Greatest pay as you go debit playing cards of 2024

For those who’re part of  the “unbanked” neighborhood, which means you don’t use or have entry to mainstream monetary companies reminiscent of checking or financial savings accounts, you aren’t out of luck. Pay as you go debit playing cards are designed

The Fortune Recommends^TM workforce evaluated the highest pay as you go debit playing cards obtainable as we speak and ranked them primarily based on components reminiscent of charges, rewards, and extra. Learn on to see our prime picks.

See our full methodology here.

Word: All rates of interest, phrases, and costs are correct at time of publication, however are topic to alter.

Greatest pay as you go debit playing cards

• Greatest total pay as you go debit card: Greenlight Pay as you go Mastercard
• Greatest for receiving federal advantages: Direct Specific Pay as you go Debit Mastercard
• Greatest for no charges: Money App Card
• Greatest for credit score card-like perks: Bluebird by American Specific
• Greatest for on-line safety: MOVO Digital Money Card
• Greatest for household cash administration: FamZoo Pay as you go Card
• Greatest for Walmart consumers: Walmart MoneyCard
• Greatest for overdraft safety: Netspend Pay as you go Card
• Greatest for giving again: ONE VIP Visa Pay as you go Card
• Greatest for Paypal customers: PayPal Pay as you go Mastercard

Greatest total pay as you go debit card: Greenlight Pay as you go Mastercard

Why we like this card 

The Greenlight Pay as you go Mastercard is particularly designed for households and gives distinctive options that promote monetary schooling for teenagers whereas giving dad and mom management and oversight. For instance, dad and mom have the power to watch and management the place and the way a lot their kids can spend, together with setting particular store-level spend controls. It additionally permits dad and mom to pay allowances, set spending limits, and categorize these allowances for saving, spending, and giving. The cardboard helps real-time notifications of every transaction, so dad and mom can keep up-to-date on card utilization. 

Although there’s a month-to-month payment that begins at $4.95, the Greenlight pay as you go card doesn’t cost any charges for transactions, ATM utilization, including funds, or checking your stability. Moreover, sure membership ranges earn 1% money again, which is deposited to financial savings (and financial savings accounts earn as much as 5%). 

Greatest for receiving federal advantages: Direct Specific Pay as you go Debit Mastercard

Why we like this card 

Issued by Comerica Financial institution for the U.S. Treasury, the Direct Specific pay as you go card permits for automated deposit of federal advantages on to the cardboard. You should utilize it wherever Mastercard is accepted, together with for purchases, invoice funds, and ATM money withdrawals. 

The Direct Specific card is freed from most charges, together with month-to-month charges, transaction charges, and money reload charges. Customers additionally obtain one free ATM withdrawal with every deposit to the cardboard. Moreover, the cardboard contains federal protections towards unauthorized transactions, additional bolstered by Mastercard’s Zero Legal responsibility Safety, making it a safe and sensible possibility for managing federal advantages.

Cardholders can even take part within the PayPerks program, which gives the chance to study monetary administration by way of academic modules. By collaborating in these modules and taking quizzes, cardholders can earn probabilities to win money prizes in month-to-month sweepstakes.

Greatest for no charges: Money App Card

Why we like this card 

Issued by Sutton Financial institution, the Money App card is a Visa debit card linked to the consumer’s Money App stability, providing a handy option to entry funds for purchases anyplace Visa is accepted. It comes with zero month-to-month charges, transaction charges, and money reload charges. Plus, in-network ATM charges may be prevented in the event you obtain a minimum of $300 in direct deposits month-to-month. Its integration with Money App’s broader monetary companies, together with cash transfers, inventory investments, and Bitcoin buying and selling, making it a sturdy monetary device.

The cardboard additionally options instantaneous reductions at sure retailers like espresso retailers and eating places. Customers can even enroll in round-ups to assist develop their financial savings. Safety-wise, it gives useful options like the power to pause the cardboard immediately through the app and PIN or fingerprint locks.

Greatest for credit score card-like perks: Bluebird by American Specific

Why we like this card 

The Bluebird by American Specific is a pay as you go debit card created in partnership with Walmart. It stands out for its lack of month-to-month, transaction, and activation charges. Customers can profit from options like direct deposit and on-line invoice funds. It additionally gives a sturdy cellular app for account administration, together with cellular examine deposit and cash transfers. 

As an American Specific product, it contains perks reminiscent of buy safety, fraud safety, and roadside help. Free ATM withdrawals can be found at MoneyPass ATMs, and money may be simply reloaded without spending a dime at Walmart. Further options embrace the power to create subaccounts for exact price range administration and 24/7 customer support with emergency help.

Greatest for on-line safety: MOVO Digital Money Card

Why we like this card 

The MOVO Digital Money Card is a pay as you go, reloadable debit card that emphasizes a digital-first banking expertise. A standout function is the power for customers to create non permanent, disposable digital card numbers for safe on-line transactions, which matches a good distance towards stopping fraud. However in the event you desire in-person buying, don’t fear: customers additionally obtain a bodily Mastercard debit card that can be utilized in shops, on-line, and at ATMs. The cardboard additionally facilitates free person-to-person transfers inside its community.

Greatest for household cash administration: FamZoo Pay as you go Card

Why we like this card 

Just like Greenlight, the FamZoo Pay as you go Card is a family-friendly debit card designed to show kids and youngsters about cash administration in a sensible, hands-on method. A standout function of FamZoo is its skill to create a number of playing cards below one household account, permitting dad and mom to allocate funds and oversee the spending of every little one individually. Mother and father can arrange automated allowances, assign chores, and reward children for good monetary habits. FamZoo additionally permits for parent-to-child and sibling-to-sibling cash transfers. 

There aren’t any charges for normal card actions like purchases or ATM use inside the community, although a month-to-month subscription payment applies. 

Greatest for Walmart consumers: Walmart MoneyCard

Why we like this card 

The Walmart MoneyCard, issued by Green Dot Bank, gives as much as 3% money again on Walmart.com purchases, 2% at Walmart gasoline stations, and 1% in Walmart shops (whole annual money again restrict is capped at $75). The cardboard additionally gives a financial savings account possibility with a 2% rate of interest on balances as much as $1,000 and alternatives to win money prizes. 

There’s a month-to-month payment of $5.94, which may be waived with a minimal of $500 loaded onto the cardboard within the earlier month. The cardboard offers free money withdrawals at Walmart shops and ATMs within the MoneyPass community. In the meantime, the Walmart MoneyCard app offers options reminiscent of depositing checks and managing funds. Household accounts are additionally obtainable for members aged 13 and above. 

Greatest for overdraft safety: Netspend Pay as you go Card

Why we like this card 

NetSpend caters to a spread of monetary wants by providing a number of card plans, every with its personal payment construction. With the month-to-month plan, you may pay a lowered month-to-month payment of $5.00 so long as you obtain a minimum of $500 in direct deposits every month. There aren’t any transaction charges below this plan.

A key function of this card is it’s “purchase cushion.” For those who carry out a transaction that exceeds your obtainable stability by $10 or much less, Netspend could select to approve the acquisition anyway with out charging you an overdraft payment. You’ll have to make up for any destructive stability although. Enrollment is required for this program.

One other perk of the Netspend pay as you go card is that it earns rewards. Merely go to your Rewards web page to see which custom-made gives can be found, and click on to activate the gives you need.

You possibly can then use your card at these retailers to redeem your gives.

Greatest for giving again: ONE VIP Visa Pay as you go Card

Why we like this card 

Issued by way of Stride Financial institution, N.A., the ONE VIP Visa Debit Card is a pay as you go card targeted on supporting the Black neighborhood, providing a rewards program that earns as much as 1.5% money again on purchases, notably at choose Black-owned companies. Money again may be utilized to your account, or you may select to make a charitable donation to a trigger benefiting communities of coloration.

The cardboard is accompanied by a cellular app for managing funds, viewing transactions, and depositing checks. It costs a month-to-month payment of $7.95 however avoids hidden charges, minimal stability necessities, and overdraft charges. 

Greatest for Paypal customers: Paypal Pay as you go Mastercard

Why we like this card 

The PayPal Pay as you go Mastercard is a flexible pay as you go debit card that gives straightforward integration along with your PayPal account. It allows customers to switch funds from their PayPal stability immediately onto the cardboard. Moreover, the cardboard may be loaded by way of direct deposit of paychecks, tax refunds, or authorities advantages, in addition to money additions at retail areas, together with greater than 130,000 NetSpend Reload Community areas nationwide. 

Whereas the cardboard is related to some charges, reminiscent of month-to-month costs, ATM withdrawal charges, and reload charges at sure shops, it does provide particular gives and Payback Rewards once you store at qualifying shops. This optionally available program awards money again to your account.

What’s a pay as you go debit card?

A pay as you go debit card is a reloadable cost card that’s pre-funded by the consumer. Not like conventional debit playing cards which can be linked to a checking account, a pay as you go card’s spending restrict is about by the amount of cash loaded onto it, so there’s no have to have a checking account in any respect. 

These playing cards are accepted in most locations the place common debit or bank cards are used, together with on-line retailers. Nevertheless, they typically include varied charges, reminiscent of month-to-month upkeep and reloading charges. Moreover, they don’t affect credit score scores, since card exercise will not be reported to the credit score bureaus.

How a lot do pay as you go debit playing cards price? 

Pay as you go debit playing cards are infamous for his or her charges, although the precise price relies on the issuer and the way you employ the cardboard. Frequent charges embrace the preliminary card buy price, month-to-month upkeep charges, money reload charges, and ATM withdrawal charges. Whereas much less frequent, some playing cards cost per-transaction charges. And utilizing the cardboard internationally can incur overseas transaction charges of round 1% to three%. Playing cards may also have inactivity charges if not used usually, charges for customer support entry or paper statements, costs for card substitute, and costs for closing the account. 

That stated, the most effective pay as you go playing cards will cost minimal charges and provide methods for customers to maintain prices down. That’s why it’s essential to judge a number of pay as you go card choices and evaluation their phrases and circumstances to grasp all potential charges earlier than opening an account.

Who wants a pay as you go debit card? 

Pay as you go debit playing cards are primarily designed for individuals who don’t have conventional financial institution accounts, since they supply a handy different for managing every day transactions and receiving direct deposits. These playing cards can be useful to those that need assistance controlling their spending, since they’re restricted to the preloaded quantity, thus avoiding overdrafts and debt accumulation. Mother and father may additionally discover pay as you go playing cards helpful for instructing monetary accountability to youngsters and younger adults since they will set spending limits and get real-time transaction alerts. 

Steadily Requested Questions 

How do I get a pay as you go debit card?

You should buy pay as you go playing cards on-line, at some retailers, and from sure banks and credit score unions. 

What’s the drawback of a pay as you go card?

Although they are often handy for some individuals, pay as you go playing cards do have some notable drawbacks. For one, they’re typically laden with charges, which may erode the cardboard’s stability over time. Additionally, in contrast to bank cards, pay as you go playing cards don’t contribute to constructing or enhancing your credit score. Pay as you go playing cards sometimes provide restricted shopper protections as effectively; in circumstances of loss or theft, you may not obtain the identical stage of safety towards unauthorized transactions as supplied by conventional financial institution playing cards. 

The place are you able to not use a pay as you go card?

Most pay as you go debit playing cards belong to a sure community, as indicated by the brand (Visa, MasterCard, American Specific, or Uncover) and can be utilized anyplace that model is accepted. Nevertheless, there are specific kinds of transactions that aren’t allowed with pay as you go debit playing cards, together with bank card or mortgage funds. 

Our methodology 

To convey you our prime picks for the most effective pay as you go debit playing cards, the Fortune Recommends workforce in contrast the highest playing cards presently obtainable from main issuers which can be accessible nationwide. 

We ranked every account in these eight core classes: 

• Retail/bodily card worth (5%): Some playing cards could cost a one-time payment for acquiring a bodily card. 
• Transaction payment (25%): In some circumstances, there’s a payment related to every transaction you carry out with the pay as you go card. We docked playing cards considerably for charging transaction charges.
• Month-to-month payment (25%): It’s frequent for pay as you go playing cards to cost a month-to-month service or administrative payment, although not all do. We prioritized playing cards with no month-to-month charges in our rankings.
• Money reload payment (10%): You could be charged a payment for including funds to your card in individual at choose retailers. Playing cards that cost for this service obtained decrease scores.
• In-network ATM payment (10%): Some pay as you go playing cards permit customers to make withdrawals without spending a dime at ATMs which can be inside the chosen community. Nevertheless, others cost per ATM withdrawal, whatever the ATM’s community, wherein case they have been penalized in our rankings. 
• ATM stability inquiry payment (10%): Playing cards that cost a payment to examine your stability at an ATM have been additionally penalized.
• Overseas transaction payment (5%): Some playing cards could cost a payment for performing transactions overseas. We prioritized playing cards that don’t cost overseas transaction charges. 
• Rewards (10%): Playing cards that additionally present rewards (reminiscent of cash back or points) on spending got a lift in our rankings.

Take into account that the payment constructions and different options related to the playing cards talked about are topic to alter. 

Please word that card particulars are correct as of the publish date, however are topic to alter at any time on the discretion of the issuer. Please contact the cardboard issuer to confirm charges, charges, and advantages earlier than making use of.