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A prepaid debit card can be an overall useful tool for spending. It can also be a useful way to teach kids about money or send money internationally.
We’ve researched specific features and fees so that you can evaluate the pros and cons of each card and determine the best one for you. Our favorite prepaid debit cards have remained our top picks for the last few months because they continue to stand out for their notable features and perks.
Below you’ll find our top picks for prepaid debit cards.
Find the right prepaid debit card for you
Best for avoiding monthly service fees
Compare the Best Prepaid Cards
Bluebird by American Express Prepaid Debit Card
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
None
Minimum Deposit Amount
None
Fees
No monthly service fees
Bluebird by American Express Prepaid Debit Card
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
None
Minimum Deposit Amount
None
Fees
No monthly service fees
On American Express’s website
Bluebird by American Express Prepaid Debit Card
Details
Fees
No monthly service fees
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
None
Minimum Deposit Amount
None
American Express® Serve® Free Reloads Prepaid Debit Card
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
None
Minimum Deposit Amount
None
Fees
$6.99 monthly service fee (No fee for residents who live in NY, TX, or VT)
American Express® Serve® Free Reloads Prepaid Debit Card
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
None
Minimum Deposit Amount
None
Fees
$6.99 monthly service fee (No fee for residents who live in NY, TX, or VT)
On American Express®’s website
American Express® Serve® Free Reloads Prepaid Debit Card
Details
Fees
$6.99 monthly service fee (No fee for residents who live in NY, TX, or VT)
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
None
Minimum Deposit Amount
None
Famzoo Prepaid Debit Card
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
None
Minimum Deposit Amount
None
Fees
$5.99 monthly service fee, $25.99 for six months, $39.99 for 12 months or $59.99 for 24 months
Famzoo Prepaid Debit Card
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
None
Minimum Deposit Amount
None
Fees
$5.99 monthly service fee, $25.99 for six months, $39.99 for 12 months or $59.99 for 24 months
Famzoo Prepaid Debit Card
Details
Fees
$5.99 monthly service fee, $25.99 for six months, $39.99 for 12 months or $59.99 for 24 months
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
None
Minimum Deposit Amount
None
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
None
Minimum Deposit Amount
None
Fees
No monthly service fees
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
None
Minimum Deposit Amount
None
Fees
No monthly service fees
Movo CASH Card
Details
Fees
No monthly service fees
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
None
Minimum Deposit Amount
None
Why it stands out: There’s no fee to open a Bluebird card, and there are no monthly service fees. You may have to pay up to $3.95 to reload your card at certain retailers, but you can reload for free at Walmart. You can also use over 30,000 MoneyPass ATMs for free around the US.
If you set up direct deposits, your paycheck could appear on your card up to two days early. The Bluebird card also gives you access to roadside assistance.
Look out for: If you deposit a check with your mobile app, it takes 10 days to process. To deposit the check immediately, you’ll pay 1% on a government check or paycheck and 5% on other checks, with a $5 minimum fee.
Why it stands out: You can reload your American Express® Serve® Free Reloads Prepaid Debit Card for free at over 45,000 places nationwide, including businesses like CVS, Walmart, and Dollar General. It’s also free to add money from a bank account or via direct deposit.
Look out for: This card charges a $6.95 monthly service fee, and there’s no way to waive it. (Fees are not charged for residents of New York, Texas, or Vermont, though.) Before choosing Amex Serve FREE Reloads over another prepaid debit card, check whether you’d actually be saving money by avoiding reload fees but paying a monthly fee.
Why it stands out: The FamZoo card is a good option if you want to help manage your kids’ money without adding them to your bank account. Assign each kid a card and put money for allowance, birthday gifts, or money for other purposes onto their cards. You can also track each debit card’s balance and purchases from your app, as well as lock cards.
The family plan is $5.99 per month, or $2.50 per month if you pay upfront.
Look out for: You can lower your overall costs by paying in advance rather than monthly, but you can’t waive the fee altogether.
Why it stands out: There’s no fee to sign up for a Movo CASH Card , and the company doesn’t impose a monthly fee. It also doesn’t charge you for reloading your card, although the third party where you reload the card may charge you.
Look out for: If you’d like to receive a physical debit card, you’ll have to pay a one-time fee of $5.95.
Prepaid Debit Cards That Didn’t Make the Cut and Why
Here are some other prepaid debit cards we looked at and our reasoning for not choosing them as our favorites:
- Credit Sesame Cash: Credit Sesame Cash may be a good option if you would like to build credit. The maximum you may deposit into toa Cash account is $20,000.
- American Express® Cash Back Serve Prepaid Debit Card
: This American Express debit card allows you to earn 1% cash back on purchases, but you won’t be able to reload money on the card. - Walmart MoneyCard: This is a good option if you shop at Walmart frequently, because you’ll earn cash back — but cash back is limited to $75 per year.
- Fifth Third Access 360 Reloadable Prepaid Card: You might like this card if you live near a Fifth Third branch, but branches only exist in 10 US states.
- Greenlight Prepaid Debit Card: This is another worthwhile option for families, but there’s no way to deposit cash, and there isn’t a free ATM network.
- BusyKid Spend Card: BusyKid has strong parental monitoring features, but FamZoo has a more affordable subscription.
- GoHenry Card: GoHenry may be ideal if you’re looking for platform that offers a kid’s debit card and financial literacy resources for kids and teens. The monthly service fee is $3.99 for one child or $6.99 for up to four children, though.
- Netspend Prepaid Debit Card: You can receive your paycheck early with Netspend, but its fees are higher than what you’ll pay with our top picks.
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Are These Companies Trustworthy?
Normally, we compare companies’ Better Business Bureau trustworthiness grades. But not all of our favorite prepaid debit card companies have been graded by the BBB, so we aren’t factoring scores into our trustworthiness review.
None of these companies have any recent scandals, so you may decide you feel comfortable using them. But to figure out whether you’ll have a smooth relationship with a company, you may want to ask family or friends about their experiences or read online reviews.
Methodology: How Did We Choose the Best Prepaid Debit Cards?
We looked at a dozen prepaid debit cards before selecting our favorites. We chose prepaid cards that are relatively easy to use. You should be able to use a card at ATMs and have several convenient options for reloading money onto the card. If a prepaid debit card had a special perk like cash back or a budgeting feature, we took that into consideration, too.
Finally, we picked cards that are relatively affordable. Almost every prepaid card comes with some fees, but we chose ones that are pretty manageable. We looked at monthly service fees and charges for signing up for a card, reloading money, and using an ATM.
Frequently Asked Questions
With a prepaid debit card, you load money onto a card and use it to spend money. For example, if you put $1,000 on the card, you can spend up to $1,000 before your transaction is denied due to lack of funds.
There are several ways to reload the card with more money. Most companies let you put cash on the card at places like Walmart, or you can deposit a check at an ATM and have the funds go onto the card. Some allow you to set up direct deposits so funds from your paycheck can go directly onto the card. Certain companies even allow you to link your prepaid debit card to a checking account so you can transfer funds.
It sometimes costs a fee to reload your card. Fees vary by company, and some have free options.
A prepaid debit card is similar to a regular debit card, but there are some key differences. A regular debit card is attached to a checking account, but you don’t need a checking account to have a prepaid card. For this reason, a prepaid card can be useful for people who don’t have bank accounts but still receive cash or checks.
Unlike a credit card, a prepaid debit card doesn’t usually require a credit check to qualify. If a company does require a credit check, it’s a soft inquiry, which doesn’t affect your score. This also means getting a prepaid card won’t affect your credit score one way or another.
With a credit card, you charge money to the card and pay it off later. A prepaid debit card spends the money you’ve already loaded onto the card, so you don’t have to worry about any payments down the road.
You can usually order a prepaid debit card online. But if you need access to a card immediately, you can visit a retailer — such as Walmart, CVS, or Kroger — and get one.
A prepaid debit card might be the right fit for you, just be aware of the tradeoffs and limitations.
Pros
- You can have a debit card even if you don’t have a bank account
- Cards are safer than keeping a large amount of cash on hand
- You can’t overspend, as you might with a credit card
- Useful for limiting a teenagers’ spending
- It’s easy to qualify for one
Cons
- Fees for signing up, reloading money, monthly maintenance, and/or using an out-of-network ATM
- You won’t earn interest on your balance as you might with a bank account
- These cards aren’t attached to other banking services, like a checking or savings account
- Using a prepaid debit card doesn’t help you build credit
- Some cards limit how much money you can load onto them
Online checking accounts are worthwhile alternatives to prepaid cards, as long as you’re comfortable banking digitally.
Many online banks don’t charge you for signing up, and there are no monthly fees. Most have free ATM networks, and unlike with some prepaid debit cards like Netspend, you won’t pay a fee each time you swipe your card.
Opening an online checking account can also help you get a foot in the door at banks that offer other products, such as high-yield savings accounts and loans.
Here are some banks and online banking platforms that don’t require any money to get started and don’t charge monthly fees:
Online banks are just as safe as brick-and-mortar banks, as long as they have FDIC insurance. (All the banks listed above do have insurance. Chime is a banking platform, and your deposits are insured by its partner bank.) But if you don’t want to bank online, you may decide a prepaid debit card is a better fit.
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