Compare prepaid cards to make sure you get the right deal.
Prepaid cards are re-loadable cards (technically functions like a debit card) that you can use for purchases wherever credit cards are accepted. Your credit won’t be affected when you use a prepaid card, and you’ll have most of the same conveniences that using a major credit card offers.
This guide explains how prepaid cards work and the common fees you can expect. Find out how to compare prepaid cards, the benefits and drawbacks of using a prepaid card, and how to decide whether a prepaid card is right for you.
Compare prepaid card offers
Are prepaid cards the same as a credit card?
Prepaid cards are not credit cards – they are a great alternative to credit cards or checking accounts. The cards can be swiped for purchases like a credit card, but there’s no balance to repay and the card doesn’t affect your credit. Most prepaid cards will not let you spend more than you have available, so you won’t get hit with expensive overdraft fees.
How prepaid cards work
Prepaid cards combine the features of credit cards and debit cards. Here’s a brief overview of how prepaid cards work.
- Purchase the card. You can purchase a prepaid card from many major warehouse stores and drug stores like Walmart or CVS. Some cards can even be ordered online. 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.
- 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.
Benefits of using a prepaid card
Prepaid cards offer several potential benefits for consumers:
- Bad or no credit is accepted. If you’re a consumer with bad credit or no credit history, or you simply want to avoid another inquiry on your credit report, you won’t have to worry about that with a prepaid card. Since you’re not applying for a line of credit, there’s no need for a credit check, and having a new card won’t impact your credit score. You can get a prepaid card regardless of your credit history.
- No bank account necessary. Millions of Americans do not have checking accounts. A prepaid card is a viable alternative for these consumers. With a prepaid card, you’ll get many of the same features as a checking account – some even have check writing privileges – but having a bad checking account on your record won’t keep you from getting a card.
- No overdraft fees. Banks charge overdraft fees whenever you make a purchase that exceeds the balance in your checking account. These expensive fees can drain your bank account and leave you with a negative balance. With a prepaid card, you can’t spend more than you have available, which means you won’t face overdraft fees. Some people opt for a prepaid card even when they’re able to get a checking account, simply for the ability to avoid overdraft fees.
- You’ll pay no interest. Because you can’t carry a balance on the card, you won’t be subject to expensive interest charges as you would be with a credit card.
- You won’t go into debt. Credit and debit cards both carry the potential for getting into debt. You create debt the instant you use a credit card because you have to repay the purchases you’ve made. Debit cards won’t automatically create debt, but if you overdraft your account, you’ve created debt. Prepaid cards eliminate this risk.
- You don’t have to put all your funds at risk. You can load a prepaid card with a limited amount of funds and use the card for a specific purpose. For example, you might use a prepaid card when you’re traveling internationally so your checking account or credit card is not at risk of fraud or theft.
- You can build good spending habits with less risk. Young adults or parents of teenagers may consider a prepaid card for “practice” using a traditional credit card before graduating to the real thing. Using a prepaid card can instill discipline and good spending and payment habits that will prevent future financial problems.
Common fees to expect with prepaid cards
Many prepaid cards have fees. You could spend hundreds of dollars each year in fees if you’re not careful about how you use your card. These are some of the most common fees you’ll find with prepaid cards.
- Card purchase fee. Many prepaid cards charge 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 have the monthly fee waived if you meet certain criteria, like make a minimum number of transactions on the card or have a direct deposit set up for your card.
- Reload fee. Adding money to your prepaid card isn’t free. You’ll typically have to pay a fee when you add cash to your prepaid card. Electronic deposits and direct deposits may be free.
- ATM fee. Withdrawing money from an ATM comes at a cost. You may face an ATM fee from your card issuer and the ATM owner.
- Balance inquiry fee. This fee may be charged whenever you need to call your card’s customer service to find out your current balance. You may be able to check your balance for free online or via a smartphone 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.
How to compare prepaid cards
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.
Once you’ve chosen a card, you may still be able to pick it up in-store, after you’ve confirmed it’s the right choice. Here are some factors you should consider when you’re comparing prepaid cards:
- Features. Some prepaid cards come with the same basic features offered by checking accounts. For example, you may be able to use online bill pay, mobile check deposit or direct deposit. As you compare prepaid cards, see how the features stack up against each other to choose the one that will most closely fit your needs.
- Cost. Prepaid cards are notorious for high fees. You’ll probably have a hard time finding a card that doesn’t charge any fees, but look for one that will allow you to avoid at least some of the fees. Some prepaid cards charge a monthly fee, but will waive the fee if you set up a direct deposit or make a certain number of transactions on the card each month.
- Ease of loading. For the card to be functional, you need to be able to reload it when you need to. For example, if your job pays via direct deposit, a prepaid card that allows direct deposit is best, ideally if the feature is free. If you tend to be paid in cash, choose a prepaid card with convenient cash reloading options.
- Ease of making withdrawals. If you have your pay direct deposited onto the card, it may leave you without cash. Prepaid cards typically come with the ability to withdraw cash from an ATM, but this isn’t a free service. Pay attention to the fees you’ll pay for ATM withdrawals and whether the prepaid card has any in-network ATMs near you. Using an in-network ATM will let you at least avoid ATM fees charged by the card issuer. You may still have to pay a fee to the ATM owner. Look for a prepaid card with a large network of ATMs to increase the range of withdrawal options available to you.
Prepaid travel credit cards
Just like with any other prepaid credit card, a prepaid travel card allows you to spend however much you have already loaded onto the card. You can keep track of your balance online or by calling the number on the back of the card. Certain merchants can also tell you the balance on your card, but not all can, so it’s always a good idea to know the balance before attempting to make a purchase. Prepaid travel cards can be used in stores, online, over the phone or by mail. Funds are deducted immediately or will appear as a pending charge.
Back to topWhat to watch out for with prepaid cards
As with any financial product, it’s important to use prepaid cards wisely. There are some potential pitfalls to watch out for.
- No ability to build credit. While it’s a plus that you can get a prepaid card without going through a credit check, it’s also a drawback that the card won’t help you rebuild a bad credit score. Since prepaid cards aren’t a credit card – you’re not demonstrating an ability to borrow and repay responsibly – they won’t help your credit score. See our guide on secured credit cards if you need to rebuild your credit.
- High fees. Some prepaid cards have complex fee structures. When you’re shopping for a prepaid card, look for one that will allow you to minimize the fees you pay. Otherwise, you could end up having your funds allocated to unnecessary fees that you could avoid by choosing a different prepaid card.
- Reload limits. Watch out for cards that limit the amount you can load onto the card. Your card may have several different load limits. For example, there may be a limit on daily cash reloads, daily direct deposit load, and a total limit on the amount you can have loaded onto your card at any time.
- Withdrawal and spend limits. In addition to reload limits, many prepaid cards limit the amount you can withdraw from an ATM or bank teller in a single day. A card may also have a daily spend limit. Examine the limits for the cards you’re considering and make sure they fit with your regular habits.
- Cards that aren’t protected by the FDIC. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) covers deposits in certain bank accounts up to $250,000, but this doesn’t automatically include prepaid cards. If you load funds onto a card that isn’t covered by the FDIC, you could lose all your money if the bank that issues your card fails.
- Declined charges. While you won’t face overdraft fees for transactions that would put your account in the negative, your card will be declined for transactions that exceed the amount available on your card. To avoid embarrassment at the register, check your balance to confirm you have enough funds to cover your transaction before you swipe.
- Some merchants may not accept prepaid cards. Some hotels and car rental agencies do not accept prepaid cards. Others may require a credit check or additional documentation before allowing you to use a prepaid card. You may have to pay a higher security deposit, which will leave a portion of your funds unavailable until the transaction is complete.
- Cards without fraud protection. Checking accounts, debit cards and credit cards all come with protection from fraudulent transactions. Unfortunately, prepaid cards don’t always have the same protection. That means you can’t get your money back if a thief steals your card and drains your funds. You also may not have protection for damaged online orders or billing errors. Look for a prepaid card that does have fraud protection so you know your money is safe from fraudulent or unauthorized transactions.
Is a prepaid card right for you?
While prepaid cards are a good choice for people with bad credit who can’t get approved for a credit card or traditional checking account, there are other consumers who might also benefit from a prepaid card. Some consumers even choose to use a prepaid card in addition to a debit or credit card. A prepaid card could be right for you if any of these apply:
- You don’t want to pay checking account fees. Many checking accounts charge a monthly fee that can be waived only if you meet certain criteria. You may be able to lower your monthly bank fees by switching to a prepaid card.
- You want a way to control your spending. Most prepaid cards won’t let you overdraft your account. Knowing that you can only spend what’s available on your card can force you to keep your spending under control. You can also use a prepaid card to manage different aspects of your budget by loading only what you’ve allocated for that expense – $300 for groceries or $500 for gas, for example.
- You want to help your child learn to spend money responsibly. A prepaid card can help your teenager get used to spending electronically without the risk of getting into financial trouble. You can monitor their spending and load their card with additional funds as needed.
When I’m in Europe, which of the cards will work best.
Hi Lisa,
Thanks for reaching out.
European sim cards work equally well as they have good cell service. You can opt to get a sim card that is prepaid (no ID’s required) and make sure your handset is unlocked to make sure the sim card works.
You can go to this page to see the line-up of Prepaid sim card providers in Europe.
Hope this helps.
Regards,
Nikki
I was wondering if I could receieve some on my prepaid card?
Hi Jerquesia,
Thank you for your inquiry.
Your approval may vary depending on the lender. What you can do next is to review the offers under section “Comparison of prepaid card offers”. Then choose the lender that will best fit your personal requirements and send your application.
I hope this information has helped.
Cheers,
Harold