Purewrist review
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- Monthly maintenance fee
- Up to $4.95
Our verdict
This wearable payment bracelet lets you make purchases with the tap of a wrist, but you'll need a starter card before you can upgrade.
Contactless payments have always been convenient, but the coronavirus pandemic has increased their importance as more people avoid handling cash and cards.
Purewrist is a prepaid card bracelet that costs only $25, making it an affordable option for teens and young adults. The simple silicone design is slim and lightweight. In fact, while wearing it over two days, I completely forgot I was wearing it several times.
While it's advertised as a contactless bracelet, I found that I was required to touch the checkout keypad to enter my PIN and decline cash back both times I used it. That's a major downside for somebody looking to avoid cash and keypads during the coronavirus pandemic.
Still, it's easy to use: Just slip your microcard into the back of the wristband after activation, and then hold your wrist up to a card reader when you’re ready to pay for something.
Pros
-
Low-maintenance bracelet
-
Two prepaid card options
-
Give-back program
-
Ideal for teens
-
Suitable for businesses
Cons
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You first need a starter card
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Not 100% contactless
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No cash
-
Potential account closure fee
Does Purewrist have any fees or spending limits?
Yes, though fees depend on which card you stick with. Purewrist is cheaper than other prepaid cards, like Netspend and Ace Flare by Meta Bank.
Starter card fees and limits
| Fee | Cost or limit |
|---|---|
| Inactivity fee (after 12 months of inactivity) | $2.99 a month |
| Initial load value | $10 to $500 |
| Spending limit per transaction | $500 |
| Daily spending limit | $500 |
| Monthly spending limit | $500 |
| Card balance limit | $500 |
Personalized card fees and limits
| Fee | Cost or limit |
|---|---|
| Initial load and reloads | $0 |
| Domestic transactions | $0 |
| International transactions | 3% |
| Activation | $4.99 (included in Purewrist Go bracelet purchase price) |
| Monthly maintenance | $4.95 a month $0 if you spend more than $250 a month |
| Account closure | $2 |
| Card replacement | $5 |
| Initial load value | $10 to $500 |
| Reload value | $10 to $500 |
| Spending limit per transaction | $200 |
| Daily spending limit | $400 |
| Monthly spending limit | $1,000 |
| Card balance limit | $1,000 |
How do I open a Purewrist account?
To start, buy your Purewrist Go bracelet package online, which comes with a nonreloadable starter card:
- Go to the provider’s site and follow the steps to apply.
- From the Purewrist website, select Buy Now.
- Choose your bracelet color, pick your load amount and select Add To Cart.
- Enter your email or phone number and your shipping address, and select Continue to shipping.
- Choose your shipping method, enter your payment information, and select Complete Order.
How to get the Purewrist personalized card
Once you’ve received your starter card, upgrade to the reloadable Purewrist card:
- Log in to your Purewrist account online or in the mobile app.
- Select Upgrade Card.
- Enter your full name, date of birth, phone number, email address and gender, and select Continue.
- Enter your Social Security number and select Continue.
- Enter your mailing address, following the prompts to verify your information and request your card.
Eligibility
Anyone can buy a Purewrist starter card, because all that’s required is a US mailing address.
To upgrade to the reloadable card, you must meet three requirements:
- At least 18 years old
- US citizen or permanent resident
- Valid Social Security number
Required information
Have this information ready when buying your Purewrist Go bracelet:
- US mailing address
- Credit or debit card information to complete your purchase
To upgrade to a Purewrist reloadable card, you’ll submit your:
- Full name
- Date of birth
- US mailing address
- Social Security number
WATCH: Our Purewrist review
Check out our short video review in which we breakdown the main features and costs of the new Purewrist bracelet.
How does it work?
Purewrist offers two account options — a starter and a reloadable personalized option. When you purchase your Purewrist Go bracelet package, you’re paying for the starter contactless payment-enabled microcard that isn’t reloadable. You’ll get to choose your bracelet color and preload $10, $25 or $50 onto the card that attaches to your bracelet.
Purewrist retails at $25. But you’ll pay $35, $50 or $75 at checkout, depending on your preload amount.
Although the starter prepaid card that comes with your bracelet isn’t reloadable, you can upgrade to the Purewrist personalized card to add funds. It doesn’t cost extra to upgrade, and you don’t have to wait on a separate card to come in the mail — simply verify your identity in your Purewrist profile and link to an existing bank account. Your starter microcard then converts to the personalized plan that allows for funds reloading.
Can I use my Purewrist Go while traveling abroad?
Not with the starter card. If you plan to travel abroad, you’ll need to upgrade to the personalized card.
A close-up of the Purewrist bracelet.
Testing the Purewrist bracelet at a grocery store.
Testing the Purewrist bracelet at a grocery store.
The Purewrist bracelet fits almost any sized wrist.
The Purewrist bracelet, along with the pamphlet you get in the mail.
How do I activate Purewrist?
After you receive your Purewrist Go bracelet package in the mail, activate your microcard online. Insert the microcard into the back of your bracelet and start tapping to pay wherever Mastercard contactless payments are accepted. Your full card number is listed in the mobile app, so you can also use it for online purchases.
What’s the difference between Purewrist’s starter and personalized card?
The Purewrist personalized card offers more account features than the starter package and does not expire.
| Features | Purewrist starter card | Purewrist personalized card |
|---|---|---|
| Reloadable | ||
| FDIC insured | ||
| International acceptance | ||
| Expiration date | 36 months after issue |
What are the benefits of a Purewrist bracelet?
As with all prepaid cards, using Purewrist won’t affect your credit score. And it’s backed by the security of Mastercard, among other perks.
- Low-maintenance bracelet. With no electronics inside of it, the Purewrist Go bracelet is waterproof and washable. Plus, you can choose from five colors — buy more than one band so that you can switch to match your wardrobe.
- Two prepaid card options. If you want a one-time prepaid card, go with the starter card. To reload your card, upgrade to the personalized card.
- Give-back program. Purewrist donates 10% of its net profit to cancer-related organizations through its Gratitude program.
- Ideal for teens. Your child doesn’t need a bank account or credit card to use Purewrist. Parents can upload money onto their teen’s bracelet as needed and monitor spending in the mobile app. But if you’re looking for robust parental controls, consider other top prepaid cards for teens.
- Suitable for businesses. You can use Purewrist for a variety of business solutions, including delivering paychecks and distributing commissions. For more personalization, customize the look of their Purewrist to match your company’s colors and logo.
What should I look out for?
The maximum you can load on your Purewrist is $500 for the starter card and $1,000 for the reloadable card — which could be a drawback for those who regularly spend more. Other potential drawbacks to consider include:
- You first need a starter card. There’s no direct way of getting the personalized card, which is reloadable and comes with a higher card limit. You must get the starter card first and then upgrade.
- Not 100% contactless. We tested the Purewrist Go bracelet at two different stores. Both times, we needed to touch the checkout keypad twice: once to enter the PIN and again to decline cash back.
- No cash. You can’t use your bracelet to withdraw cash at an ATM or point-of-sale location. But we spoke with Purewrist and they confirmed that they’re adding the ability to add cash at a retail location by the end of 2021.
- Potential account closure fee. Unlike other prepaid cards, Purewrist charges $2 to close your account if you have the personalized card. The starter card is free to close.
If you’re looking for a card that supports ATM withdrawals, check out our round-up of popular prepaid cards, including debit card options for kids.
Compare Purewrist with other prepaid debit cards
Use this interactive table to see how Purewrist compares to other prepaid debit cards by fees, ATMs and features.
How long will it take to get my card?
Your Purewrist Go bracelet package should arrive in the mail within 10 business days.
I got the Purewrist card. Now what?
Now that you have your Purewrist Go bracelet, here’s how to make the most of it:
- Activate your card. Follow the steps outlined in the pamphlet received with your Purewrist bracelet to download the mobile app and register your card.
- Request your personalized card. If you plan on adding more money to your Purewrist account in the future, go into the mobile app to verify your identity and link your bank account.
Funding options
You’ll fund your Purewrist Go bracelet initially with a credit or debit card online. After you upgrade to the reloadable card, you can load your card in two ways:
- Debit or credit card
- Linked bank account
- Peer-to-peer transfers to another Purewrist user in the app (both users must be upgraded to the reloadable card)
Purewrist says that cash reload at retail stores is coming by the end of 2021.
Is Purewrist safe?
Purewrist is as safe as any debit or credit card. The company uses bank-grade security to keep your information safe. The bracelet and microcard meet strict EMV security standards and leverage Mastercard’s network to process payments, which means your data is secured using the latest technology.
Each Purewrist bracelet also comes with a mobile app and online portal you can use to check your balance, view transactions, manage spending limits or lock your bracelet from future transactions if it’s lost.
If you have the Purewrist reloadable card, your account is FDIC-insured through Sutton Bank.
Frequently asked questions
Purewrist is not currently available on Finder
Have you considered Acorns Early (formerly GoHenry)?
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- Finder-exclusive 2-month free trial plus $10 in allowance, then $5
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Your reviews
Cassidy Finder
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