Wise travel card review [2023]
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 160+ countries, which makes this a super flexible and versatile travel card option, even for frequent travelers and those who like to get off the beaten track.
This guide covers all you need to know about how the Wise travel card works, with a look at key benefits and fees. We’ll also touch on a couple of popular alternatives for US travelers, the Revolut travel card and the Capital One Venture Rewards 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 US travel money card providers, including a linked account you can use to hold and exchange 40+ 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:
| Pros of Wise travel card | Cons of Wise travel card |
|---|---|
| ✅ Hold 40+ currencies ✅ Spend in 160+ countries ✅ Currency exchange uses the mid-market rate with low, transparent fees ✅ Send money to 160+ countries ✅ Google and Apple Pay compatible for mobile payments ✅ Safe provider, with 16 million+ customers worldwide | ❌ 9 USD card order fee ❌ Some ATM fees apply once you’ve used your monthly free withdrawal allowance ❌ No branch network – you’ll need to order your card online or in the Wise app |
The Wise personal multi-currency account is free to open online or in the Wise app, but you’ll then pay a 9 USD fee to get your linked card. Your physical Wise travel card will then arrive in the mail to your registered shipping address. 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 dollars 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.
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 travelers who need to spend in any of the 160+ supported countries
- Individuals, business owners and entrepreneurs who want to hold and exchange 40+ currencies
- Anyone who likes to convert their USD 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 vacation 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
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 40+ 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 from 30+ countries via local account details, ways to send payments to 160+ countries, and easy account management through the Wise app. Business customers can also get time saving tools like batch payments and accounting integrations.
If you are interested in learning more about Wise account, check out our Wise account review.
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 40+ 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 160 countries are covered, with in person, online and mobile payments, and cash withdrawals as and when you need them.
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 US.
Most Wise US customers have no limit to the amount of money they can hold and exchange in their Wise accounts. Some Wise US customers, who have account details with a routing number starting 026 do have some limits on the amount of money you can receive in USD – but limits are set high, at around 35 million USD per year for personal customers, and even higher for Wise Business account holders.
There are however, some limits on transactions – here’s a look at the important Wise travel card limits that apply:
| Transaction type | Single transaction limit | Daily limit | Monthly limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chip and PIN or mobile wallet like Apple Pay or Google Pay | Default: 1,000 USD Maximum: 2,000 USD | Default: 1,000 USD Maximum: 2,000 USD | Default: 5,000 USD Maximum: 15,000 USD |
| ATM withdrawal | Default: 250 USD Maximum: 1,000 USD | Default: 250 USD Maximum: 1,000 USD | Default: 1,500 USD Maximum: 6,000 USD |
| Contactless | Default: 200 USD Maximum: 400 USD | Default: 500 USD Maximum: 1,000 USD | Default: 1,500 USD Maximum: 4,000 USD |
| Magnetic stripe | Default: 1,000 USD Maximum: 1,500 USD | Default: 1,000 USD Maximum: 1,500 USD | Default: 1,500 USD Maximum: 6,000 USD |
| Online purchase | Default: 1,000 USD Maximum: 2,000 USD | Default: 1,000 USD Maximum: 2,000 USD | Default: 2,000 USD Maximum: 15,000 USD |
*All information correct at the time of writing – 4th July, 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.
| Service | Wise debit card fee |
|---|---|
| One time card order fee | 9 USD |
| Order a new card | 5 USD |
| Replace an expiring card | Free – Wise will remind you when you need a new card for convenience |
| Spend currencies you hold in your account | Free |
| Spend in currencies you don’t have in your account | Wise will auto convert the balance you have to the currency you need, using the mid-market exchange rate and the lowest available fees |
| First 2 ATM withdrawals a month, up to the value of 100 USD | Free |
| Additional withdrawals, over the value of 100 USD/month | 1.50 USD per withdrawal + 2% of the withdrawal value |
All information correct at the time of writing – 4th July, 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 a 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 dollars (or one of the other 20 or so supported currencies for loading funds).
Within the Wise app you can then order your Wise card, for a one time fee of 9 USD.
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 license or a utility bill
You’ll also need to enter your SSN or ITIN if you have one.
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.
More information: How to withdraw money from Wise
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 US, Wise is FinCEN registered and operates either under its own license or through a partnership with Community Federal Savings Bank, depending on the state.
How to use the Wise travel card overseas?
You can use your Wise card abroad for spending and making withdrawals in 160+ 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.
Alternatives to Wise travel card
The Wise card may not be right for everyone. Fortunately, US customers have a selection of travel card options, including providers like Revolut which offers fully online and in-app account services, and travel credit cards like the Capital One Venture Rewards credit card.
Here’s a quick overview of how these providers line up on some key features:
| Wise debit card | Revolut debit card | Capital One Venture Rewards credit card | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Availability | Order online or in-app | Order online or in-app | Order online or in-app |
| Card order fee | 9 USD | No fee | No fee |
| Monthly fees | No fee | 0 USD – 16.99 USD | 95 USD annual fee applies |
| International Money Transfers | Fees from 0.43%, 160 + countries covered | Fees of up to 5% when sending 200 USD or more; for payments under this amount, there’s a fee of up to 10 USD | Not available |
| International ATM withdrawals | 2 withdrawals to 100 USD/month fee free, then 1.5 USD + 2% after that | Some no-fee withdrawals based on account plan, 2% after that | 3 USD or 3% whichever is greater |
| Currency Exchange | Mid-market rate | Mid-market rate to plan limit, 0.5% fair usage fee beyond that | Mastercard or Visa rate |
| Fee to spend a currency you don’t hold in your account | From 0.43% | Up to 0.5% fair usage fee applies once mid-market rate allowance is exhausted | No foreign transaction fee |
| Supported currencies for holding and exchange | 40+ currencies supported | 25+ currencies supported | Not applicable – card is billed in USD only |
| Business Accounts | Available | Available | Not available – other Capital One business services are offered |
*Information correct at time of writing, 4th July 2023
Whether Wise or an alternative provider like Revolut or Capital One 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. Capital One offers a rewards credit card option with no foreign transaction fee which can mean your spending overseas is relatively low cost as long as you avoid interest and penalty fees – although an annual charge also applies for this card.
Revolut debit card
Revolut offers basic accounts with no monthly fees as well as higher tier plans that come with monthly charges of up to 16.99 USD 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% after that. If you’re exchanging exotic currencies, or exchanging out of hours, additional charges may also apply.
Capital One Venture Rewards credit card
We’ve picked out the Capital One Venture Rewards credit card as a different option if you’re looking for an alternative to the Wise travel card. This is a credit card, so there’s an annual fee of 95 USD, and you’ll pay interest if you don’t clear down your bill every month. However, it can be a good pick for travelers as there’s no foreign transaction fee to worry about, and you’ll be able to use it all over the world conveniently.
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 US market, like the Revolut debit card and the Capital One Venture Rewards credit card, to see which suits you best.
Wise travel card review FAQ
How does the Wise travel card work?
Open a Wise account online or in the Wise app, and order your Wise travel card for a one time fee of 9 USD. You can then use the card to spend in 10+ countries, with the mid-market rate and low fees from 0.43%.
Is the Wise travel card an international card?
Yes. The Wise travel card is linked to a Wise account which can hold 40+ currencies, and can be used for convenient spending and withdrawals in 160+ countries.
Are there any alternatives to a Wise travel card?
Compare the Wise card against alternatives like the Revolut card – which can support 25+ currencies, or the Capital One Venture Rewards credit card which offers overseas spending with no foreign transaction fee.
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