What is the best prepaid card to use in Australia?
The best prepaid card for you in Australia depends on your specific needs, such as travel, budgeting, online shopping, gifting or managing expenses. Here are some considerations before you choose the right product for you:
Digital vs Physical: prepaid cards come in the form of physical plastic cards or digital cards, which are added to and used in digital wallets.
Single-load vs Reloadable: prepaid cards can be single-load only, used for gifting, donations and one-off payments. Or, you can opt for a reloadable prepaid card which can be topped with additional funds over time and used for ongoing purposes.
For Budgeting: Choose cards with low fees such as zero reload and transaction fees, low monthly account fees etc. Look out for extra features such as an app for on-the-go transaction monitoring and detailed reporting.
For Travel: Some prepaid cards support multi-currencies with low FX fees and even offer travel rewards. Travel prepaid cards should come with an app and digital card option for convenient, mobile access.
For Everyday Use: Look for a general purpose prepaid card from Visa or Mastercard with minimal fees and broad usability.
Can you buy a Visa Prepaid card in-store?
Yes, some Visa prepaid cards are sold in-store. They are generally gift cards with pre-set amounts which you can buy as a gift for others or for yourself. These cards are widely available at various supermarkets and major retailers.
Can you withdraw cash from a prepaid Visa in Australia?
Yes, you can withdraw cash from a prepaid Visa card in Australia, unless the card is a prepaid gift card. The ability to withdraw cash depends on the card issuer, so you should check the terms and conditions of the card.
Are Visa prepaid cards accepted everywhere?
Visa prepaid cards are generally accepted wherever Visa is accepted, similar to Visa debit cards. However, there may be some merchants that do not accept prepaid Visa cards.
Are there fees for Visa prepaid cards?
Visa prepaid cards may have fees for reload, ATM cash withdrawals, foreign transactions, monthly maintenance and balance enquiries via phone. Refer to your card issuer’s Product Disclosure Statement.
How much does it cost to activate a Visa gift card?
Visa gift cards generally do not charge an activation fee. Refer to your card issuer’s Product Disclosure Statement.
Which prepaid cards have no monthly fees?
Several prepaid cards in Australia come with no monthly fees, making them cost-effective for specific use cases like travel, budgeting, or online shopping. Some popular products include Wise, Revolut, Travelex and Citibank Saver.
What is the maximum amount that you can put into a Visa gift card?
Visa gift cards usually have a limit of how much you can load, but this amount depends on the card issuer. For example, True Rewards digital Visa gift cards have 2 options – gift cards up to $999 or $4,999.
How do you put your money in a Visa prepaid card?
Is there a Visa card that can be reloaded?
Prepaid cards used for travel, budgeting, teens/children and expense management can generally be reloaded. Refer to your card issuer’s Product Disclosure Statement.