The following table compares all of the UK’s top prepaid cards. It's ordered by product type - full MasterCard or Visa CHIP first, Maestro/Electron Mag only last, and then by aprox usage cost. This estimated cost may be higher or lower based on your intended use and selected prepaid product type. It is just a guide to enable a more informed selection.
Prepaid Card Issuer |
Card Type |
Card Issue Fee (inc. Postage) |
Reload Fees |
Monthly Fees |
Max Balance Allowed in Account |
Other Fees |
Key Benefits |
Approximate monthly fees, based on one £250 reload per month and 3 purchase's each week |
|
Chip and Pin |
Free |
Ukash and some named direct bank transfers = Free
Wages = Free
BACS Payment = 1.75%
Credit card and debit card = 1.75% |
£2.99 |
£3,000 |
Per Use Fee (purchases) = Free
UK ATM Fee = £3.00
Foreign Transaction Fee = £2.95%
ATM fee 2.95% (non UK) |
- Get a virtual prepaid card account for free
- Up grade to a prepaid MasterCard for Free
-Accepted at over 28 Million Locations
|
Free based on ukash top up |
|
Chip and Pin |
Parent card Free and Teen card £9.99 (but £10 free load) |
Paypoint – 3%
Bank & Wage Payments – Free
Debit cards = £1.00 |
Free |
£5,000 |
UK ATM Fee = £0.75
Foreign Transaction Fee = Free
Per Use Fee (purchases) = Free
ATM fee £1.50 (non UK) |
Free adult card
Complete control of your money 24/7 with full parental control
- Pay £9.99 for Teen Card but get £10 loaded on your card for free.
|
Free |
|
Chip and Pin |
£5.99 |
Paypoint load fee = 3%
Payroll load (BACS) = Free |
Free
No late fees or overdraft fees
|
£5,000 |
ATM Fee = 1.5% (uk)
£2.50 (non uk)
Per Use Fee (purchases) = £0.50, (uk) / 2.75% (non uk)
Foreign exchange Fee = 2.75% |
Guaranteed Bank Account
-No Credit Checks
-Pay your wages in to your bank account and seperate funds on to your prepaid card
|
£5.95 (Assuming £250 spend per month and 1 Wage Payment Load)
|
|
Chip and Pin
|
£5.00 |
Debit card, Orange shops and bacs loads are Free - Paypoint and Post Office £1.50 and Credit card top up is 4% |
Free |
£5,000 |
ATM Fee (uk) = 2.95%
Foreign Transaction Fee = 5.7% |
Contactless MasterCard
-Earn points everytime you use
-No monthly charges and No transaction chages
-Pay as you go MasterCard |
Free |
|
Chip and Pin |
£9.95
|
Post Office = Free
Debit Card = Free
BACS Payment = Free
PayPoint = 2.75% |
free |
£3,500 |
Per Use Fee (UK purchases) = 2.95%
ATM Fee = 2.95% (UK)
Foreign Exchange rate Fee = 3.5% |
-PAY AS YOU GO
-Accepted at 28 Million Locations
-Top-up at the Post Office, PayPoint and by Debit/credit card
- Access to the Virgin Discount Network |
£7.37 |
|
Chip and Pin |
£7.50 |
Post Office = Free
PayPoint = 3% (max reload £500)
Standing Order/Payroll
BACS = Free (max reload £3,500)
Debit card or SMS needed to apply |
Free |
£3,500 |
UK Purchase per use fee = 2%
UK ATM Fee = £1.50
Foreign Transaction Fee = 2.75% |
-Very low reload fees
-Low cost ATM Withdrawal fees
-Accepted at over 28 Million Locations |
£5.00 (if loaded by BACS or Post Office) |
