travelwise travel card

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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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.

Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

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• Wise Travel Money Card Review

This physical and virtual travel money card lets you hold over 40 currencies, with 2 free ATM withdrawals up to $350 a month and a one-time $10 activation fee.

Wise Travel Money Card supported currencies

• Australian dollars (AUD)
• Canadian dollars (CAD)
• Chinese yuan (CNY)
• Emirates dirham (AED)
• Euros (EUR)
• Great Britain pounds (GBP)
• Hong Kong dollars (HKD)
• Japanese yen (JPY)
• New Zealand dollars (NZD)
• Singapore dollars (SGD)
• Thai baht (THB)
• United States dollars (USD)

Complete list of supported currencies

You'll also typically be able to use the Wise Travel Money Card in most countries and regions around the world, with any business that accepts Mastercard/Visa. But places where your card won't work include Cuba, Iran, Iraq and Myanmar.

Features of the Wise Travel Money Card

• Support for over 40 currencies. The Wise Travel Money Card lets you hold and spend in a wide range of currencies, which can make it easier to keep track of your spending and budget.
• Competitive exchange rates. Wise uses the mid-market rate for exchanges so you get the same rate that's typically listed on Google, Bing and other search engines.
• 2 free ATM withdrawals per month. Wise won't charge an ATM when you withdraw up to AUD$350 over 2 or less transactions in a month. After that, you'll be charged fees worth AUD$1.50 and 1.75% of each withdrawal.
• Instant virtual cards. You can get up to 3 virtual cards linked to your Wise account to keep track of different types of spending. You'll also be able to start using your virtual card as soon as you've set up your account by adding it to Apple Pay or Google Pay.
• Plastic card. You'll also get 1 plastic card sent to you, which you can use for in-person payments anywhere Mastercard/Visa are accepted.
• Wise app. The Wise app lets you top up and convert currency in real time, so you know exactly how much you'll have in any of the supported currencies. You can also freeze your card, organise a new one and manage other account features.

How much does the Wise Travel Money Card cost?

• Application fee. A one-time $10 fee applies when you first get this Wise card.
• ATM fees. After the first $350 of withdrawals in a month, a fee of 1.75% applies. You'll also pay a $1.50 fee for each ATM withdrawal after the first 2 you make in a month.
• Load fees. There is no fee to load funds on by bank transfer from Australia. But a fee will be charged for loading funds by debit card, credit card or SWIFT. The exact fee will be shown on your Wise account when you select "Add Money".
• Currency conversion. If you're spending in a currency that's not loaded onto the card, there will be a fee to convert it. The fee starts from 0.43% of the transaction value and varies by currency.
• No currency order. Unlike many prepaid, multi-currency travel cards, Wise does not have a set drawdown order when you're spending in a currency not loaded on your account. Instead, the funds will be taken from the balance that has the lowest currency conversion fee.
• Funding other accounts. If you use your Wise card to fund an e-wallet, cryptocurrency account, betting account or any other account that may be convertible to cash, a 2% fee applies.

How to apply for the Wise Travel Money Card

If you already have a Wise account, you can order a Wise Travel Money Card in a few minutes by logging into your account.

If you're new to Wise and over 18 years of age, you can get this card by following these steps:

• Sign up and add your first balance to the account.
• Request a card through your account and follow the prompts to verify your identity.
• Set up your virtual card/s and activate the plastic card when it arrives in the mail.

You can use the virtual cards instantly. And after you've activated the plastic card, you can use it to spend the funds loaded on your Wise account around the world and online.

• Wise Travel Money Card information PDF
• Wise Travel Money Card TMD

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Amy Bradney-George was the senior writer for credit cards at Finder, and editorial lead for Finder Green. She has over 16 years of editorial experience and has been featured in publications including ABC News, Money Magazine and The Sydney Morning Herald. See full profile

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Wise Travel Card Review [2024]

In a Nutshell

A market leader for exchange rates and transparency, the Wise card is one of the best prepaid cards for travel and great for making purchases overseas or online in a foreign currency. Fees apply if you go over the ATM limits. Includes a convenient app and virtual card.

Wise Travel Money Card

• Best Excellent exchange rates
• Worst High ATM fees
• The best exchange rates for a travel card
• No annual fees
• Top up on the go in seconds
• Low conversion fees that are clearly labelled
• Ability to preload up to 53 currencies including USD , CAD , SGD , JPY , EUR and more
• Ability to freeze your card via the app should it get lost or stolen
• Track your spending via the app (great if you've got a travel budget)
• Can use digitally with Apple Pay and Google Pay
• One of the most popular travel cards with over 4 million global users
• Customer support can be slow
• No interest on your balance
• Card delivery may be slow (but you can use the digital card straight away)
• If you withdraw over $350 AUD anytime from an ATM, you will be charged an additional 1.75% of the amount
• After the first two free under $350 AUD ATM withdrawals for the month, a $1.50 fee applies per additional withdrawal

The Wise card (formally TransferWise) removes the money headaches we associate with frequent travelling by making it easy to load and spend a huge range of currencies overseas.

Hands down, it is one of the best cards for overseas travel . No other travel card or debit card offers the same low fees and mid-market exchange rates as Wise. However, charges can add up if you need to withdraw large sums of cash from ATMs.

The average Trustpilot review for Wise is 4.3 stars (from 191,128 users on 14 June 2023).

The most common complaints by users are occasional delays to receive the card, along with poor customer support — although these customers are a minority. 84% of reviewers rate Wise 5 stars.

What is the Wise Travel Card?

The Wise card is a prepaid debit card attached to your Wise multi-currency account . Available as a Mastercard or Visa travel card, it allows you to:

• Makes purchases from 175 different countries
• Transfer money to international bank accounts
• Receive money from overseas in your currency using local bank account details with no fees
• Load up multiple currencies and pay like a local while you’re abroad

Note: Wise is the same company as TransferWise, just with a new name (as of 2021). The Wise multi-currency account used to be called the Borderless account. Nothing else has changed — the debit card remains the same.

How it works

The Wise travel card works just like a normal debit card.

You can use it almost anywhere around the world to withdraw money, make contactless purchases in shops and cafes, pay for accommodation, and shop online.

You can load and hold up to 53 currencies in your Wise account.

If you have the local currency for a payment, the card will use it. If you don’t have the right currency, Wise will convert one of your other currencies for you at the best rate.

Natalie lives in New Zealand and travels to Europe. In her Wise account, she adds euros, British pounds, and New Zealand dollars . She uses her Wise debit card throughout the trip.

In the UK, purchases are automatically deducted from her balance of pounds . In Europe, Wise directly debits purchases from her euros balance.

Towards the end of the trip, Natalie wants to buy a handbag for 500€ but she only has 200€ left in her euros balance, alongside £400, and NZ$1,000.

She can still make the purchase. In this case, Wise deducts the final 200€, then finds the best conversion rate into euros from British pounds or New Zealand dollars. It then converts that currency into euros to complete the purchase.

Adding money to your Wise debit card

The Wise app makes it easy to add money to your debit travel card . Just open the app, choose the currency and amount you want to add, and select your payment method (such as a bank transfer or by card).

You can hold and convert money in 53 currencies:

Wise spending limits

For fraud prevention and extra security, spending limits apply to the Wise debit card. These limits depend on where you got your card.

The card has default limits but you can adjust them to your own spending habits in the app or online. a

The table below lists the maximum limits allowed for Australian, New Zealand, and Singapore cardholders (in AUD, NZD, and SGD respectively).

Wise debit card fees

The Wise website declares that their travel card can help you save up to 85% when you spend internationally thanks to a better exchange rate and lower fees compared to banks.

Of course, fees are unavoidable but Wise makes sure to keep them competitively low.

While it’s free to create a multi-currency account with Wise (formerly TransferWise), other charges will be associated with the card, including:

• Card issue and replacement fees
• Currency conversion fees
• ATM withdrawals fees (beyond 2 withdrawals per month)

Currency allowances

Australian customers can hold a large amount of money per currency for free in their Wise balances. The allowance varies depending on the currency but is roughly equivalent to A$23,000 per currency.

If you exceed the maximum allowance per currency for more than 3 days, you’ll be charged an annual fee of 0.4% for Euros and 1.6% for all other currencies. This is charged as a daily fee for every day in the month you hold over the allowance.

For example, if you hold A$24,000 in your account for a month, you will be charged approximately A$1.30 at the end of the month for the excess A$1,000.

Wise card exchange rates

The beauty of the Wise travel card is that it can hold more than 50 currencies so you don’t have to worry about high conversion fees for every purchase.

If you don’t hold the local currency for a purchase, Wise will use whichever currency you have that has the lowest conversion fee.

Here’s where it gets good.

Wise gives you the mid-market exchange rate for any currency conversions — a rate that is typically better than the exchange rates provided by banks or other travel card companies.

If you have the right currency for a payment, you avoid the conversion fee altogether.

Card Provider

Exchange rate.

A$ → GBP (11 am 09 December 2022)

Conversion Fee

Loading A$1000

$4.38 (0.44%)

No fee on weekdays

How it compares

Get your card

You can apply for a Wise card if you live in one of the eligible countries (including Australia and New Zealand). View eligible countries here.

To get your Wise card, it takes just a few simple steps:

Get a Wise multi-currency account for free online or via the Wise (formerly Transferwise) app. You’ll need ID.

Add money to your account

To be eligible for the card, you’ll need to add a minimum of US$20 to the account. This will cover card issuing fees.

Order your card

Apply for your card on the website’s Card tab or the Wise app’s Account tab.

Activate your Wise card

There are different ways to activate your Wise card depending on whether it’s a Visa or Mastercard.

If it’s a Visa card, you can activate it by entering your PIN in the first transaction you make in a physical store or ATM. If it’s a Mastercard, you will need to go online and enter the 6-digit code provided to activate it.

Wise virtual card & app

Wise has fully embraced the digital age with an easy-to-use smartphone app and access to virtual cards — all designed to banish money and currency confusion in an increasingly connected world.

The app (available on Apple and Android) has everything you need to create an account, get your Wise card, and manage it while you’re globe-trotting.

Once you sign up for a Wise multi-currency account and place an order for the physical card, you can have up to 3 Wise virtual cards connected to your account at the same time.

These free digital cards only exist on your phone and are easy to get through the Wise app or website. They’ll have different details to your physical card and are a great backup option.

Wise virtual cards work with Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay and can be used to make payments online, in-store, and overseas.

The best bit? You can start using your virtual cards immediately — no need to wait for your physical card to arrive.

Importantly, the Wise card is not a travel credit card . You must have money in your account to make a purchase. If you don’t have enough funds, the transaction will be declined.

Your Wise card could take anywhere from 3 working days to 3 weeks to arrive, depending on where you live. However, you can set up your digital card on your phone to use immediately.

The Wise card offers 2 withdrawals of up to A$350 each month for free and A$1.50 per withdrawal after that.

If you need to withdraw more than A$350, you will incur a 1.75% fee on the amount withdrawn — plus the A$1.50 withdrawal charge if you’ve already made 2 ATM transactions that month.

The maximum amount you can withdraw in a single transaction is A$1,750. The maximum daily withdrawal is A$2,700 while the monthly maximum is A$7,000 (the default monthly maximum is set at A$5,250 but you can change this in-app).

Contactless is a common form of payment across Australia, Europe, the UK, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore, and Canada.

Wise enables contactless payments with both your physical Wise card and your Wise virtual card (accessible on Google Pay, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, and more).

There are different payment limits for cardholders in different countries. In Australia, the limit for single contactless payments is A$900. The daily limit is A$1,750 (set at a default of A$900) and the monthly limit is A$7,000.

As an extra security measure, you may be asked to enter your PIN if you’ve made a lot of contactless payments in one day or you’re making a purchase over a certain amount.

You can also pay with a chip and PIN or with the magnetic stripe where possible — different payment limits apply to these payment methods. View payment limits here .

When it comes to your money, safety is paramount. Wise knows this, which is why it has several safety guarantees.

To start, Wise encrypts any information you give them to protect sensitive data and follows strict guidelines for international money transfers.

Safety measures include the ability to freeze and unfreeze your card any time — helpful if you misplace it — and the option to receive instant transaction notifications to track purchases.

The Wise debit card also allows for 3D Secure (3DS) payments, where some transactions require verification through the Wise app, SMS, or a phone call.

As a company, Wise has an Australian Financial Services Licence and is regulated by the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC). It is also registered overseas with the UK Financial Conduct Authority and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (US), among other financial institutions.

It’s worth remembering that the Wise multi-currency account isn’t like a bank account and safeguards your money differently — the company is completely transparent in how it does this .

The Wise card is designed to be used just like a debit card, which means you can use it to withdraw money from any ATM that accepts Visa or Mastercard — with some exceptions.

You can make 2 free monthly withdrawals (up to A$350) each month. After that, there is a withdrawal fee of A$1.50, plus a 1.75% fee on withdrawals over A$350.

Wise cards issued in Singapore or Canada cannot be used for ATM withdrawals in the country of issue. But you can still use them for ATM withdrawals overseas.

For Wise debit cards issued in Japan, you can only withdraw from certain Japanese ATMs (including AEON, Family Mart, Viewcard, and Daily Yamazaki).

If your Wise card is lost or stolen, the first step is to freeze your card temporarily via the Wise website or app.

Freezing the card means it can’t be used for purchases or withdrawals so you can protect your balance. If you find your card, you can unfreeze it online.

If you can’t retrieve your old card, you can order a replacement card through the Wise app or website. There’s a small fee of A$6 for card replacements.

Wise will block and cancel your old card and ship the new one to you. It will take anywhere from 3 working days to 3 weeks for your card to arrive, depending on your location.

While you’re waiting for your replacement card to arrive, you can use a virtual card. Wise allows you to have up to 3 virtual cards at any given time.

Learn more about the best travel money, debit and prepaid cards for travel

Prepaid Travel Card

Best Travel Money Cards

ASIC regulated

Like all reputable money exchanges, we are registered with AUSTRAC and regulated by the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC).

S Money complies with the relevant laws pertaining to privacy, anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism finance. This means you are required to provide I.D. when you place an order. It also means the order must be paid for by the same person ordering the currency and you must show your identification again when receiving your order.

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• Credit Cards

Wise Travel Money Card

Updated 23 January 2024

Wise cards can be preloaded with local currencies to avoid transaction fees while you travel or spend overseas ✈, or converted into the local currency in real-time using the mid-market rate. You’ll get exceptionally low ATM fees, no monthly fees and instant access when you add it to your digital wallet. T&Cs apply.

Purchase Rate (p.a)

Annual fee (p.a), interest free period (up to).

N/A days on eligible purchases

• The annual fee is charged in the first month. • You only pay the minimum monthly payment of your overall balance each month. • You do not spend or withdraw cash on the card until the balance transfer period ends or is paid in full. • All other fees and charges that may apply are excluded. When there is no interest savings or a negative interest saving after the introductory period, the calculator will display $0."> $ 0

My transfer amount, balance transfer from:, my annual fee, my interest rate, your savings • the annual fee is charged in the first month. • you only pay the minimum monthly payment of your overall balance each month. • you do not spend or withdraw cash on the card until the balance transfer period ends or is paid in full. • all other fees and charges that may apply are excluded. when there is no interest savings or a negative interest saving after the introductory period, the calculator will display $0.">.

• Pros & cons
• Rates & fees
• Eligibility

Pros and cons

• Pay no currency conversion fee when you preload and pay in local currency
• Competitive exchange rates
• No fees when you make up to 2 withdrawals per month of $350 total
• No monthly fees or minimum amounts
• Track spending and manage money using the app
• Syncs with Google Pay, Samsung Pay, Apple Pay, Garmin Pay and Fitbit Pay
• If you withdraw 3+ times or more than $350 in a month, you’ll pay $1.50 per withdrawal
• Withdrawals over $350AUD will be charged 1.75%
• Not all countries accept Wise payments

Creditcard.com.au review

Editor review.

You can use the Wise card as an everyday debit card to buy groceries, pay for an Uber or send flowers to your mum - whether you’re doing it in Australia, online or overseas. Its big drawcards are simplicity and savings.

I’ll explain how the Wise debit card works, including how it's linked to an account that you can transfer money in and out of. It’s a very good alternative to credit cards with no foreign transaction fees if you’re not eligible, don’t want to earn points or don’t need access to credit.

Editor’s Review: What we love about the Wise Travel Money Card

Let’s start by looking at how Wise cards are linked to an account. When you apply for a Wise card, you’ll be directed to set up a Wise multi-currency account first. A Wise account is fully digital, has no monthly fees and allows you to preload money in various currencies, which you can access using the app and your Wise debit card.

For example: if you regularly travel to New Zealand, you could keep NZD in your account and Wise will automatically use it to pay when you tap your card. You wouldn’t be charged any currency conversion fees. If you don’t have any NZD in your Wise account, Wise will automatically convert the money for you at a competitive mid-market rate.

Once your Wise account is set up, you can order a card. It can take a few days for your physical card to arrive (or you can pay $26 to expedite it), but you’ll be able to use your digital card immediately by adding it to your phone or watch.

I’ll break down the features of the Wise card.

Sending money overseas. Wise also works like a regular account, allowing you to send and receive money to other accounts in local currency. The transfer process is the same as a savings account - when you start a transfer in your app, Wise will show you the totals in foreign currency plus any fees (for instance, sending AUD to GBP incurs a flat fee of $0.66 plus 0.45% of the amount that’s converted). You’ll be asked for the recipient's details and you’ll be able to track the transfer via your app. You can also receive money by supplying your account details.

Low or no withdrawal fees. Every month you can make up to 2 withdrawals (totalling $350) without paying a fee. After that, you’ll pay $1.50 per withdrawal, which is still very cheap compared to standard rates fees that can be as much as $5 or a percentage of the amount withdrawn (whichever is highest).

Cutting out the middle man. By preloading your card with the currency you’ll be spending overseas, you’ll avoid the conversion fees. If Wise needs to convert the currency from Australian dollars, it uses the mid-market exchange rate, which is generally a better exchange rate than you’ll get from banks or money transfer agencies. Wise says it can help you save up to 80% on international spending, according to a 2022 study by Alderson Consulting.

Three digital cards. You can set up three digital cards at any one time, each with different details to your physical card. You can cancel and recreate new digital cards anytime, which gives you some extra security.

A properly helpful app. I like that Wise’s app has decent functionality and seems fairly intuitive (it’s been downloaded over 10 million times, so it’s well-tested!). You can cancel or set up new digital cards, freeze and unfreeze your card, make online money transfers, track your spending and even cancel a money transfer that hasn’t been processed yet. The app is available for Apple and Android smartphones.

Transparent fees. I particularly like how transparent Wise is about its fees. It says that it will show you any fees that you’ll pay for making purchases or transferring money and there are no hidden fees. Since fees are a big concern for people travelling or spending online, it’s nice to have a little transparency.

What's not so great

There isn’t too much to pick on, but I should mention that while you can use Wise as your regular spending account and even have your salary paid into it, you’ll miss out on earning interest or offsetting a home loan. Consider whether you want it to be your primary account or one you use specifically for foreign transactions.

While Wise makes spending overseas as cheap as possible, there are still some costs involved. For instance:

Withdrawals: you’ll get 2 withdrawals up to $350AUD each month for free, but after that, fees are charged at $1.50 per withdrawal (still, not bad). If you withdraw over $350, you’ll also pay a 1.75% fee.

Physical card: $10, and $6 to reorder if the card is lost or stolen (digital cards are free)

Sending money overseas: Minimum is 0.42% but it will vary depending on the currency

Receiving USD wire payments: $4.14USD flat fee per payment

Wise does a good job of being available in 175 countries, but not all. You’ll need to check that you can use Wise in the country you’re travelling to or purchasing in. Wise’s website says it currently can’t be used in:

Afghanistan, Belarus, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo and The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Myanmar, North Korea, Russia, Somalia, Sudan and South Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen

Overall Rating

The Wise Visa card has one of the cheapest exchange rates in the world, plus the ability to spend overseas fee-free if you preload the card in the local currency. It doesn’t cost anything to open or hold an account and gives lots of flexibility in being able to send, spend and receive money globally.

If you’re a frequent traveller or spender abroad, a money transfer card like Wise can help you save money on fees without having to apply for a 0% foreign fee credit card, but you won’t earn interest or rewards points on your spending.

User reviews

Wise travel money card ( based on 1 creditcard.com.au user review ), 28% rating based on 1 review, customer service, 0% of users who have rated this card would recommend it, review the wise travel money card, rewards (not available for this card).

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Rates and fees

Interest rates.

Purchase rate N/A

Cash advance rate N/A

Interest free period on purchases up to N/A days

Credit limits

Minimum credit limit $N/A

Maximum credit limit N/A

Fees & repayments

Annual fee $0 p.a.

Additional cardholder fee N/A

Foreign transaction fee N/A

Minimum repayment

Cash advance fee N/A

Late payment fee N/A

Additional features

Complimentary insurance.

International Travel Insurance No

Flight Inconvenience Insurance No

Transit Accident Insurance No

Smartphone Screen Insurance No

Purchase Protection Insurance No

Extended Warranty Insurance No

Rental Vehicle Excess In Australia Insurance No

Key features

Minimum criteria to apply for this card.

You have your personal details ready to complete the online application

Pauline is a personal finance expert at CreditCard.com.au, with 8 years in money, budgeting and property reporting under her belt. Pauline is passionate about seeing Aussies win by making their money – and their credit cards – work smarter, harder and bigger

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How to use Wise for CHEAPER Travel Money & Spending

One of the key considerations for taking a trip is money.  Especially if you’re traveling to a location where the currency is different from your home country.  Getting hold of cash can be a costly exercise – from fluctuations in exchange rates to poor exchange rates and the dreaded currency commission rates.  One of the best ways to pay the least to obtain currency while traveling is to use the Wise debit card for travel.  Wise, is a great way to move money between currencies – and using the Wise debit card is one of the cheapest ways to use money while traveling.

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN COMPENSATED AND AFFILIATE LINKS MORE INFORMATION IN  OUR DISCLAIMER

#1 TIP FOR CASH & CARDS

Get a Fee Free Card to Use

Get a WISE Card to take to on your travels. Two free ATM withdrawals per month, plus free to use to pay by card with zero foreign transaction fees.

Wise is now Wise

Wise changed its name to Wise in February 2021. However, name changes take a long time, especially in the web world, so the name change from Wise to Wise is a long-term process and the names are used interchangeably – and not just by me!

Using Wise for Lowest Travel Money Costs

There are a couple of elements to Wise and Wise that make it one of the best ways to obtain and spend money abroad.

 The Wise Multi-Currency Account.

First, you can create what’s called a Wise“ borderless or multi-currency account ”.  All that really means is that you can open bank accounts in multiple countries via Wise and hold different currencies in those accounts.   So if I’m traveling to the USA for vacation it would make sense to have some money that I can use in US dollars.  The Wise Multi-Currency Account lets me open an account, not just in my native British Pounds, but also in US dollars.  (And Euros, and Australian dollars – and a whole lot of other currencies).   But, you don’t HAVE to hold money in those currencies until you actually want it there.  (Keep it where you’re earning interest if you’re lucky enough to be doing that!).

And the borderless accounts from Wise are Free. There are no account charges with Wise.

Do it now.  See how easy it is.  Open your Wise multi-currency account now!

These different currency accounts mean that you can move money from your home currency account to the currency in which you’re going to be spending.   And the reason you want to use Wise to do this is that it offers some of the best currency exchange rates – WAY better than your bank, or the bureau exchange.

The Wise Currency Exchange Charging Rates

Wise uses the mid-market rate (like all the banks do when they move money between each other) when it is moving your money between currencies.  It is completely transparent about this.  The way that it makes money is that it charges a small percentage on the commission- and this is ALWAYS displayed and VERY CLEARLY, so you can see exactly how much your currency exchange is costing.  Check out Wise currency rates here.

When you move money, say between Euros and US Dollars Wise clearly shows how much it costs, and what their commission is (it’s never hidden like some other providers) and it explains how much you have saved based on average rates for high street banks. You can also run through the process and see what it’s going to cost without committing. Check out the Wise exchange rate here now

The Wise Travel Card

There is a small charge for the Wise debit card – the cost of a Wise debit card depends on where you sign up (for instance in Portugal it’s 8 euros) – check the cost of a Wise debit card here.   There’s no minimum balance you have to pay and there are no ongoing charges to pay for the card.  The huge benefit of the Wise debit card is that you get TWO FREE ATM withdrawals up to the equivalent of GBP200 a month.   After that, there’s a small fee per transaction and a 1.75 percent fee for withdrawals made in a 30-day period.

As of December 2021, Wise debit cards are also available to Canadian residents > Get yours here

There are zero foreign transaction fees with the Wise debit card.  Convinced?  Get your Wise Debit card here.

You can use the Wise debit card just like any other debit card, in more than 200 countries.  Use it to pay for food, in bars, restaurants, shops – there’s no charge – just use it exactly the same as you would any other card, except you’ll be paying in the currency of where you’re traveling, with the money that you’re holding in your multi-currency account, and so getting some of the best exchanges rates around.

So what happens if you don’t have any money left in your Wise currency account?  Don’t worry, your card will still work.  When you set up your Wise multi-currency account you link it to a bank account in your home country.  So if you aren’t holding any money in a particular currency but are spending that currency Wise will automatically do the conversion at the standard exchange rate and charge their regular fees.

You can spend in ANY currency on your Wise debit card and it will be converted using the lowest possible fee.

What are the Wise Fees?

I’m not going to type out what all those fees are, as they make it very clear on their website – you can check them here

Our Guides to Lower ATM Fees When Traveling

If you’re traveling, then our guides to ATMs and ATM fees are here

• Guide to lowest Guatemala ATM fees
• The Ultimate Guide to the lowest Colombia ATM fees
• How to reduce Laos ATM fees
• Understanding Japan ATM fees
• The cheapest Chile ATM fees

Why Use Wise? Reasons for Using Wise

We use Wise for the following reasons

• Because they provide cheap currency exchange rates
• Because it Wise provides us with the ability to hold local accounts in US dollars, GB Pounds, Euros, Australian dollars, Japanese.
• We can receive money for free in GB pounds, US dollars, Australian dollars and Euros – and other currencies – check which currencies you can use Wise with here .
• Because it is all online and you don’t need to go into a branch or find someone to deal with if there is a problem (we haven’t had a problem, but doing it online is seriously important to us). – We ALWAYS login to our VPN before connecting to ANY financial services provider – as we tend to use publicly available wifi networks.  Our guide to using VPNs for travel is here.
• They’re transparent about their pricing.

Get the best VPN that we’ve found that works in ANY country we’ve been to including Turkmenistan, China, Myanmar &Cuba.  This link gives you a coupon for THREE MONTHS for free as a reader of ASocialNomad

You can’t pop into a branch of Wise, they have a different model to other banks, so their overheads are lower.  And those savings are passed onto you and me.  Wise is fully regulated – and yes your money is safe – there’s more on regulation and your money at the end of the article.

What is Wise?

Wise is a financial services company with more than 6 million active customers who move more than US$4billion dollars EVERY MONTH, saving on average US$4 million a DAY in bank fees. Wise is an Authorised Electronic Money Institution independently regulated by the  Financial Conduct Authority  (FCA) in the UK. They are required by law to keep money safe by storing it in low-risk financial institutions. In Europe, they do this with Barclays. In the USA they do this with Wells Fargo.

These accounts are reserved for customer money, this means your money is kept in a separate account from the money they use to run the business.

Wise has more than 1,300 employees in 11 offices and 4 continents.  This is a serious operation. Wise is also now a public company, listed on the London Stock Exchange.

How Much Can You Save with Wise?

Wise operates a really simple pricing structure .  You get charged what it costs them to send your money plus a small fee.  You will always know what that fee is before you send any money.  You’ll also always know how long your money is likely to take to transfer between currencies.    You can save up to 15 x what your local bank would charge for currency exchanges.

Wise collects data from other financial services providers that are publicly available – to show you how much you can save.    They’ll show you this on each transaction you want to make, but you can also take a look for example here where they show how much transfers cost and also how long they take to go through.  Some providers take as many as FOUR business days to transfer money, while Wise takes hours, which means you get the benefit of your own money for longer with Wise.

How to Use Wise for Travel

It’s really easy to use Wise for traveling.   If you want to use the benefit of a Trnasferwise debit card then you’ll need to set up a Wise account and get hold of the Wise debit card before you leave home.  If you don’t want the card, then you can set up a Wise multi-currency account from anywhere.  Here’s how to set up Wise for travel .

Set up a Wise Account

The Wise multi-currency account is free to set up and free to maintain.  There are no ongoing account costs for Wise accounts.    All you need to do to set up a Wise account is to complete your profile , upload ID documents to verify your account for security and then you’re good to start!

Get local bank details with your Wise Account

British Pounds, Euros, Polish Zloty, Australian Dollars, US Dollars, and New Zealand Dollars all come with local bank details.  That’s right, you get your own bank account details – IBANs, account numbers – the whole nine yards, just like your regular account.

Download the Wise App

Move money from an app, from your laptop, just as and when you need it.  Confirm the rates.

Apply for a Wise card

Simply apply for your Wise debit card here , which gives you

• No foreign transactions fees
• No annual fees
• Low currency conversion rates
• Free ATM withdrawals worldwide – up to the equivalent of GBP200 every 30 days
• Lowest possible fees with auto-convert for any currency
• Manage with the Wise App – get instant notifications, freeze your card, unfreeze it any anytime

How to Use a Wise Card when travelling

Using Wise when traveling is a fabulous to save money.

You can hold balances in your Wise account in different currencies.   (like US dollars, British Pounds, Euros, Australian dollars, Japanese Yen.. and so on).  But equally, you don’t have to have money in those currencies to spend in those currencies.  If you spend in say Japanese Yen but don’t have Yen in your currency account, then Wise will auto-convert to give you the lowest possible rates.

Once you’ve got a Wise account you can apply for a debit card.   I don’t know of anyone who’s been turned down.  This is a debit card, not a credit card.  It is a Mastercard.

Your Wise card lets you take money out of an ATM for FREE – if you hold that currency in your Wise account.   It lets you take out up to 200 GBP/250 USD/350 AUD/350 NZD/350 SGD (or your currency’s equivalent) in total per 30 days. After that, a 1.75% withdrawal fee will be charged. After two ATM transactions per 30 days, there’s also a 50p fee. These fees are charged in the currency of your account.

When using your Wise debit card always select to get charged by the ATM in the local currency – NOT your home rate – this means that Wise and not the bank whose ATM you are using will set the exchange rate. ALL ATMs will try and convince you to take their conversion rate – it’s called Dynamic Currency Conversion. You should NOT take their offer. Wise will ALWAYS offer you a better rate. Always.

Using Wise for Currency Transfer Payments

If you need to pay bills in another currency to your home account, then using your Wise account for this is really simple.  You can do it ALL online.   There’s no waiting period.  No hassles and you’ll know exactly how much it is going to cost.  And for me, it’s ALWAYS been cheaper than alternatives.  Always.  Read independent comparisons here.

Simply add your recipient to your recipient’s list – and then transfer the money.  You don’t even have to be holding the foreign currency in your Wise account, you can make the exchange on the fly from your connected bank account, the fees are exactly the same as if you move money from say Euros to Dollars, and then pay them as if you just do it all as one transaction.

I love how transparent Wise is about showing me what the cost of the money is, and what their commission charge is for providing the service.

And I really love how quickly it all happens, as well as their humorous comments about how quick the service is compared to other things in the world ( check it out when you do your transfers! )

Using Wise for Holiday Travel Money

We are traveling most of the year, so most of our expenditure is in foreign currency, but even if you’re looking at a one or two-week holiday Wise can save you money.    There’s no need to be using the seriously expensive currency exchanges at airports or border crossings.  All you need is a Wise account, a Wise debit card, and an ATM.

Pop the card into the ATM, take the cash out and you’re off and running.

Don’t forget you can also use the Wise debit card like a normal debit card, –  paying for restaurant meals, trips, tours, car rental, and so on.   I don’t know why I keep saying “like a normal debit card”, I really should say, it’s a super-normal debit card – because it doesn’t charge huge fees for spending in a foreign currency!

Using Wise to Receive Foreign Currency Payments

If you get paid in foreign currencies then getting that payment into your home bank account can cost a HUGE amount in fees.  Even if the person paying you wants to use, say PayPal, then your fees are high.

Wise lets you open accounts in multiple currencies, so you can give local bank details to the people wanting to pay you, or put them on your invoices.  And this is all for free. Check out a multi-currency account here and now. Wise also lets you convert more than 40 currencies!  So your billpayers will be paying in their currency, then you can use the low exchange rates that Wise offers to convert to whichever currency you want it in.

Is Your Money Safe with Wise?

In a word. Yes. Here’s how and why.

Wise FCA (Financial Conduct Authority)

Wise is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK – they’re required by law to keep money safe.  They do this by storing it in low-risk financial institutions – in Europe, it’s Barclays in the UK, in the USA it’s Wells Fargo.  All monies are held in a specific customer account, separate from their business operating monies.

Wise FCSC (Financial Services Compensation Scheme)

If Wise were to cease to exist, then your money would be paid back from the accounts referenced above.  Wise, is, however, not covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) as it is not a bank.  Your money is protected by safeguarding.

FAQs on Why Use Wise

Got questions about what is Wise? About how to use Wise to transfer money? Or even what is Wise? Check out our frequently asked questions about Wise money transfers below, or ask us yours in the comments.

What is Wise? What is Wise?

Wise is an Authorised Electronic Money Institution. They are independently regulated by the FCA in the UK.

Wise is a financial services company with more than 6 million active customers who move more than US$ 4 billion dollars EVERY MONTH, saving on average US$4 million a DAY in bank fees. Wise is an Authorised Electronic Money Institution independently regulated by the  Financial Conduct Authority  (FCA) in the UK. They are required by law to keep money safe by storing it in low-risk financial institutions. In Europe, they do this with Barclays. In the USA they do this with Wells Fargo.

Which countries can get a Wise Account? Can I use Wise in Canada?

As of December 2021 as a resident or citizen of the following countries, you can get a Wise account and Wise debit card: Canada, UK, US, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Japan, Switzerland, and EEA. As of December 2021, Canadian residents can get access to Wise cards too. > Get your Wise Account here

What is Transfer Wise borderless?

The Wise borderless account is the old name of the Wise Multi-Currency Account. It’s the same thing. A Wise borderless account is simply a way of holding multiple currencies.

Does Wise work in Cuba?

No. The Wise card will not currently work in Cuba.

How to Use Wise Debit Cards?

You use a Wise card / Wise debit card in the same way that you do any other debit card. Pay in restaurants, pay at tolls, pay in supermarkets. Use it online. There’s no charge for using a Wise debit card to pay for goods and services. As of December 2021 the Wise debit card is also available to Canadian residents > more here

Can You Link Wise to Paypal?

Yes.  You can link a Wise account to Paypal easily.  Usually, you can link a bank account from your primary Paypal currency online. (So my UK bank account is linked to Paypal online). Then to add a second account in a different currency (say US dollars), you might need to call Paypal. If you are not able to link Wise to Paypal online, then you can phone Paypal and they can add it manually for you. I did this to link my Wise account to Paypal for dollars and they were incredibly helpful and it only took 5 minutes.

Can you use a Credit Card on Wise?

Yes.  You can link a credit card to Wise and use it to transfer money to your Wise multi-currency account. You can easily use a credit card on Wise.  However, you will be charged a CASH advance fee if you use a credit card attached to Wise. And therefore it is usually cheaper to use a debit card.  You should check with your card provider what charges they will make as payments made via Wise using a credit card may be interpreted by your bank as being a cash withdrawal and therefore may incur additional charges.

How do I use Wise?

How you use Wise depends on what type of transactions you want to use it for. You can set up a Wise account for free.  You can then add different currency accounts to your wise account for free. There is no charge for this.  You do not need to hold money in these currency accounts to have them open.

You link your Wise / Wise account to a “bricks and mortar” bank account or even a credit card. This then means that you can make transfers using Wise as the mechanism.  So if you hold your money in Pounds sterling, but want to pay someone in US Dollars, the Wise currency conversion rates tend to be LOTS cheaper than regular bank transfers.

You can also use the Wise debit card. You can receive money in your Wise multi-currency account. Wise lets you hold and convert 40 currencies. Then you can use your Wise Debit card to spend in the local currency of the country that you are in. Or that you want to pay in. You can use the Wise debit card as an ATM card as well.

Is Wise covered by FCSC?

No.  Wise is NOT covered by the FCSC. Wise doesn’t provide financial protection through the FSCS (Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), which is a scheme used by traditional bricks and mortar banks.  That’s because Wise is not a bank.  But they are very clear about how they safeguard your money.

Wise safeguards your money.  Safeguarding is a legal requirement that means your money is kept in separate accounts from those which are used to run the business of Wise.  If anything ever happened to Wise then your money will be safe in the accounts of the banks in which it is stored.

Final Words on Using Wise to Save Money

Whether you are a frequent or infrequent traveler getting access to cash and paying for items in currencies outside your home currency is usually always expensive – regular banks charge a fortune to pay in different currencies. The Wise multi-currency account and Wise debit card change all of that. You can pay in multiple currencies, you can transfer money into multiple currencies and you can get paid in multiple currencies too. Wise operates a transparent method of charging – you can ALWAYS see how much something will cost to convert before you convert it. It makes traveling and using your own money a lot cheaper and easier.

We receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using our affiliate links. We do not represent World Nomads. This is not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.

ASocialNomad is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, and amazon.ca. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases .

Sarah Carter

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One thought on “ How to use Wise for CHEAPER Travel Money & Spending ”

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Thanks for the great review. You explained everything very simply.

Privacy Overview

Wise Card Review – Is This Your Next Travel Card?

Disclosure: This post (probably) contains affiliate links. If you click on one, I may make a small commission. Of course, this will come at no extra cost to you and helps keep this site running.

There are some challenges that are pretty much universal when it comes to international travel. One of the most common is finding an easy and inexpensive way to pay for things while overseas. So when it looked like the Wise card could be a good solution, I decided to give it a go on my most recent trips. This Wise card review will take you through my experience traveling with the card.

My reasoning for doing a review is that I know how useful a good travel card can be be. Options for these kinds of things generally depend on which country you’re from, with some countries like the US having more choice than others. Coming from Australia, our options are far fewer, and I’m sure we’re not alone. So hopefully, this review of the Wise card that is widely available across the world can help you see if it’s a useful option for you or not.

Disclaimer: This is not financial advice and I am not a financial advisor. I do not know your financial situation or whether this product will be specifically right for you. This is simply a review of my experience using the Wise Card as a consumer. Please check the Wise website for latest rates/fees and do your own due diligence.

Table of Contents

What is the Wise Card?

Wise, formerly TransferWise, is an online foreign exchange service based in London. I’ve been using Wise for a while now to send/receive money from overseas for work. It’s very useful being able to provide banking details in other countries to receive payments.

They use the mid-market exchange rate for conversions and their transfer fees are considerably lower than alternatives such as Paypal in my experience. There are even tables they provide to show you how they compare to the competition.

The Wise card is simply a Visa debit card associated with your Wise account. It lets you pay for things using the money stored in your Wise account. Like with travel cards, you can store money in different currencies, but it will also auto-convert at the current rate if you don’t have money stored in the necessary currency.

If you’re curious, you can read here about how Wise is regulated according to your country’s laws .

Who is the Wise Card For?

Generally speaking, I believe anyone travelling internationally can get value out of using a Wise card. However, it’s much more useful if you’re already using Wise to receive different currencies from overseas. That’s because it saves you the step of loading funds onto your card’s account and the small associated fee for doing so.

As such, the Wise card is well-suited to digital nomads and freelancers with international clients. If you get paid in USD, Euros, GBP etc., you can get them sent to your Wise bank details and access them easily with your card. At the moment, they support 40 currencies, with information on which come with bank details here .

Wise Cash Withdrawals

Beyond just charging expenses to the card using your funds, you can also use the Wise card to withdraw cash at ATMs. This has turned out to be my favourite use for the Wise card , as cash is still very important when travelling in some countries like Japan and South Korea.

What’s good about the Wise card is the way its fees are done . Each calendar month, you’re given two withdrawals up to a certain threshold without any rates or fees. This is excluding any fees the ATM merchant may charge of course.

But even once you reach three withdrawals or go over the free limit, the fees and rates are minimal (in my opinion). In Australia, for example, the free threshold is AU$350, after which it’s a 1.75% fee, and after the first two withdrawals a $1.50 fee.

The threshold and fee for your withdrawals do depend on where you’re from, but they were favourable compared to my previous go-to travel card. And if you’re able to be strategic with your timing, like I was in Japan and South Korea, you can avoid them.

Benefits of a Wise Card

While using the Wise card these last few trips, I’ve encountered a few scenarios where I’ve been glad to have it with me.

• It’s always helpful having more than one card when you travel, in case you run into a problem on one. Having a Visa card is also useful if your other card is a Mastercard in case of card/vendor problems or restrictions.
• Rather than being strictly a debit card or a currency card, the Wise card feels like a hybrid of both. It lets you take advantage of favourable exchange rates, but doesn’t limit you if you exhaust funds in one currency either.
• I ran into problems with my other credit card in Japan when trying to buy train tickets and at other times in South Korea. Thankfully, my Wise card worked fine and I think it was because it had the local currency stored on it.
• Like other bank cards, you can add your Wise card to your smart phone to pay with Google Pay or Apple Pay.

Flaws of the Wise Card

My one and only small gripe with the Wise card has been when I’ve depleted my funds in the local currency. When that happens, it auto-converts the remaining balance from one of your other stored currencies. Unfortunately, it’s taken from my Euros account in that situation and I wanted to keep my Euros for later to withdraw as cash. I can’t seem to find an option to nominate a default secondary currency to withdraw funds from.

Managing the Card Through the App

Having an app for banking these days isn’t anything new or special. But I will say that the Wise app is especially easy to use and does help you manage your card. Go into the app and you can see for instance how far off the withdrawal threshold you are. You can also easily see your funds, add money, freeze the card, or even change which payment methods you want to allow for it.

With the app, it also makes it very easy to see the details of transactions and cash withdrawals. They clearly break down the fees associated with a withdrawal, so that there’s no confusion where you stand.

Getting a Wise Card

The process for getting a Wise Card couldn’t be simpler. Either log in or create a new account, and then pay a small one-time fee (currently US$9) for the card to be sent to you. They’ll also provide you with a digital card immediately so that you can get started using it online.

Have you tried using the Wise card as a travel card? What more information would you like from this Wise card review? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

David is the author behind the Travelsewhere travel blog and is always on the search for the quieter, less-visited corners of the world.

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International Money Made Simple

Wise Card Review

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 have used the Wise card for a few years and now I have found it to be reliable and easy to use. The app is a critical piece of the puzzle because you will find it is the control centre for the card where you can pretty much do everything you can think of. But in this review, I show you the good and the bad along with some alternatives.

• The Wise debit card lets you manage your money better if you work, travel, or do business overseas.

• It is safe to use, as you can freeze and unfreeze your card anytime on your app, set limits and create virtual cards
• The fees and limits for withdrawals depend on your location.
• You can pay with it in-store or online, link it with Apple Pay and Google Pay and take out cash from ATMs worldwide.

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 .

On Trustpilot, Wise (formerly Transferwise) and the Wise card have an impressive rating of 4.2/5 from 200,000+ reviews in 2024. 83% of reviewers rated Wise as excellent (5 stars), while an additional 7% consider Wise as great (4 stars).

The Wise Multi-currency card is more than a travel money card that saves you fees on international payments. 

Here’s the deal:

• You can hold, manage, and convert between 40+ currencies
• Spend in 170+ countries 
• The card is linked to the Wise Multi-currency account, which you can also use to transfer money to 170+ countries

Sounds pretty cool doesn’t it?

In this Wise debit card review, we’ll take a closer look at whether this debit card is the right option for you.

Available for personal and business Available in the UK, the US, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, Canada, Brazil and most of the EEA Free ATM withdrawal of up to £200 GBP (or equivalent – low fees over that amount) Generate virtual cards for safe online payments  Link Apple Pay and Google Pay  Freeze and unfreeze card instantly from the mobile app Business card offers many other controls

No overdraft or credit facilities Top-up card online or in-app only (no cash deposits)

1. Who is the Wise Card for?

The Wise card is available for both personal and business use and is linked to your Wise Multi-currency Account (review) .

It’s a great option for frequent travelers, expats, growing global businesses, and freelancers who work with international clients. 

The Wise debit card is available in the UK, the US, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, Canada, Brazil and most of the EEA – check if you can get one here . 

With the multi-currency account and card, you can:

• The card allows you to spend in over 160 countries
• Receive your salary, pension, tax benefits (for US citizens), etc.
• Pay your utility bills or mortgage without the currency conversion fee
• Hold up to 40 currencies and spend like a local when relocating or traveling abroad
• Get paid like a local with international bank details in 10 currencies (USD, CAD, GBP, EUR, AUD, NZD, SGD (Singapore dollars), TRY (Turkish lira), RON (Romanian lei), and HUF (Hungarian Forint)
• Spend online without foreign exchange fees
• Withdraw money from ATMs at home and abroad

Bottom Line

The Wise card gives you access to a potentially much better way to manage your money if you work, travel, or do business overseas.

2. When the Wise Card Works (and When It Doesn’t)

2.1 when the wise card works.

Multi-currency account 

The Wise debit card is attached to the Wise multi-currency account, which lets users hold, manage, and convert between 40+ currencies. 

The card and the multi-currency account work seamlessly – you can spend in any currency you hold and even withdraw money from ATMs (up to a limit) without any currency conversion fees. 

The business account can let you receive money in 9+  major currencies (USD, GBP, EUR, CAD, AUD and more) like a local – which is very helpful if you run a global business or freelance with overseas clients. 

Money transfers 

One of the biggest perks of the Wise multi-currency account is how affordable money transfers can be. 

Wise (formerly Transferwise) was founded with the mission to keep international bank transfer fees low and transparent. 

To date, they’re the only money transfer service to provide transfers at the mid-market or interbank rate (explained simply).

And they’ve pledged to bring even more affordability and transparency to international transfers with their Nothing to Hide campaign .

Business use

The Wise multi-currency card is a great asset for both big and small businesses. 

You can use the cards to tackle business expenses, create cards for team members (And set spending limits), pay overseas vendors and suppliers affordably, manage tech subscriptions and more.

2.2 When the Wise Card Doesn’t Work

Accounts unexpectedly frozen

The Wise debit card and multi-currency account are regulated in many countries – and Wise frequently audits user accounts in case of any red flags or for breach of service terms (for example, sending business payments from a personal account, transferring above a certain limit, etc.)

They do this to protect your money, but they may freeze your account while sorting things out. 

This can be quite annoying – distressing even – if you keep all your money in your Wise account as a traveler, expat, freelancer, or business. 

While a frozen account is rare, we recommend having a backup source of money – such as an overseas bank account with a high street bank as an expat or business.

• Customer service

Currently, Wise offers customer problem resolutions mostly via email – which can be slow, inefficient, and time-consuming. 

From miscommunication to unexpected delays, Wise’s customer service can be an issue on an otherwise fantastic service.

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.

3. Wise Card Safety & Security

Wise is a big, trusted company with millions of users and is highly regulated in many different countries.

While all this regulation appears dull (safety is best when it’s boring), it helps because each country has its own rules and needs.

Wise is registered with many financial institutions such as the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (USA), and the UK Financial Conduct Authority (UK) amongst many others including Europe, Hong Kong, Singapore, Canada, Australia, India, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and the UAE.

Beyond extreme regulation, the company itself seems very serious about its safety and security.

And they have some great ways to be proactive, for example:

• You can create virtual debit cards (up to 3 at a time) to keep your account safe while spending online.
• You get real-time notifications for all account activities – from money transfers to payments.
• You can freeze and unfreeze your debit card anytime if you lose it, set spending limits (great for both individual use and if you’re issuing to team members), etc.

However, it must be said:

The Wise debit card is used with the Multi-Currency Account that allows you to hold over 40 currencies.

But these funds are not insured like the funds held in your bank .

They do say, “ We keep your money in low-risk financial institutions like JP Morgan Chase, Deutsche Bank, and Barclays. ”

So we’d say the Wise card and associated multi-currency account is safe.

4. Wise Card Features and Benefits

The Wise prepaid card is available in many countries (the US, UK, Canada, Brazil, most of EEA, Australia, New Zealand, and many Asian countries like Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, etc.) and supports usage in 160 countries (online and offline). 

This makes it a great option for frequent travelers who want to explore the world, expats who have moved abroad, as well as businesses who are expanding their global presence. 

Personal and business use

If you already have a Wise personal account, it’s easy to adapt to a business account whether you’re freelancing or building a larger business. 

You don’t have to shop around for an alternative – both the personal and business accounts are pretty robust when it comes to the features they offer. 

Robust card controls

Whether you want to freeze your card in case you misplace it, set spending limits for employees (or yourself as a personal user), or manage direct debits and subscriptions – you can easily control it all from the Wise app.

Free ATM withdrawals  

Need access to cash quickly while traveling? The Wise travel money card lets you withdraw up to £200 GBP/$100 USD/ 350 AUD / 350 CAD / 200 EUR / 350 NZD / 350 SGD etc. for free. 

You can withdraw more but there are fees applicable (about £0.50 GBP + 1.75% of the amount per withdrawal)

Shop safely with virtual cards

Your Wise prepaid card account lets you set up virtual cards (up to 3 at a time) which adds another layer of security when you’re making online purchases. 

Integration with Apple Pay and Google Pay

The Wise debit card integrates with both Apple Pay and Google Pay for easy contactless payments as well as seamless online payments.

5. Wise Card Fees and Limits

The card also has daily, weekly, and monthly spending limits that vary by country – check them out here .

Currency conversion fees: While it is hard to say up front exactly how much you will have to pay in conversion fees, you can use the convenient Wise Fee Calculator (no sign-up needed) to check out all fees before spending or sending.

6. How to Get the Wise Debit Card

The Wise Debit card is available in the UK, the US, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, Canada, Brazil and most of the EEA.

First – confirm the card is available in your country.

• Sign up for your Wise multi-currency account and verify it with the relevant documents.
• Apply for the card once signed up. You’ll be asked to fund your multi-currency account with a small fee ($20 USD/£20 GBP) to apply as well as pay the card-issuing fees (see Wise Card Fees (above) ).
• Once you receive your card (takes 3 days to 3 weeks, depending on your location), activate it and set your PIN. (When you’re traveling, enter your 4-digit PIN even if the ATM asks for a 6-digit PIN)
• The card is accepted anywhere MasterCard (or Visa) is accepted.

The card works like a regular debit card and can be used for contactless payments in stores, online payments, and ATM withdrawals worldwide (fees applicable).

7. Wise Alternative Cards

Is Wise your only option for a prepaid debit card or travel money card?

Not at all – Revolut (review) also offers accounts that come with prepaid debit cards that work globally. 

There are others depending on where you live but Revolut is Wise’s closest competitor if you live in the UK, EU, Australia, Canada, New Zaland and the US. 

Here’s a quick low down of the Wise debit card’s best competitor – Revolut. 

Learn more in our in-depth article – Wise vs. Revolut (review) . 

8. Wise Card Reviews (including Negative Ones)

• Easy to use
• Works everywhere

“Excellent I’ve spent years messing around getting travel money. I now have the Wise app, and a physical card so that I can get cash out when I’m on holiday. I just back from a trip across France and Spain, and no issues using my card or on Apple Pay Easy to top up via the app. Handing, the app gives a real-time balance. Love not getting charged by my bank for using the debit card abroad!” – Ian on Trustpilot

I used wise cards for when parents visited me in Australia, giving them the freedom to roam without cash. Then I recently used my wise card to travel to Europe. The card worked flawlessly in the UK, Spain and Italy. Local currency (AUD), good exchange rates at the moment of each purchase (and all fees totally transparent). Worked well with two different car rental companies (Alamo in Spain, Drivalia in Italy). Also used it in the UK to take trains and subways using their contactless option. FLAWLESS! – Mauro Vechi on Trustpilot

• Malfunctioning card/Frozen account

“They couldn’t fix my debit card to work abroad. I am stuck abroad to my home bank’s card and have to pay extra fees. Their support is useless, all they say “rest assured, it is being dealt” But the reality they are not dealing with anything otherwise I wouldn’t have this problem for this long.” – Ulas on Trustpilot

Overall, most of the reviews are positive for Wise (formerly Transferwise) and the Wise card – rated 4.2/5 on Trustpilot with 203K+ reviews (as of January 2024). 

However, the card doesn’t work in some remote locations and payments above Wise’s limits can get your account flagged and frozen. 

That’s why we recommend carrying a backup card or registering for an overseas account eventually when you travel, move abroad, or start a global business.

9. Verdict – Is the Wise Card Worth It?

That would be a resounding yes. 

Wise debit card is safe, secure , (above) and easy to use (above). It offers many things its competitors don’t: 

• more currencies to hold, 
• more locations for registration, and 
• more currencies to spend in. 

As Wise users (for many years now), we benefit a lot from their multi-currency accounts and debit cards in our personal or business lives. 

Plus, we also get to enjoy affordable bank-to-bank transfers to 170+ countries. It’s our top choice for small money transfers abroad .

However, Wise is not perfect. As discussed in the When the Wise Card Works (and When It Doesn’t) (above) sometimes, accounts can get frozen for security reasons, which can be a hassle if you need to access your money urgently. That’s why we recommend having a backup (above), just in case.

Nonetheless, you’ll find the Wise debit card a great companion for your travels (like we did!). You just need to pay a one-time fee to order the card, and then enjoy the benefits of spending like a local wherever you go. No bad exchange rates, just peace of mind and more savings for your travels.

Is the Wise Card Worth it?

Absolutely! It’s a great debit card for travelers, freelancers, or business owners who are growing globally. As Wise debit card user, you can enjoy affordable international bank-to-bank transfers with no hidden fees at the mid-market exchange rate.

Is Wise transfer safe and legit?

Yes, it is safe and legit. Wise has preventive measures to protect your data and money. It is also regulated by financial authorities in the country where it operates. However, you must be aware of its pros and cons to evaluate its service better.

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I tried using Wise as a substitute for my bank account with direct debits in USD, and it started off okay, but then things went south. Transfers failed twice, resulting in $55 in fees, and Wise support couldn’t explain why. They claimed I canceled transfers (which I didn’t). On top of that, customer service is a joke; it’s all automated emails, no one you can call to, and takes ages. Now, all my money is on hold, and I can’t withdraw or use the card. Wise used to be reliable, but my recent experience is frustrating, especially if you’re counting on your Wise card.

Thank you for sharing but sorry to hear about your experience. My experience with the card has been excellent but I hear from a lot of people. So…. The $55 in fees I must say sounds very unusual. Generally even if you cancel transfer quickly in my experience there are no fees, so I can only imagine that something must have happened later in the transfer. Hard to know. The real issue here though is the customer service because if it were less automated then you would have been more likely to solve these issues. To be fair though, for most people there are no issues, but because there is a possibility that things can go off the rails it is a good reminder to have an alternative plan like a card (which most people do – but it is usually not as good). Hope it resolves for you soon!

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Wise (formerly TransferWise) an international money transfer service, announced this week the launch of a new Mastercard debit card alongside its foreign currency account that will make it cheaper and faster for customers to spend, send and receive money overseas. Travelers can spend on the card in any of more than 40 currencies and Wise will automatically convert the charge at the best rate from the customer’s account.

Dubbing it a “borderless account” that’s “like an international Venmo,” Wise aims to make it easier and less expensive for people to convert money quickly between currencies, especially when traveling or living abroad.

Card benefits include no foreign transaction fees, no annual or monthly fees, free ATM withdrawals up to $250 every 30 days, the ability to freeze and unfreeze your card, an app, and, for U.S. customers, Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay capabilities.

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In addition to catering to travelers, the service is meant to ease financial complications for those who have moved away from their home countries, according to the company. The Wise website includes an area dedicated to the stories of immigrants to the U.S. and other countries, including narratives from company co-founders Kristo Kaarmann and Taavet Hinrikus and “Queer Eye” star Tan France.

The account converts money based on the mid-market exchange rate (the rate you’d see on sites like Google or Yahoo Finance) and charges a relatively small fee to do so. Wise also offers money transfer services to more than 70 countries.

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Wise Travel Card Review 2024

Getting a travel money card is a smart move when you’re headed overseas.

The Wise travel card is linked to a multi-currency Wise account which can hold 50+ currencies , and lets you convert from one currency to another with the mid-market exchange rate. You can use your Wise travel card in 170+ countries , which makes this a super flexible and versatile travel card option, even for frequent travellers and those who like to get off the beaten track.

This guide covers all you need to know about how the Wise card works, with a look at key benefits and fees. We’ll also touch on a couple of popular alternatives for UK travellers, the Revolut travel card and the Hays travel money card, so you can compare them and see which works best for you.

Wise travel card: key features

The Wise card offers some great features which aren’t available from all UK travel money card providers, including a linked account you can use to hold and exchange 50+ currencies, and local account details for up to 9 currencies, in case you also need to receive money from others in foreign currencies. However, it’s not perfect, so there are a few drawbacks to know about as well.

We’ll go through how the Wise travel money card works in detail, and look at features, fees and limits, in a moment. First, an overview of some of the Wise travel card pros and cons:

The Wise personal multi-currency account is free to open online or in the Wise app, but you’ll then pay a 7 GBP fee to get your linked card. You’ll have access to your Wise virtual card instantly, and your physical Wise travel card will arrive in the post. Use your card online and in person, with currency exchange that offers the mid-market rate and low fees from 0.43%.

You can either top up in pounds and switch to the currency or currencies you need in advance of travel, or just let the Wise travel card do the conversion for you at the point of payment, with the mid-market rate and the lowest available fees.

Read a full Wise review here

Who is the Wise travel card for?

The Wise travel card is available for both personal and business customers, and your account can be entirely opened and managed online or in the Wise app. That makes it handy for a range of people:

Frequent travellers who need to spend in any of the 170+ supported countries

Individuals, business owners and entrepreneurs who want to hold and exchange 50+ currencies

Anyone who likes to convert their GBP to the destination currency in advance to set their travel budget before they leave

People paying or getting paid from overseas - for example if you have income from an overseas holiday rental, or need to pay a mortgage on your property abroad

Business owners who want to issue travel cards to their team members for overseas expenses

Online shoppers spending with international retailers

Anyone who wants to view and manage their account and card online or in-app

Read a full Wise card review here

What is the Wise travel card?

The Wise travel card is a convenient prepaid debit card linked to a multi-currency Wise account. You can hold 50+ currencies in your account, and top up or exchange right from your phone. Switch your balance to the currency you need in advance, or just let the card’s auto convert feature do it for you at the point of payment, with the mid-market exchange rate and the lowest available fees every time.

Wise accounts are available for business and personal customers, and also offer handy extras like options to receive payments like a local from 30+ countries, payments to 70+ countries, and easy account management through the Wise app. Business customers can also get time saving tools like batch payments and accounting integrations.

Is the Wise Travel Money a multi-currency card?

Yes. The Wise account and travel money card have powerful international features which make them perfect for anyone who wants a multi-currency card and account. You can hold 50+ currencies, including a broad selection of major world currencies, and plenty of less common currency options, too. And you can spend around the world - over 170 countries are covered, with in person, online and mobile payments, and cash withdrawals as and when you need them.

Alternatives to Wise travel card

The Wise card isn’t right for everyone. Fortunately, UK customers have a really broad selection of travel card options, including providers like Revolut which offer fully online and in-app account services, and cards like the Hays travel card which you can collect and top up, in a branch.

Here’s a quick overview of how these providers line up on some key features:

Information taken from Wise pricing page , Hays Travel Mastercard desktop site and Terms and conditions , Revolut international transfer fees .pdf) and Revolut UK ; correct at time of writing, 30th May 2023

Whether Wise or an alternative provider like Revolut or Hays suits you best will depend a lot on your personal preferences. Wise has a very broad range of supported currencies, with low fees and mid-market currency exchange. Revolut has its own strengths, including different tier account options so you can upgrade to a monthly fee paying account if you want to unlock more features. Hays on the other hand has options to get a card in branch, plus you can top up and even close your account in person at your local Hays store too - ideal if you prefer dealing with people face to face.

Revolut Revolut offers basic accounts with no monthly fees as well as higher tier plans that come with monthly charges of up to 12.99 GBP which have extra benefits. All account tiers have a linked Revolut travel card and can hold more than 25 currencies.

When it comes to currency exchange, Revolut uses the mid-market exchange rate to the limits set out in your account plan, with fair usage charges of 0.5% - 1% after that, depending on the account plan you have.

Read a full Revolut review here

The Hays travel card is a multi-currency card which lets you hold up to 16 popular foreign currencies. The currencies available cover a good selection of the destinations UK travellers like to head off to for work or leisure - you just top up your account balance, and then there’s no fee to spend a currency you hold.

It’s worth noting that there’s a fairly high 5.75% foreign transaction fee to spend a currency you don’t hold in your account - so you’ll want to make sure you have enough balance in your destination currency to get you through your break.

Wise travel card fees & spending limits

There are a few fees and limits to consider if you’re thinking of the Wise travel card in the UK.

If you have a Wise UK account there’s usually no limit to how much you can hold in your Wise account. However, there are limits - for security reasons - to the value of transactions you can make, on a single transaction, daily and monthly basis.

Firstly let's look at the important limits that apply:

All information correct at the time of writing - 30th May, 2023.

As you can see, there’s a default limit per payment type, and a maximum. Your Wise account will initially be set to the default limits - but you can adjust caps anywhere up to the maximum allowed, in the Wise app.

Next, let’s walk through the fees you’ll pay to receive and use your Wise travel card:

All information correct at the time of writing - 30th May, 2023. Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information

Exchange rates

Wise currency exchange uses the mid-market exchange rate, with a low and transparent fee from 0.43%. You’ll be able to see the exchange rates available in the Wise app, and double check the fees, before you switch currencies. Once you have the currency you need for spending or withdrawals in your account, there’s no Wise foreign transaction fee.

How to get Wise travel card

To get your Wise travel card you’ll first need to open a Wise account online or in the Wise app using your email address, Facebook, Apple or Google ID. Once your account has been verified, you can top up your Wise account balance in pounds (or one of the other 20 or so supported currencies for loading funds).

Within the Wise app you can then order your Wise card, to start spending with your digital card right away.

What documents you’ll need

When you open your Wise account you’ll need to provide some documents for verification purposes. This is to keep your account secure and to comply with local and international law - but the whole process can be done right from your phone. You’ll be guided through what’s needed based on your account type - usually that’ll mean uploading images of:

Your proof of ID - such as your passport

Proof of address - like your driving licence or a utility bill

What happens when the card expires?

Once your Wise card is coming close to its expiry date you’ll be notified, and Wise will send you a new card automatically for free.

How to use the Wise travel card?

The Wise travel card is issued on major global networks like Visa and Mastercard, so it’ll be accepted in most countries around the world. Plus you can add your card - or a Wise virtual card - to Google Pay and Apple Pay for convenient mobile payments at home, online and when you travel.

How to withdraw cash with the Wise travel card?

You can use the Wise travel card to make cash withdrawals at a broad selection of ATMs around the world - just like you would your regular card. If you find you’ve forgotten your PIN, don’t worry. You can also double check this by securely logging into the Wise app and accessing your card details.

Is the card safe?

Yes. The Wise travel card is safe to use. Wise has been established since 2011 and is fully licensed and regulated for the services it provides globally. In the UK, Wise is regulated by the FCA.

How to use the Wise travel card overseas?

You can use your Wise card for spending and making withdrawals in 170+ countries around the world. In most cases, where you can’t use your Wise card it’s as a result of global sanctions or financial regulations - there’s a list of the countries where you can’t use your Wise card over on the Wise website if you need to check.

Conclusion: Is the Wise travel card worth it?

The Wise travel card is a helpful option for anyone who would like to hold a multi-currency account and spend easily around the world. Because Wise supports a pretty impressive 50+ currencies, the card is super flexible, and all currency exchange uses the mid-market exchange rate with low fees from 0.43%.

Compare Wise to another card or two that are available on the UK market, like the Revolut debit card and the Hays Travel Money Card, to see which suits you best.

Wise travel card review FAQ

Open a Wise account online or in the Wise app, and order your Wise travel card for a one time fee of 7 GBP. You can then use the card to spend in 170+ countries, with the mid-market rate and low fees from 0.43%.

Yes. The Wise travel card is linked to a Wise account which can hold 50+ currencies, and can be used for convenient spending and withdrawals in 170+ countries.

Compare the Wise card against alternatives like the Revolut card - which can support 25+ currencies, or the Hays Travel Money Card which you can easily pick up in person at a Hays branch.

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By Barry Choi on April 25, 2024 Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Wise card Canada review 2024

This prepaid travel card eliminates foreign exchange charges on your purchases abroad, though the loading fees could irk some travellers

The Wise card is a welcome addition to the services that Wise—formerly TransferWise—offers, but as you’ll quickly learn in this review, the card has a few quirks that will annoy users. That’s not to say that the Wise card is not worth having in your wallet when you travel abroad. You just need to know how the card works in order to keep your transaction fees down.

Is the Wise card a credit card?

Often referred to as the Wise credit card, the Wise card is actually a prepaid card available to residents of Canada and dozens of other countries. To use the card, you must have funds loaded into your Wise account. What makes Wise appealing is that it allows you to hold multiple currencies. That means you could potentially purchase some foreign dollars when the exchange rate is in your favour and then spend it as needed when you’re abroad. 

No additional fees apply when making purchases with a currency you currently hold in your Wise account. However, if you don’t hold the currency in which you’re making a purchase, Wise will automatically deduct the funds from the currency in your account with the lowest conversion fees. That said, when making a purchase abroad and given the option to be charged in the local currency or Canadian dollars, always choose the local currency for the best exchange rate.

The Wise card also allows you to withdraw money from ATMs while abroad. Think of it as a Wise debit card, since you can use it for purchases and ATM withdrawals. Oddly enough, you can’t use the card within Canada.

The first two ATM withdrawals are free, up to a cumulative value of CAD$350 per calendar month. Any additional withdrawals will cost you $1.50 each, and a 1.75% fee will be added to amounts over $350. Also, note that the ATM provider may charge its own fee when you withdraw cash. Wise withdrawal fees and third-party ATM fees count towards your withdrawal limits—so plan accordingly.

How long does it take to get a Wise card ?

You must have a Wise account if you want to apply for a Wise card. The registration process only takes a few minutes and is done completely online. Once your account is active, you need to add funds. Doing so is simple, as you have many options including Interac e-Transfer, direct debit from your bank, and wire transfer. 

Each loading method has a fee. Interac e-Transfer typically has the lowest fee, and your money will arrive in about five minutes. How much you’ll pay in fees depends on the currency and how much you’re loading.

To order your Wise card, log into your account and click on Wise Card on the side bar. The physical card will arrive within 14 days, and you also get a digital card you can use immediately. While the digital option is convenient, it won’t help people who are travelling soon and may need ATM access.

Wise card pros and cons

The Wise card is a unique option that many people will naturally be attracted to. That said, you should consider the pros and cons before you open an account.

Wise card pros

• Can hold multiple currencies: This is a convenient option for travellers as they’ll know exactly what they’re paying to exchange money.
• Flexible payments: Even if you don’t currently hold a specific currency in your account, you can still use your card for purchases and ATM withdrawals, as Wise will simply deduct the amount from the currency with the lowest transaction fees in your account.
• No annual fee: There’s no cost to get the card.
• Digital card available: You get a Wise digital card immediately when you request a physical card.

Wise card cons

• Load fees: It’ll cost you money to load the card.
• Not a true no-foreign-transaction-fee card: Although Wise has competitive exchange rates, it still charges a markup to load your card and when converting currencies.
• Withdrawal limits: You get only two ATM withdrawals with a cumulative total of CAD$350 per calendar month without any fees.
• No rewards earned: You don’t get any cash back or points when making purchases.

Alternatives to the Wise card

The Wise card, introduced in Canada at the end of 2021, is clearly designed to compete against cards with no foreign transaction fees. Even though Wise offers a good card, there are arguably better Canadian options. Both Wealthsimple and EQ Bank offer prepaid cards you can order if you’re an account holder. 

The Wealthsimple and EQ Bank cards both have no annual fee, but what sets them apart from the Wise card is that they both use the exchange rate set by Visa, which is a bit lower than what Wise charges. Plus, Wealthsimple and EQ Bank don’t charge a fee to load funds into your account, so you’re coming out ahead right from the start. They also have no-fee ATM withdrawals.

Beyond prepaid cards, Wise is also competing with no foreign transaction fee credit cards , where competition is fierce. Even though the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite has an annual fee of $150, it’s often waived for the first year. In addition, you get great benefits such as six annual airport lounge passes and comprehensive travel insurance. Plus, this is a traditional credit card, so you don’t need to worry about preloading funds before departure.

Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite

• Annual fee: $150
• Earn rate : 3 Scene+ points per $1 spent at Sobeys stores; 2 points per $1 on groceries, dining, entertainment and transit; 1 point per $1 on everything else. Plus, pay no FX fees
• Welcome offer: earn up to $1,300 in value in the first 12 months, including up to 40,000 bonus Scene+ points and first year annual fee waived. Offer ends July 1, 2024.
• Annual income requirement: Personal income of $60,000 or household income of $100,000
• Point value: 1 Scene+ point = $0.01 when redeemed for travel, store purchases and food and drink at Cineplex and Scene partners
• Recommended credit score   for approval : 700 or higher
• Interest rates: 20.99% on purchases, 22.99% on cash advances, 22.99% on balance transfers

Is the Wise card any good?

Although the Wise card has some quirks that will annoy people who are looking to minimize their foreign transaction fees, the card does have enough positives to justify being in your wallet. You can easily add funds, and the ability to easily hold multiple currencies is incredibly convenient. That said, there are credit cards without foreign transaction fees that come with generous benefits and rewards that may be more appealing to some.

More on travel :

• Compare your travel card options
• The best chequing accounts in Canada for 2024
• What it costs to see Taylor Swift perform abroad
• Best no foreign transaction fee credit cards
• Best credit cards for airport lounge access

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Travelwise International (TWI) redefines today’s standards in luxury travel. Headquartered in Fort Washington, Maryland with a global office in Manila, Travelwise International is one of the nation’s premier luxury travel agencies catering to sophisticated leisure travelers searching for world renowned destinations and experiences. With over thirty years of experience, Travelwise International is an award-winning travel firm recognized for its unparalleled high touch service, creating elaborate customized travel experiences for its VIP clientele.

Our History

For over three decades, Travelwise International (TWI) remains one of the most influential and respected luxury travel firms in the industry.

Travelwise International’s founder Ofelia Adriano was one of the early travel advisors to pioneer travel management for the Filipino-Americans since the late 1980s. Her elaborate work and industry expertise led to the debut of Travelwise in 1989, a business catering to an impressive list of clients and high-profile organizations such as the Philippine Ambassador and the Department of Tourism for the Philippines.

Travelwise International’s team of top travel advisors has applied their proven formula within leisure travel to a broader range of destinations worldwide. And with its sights now set on increasing its network, Travelwise International continues to expand its product list to include a wider range of markets and a collection of unfathomable destinations.

Building Our Future

Travelwise International recently announced the launch of its Host Agency (IC) Division, a program created to be an incubator devoted to developing a new breed of forward thinking travel advisors focused on innovation and finding new ways to propel the industry forward.

Inside this incubator is a place to allow those involved to think differently. And with the launch of this new division comprised of a select group of the passionate and purpose driven individuals, there will be a shift toward creating an inspired community of like-minded entrepreneurs driven by creativity and curiosity who continually seek out new ways to evolve and grow

The ultimate goal is to welcome ideas and innovation into the brand from outside of the industry as well as within the travel advisor community. As such, the project will act as a talent scout as Travelwise International seeks out thought leaders and forward thinking entrepreneurs who can help drive that mission forward.

Keisha Adriano, VTA Chief Executive Officer | Luxury Travel Advisor

Keisha is one of travel industry’s rising stars and has quickly become a recognized speaker at travel conventions, training programs and other business coaching seminars. Keisha’s philosophies revolve around creating leaders within your business/organization to build a culture of success. She specializes in exotic destination such as the Philippines, the Maldives, the South Pacific and French Polynesia, and the Mediterranean.

Aiza Salas Manager, Sales & Operations

Aiza specializes in cruises, river cruises and land tours, working with our preferred suppliers to provide the best experience for her clients.

She is passionate about of helping others discover Europe and cross destinations off their bucket-list.

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Jomarie is a wonderful travel advisor who has been able to establish herself in the agency. Jomarie joined in 2019 and has quickly become one of our rising stars.

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He specializes in cruises in the Mediterranean and the Caribbean.

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Ngan found her love for travel as she yearn to learn more about her home country Vietnam. She aims to educate people about the beauty of Southeast Asia nd connect them to the world.

She specializes in family cruising and unique experiences.

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Sherry found her passion for travel during the pandemic and wanted to find ways to help people find their dream vacations.

Sherry specializes in family travel, all inclusive resorts, and ocean cruises.

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Belle has always been entrepreneur and wanted to expand her business portfolio and include helping friends and families find ythe perfect getaway.

Belle specializes in all inclusive resorts and beach destinations.

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ABOUT TRAVELWISE

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• Tell Congress to Advance the Deployment of the Vaccine to the Philippines
• What is the Balikbayan Program for the Philippines?

RECENT PHOTOS