International prepaid cards

There are plenty of ways to take your cash overseas, but the right option will depend on your finances, travel plans and spending habits. Weigh the features, fees and benefits of a prepaid travel money to help you find the best travel money option for your next overseas trip.

3 factors to consider when comparing international prepaid cards

To get the best international prepaid card for you, compare the following info:

1. Fees. Most prepaid cards come with high fees, so you’ll want to choose one with the lowest monthly fee and one that has low fees for things like ATM withdrawals and foreign transactions.
2. Accessibility. Make sure it services the currencies you’ll be using. And make sure it’s widely accepted wherever you’re going.
3. Exchange rates. You want the most competitive exchange rates — which is why using an international prepaid card is much more beneficial than exchanging cash at an airport kiosk.

We love Wise for being super transparent about all of the above, so it’s worth looking into if you’re on a tight timeline and want a no-BS experience.

Is an international prepaid card right for me?

An international prepaid card might be a good option if you want to:

• Visit a country whose currency is available on the prepaid money card.
• Avoid fees, including the currency conversion fee and the foreign transaction fee.
• Lock in your exchange rate before traveling.
• Preload a debit card that is separate from your personal banking accounts.
• Have an acceptable form of non-cash payment.

What is an international prepaid card?

An international prepaid card — also known as a prepaid travel money card — is a debit card that allows you to add money and converts it into several types of currency that you can spend when traveling. This ultimately allows you to spend overseas without paying a currency conversion fee. Before traveling to your destination, make sure your card supports the local currency to ensure you’ll benefit from its features.

Prepaid travel cards also let you lock-in exchange rates before you travel. By knowing exactly what exchange rate you’re getting and how much money you have on the card, you’ll be able to budget more efficiently.

Prepaid travel money cards pros and cons

Here are a few advantages and concerns with using a travel money card on your next trip abroad.

Get an international prepaid card online

The best place to get international prepaid cards is online, since you can compare the different fees and terms without squinting at the fine print. If you want to pick up an international prepaid card from a physical location, contact your bank to see if you can open one at a branch.

While some grocery stores and chain retailers like Walmart and Costco do sell prepaid cards and gift cards, many of these cannot be used internationally — or they’ll charge hefty fees when used internationally — so we strongly recommend going to your bank or getting one online.

5 international prepaid card fees and how to avoid them

Take a look at some fees associated with travel money cards and a few hacks to reduce or avoid them entirely.

What if my prepaid card doesn’t support the local currency?

Most prepaid travel cards — like the Travelex Money Card — support about six currencies that have their own currency wallet. When you load funds onto your card, you’ll have to choose which currency you’d like to top up so you can use those funds in that country without having to pay a currency conversion fee.

If you don’t have the funds loaded in that particular currency wallet, or if your card doesn’t support that local currency, you’ll get hit with a currency conversion fee whenever you use your travel card in that country.

Your card provider withdraws funds from your account according to the default currency order at their existing exchange rate, and charges you an additional fee for converting currencies.

What’s the default currency order?

Currency order matters when you withdraw or spend money in a currency that your card doesn’t preload and can’t support. When this happens, your purchase amount is taken from the available currency highest on the default currency order list. Your card provider typically determines the default currency order.

For instance, a typical currency could be:

1. United States dollars (USD)
2. Great British pounds (GBP)
3. Euros (EUR)
4. Canadian dollars (CAD)
5. Australian dollars (AUD)
6. Japanese yen (JPY)
7. Mexican pesos (MXY)

If you have preloaded USD, EUR and AUD on your card, and you are spending Thai baht in Bangkok, the card will convert whatever USD you have into baht for your purchase.

If you have insufficient USD preloaded on your card, it will convert the remaining USD you have into baht, and then withdraw the difference from your EUR wallet. A currency conversion fee will generally apply in these instances.

Alternatives to international prepaid cards

If an international prepaid card isn’t quite what you’re looking for, consider these alternatives:

• Borderless accounts. A virtual bank account designed to streamline the process of withdrawing cash and paying in different currencies, with low fees and transparent exchange rates. We like Wise because it offers free ATM withdrawals all around the world.
• Cash management accounts. These are tech-savvy accounts offered by nonbank financial service providers, Aspiration and Betterment. They’re considering because they have a reputation for low fees and offer more flexibility when it comes to managing your money. For example, Betterment reimburses you for all ATM and foreign transaction fees.
• International debit cards. Debit cards that won’t ding you for withdrawing money from a foreign ATM or stocking up on souvenirs in a foreign country.
• Travel credit cards. These typically come with zero foreign transaction fees and rewards you for buying travel items like plane tickets, hotel reservations, car rentals and more.

Written by

Kyle Morgan

Producer

Kyle Morgan is SEO manager at Forbes Advisor and a former editor and content strategist at Finder. He has written for the USA Today network and Relix magazine, among other publications. He holds a BA in journalism and media from Rutgers University. See full bio

Co-written by

Amy Stoltenberg

Writer

Amy Stoltenberg managed newsletters at Finder, gathering the best articles each week to help subscribers save money and stretch their hard-earned dollars. She also handles the Twitter account, dabbling in Instagram and Facebook too. When she's not on the computer, you can find her exploring Los Angeles with a good book in tow. She studied writing at Savannah College of Art and Design and has been featured on the Zoe Report. See full bio

Amy's expertise

Amy has written 28 Finder guides across topics including:

• Fashion
• Travel
• Online shopping