreign currency
• Other charges may apply depending on how you fund and use your account

How to apply for a PayPal card

Here’s how to apply for a PayPal account and order a travel card in the US:

Visit the PayPal website or download the app

Click Get Sign up or log into your existing account

Add your personal details to create an account, or tap Request a card if you already have a PayPal account

Follow the prompts to order your card

What is a travel money card?

A travel money card is a card you can use for secure and convenient payments and withdrawals overseas.

You can use a travel money card to tap and pay in stores and restaurants, with a wallet like Apple Pay, or to make ATM withdrawals so you'll always have a bit of cash in your pocket when you travel.

Although there are lots of different travel money cards on the market, all of which are unique, one similarity you'll spot is that the features and fees have always been optimised for international use. That might mean you get a better exchange rate compared to using your normal card overseas, or that you run into fewer fees for common international transactions like ATM withdrawals.

Travel money cards also offer distinct benefits when it comes to security. Your travel money card isn't linked to your United States Dollar everyday account, so even if you were unlucky and had your card stolen, your primary bank account remains secure.

Travel money vs prepaid card vs travel credit card

It's helpful to know that you'll be able to pick from several different types of travel cards, depending on your priorities and preferences. Travel cards commonly include:

• Travel debit cards
• Travel prepaid cards
• Travel credit cards

They all have distinct benefits when you head off to China or elsewhere in the world, but they do work a bit differently.

Travel debit and prepaid cards are usually linked to an online account, and may come from specialist digital providers - like the Wise card. These cards are usually flexible and cheap to use. You'll be able to manage your account and card through an app or on the web.

Travel credit cards are different and may suit different customer needs. As with any other credit card, you may need to pay an annual fee or interest and penalties depending on how you manage your account - but you could also earn extra rewards when spending in a foreign currency, or travel benefits like free insurance for example. Generally using a travel credit card can be more expensive compared to a debit or prepaid card - but it does let you spread out the costs of your travel across several months if you'd like to and don't mind paying interest to do so.

What is a prepaid travel money card best for?

Let's take a look at the advantages of using a prepaid travel money card for travellers going to China. While each travel card is a little different, you'll usually find some or all of the following benefits:

• Hold and exchange foreign currencies - allowing you to lock in exchange rates and set a travel budget before you leave
• Convenient for spending in person and through mobile wallets like Apple Pay, as well as for cash withdrawals
• You may find you get a better exchange rate compared to your bank - and you'll usually be able to avoid any foreign transaction fee, too
• Travel cards are secure as they're not linked to your everyday USD account - and because you can make ATM withdrawals when you need to, you can also avoid carrying too much cash at once

Overall, travel cards offer flexible and low cost ways to avoid bank foreign transaction and international ATM fees, while accessing decent exchange rates.

How to choose the best travel card for China

We've picked out 6 great travel cards available in the US - but there are also more options available, which can make choosing a daunting task. Some things to consider when picking a travel card for China include:

• What exchange rates does the card use? Choosing one with the mid-market rate or as close as possible to it is usually a smart plan
• What fees are unavoidable? For example, ATM charges or top up fees for your preferred top up methods
• Does the card support a good range of currencies? Getting a card which allows you to hold and spend in CNY can give you the most flexibility, but it's also a good idea to pick a card with lots of currency options, so you can use it again in future, too
• Are there any other charges? Check in particular for foreign transaction fees, local ATM withdrawal fees, inactivity fees and account close fees

Ultimately the right card for you will depend on your specific needs and preferences.

What makes a good travel card for China

The best travel debit card for China really depends on your personal preferences and how you like to manage your money.

Overall, it pays to look for a card which lets you minimise fees and access favourable exchange rates - ideally the mid-market rate. While currency exchange rates do change all the time, the mid-market rate is a good benchmark to use as it’s the one available to banks when trading on wholesale markets. Getting this rate, with transparent conversion fees, makes it easier to compare costs and see exactly what you’re paying when you spend in CNY.

Other features and benefits to look out for include low ATM withdrawal fees, complimentary travel insurance, airport lounge access or emergency cash if your card is stolen. It’s also important to look into the security features of any travel card you might pick for China. Look for a card which uses 2 factor authentication when accessing the account app, which allows you to set instant transaction notifications, and which has easy ways to freeze, unfreeze and cancel your card with your phone.

When you head off to China you can expect to find you’ll be able to use your card a lot - but not always. Some merchants still prefer cash payments - so choosing a card which is easy to pay with, but which also has simple and low cost ways to make ATM withdrawals should mean you’re covered no matter what happens

Ways to pay in China

Cash and card payments - including contactless, mobile wallet, debit, credit and prepaid card payments - are the most popular ways to pay globally.

In China card payments are common in most situations. You’ll be able to make Chip and PIN or contactless payments or use your favourite mobile wallet like Apple Pay to tap and pay on the go. It’s still worth having a little cash on you just in case - and for the odd situations where cash is more convenient, such as when tipping or buying a small item in a market.

Which countries use CNY?

You’ll find that CNY can only be used in China. If you don’t travel to China frequently it’s worth thinking carefully about how much to exchange so you’re not left with extra foreign currency after your trip. Or pick a travel card from a provider like Wise or Revolut which lets you leave your money in USD and convert at the point of payment with no penalty.

What should you be aware of when travelling to China

You’re sure to have a great time in China - but whenever you’re travelling abroad it's worth putting in a little advance thought to make sure everything is organised and your trip goes smoothly. Here are a few things to think about:

1. Double check the latest entry requirements and visas - rules can change abruptly, so even if you’re been to China before it’s worth looking up the most recent entry requirements so you don’t have any hassle on the border

2. Plan your currency exchange and payment methods - you can change USD to CNY before you travel to China if you’d like to, but as card payments are common, and ATMs widely available, you can actually leave it until you arrive to get everything sorted as long as you have a travel money card. Top up your travel money card in USD and either exchange to CNY in advance or at the point of payment, and make ATM withdrawals whenever you need cash. Bear in mind that currency exchange at the airport will be expensive - so hold on until you reach China to make an ATM withdrawal in CNY if you can.

3. Get clued up on any health or safety concerns - get travel insurance before you leave the US so you have peace of mind. It’s also worth reading up on any common scams or issues experienced by tourists. These tend to change over time, but may include things like rip off taxis or tour agents which don’t offer fair prices or adequate services.

Conclusion - Best travel cards for China

Ultimately the best travel card for your trip to China will depend on how you like to manage your money. Use this guide to get some insights into the most popular options out there, and to decide which may suit your specific needs.

FAQ - best travel cards for China

When you use a travel money card you may find there’s an ATM withdrawal fee from your card issuer, and there may also be a cost applied by the ATM operator. Some of our travel cards - like the Wise and Revolut card options - have some no fee ATM withdrawals every month, which can help keep down costs.

Travel money cards may be debit, prepaid or credit cards. Which is best for you will depend on your personal preferences. Debit and prepaid cards are usually pretty cheap and secure to spend with, while credit cards may have higher fees but often come with extra perks like free travel insurance and extra reward points.

There’s no single best prepaid card for international use. Look out for one which supports a large range of currencies, with good exchange rates and low fees. This guide can help you compare some popular options, including Wise, Revolut and Monzo.

Yes, you can use your local debit card when you’re overseas. However, it’s common to find extra fees apply when spending in foreign currencies with a regular debit card. These can include foreign transaction fees and international ATM charges.

Usually having a selection of ways to pay - including a travel card, your credit or debit card, and some cash - is the best bet. That means that no matter what happens, you have an alternative payment method you can use conveniently.

Yes. Most travel debit cards have options to make ATM withdrawals. Check the fees that apply as card charges do vary a lot. Some cards have local and international fees on all withdrawals, while others like Wise and Revolut, let you make some no fee withdrawals monthly before a fee kicks in.

Both Visa and Mastercard are globally accepted. Look out for the logo on ATMs and payment terminals in China.

The cards you see on this page are ordered as follows:

For card providers that publish their exchange rates on their website, we used their USD / CNY rate to calculate how much Chinese Yuan you would receive when exchanging / spending $4,000 USD. The card provider offering the most CNY is displayed at the top, the next highest below that, and so on.

The rates were collected at 15:54:21 GMT on 19 February 2024.

Below this we display card providers for which we could not verify their exchange rates. These are displayed in alphabetical order.

Send international money transfer

More travel card guides.

Apps Like Wise

Updated July 25, 2023

sources cited

Shivam Bhardwaj

Reviewed by

Art Zabalov

Why you can trust us: Our recommendations are unbiased, based on personal experience, and regularly updated to ensure accuracy. We personally test every provider we review. We may earn a commission if you sign up for a platform using one of our links. Learn more.

With a presence in over 77 countries and the ability to hold more than 50 currencies in its multi-currency accounts, Wise has become a household name in the money transfer industry.

However, like any service, Wise has its limitations. That’s why we’re here to introduce you to apps like Wise that might better suit your needs.

In this article, we’ll provide money transfer services that address Wise’s shortcomings. We’ll explore their features, fees, and unique offerings.

Let’s dive in.

What is Wise and why people might want to look for alternatives

Wise, formerly known as TransferWise, was founded in 2011. The company aimed to change traditional banking by lowering the transfer fees and offering better exchange rates. 

It operates on a peer-to-peer model. 

Its strength lies in its transparent and affordable pricing, multicurrency accounts, mid-market exchange rates, its Wise card, and user-friendly app.

See our review of Wise .

On the downside, Wise has no branch network, so you can’t deposit cash payments. The company also doesn’t offer home delivery or cash pickup services. 

Though the service is relatively cheap compared to banks, the rate and restrictions of transfers can vary depending on the destination country. The company has limited customer support that you can only reach during weekday business hours.

With over 77 countries available, Wise isn’t as widely available across the world as other money transfer services

If you find any of these drawbacks a deal-breaker for using Wise, here are some alternatives.

Apps like Wise

• Revolut – best for availability and multi-currency travel card
• Remitly – best for cash pick-up availability (350,000 locations)
• WorldRemit – best for availability and instant payments
• CurrencyFair – best for currency exchange marketplace
• OFX – best exchange rates for large transfers and no fees over $5,000

Revolut is a fintech company founded in 2015. Like Wise, Revolut offers a debit card to make payments and withdrawals. Wise only offers a MasterCard, while Revolut offers an extra Maestro card option. With over 200 sending countries and more than 150 supported currencies, Revolut offers more availability than Wise. 

For U.S. customers, transfers between Revolut-linked banks are free. Transfers between the U.K. and Europe are also free. There are no charges for in-network ATM withdrawals, while out-of-network ATM withdrawals are free up to $1200 for US users. This is limited to £200/€200 in other countries. 

Wise allows two free withdrawals per month up to £200 (or the currency equivalent). Exceeding this limit results in a £0.50 fixed fee and a 1.75% fee of the amount withdrawn. 

Card payments and payments between Revolut-linked banks are instant, while other transfers can take up to 30 minutes. International transfers can take up to 3-5 business days.

Revolut offers more features than Wise, like <18 accounts, a vault system, cryptocurrency investment, stock investment, budgeting options, and no transfer limits for most currencies.

• You can invest in cryptocurrency and stocks.
• Available in 200 countries.
• Fast transfers.
• You can only contact their customer support via live chat.

See our review of Revolut .

Remitly was founded in 2011 to help immigrants send money back home at lower transfer fees. With Remitly, you can transfer money from 28 sending countries to over 100 receiving countries. The company also offers regular incentives like bonuses, discounts, promotional rates, etc.

The company has 350,000 agent locations all over the world for cash deposits and pick-ups. It also offers home delivery options which is something that Wise lacks. 

Generally, Wise has faster transfers with most being completed within 24 hours and others being completed within 1-2 days. However, if you need to make an urgent transfer, Remitly has an Express transfer option to transfer your payment in minutes.

This is a paid service but it provides users with the reassurance that their transfers are going to be complete within minutes. Whilst Wise has fast delivery times, this isn’t something that can always be guaranteed as there’s no speedy transfer option. 

• 24/7 customer support.
• Offers express transfers for urgent payment transfers.
• It has 350,000 agent locations for cash pickup.
• A home delivery option is available.
• The exchange rate includes a markup of  0.5% to 3.0%.

See our review of Remitly and Remitly vs Wise comparison.

WorldRemit was founded in 2010 and now has over 5.7 million global users. The company deals in 70 currencies and lets you transfer money to over 130 countries. Unlike Wise, WorldRemit supports airtime top-ups and mobile money accounts.

WorldRemit offers new customer incentives, such as cash vouchers when you refer a friend to sign up. The company also offers cash collection and home delivery services, making it stand out compared to Wise. 

The transfer fees of both Wise and WorldRemit depend on the destination country, payment method, and currencies involved. Wise beats WorldRemit’s undisclosed exchange rate margin with a markup-free exchange rate, but WorldRemit offers instant transfers.

• 95% of WorldRemit’s payments transfer in minutes with no extra fee for the transfer speed.
• Wide range of payment options, including debit/credit cards, bank transfers, Apple Pay, and Mobile Money.
• No multi-currency accounts.
• No debit card option.

See our review of WorldRemit .

CurrencyFair

CurrencyFair is a Dublin-based money transfer company founded in 2009 and offers money transfers to over 150 countries in 20 currencies. The company provides both business and personal accounts for its users. 

Wise has cheaper transfer and exchange rates because of zero markups, but CurrencyFair’s currency marketplace makes it stand out. This currency marketplace is excellent for exchanging your currencies at a desired exchange rate.

You can set your desired exchange rate, and the service will alert you as soon as someone else agrees to exchange their currency with you at that rate.

• A currency marketplace is available. 
• Available in 150 countries.
• Fast transfer speeds. 
• Do not offer their own debit card like Wise.
• The exchange rates include markups.

See our review of CurrencyFair and CurrencyFair vs. Wise comparison.

OFX, formerly known as OzForex, is a popular foreign exchange and payment transfer company. It’s available in over 170 countries and supports more than 50 currencies. The company has a 24/7 customer support system and uses educational tools to educate customers about foreign exchange.

Though Wise can hold more currencies in its multicurrency accounts, OFX offers limitless transfers and broader availability worldwide. 

Both OFX and Wise have alerts that let you know when your desired foreign exchange rate is available.

OFX includes a markup on their exchange rate but doesn’t charge a transfer fee for payments above $5,000. The Wise transfer fee is percentage based, so it can add up for large transfers.

• No-limit transfers.
• Free transfers above $5,000.
• The exchange rate includes a markup.

See our review of OFX and OFX vs. Wise comparison.

Alternatives to the Wise card for traveling

The Wise debit card is one of the company’s biggest PROs. The card lets you trade in more than 50 currencies. You can use the card to make purchases in over 200 countries and withdraw money from over 2.5 million ATMs worldwide.

However, there are alternatives to the Wise debit card that you may want to consider. 

See our review of Wise card .

Revolut converts money into the currency of your travel destination at the mid-market rate to reduce foreign transaction fees. You can fund the card using your bank debit card or a bank transfer.

With a PayPal debit card you can earn cash back in stores on eligible purchases. You don’t have to worry about any minimum limit, monthly fee, or credit check. You can use the card to withdraw money at over 37,000 ATMs for a fee or for free at MoneyPass ATMs in the US.

See our review of PayPal and Wise vs. PayPal comparison.

N26 Mastercard debit cards are accepted worldwide and don’t charge any transaction fees for foreign spending. Their exchange rates also don’t include a markup. With their N26 You and Metal account, you can withdraw money for free. 

See our review of N26 .

Things to keep in mind when choosing an alternative 

Exchange Rates: Though exchange rates vary according to the currencies involved in the transfer, money transfer companies often apply a markup. To save money on international transfers, opt for companies with no markups or smaller markups on the exchange rate.

Availability: You should consider whether your chosen service allows for money transfers in your country and the countries you’d like to transfer money to and from. The number of currencies that are supported is also important to make sure that you can transfer money in your currency. 

Transfer Speed: If you require instant transfers, you should opt for a company that offers reliably fast transfer speeds or a specific fast transfer option. 

Transfer Fees: A percentage-based transfer fee is not beneficial if you mainly transfer large amounts of money. Consider low, fixed transfer fee options or ones that don’t charge transfers above a specific transfer amount limit, such as OFX.

Safety: Ensure that legitimate financial organizations regulate the company of your choice. Also, review each company’s security measures to protect your transactions and financial information.

• https://wise.com/help/articles/2935769/how-much-does-it-cost-to-withdraw-cash
• https://www.revolut.com/money-transfer/
• https://help.remitly.com/s/article/cash-pickup-details?language=en_US
• https://www.revolut.com/legal/standard-fees/
• https://www.revolut.com/en-US/legal/standard-fees/
• https://www.paypal.com/us/digital-wallet/manage-money/paypal-debit-card

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Money transfers, money transfer – the best money transfer companies to transfer money to albania , money transfer from the usa to kenya – the best money transfer companies to transfer money to kenya, how to send money from botswana to the usa – the best money transfer companies to send money from botswana.

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Best Multi-Currency Cards: What are the Best Options in Australia? 2024

Spending money in foreign currencies – either when you travel abroad or when you’re shopping online with overseas retailers – can mean extra fees. You might find your bank or card provider uses a foreign transaction fee, or adds an extra charge into the exchange rate used to switch your dollars to the currency you need. In either case, you lose out.

Getting a multi-currency payment card can mean accessing a better exchange rate, and lower overall costs when spending internationally. This guide walks through all you need to know, including the benefits of a multi-currency card, and how multi-currency cards from banks compare against non-bank alternatives like Wise and Revolut.

Our Top 4 Multi-Currency Cards in Australia:

• Wise multi currency card

Revolut card

• Westpac travel card
• Commbank travel card
• Travelex card

Multi currency cards: the best options in Australia

Let’s start out with an overview of the multi-currency cards we’ll feature here.

You can get a multi-currency card from a bank, a non-bank alternative like Wise and Revolut, or from a currency exchange specialist like Travelex. To help you pick between these options, we’ll cover some of their best features – and there’s more on the pros and cons of each, a little later, too.

How does the multi currency card work?

Multi-currency cards can be ordered online from banks and specialist non-bank services. In some cases you can also pop in personally to collect or buy a card.

The cards we’ve featured here are linked to either an online account or wallet which can be used to hold and exchange a selection of foreign currencies. You’ll need to top up your card’s balance in AUD or a foreign currency, before spending. When you make a purchase or withdrawal your funds are deducted from the account balance, and you can usually track your spending in an app.

It’s useful to know that different cards work in their own ways, so reading through your options and getting familiar with the features and fees of the cards you’re interested in is essential.

For example, some card providers like Wise and Revolut use mid-market exchange rates, while other banks and card services may add in a markup to the rate used to convert your dollars to the currency you need. The other big difference is usually in how you’ll hold your balance. Some cards require you to switch immediately to a foreign currency to avoid extra charges, while others let you hold a balance in AUD and switch at the point of payment. Both options have their own pros and cons, so weighing up a few is the best way to decide which is the right fit for you.

Best multi currency cards: a comparison

When you choose the right multi-currency card for your needs, the fees will make a big difference. Here’s a side by side comparison of the cards we’ve picked, to help you decide.

Open a free multi-currency Wise Account online or in the Wise app, to hold and exchange 40+ currencies with the mid-market exchange rate and low fees from 0.43%. You’ll be able to order your linked international debit card for a low one time fee of 10 AUD, to spend in 150+ countries. Wise accounts can be topped up in around 20 currencies, and also come with local bank details for up to 9 currencies so you can get paid by others conveniently.

Pros of the Wise card

• Broad range of international features with no ongoing card or account charges
• Hold and exchange 40+ currencies with the mid-market rate
• Leave your funds in AUD and let the card convert at the point of payment if you like

Cons of the Wise card

• 10 AUD fee to get your physical card
• Some transaction fees apply

Read a full Wise review here

Revolut has 3 different account tiers for personal customers in Australia. You can pick a Standard account which has no monthly fee, or upgrade to an account with a monthly charge to unlock more features and more no-fee transactions. All Revolut accounts come with a linked payment card, and can support 30+ currencies for holding and exchange. Use your card in 150+ countries conveniently for spending and withdrawals – depending on your account tier you’ll get some no-fee ATM withdrawals every month, and some currency conversion which uses the mid-market exchange rate.

Pros of the Revolut card

• Choose the account plan that suits your usage and spending patterns
• Unlock more features, including lounge access and priority support with higher tier accounts
• Get one or more accounts for under 18s, to help younger family members manage their money

Cons of the Revolut card

• Monthly fees apply to get full feature access
• Out of hours fees apply when you exchange funds between 5pm (New York time) on Friday, and 6pm Sunday (New York time)

Read a full Revolut review here

Westpac Travel Money Card

The Westpac travel money card can be ordered online or in a physical branch, and used to hold 11 major world currencies. It’s issued on the Mastercard network and can be used for spending and withdrawals pretty much globally anywhere you see the Mastercard logo.

Pros of the Westpac travel card

• No card issue or account keeping fee
• Lounge access if your flight is delayed by 2 hours or more
• Order your card online or pick up in a Westpac branch for instant access

Cons of the Westpac travel card

• Exchange rates may include a markup
• Out of network ATM fees apply

Read a full Westpac review here

Commbank travel money card

There’s no fee to order your Commbank travel money card, and you can hold 13 currencies for convenient spending and withdrawals overseas. Pick up your card in a branch or online, and add money in the Commbank app or online banking for convenience. You may get access to some purchase protections which can apply if items you buy with your card are lost or stolen within 90 days.

Pros of the Commbank travel card

• Get instant alerts if your balance in running low, so you can top up
• 13 supported currencies for holding and exchange

Cons of the Commbank travel card

• 3% fee if you spend in a currency you don’t hold in your account
• 3.5 AUD ATM withdrawal fee

Read a full Commbank review here

Travelex Travel Money Card

Travelex has a travel money card you can order online or in a branch, to hold and spend foreign currencies conveniently. It’s free to get your card online or if you’re topping up in a foreign currency, and there are no Travelex ATM fees to worry about. A few fees do apply, which are worth knowing about though – including an inactivity fee and an account closure fee.

Pros of the Travelex travel card

• No Travelex fee for ATM withdrawals and no online card issue fee
• Get free wifi in many locations when you travel
• 10 supported currencies for spending and withdrawals

Cons of the Travelex travel card

• A card closure fee fee may apply, and inactivity fees kick in after 12 months of not using your card

Read a full Travelex review here .

Open a Travelex account

How can I use a multi currency debit card abroad?

The cards we’ve featured in this guide are issued on the Visa or Mastercard networks – both of which have high global acceptance. To use your card overseas you’ll simply need to look out for the network logo on an ATM or at a payment terminal.

Make sure you know what fees apply to your card before you travel. Sometimes you’ll pay extra when spending in an unsupported currency, for example, or when making an ATM withdrawal. It’s also worth knowing that paying in the local currency wherever you are is the best way to avoid hidden costs. If you’re overseas, and you’re asked at an ATM or by a merchant if you’d prefer to pay in AUD, just say no. That way you’ll get the network or card issuer’s exchange rate, which is usually better than the rate the merchant or ATM will offer.

Read a full guide on the best travel cards for Australians travelling overseas.

How to request a multi currency debit card

You can get a multi-currency debit card online for home delivery – or in some cases, by visiting a bank branch or currency exchange office. Different services have their own processes to get your new card, but generally you’ll need to give your personal and contact details, show some ID to get verified, and add some money to your account to get started.

If you pick an online order option you can complete the whole process from home, including getting verified by uploading an image of your eligible ID document. Your card will then be sent by post – and in some cases you can start to use a virtual card right away.

As an example, here’s how to open a Wise account and order your card, step by step:

• Open the Wise desktop site or app and click on Create account
• Enter your email address, Google, Apple or FaceBook ID
• Tap the type of account you want to open – personal or business
• Follow the prompts to enter your contact information
• Verify your account, following the onscreen instructions
• Once your account is open, tap the Cards tab
• You’ll be able to order your Wise card for home delivery, and get instant access to a Wise virtual card you can use online and with a mobile wallet

What are the transaction fees applied to a multi-currency card?

Different multi-currency cards have their own fees, so checking through the fee schedule for your specific card is important. In many cases it’s free to get your card in the first place, but there are a few other common costs to look out for:

Exchange fee

An exchange fee may be applied for currency conversion, either when you spend or make a withdrawal overseas, or when you top up your account in dollars and switch over to a foreign currency.

Understanding the costs here will help you get the most from your money – pay attention to the exchange rate being used, as well as any stated fees. Some providers use the mid-market exchange rate and split out any conversion costs for transparency but other services apply a markup to the rate used – this is still a charge, but it’s harder to see.

Withdrawal fee

Fees on ATM withdrawals can vary quite a lot, depending on the card you pick. Some card providers charge no overseas ATM fees at all, others have no fees if you use an ATM from a partner network, and some offer a fixed number of fee free ATM withdrawals depending on the card type.

Bear in mind that whichever card you pick, some ATMs also apply their own withdrawal fees. If this is the case you’ll usually see an onscreen message before you confirm your withdrawal – if you do, picking a different ATM could save you money.

Advantages of the foreign currency cards

Having a multi-currency card can be a secure, cheap and convenient way to spend in foreign currencies. Here are a few advantages of multi-currency cards to consider:

• Secure, as cards aren’t linked to your everyday AUD account
• You may benefit from a preferential exchange rate for currency conversion
• Accounts can often be managed via an app for convenience and security
• Make local cash withdrawals wherever you are in the world, to avoid high fees to get your travel spending money
• Easy to budget and manage your international spending

Are there any limitations on the foreign currency card?

Multi-currency cards aren’t perfect through – here are a few limitations it’s worth knowing about:

• Deposits to your account may not be instant, depending on the card and how you choose to top up
• Debit cards aren’t usually accepted whenever a deposit is required – for example to hire a car or when checking into a hotel
• Top up, inactivity and closure fees may apply which push up costs overall

Conclusion: Is the multi-currency card worth it?

A multi-currency card can  be handy when you’re transacting internationally, either when you travel in person or if you’re shopping online with overseas retailers. It also means you don’t need to worry about carrying cash when you travel – just use local ATMs on arrival as and when you need them.

Generally, multi-currency cards are easy to get, and come with low overall costs and fair exchange rates. Compare a few cards from banks and non-bank providers, using this handy guide, to help you decide which might suit you best.

FAQs – Best multi-currency cards

What is an international debit card?

International debit cards, which are also commonly called multi-currency debit cards, are payment cards optimised for international transactions. They can make it cheaper – and improve security – when you shop and withdraw cash overseas. Check out services like Wise and Revolut as flexible, low cost travel card options.

How do multi currency cards work?

You can use a multi-currency card in pretty much the same way as you would any other debit card, to make ATM withdrawals and online or in person payments.  The main difference is that multi-currency cards are optimised for foreign currency purchases and cash withdrawals.

How to get a multi currency debit card?

You can get a multi-currency debit card from a bank or for an online specialist provider. All the options we’ve covered here let you order online, to get an account and card without needing to leave home.

How to use my debit card abroad?

Use your card abroad just as you would here at home. Multi-currency debit cards from providers like Wise and Revolut are really only different in that they usually have features which make it cheaper and more convenient to spend internationally, whether you’re shopping online, hitting the stores in person or making an ATM withdrawal.

What are the fees for a multi currency debit card?

Multi-currency debit card fees do vary between providers and can include currency conversion or foreign transaction fees, and charges to make ATM withdrawals. Sometimes, inactivity and account closure fees also apply. Use this guide to pick the right one for you, and remember to compare bank multi-currency cards against other non-bank options like Wise and Revolut.