Wirex debit card review

The Wirex debit card lets you spend dollars or crypto in stores and online while earning up to 8% back. The card can also hold multiple forms of fiat currency, which sets it apart from other crypto debit cards. But hundreds of former customers claim they were scammed by Wirex, making it hard to recommend this card to anyone.

Our verdict

The Wirex debit card is best for those who want to spend various forms of fiat currency and cryptocurrencies with the same debit card. Wirex comes with three different plan options and depending on which one you choose, your card has the potential of earning up to 8% back in loyalty points, which can be converted to US dollars on Wirex’s platform. But there are limitations.

On the surface, the Wirex card seems to offer some attractive features. But the company’s verified Trustpilot page has thousands of reviews from customers around the world that raise red flags.

For starters, many recent 4- and 5-star reviews are seriously suspicious. They’re short, nonsensical and riddled with typos. Many of them don’t even mention Wirex or any of its features.

Additionally, hundreds of 1-star reviewers claim Wirex scammed them out of money, and they warn others to stay far away from this account. For that reason, we can’t recommend anyone apply for this debit card.

For a better option, compare today’s top crypto debit cards.

4 benefits of the Wirex card

The Wirex debit card offers these benefits.

• Spend fiat currency or crypto. Spend multiple fiat currencies and cryptocurrencies with the Wirex card. The crypto you spend is converted to USD at the point of sale, so you don’t have to convert your digital assets ahead of time manually.
• X-tras program. Earn up to 8% back in loyalty points with most purchases.
• No mandatory fees. If you sign up for the Standard Wirex card, you can earn 2% back without paying any fees.
• Free ATM withdrawals. Withdraw up to $400 from your account for free each month using domestic or international ATMs. But any ATM fees you would’ve paid are deducted from that $400 limit. So if you withdraw $100 from a machine with a $5 fee, you’ll only be able to withdraw another $295 for free. And if you withdraw more than $400 in a month, you’ll pay a 2% fee.

4 drawbacks of the Wirex card

Consider these downsides before applying for a Wirex card.

• Horrible reviews. Hundreds of customers have left reviews on Trustpilot accusing the company of stealing their money. And many recent 4- and 5-star reviews seem suspicious.
• Limited rewards program. The X-points you earn in rewards only have value on Wirex’s platform. Other crypto debit cards, such as the Crypto.com Visa Card, pay rewards in widely supported forms of crypto.
• Must request accounts statements. Contact customer support via the in-app chat if you want a copy of your account statement.
• Mastercard users may face fees. If you top up your Wirex Visa card using a Mastercard, you may pay a commission fee to the issuer of the Mastercard. But you won’t face any fees if you top up the Wirex card with another Visa debit card.

How to apply for the Wirex card

Applying for a Wirex card takes about 10 minutes.

1. Select Apply now.
2. Select Open an account, then choose your country of residence, enter your email address, create a password and hit Continue.
3. On your phone, check your inbox for a confirmation email and follow the embedded link to download and install the app.
4. Launch the app, and confirm your physical address, personal information and phone number.
5. Verify your identity by uploading a government-issued photo ID.
6. Complete the in-app questionnaire for regulatory purposes.
7. Wait for your account to be verified.

How the Wirex card works

The Wirex card works by converting your cryptocurrency to US dollars at the point of sale or ATM withdrawal. But before you can use the card, you must add crypto or fiat currencies to your account.

You can hold several forms of currency in your account at once, and use the app to select the forms of currencies you’d like linked to the card. You can also prioritize the order in which you’d like to spend your currencies. For instance, you can tell the app you want to pay for purchases with Litecoin in your account first and then pay with Bitcoin if you deplete your Litecoin balance.

The Wirex card also has three pricing plans that let you earn 2%, 4% or 8% back in X-Points, which are deposited into your X-tras account in the Wirex app immediately after each purchase. Wirex calls this a “cryptoback” rewards program, but the X-Points you earn aren’t a form of crypto.

Instead, they’re loyalty points that only have value on Wirex’s platform. Each X-Point is worth $0.01, and you can trade your X-Points for crypto at any time using the Wirex app.

Here’s a breakdown of Wirex’s pricing plans.

If you signed up for the Elite pricing plan at the annual rate of $306, you’d have to spend $3,825 with the card during the year to break even. Beyond that point, you’d earn 8% with every purchase, which is competitive among crypto debit card rewards programs. By comparison, if you want to get 5% back with the Crypto.com Visa Card, you first have to stake — or lock up — $400,000 worth of crypto.

Upgrade or downgrade your subscription at any time in the app. But if you upgrade from Premium to Elite, you won’t pay a prorated amount — you’ll have to pay the full price. And if you downgrade within the first 10 months of an annual plan, you’ll pay a break fee equal to the monthly cost of your chosen plan.

What cryptocurrencies can I use with the Wirex debit card?

The Wirex app supports 37 forms of crypto, but the debit card only supports these 11 cryptocurrencies.

Is the Wirex Card safe?

Fiat currency held in your account is FDIC-insured for up to $250,000, but two different partner banks protect funds. Balances under $25,000 are kept with Sutton Bank, while Metropolitan Commercial Bank holds balances greater than that amount.

But like all crypto banking products, cryptocurrency in your account isn’t insured or protected by any regulatory body.

Where can you use the Wirex card?

Most merchants that accept Visa as a form of payment will also take the Wirex card to pay for goods and services.

Fees and limits

The Wirex card has the following fees and limits.

How do I fund my Wirex debit card?

There are three ways to top up your Wirex debit card.

• Debit card. Connect a debit card linked to a traditional bank account.
• Credit card. Add funds from a credit card, but you may face a fee.
• Wirex exchange account. Fund from your Wirex exchange account, which can hold multiple fiat currencies as well as crypto.

Wirex reviews and complaints

But many of the recent 4- and 5-star reviews seem suspicious. And there are hundreds of reviewers on Trustpilot who describe Wirex as a scam and warn people not to open accounts.

How to contact Wirex

If you have questions or need help with your Wirex account, you can get help in the following ways.

• Email. Send a message to support@wirexapp.com.
• Phone. Call 833-440-0882 for phone support, but it’s an automated line with no live assistance.