Compare prepaid cards

Prepaid cards allow you to make purchases and withdraw cash at an ATM. But are they the right option for you? Our guide to prepaid debit cards provides a breakdown of the benefits, cons and fees, so you can learn the limits and how to compare your options.

The best prepaid cards of 2020

The best prepaid debit cards enable you to manage your money with ease — without charging hefty fees in the process. We researched over 30 prepaid cards and considered key factors such as monthly fees, availability, account features and how easy it is to access your money to bring you the best cards.

• What's changed in 2020?

  For 2020, we were going to put the Green Dot 5% Cash Back Visa Debit Card on our list for the best rewards prepaid card. But we chose the American Express Serve Cash Back card instead because there isn’t a limit on how much cash back you can earn. Even though Green Dot earns 4% more cash back than American Express, your rewards get capped at $100 a year.

Best for direct deposits.

NetSpend® Visa® Prepaid Card

Apply now at Netspend's secure site

$9.95
Monthly fees

$9.95
Card purchase fee

$2.50
ATM fee

• Info
• Pros & cons
• Details

With the NetSpend® Visa® Prepaid Card, you can earn cashback rewards, set up a budget and open a high-yield savings account. There's also no credit check when you sign up.

• Early direct deposits. You could receive your paycheck up to two days early when you set up direct deposits with Netspend.
• Multiple reloading options. Put money on your card through 130,000 convenient reload locations, direct deposit, remote check deposit or by receiving money from friends and family.
• Optional savings account. Open a high-yield savings account and earn up to 5% APY on balances of $1,000 or more.

• Fees. Netspend charges a lot of small fees that could easily add up as you use your card.
• Card purchase fees. You can get your card for free online, but you'll pay $9.95 if you buy your card at Walmart, CVS or other locations.
• Inactivity penalty. Expect a $5.95 inactivity fee if you don't use your card within 90 days.

Monthly fees	$9.95
Additional Cardholder Fee	$9.95
ATM fee	$2.50
Card replacement fee	$9.95
Paper statement fee	$5.95
Account type	Debit
Card type	Visa
Available to Temporary Residents	No

Best for kids.

Greenlight

Apply now at Greenlight's secure site

$4.99
Monthly fees

$0
Card purchase fee

$0
ATM fee

• Info
• Pros & cons
• Details

Greenlight gives you control over your child's spending. You can set spending limits for specific stores and even limits on how much they can spend each month. The monthly fee is pretty average compared to most kids' cards, but the control features it comes with outweigh the cost.

• High card balance. You can keep up to $10,000 in your parent account and up to $5,000 in your child's account. This balance is higher than most kids' cards offer.
• Spending control. Greenlight offers parental control features that let you set spending limits for your child and designate money for specific stores.
• Parent-paid interest. While Greenlight doesn't offer an APY, parents can set up interest that's paid through their account.

• $4.99 monthly fee. It isn't the lowest fee, but it's average compared to most prepaid cards for kids. This is also a flat fee no matter how many kids you have in the account.
• Limited direct deposit. If your teen has a job, they can receive direct deposits. But they can't get payments from Apple, PayPal, Venmo or the US government.

Monthly fees	$4.99
ATM fee	$0
Card replacement fee	$3.50
Account type	Debit
Card type	Mastercard
Available to Temporary Residents	No

Best for minimal fees.

MOVO Digital Visa Prepaid Debit

Read review

$0
Monthly fees

$0
Card purchase fee

$2
ATM fee

• Info
• Pros & cons
• Details

The MOVO Digital Visa Prepaid Debit card has no monthly fees as long as your account stays active.

• MovoCoin virtual cards. If you don't want to add your card number while shopping online, you can generate virtual prepaid cards for $0.50 a piece.
• Free person-to-person transfers. You can send money to anyone in the US for $0.
• Transfer Bitcoin. Movo supports Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash transfers to anyone in the US.

• Third-party check app. If you need to deposit checks, you'll need to download another app called Ingo and pay a 1% to 5% processing fee depending on your check amount.
• No EMV chip. Most cards in the US now come with a chip for added security, but MOVO doesn't use this technology.
• Limited ATM withdrawals. You can't withdraw more than $500 a day from ATMs in the US and $250 a day from international ATMs.

Monthly fees	$0
Additional Cardholder Fee	$0
ATM fee	$2
Card replacement fee	$7
Account type	Debit
Card type	Visa
Available to Temporary Residents	No

Best for ATM withdrawals.

Fifth Third Access 360 Reloadable Prepaid Card

$4
Monthly fees

$0
Card purchase fee

$0
ATM fee

• Info
• Pros & cons
• Details

The Fifth Third Access 360 Reloadable Prepaid is best for those looking for a large ATM network. But you'll want to watch out for expensive out-of-network ATM fees if you travel abroad.

• Large ATM network. Easily withdraw cash at more than 50,000 free ATMs nationwide.
• Waivable monthly fee. Fifth Third Bank waives the $4 monthly fee for current checking customers or those with at least $500 in monthly direct deposits.
• Free card replacement. If your card is lost, damaged or stolen, Fifth Third Bank will replace it at no charge.

• Can't pay at the pump. If you use this card at a gas station, you'll have to go inside to pay.
• Expensive international ATM fees. You'll pay a $5 ATM fee plus a 3% international transaction fee each time you withdraw money at an ATM overseas.
• Limited availability. This card is only available to those who live in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee and West Virginia.

Monthly fees	$4
ATM fee	$0
Account type	Debit
Card type	Mastercard

Best for budgeting.

Akimbo

Read review

$0
Monthly fees

$4.95
Card purchase fee

$1.98
ATM fee

• Info
• Pros & cons
• Details

With Akimbo, you can manage your money through one main card and up to five subcards. Give the subcards to family members or use them for different budgeting categories like bills and groceries.

• No monthly fee. You won't pay anything to maintain this account or activate your card. But you'll pay $5.95 if your account is inactive for a year or more.
• Instant transfers. You can instantly transfer money from your main Akimbo balance to the other cards on your account. Plus, it's free.
• Up to five sub cards. Separate your money into different budgeting categories and manage each category in the Akimbo app.

• Only first card is free. You'll pay $4.95 for each additional debit card you need.
• Fee for PIN-based transactions. You'll pay $0.99 for the first five PIN-based transactions you make each month. Signature-based transactions are always free.
• No free ATMs. You'll pay $1.98 plus operator fees each time you withdraw money at an ATM.

Monthly fees	$0
Additional Cardholder Fee	$4.95
ATM fee	$1.98
Card replacement fee	$4.95
Account type	Credit
Card type	Mastercard

Best for rewards.

American Express Serve Cash Back

Read review

$7.95
Monthly fees

$3.95
Card purchase fee

$0
ATM fee

• Info
• Pros & cons
• Details

American Express has three different Serve prepaid debit cards. But the Serve Cash Back debit card rewards you with free cash when you use your card for everyday purchases.

• Cashback rewards. You'll earn unlimited 1% cash back on all prepaid debit card purchases.
• Early direct deposits. You could receive your paycheck up to two days earlier than your coworkers.
• Large ATM network. Withdraw money for free at over 32,000 MoneyPass ATMs nationwide.

• High foreign transaction fees. You'll pay a 2.7% fee each time you use your card overseas.
• Not accepted everywhere. American Express isn't as widely accepted as Visa and Mastercard, so don't be surprised if some businesses won't take your card.

Monthly fees	$7.95
Additional Cardholder Fee	$3.95
ATM fee	$0
Card replacement fee	$5
Account type	Debit
Card type	American Express

Compare prepaid cards

Use this table to compare prepaid debit cards by ATM withdrawal fee, monthly fee and features. Want to compare your top choices side-by-side? Click the “Compare” box next to each for an alternative view.

Sort by:

Name	Product	Annual or monthly fee	ATM withdrawal	Features
Greenlight		$4.99 per month	$0	Allowance payouts Usage notifications Flexible parental control Parent-paid interest	Greenlight is the prepaid debit card for kids that parents manage from their phones with flexible parental controls.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
BusyKid		$1.67 per month ($19.99 annually) includes free card; $0.67 per month ($7.99 annually) for additional cards		Competitive fee Flexible paydays Savings match feature	The BusyKid Visa® Prepaid Spend Card gives your kids the freedom to spend anywhere Visa® is accepted, and parents see every transaction made.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
ACE Flare Account		$9.95 per month (or $5 with a $500+ direct deposit)	$2.50	Earn interest on your Flare Account Optional Debit Card Overdraft Service Get paid up to 2 days faster with Direct Deposit	Withdraw up to $400 in cash per day without a fee at participating ACE locations when you have qualifying Direct Deposit activity.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
FamZoo		$5.99 per month	$0	Free trial Real-time requests Parent-paid interest	Teach your children good money habits with this comprehensive prepaid card and account.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Brinks Prepaid Mastercard		$9.95 per month (or $5 with a $500+ direct deposit, or $0 with pay-as-you-go)	$2.50	Mobile app Direct deposit Payback rewards	No credit check. No minimum balance. No late fees because this is not a credit card.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
PayPal Prepaid Mastercard		$4.95 per month	$1.95	Manage money on the fly Receive special offers and cash back rewards Get your state and federal tax refund faster than a paper check	Use the no-cost direct deposit service and have access your funds up to two days faster than what traditional banks offer.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
NetSpend® Visa® Prepaid Card		$9.95 per month (or $5 with a $500+ direct deposit, or $0 with pay-as-you-go)	$2.50	No transaction fees $5 per month with a $500+ direct deposit Trusted by more than 7 million people	With Netspend, you get a convenient way to manage your money on a prepaid card that is packed with features.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Netspend All-Access Account by MetaBank		$5 per month	$0	Earn cash back on everyday purchases Earn up to 6% APY with an optional Savings Account Receive your paycheck up to 2 days earlier with Direct Deposit	With Netspend All-Access Account by MetaBank there's no credit check and no minimum balance to open an account.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Netspend Prepaid Mastercard, WWE partner		$9.95 per month (or $5 with a $500+ direct deposit, or $0 with pay-as-you-go)	$2.50	No activation fee Payback rewards No minimum balance required	No credit check, mobile check load, and now a WWE partner	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
ECARD prepaid card			$0	Simple application 1.49% conversion fee Cross-border payment card solution	ECARD is built on a powerful SmartWallet concept that focuses on four major features: simple application, travel power, member-friendly rewards and cross-border payment card solutions.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

loading

Load More

Compare up to 4 providers

Clear selection

Compare

How do prepaid cards work?

A prepaid debit card is a safe alternative to cash. You add money to the card beforehand, then use it to make purchases online and in-person — just as you would a debit or credit card.

How do prepaid cards compare to credit and debit cards?

View the similarities and differences between prepaid cards, debit cards and credit cards using this table.

Types of prepaid cards

Prepaid cards come in all shapes and sizes. Here’s an overview of common ones you may find:

How to compare prepaid cards

Here are some factors you should consider when you’re comparing and looking for the best prepaid debit card for you:

• Features. Some come with the same basic features offered by checking accounts. Some offer online bill pay, mobile check deposit or direct deposit features, for example.
• Cost. Prepaid debit cards are notorious for high fees and it’s rare that you’ll find one without any fees. But some will allow you to waive the monthly fee if you set up a direct deposit or make a certain number of transactions on the card each month.
• Ease of loading. Look for a card with easy reloading features for your needs. For example, if your job pays via direct deposit, look for a card that allows free direct deposits. If you handle a lot of cash, look for one with convenient cash reloading options.
• Easy withdrawals. Prepaid cards typically come with the ability to withdraw cash from an ATM, but this isn’t a free service. Look for a prepaid card with a large network of ATMs to increase the range of withdrawal options available to you.
• Card limits. Most cards have daily withdrawal and deposit limits for cash reloads, ATM withdrawals, purchases and more. Examine the limits for each card you’re considering to make sure they fit with your regular habits.

Who are prepaid cards best for?

Prepaid debit cards could be a good choice if you:

• Have no credit or bad credit. You can get a prepaid card without a credit check, so they’re a good option if you don’t qualify for a traditional bank account or credit card. They won’t help you improve your credit score, but they’ll give you a way to pay bills and make purchases online.
• Want to avoid overdraft fees. Overdraft fees cost around $25 per transaction on average. If you regularly dip below your account balance and want to avoid costly overdraft fees, a prepaid card is a good solution.
• Want to gain control of spending. Knowing you can only spend what’s available on your prepaid card can force you to keep your spending under control. You can also use your card to budget for certain expenses — say $300 for groceries or $500 for gas, for example.
• Want to help your child spend money responsibly. You can open a prepaid card for kids or a prepaid card for teens to teach them how to spend money electronically without the risk of getting into financial trouble. You can monitor their spending and load their card with additional funds as needed.
• Are traveling and concerned about security. If you’re jet-setting to a place that’s known for debit or credit card fraud, a prepaid card can be a great way to protect your main accounts from potentially harmful activity.
• Are expecting a tax refund. Many online tax preparation software companies let you get your tax refund via a prepaid card, which can be a great option if you don’t have a bank account but still want to get your refund direct deposited. H&R Block uses the Emerald Prepaid Mastercard and others use Netspend prepaid card.

Prepaid card stats

From 2013 to 2017 prepaid card usage per household in the U.S. increased from 7.9% to 9.2%, according to a recent survey presented by the FDIC. Despite that increase, card usage differs greatly by banking status with 26.9% of unbanked households and 14.5% of underbanked households using prepaid cards, compared to only 6.7% of fully banked households.

The data shows that lower-income households have higher prepaid card usage when compared with higher-income households. Households making less than $15,000 make up 13% of prepaid card users. Compare this to households that make at least $75,000 annually and only represent 8% of prepaid card users.

• Prepaid card usage by income - Visual
• Prepaid card usage by income - Data

When looking at the usage of prepaid cards by race, Black households are shown to have the highest prepaid card usage at 13.3%. This is compared to 8.5% of White households, 7.9% of Hispanic households and 7.2% of Asian households.

• Prepaid card usage by race - Visual
• Prepaid card usage by race - Data

Are prepaid cards safe?

In some ways, prepaid cards are safer than debit cards. Your bank account information isn’t tied to your prepaid card, so if it gets lost or stolen, you’re only out for the amount you had available on the card. But to make sure all your basis are covered, look for a prepaid card that has these two non-negotiables:

• FDIC insurance. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) covers bank account deposits up to $250,000, but this doesn’t automatically include prepaid cards. Make sure you choose a card with FDIC insurance so you get your money back if the bank that issues your card fails.
• Fraud protection. Not all prepaid cards come with fraud protection, which means you may not get your money back if your card is stolen, you receive a damaged order or there are billing errors. Look for a prepaid card that has fraud protection so you know your money is safe from fraudulent or unauthorized transactions.

What are the pros and cons of prepaid cards?

Prepaid cards offer several potential benefits for consumers, but there are also a few drawbacks:

Common fees to expect with prepaid debit cards

You could spend hundreds of dollars each year in fees if you’re not careful about how you use your prepaid card. The most common fees include:

• Card purchase fee. You’ll pay an initial purchase fee, particularly if you purchase the card from a retail location. Some cards are free when you order online.

• Monthly fee. Most prepaid cards charge a monthly fee simply for having the card. You may be able to avoid the fee if you meet certain criteria, like making a certain number of transactions on the card or setting up direct deposits.

• Reload fee. Adding money to your prepaid card isn’t free. You’ll typically pay a fee when you add cash to your prepaid card. Electronic deposits and direct deposits may be free.

• ATM fee. Some prepaid cards come with a free in-network ATM while others don’t have any in-network machines and charge a fee for every withdrawal.
• Balance inquiry fee. You may have to pay if you check your card balance at an ATM. Avoid the fee by checking your balance online or via the mobile app.

• Statement fee. If you need to receive a paper statement, you’ll have to pay a fee for the convenience. Monitoring your transactions online is typically free.

Where can I get a prepaid card?

You can purchase most prepaid cards online or from major warehouse stores and drug stores like Walmart or CVS. There’s no application process, though you may be able to register your card online to get a card with your name on it and to receive additional features.

But choosing a card in-store at the register may not give you time to digest all the fine print. Shopping online for a prepaid card will give you a chance to check out the fees and terms of each card. While the terms may be confusing, it’s important to read through them so you understand what charges you’ll potentially face with the card and how you can avoid as many fees as possible.

What should I do after I receive my prepaid debit card?

After you purchase your card, make the most of it by following these steps:

• Load the card with money. Most cards offer a variety of options for loading funds onto your card. You may be able to: load cash at a participating retailer, transfer funds from another account, deposit a check with your mobile phone, or have your pay direct deposited onto your card.
• Make purchases anywhere you’d use a credit or debit card. Making purchases with a prepaid card is as simple as using any other payment card. Swipe your card at the register or enter your card information for online purchases. Some prepaid cards let you pay bills online or transfer funds to another person.
• Reload the card once you’ve spent the balance. Each purchase reduces the balance available on your card. Once you’ve spent all the funds you’ve loaded onto the card, you’ll have to reload more. You don’t have to wait until your card is empty to reload, but your card may be subject to a maximum load amount.

What are some prepaid debit card alternatives?

If a prepaid card is not right for you, consider these alternatives:

• Checking accounts. While a checking account may come with a monthly fee, you can usually get around it easily by meeting certain deposit or balance requirements. You’ll get an account where you can make direct deposits, plus a debit card to use for your spending needs.
• Digital bank accounts. Some digital bank accounts give you the option of having a digital and physical debit card. You’ll have the spending flexibility of a checking account, plus your account may come with budgeting and savings options, to help you grow your money.

Frequently asked questions

• Can I still use my prepaid credit card if the balance won't cover my purchase amount?

  Since there is no overdraft coverage with a prepaid card, you will have to do something known as “split tender.” You just need to tell the cashier how much you want to pay on the prepaid card, and pay the rest using another card or cash.

• What happens if I want to return something I bought with my prepaid credit card?

  You will have to bring your prepaid card with you and show it to the cashier. The refund will automatically be credited back to your card.

• What bank does the Rush card use?

  The Prepaid Visa RushCard is issued by MetaBank®.

• How are prepaid credit cards different from gift cards?

  Gift cards are not good for everyday spending because they are not reloadable like prepaid credit cards.