5 Best Prepaid Debit Cards of 2023
Written by
Cynthia Bowman
Edited by
Amber Barkley
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Prepaid debit cards are an alternative way to access and spend money by using a physical card, mobile app, website or electronic payment. These cards can be handy if you need to quickly add money or need something similar to a full-service checking account.
What Is the Best Prepaid Debit Card To Use?
Card issuers offer many types of prepaid debit cards, all with their own unique advantages and disadvantages. Here are the five best prepaid debit cards of 2023:
- Bluebird American Express® Prepaid Debit Account: Best overall
- Netspend Visa Prepaid Card: Best for cash rewards
- Brink’s Money Prepaid Mastercard: Best for a spending cushion
- Card.com Prepaid Visa: Best for ATM withdrawals
- FamZoo Prepaid Card: Best for kids
1. Bluebird American Express Prepaid Debit Account
While no one card can be perfect for every customer, the Bluebird Prepaid Debit account from American Express, Member FDIC, is the best overall. Bluebird improves on American Express® Serve prepaid debit cards by cutting out the monthly fees.
What makes this prepaid card the best overall winner is that it includes high-quality features similar to what a traditional checking account offers. Cardholders can even write paper checks and have access to a linked savings account — all for free.
Advantages
- Virtually all features are free
- Closest prepaid debit card to an actual checking account, including online bill pay
- Fully integrated with Walmart MoneyCenter
Disadvantages
- American Express® cards aren’t accepted everywhere.
Reload Methods
- Cash reload at Walmart and other participating retailers
- Bank account transfers
- Direct deposit
- Mobile check deposit
| Fees | |
|---|---|
| Card Purchase Fee | $0 if purchased online; up to $5 at retail locations |
| Monthly Fee | None |
| Reload Fee | – No fee from American Express or to reload at Walmart – Up to $3.95 at other participating retailers – Mobile check capture by Ingo Money (expedited) for government and pre-printed payroll checks: Greater of $5 or 1% of check amount – Mobile check capture by Ingo Money (expedited) for other check types: Greater of $5 or 5% of check amount |
| ATM Fees | Free at all MoneyPass ATMs; $2.50 at non-MoneyPass locations |
2. Netspend Visa Prepaid Card
Most people have heard of cash-back credit cards, but did you know that some of the best prepaid debit cards offer cash rewards as well? When it comes to cash rewards, the Netspend Visa Prepaid card is the best with its Payback Rewards feature.
Advantages
- Variety of reload options
- Easy access to your money through the website or smartphone app
- Optional high-yield savings account and budgeting tools
- $20 bonus for every friend you refer to Netspend once they’ve added $40 to their card
Disadvantages
- Fees add up fast
Reload Methods
- Direct deposit
- Mobile check load
- Cash deposit at participating Netspend locations
| Fees | |
|---|---|
| Card Purchase Fee | Free if bought online; up to $9.95 at retailers |
| Monthly Fee | Between $5 and $9.95 per month or $1.50 per transaction, depending on the plan |
| Reload Fee | – Up to $3.95 at Netspend Reload Network locations – Mobile check deposit of government or pre-printed payroll checks (expedited): Greater of $5 or 2% of check amount – All other accepted mobile check deposits (expedited): Greater of $5 or 5% of check amount |
| ATM Fees | $2.95 per withdrawal |
3. Brink’s Money Prepaid Mastercard
Brink’s Money is the best option for cardholders who tend to overdraw a checking account. At Brink’s discretion, established cardholders are allowed to spend up to $10 more than their available balance under certain circumstances.
Advantages
- State-of-the-art mobile app enables quick mobile check funding
- Robust, customizable rewards program
- $10 spending cushion and a discount on your monthly plan once you’ve received $500 in direct deposits
- Optional high-yield savings account.
Disadvantages
- Monthly subscription plan or pay per card transaction
- $9.95 fee to replace lost cards
Reload Methods
- Cash deposit at participating Netspend locations
- Direct deposit
- Bank transfers
| Fees | |
|---|---|
| Card Purchase Fee | None if you apply online; $2.95 at participating retailers |
| Monthly Fee | $5 to $9.95 per month or $1.50 per transaction |
| Reload Fee | – Up to $3.95 for cash reloads at a Netspend Reload Network location – Mobile check load of government or pre-printed payroll check (expedited): Greater of 2% of check amount or $5 – Mobile check load of all other checks (expedited): Greater of 5% of check amount or $5 |
| ATM Fees | $2.50 at domestic ATMs |
4. Card.com Prepaid Visa Card
Having access to a large selection of conveniently located ATMs without having to pay fees is a huge benefit. The Card.com Prepaid Visa gives nationwide ATM access through the extensive MoneyPass network of ATMs.
Advantages
- Online banking tools to check your balance, transfer money and find local ATMs
- Quick access to your paycheck through direct deposit
- No lost or stolen card replacement fee with standard delivery
- Live customer support
Disadvantages
- Excess fees can really add up
Reload Methods
- Bank transfers
- Card transfers from eligible cards issued by The Bancorp Bank
- Cash reloads through Green Dot Reload or Western Union locations
- Direct deposit
- Mobile check deposit
- Virtual wallet transfers using PayPal or Google Wallet
| Fees | |
|---|---|
| Card Purchase Fee | None |
| Monthly Fee | $9.95 per month for cardholders who deposit less than $1,000 per month |
| Reload Fee | – Cash reload: Up to $5.95 third-party fee – Mobile check load of government or pre-printed payroll check (expedited): Greater of $5 or 2% of check amount – Mobile check load of all other checks (expedited): Greater of $5 or 5% of check amount |
| ATM Fees | Free at MoneyPass ATMs; $2.95 out of network |
5. FamZoo Prepaid Card
You can teach kids about money and budgeting by loading their allowance onto their own kid-friendly FamZoo prepaid debit card.
Advantages
- Manage multiple cards with the well-designed app or website
- Features for parents include checking card balances, text and email alerts about spending activity, sending each child an allowance and even paying them interest
- Helpful infographics teach kids financial literacy by letting them set and track savings goals
- Free trial to test the platform before you pay a fee
Disadvantages
- After the first four cards, additional cards are $3 each
- Expensive cash reloads
Reload Methods
- Bank transfer
- Direct deposit
- Digital wallet bank transfer from Apple Pay, PayPal, Square Cash
- Digital wallet instant transfer from Apple Pay, PayPal, Venmo
| Fees | |
|---|---|
| Card Purchase Fee | None for first four; $3 for each additional card |
| Monthly Fee | $5.99 per month or one-time payment of $25.99 for six months, 39.99 for 12 months or $59.99 for 24 months |
| Reload Fee | Free for most methods or up to $4.95 at participating retailers |
| ATM Fee | $0 at MoneyPass ATMs |
Final Take
Prepaid debit cards can be a viable alternative to a basic checking account, but they also have other uses. Give them to kids to carry instead of cash or set them up to save for special spending.
The important part is to read the fine print; even the best prepaid cards charge several fees you should factor in to your budget. As long as you are aware of the costs and know when and how to avoid the extra charges, a prepaid debit card could have a place in your wallet.
FAQ
Here are some of the most common questions about prepaid debit cards.- What is a prepaid debit card?
- Prepaid debit cards are loaded with specific funds to use on the card instead of being tied to a bank account. They can be used for making purchases, paying bills and other financial transactions, as long as there is enough cash on the card.
- Are prepaid cards worth it?
- Prepaid cards can be a convenient alternative to cash, especially if you tend to overspend and want help sticking to your budget. However, make sure to do your research – even the best prepaid cards charge various fees. Be aware of the costs and know when and how to avoid them.
- Also keep in mind that prepaid debit cards do not build credit, so if that's your goal, consider a secured credit card instead.
- Is there a prepaid card with no fees?
- The Bluebird card from American Express has no monthly fee or subscription fee, but even it comes with some fees for certain reload options and ATM withdrawals from non-MoneyPass locations.
- There are no prepaid debit cards with no fees at all, but many have fees that are easy to avoid.
- What should I look for in a prepaid debit card?
- If you are considering a prepaid debit card, look for one that offers widespread acceptance. Check to be sure that it's easy to load and reload with funds. Compare fees for such services as direct deposit, mobile check deposit and ATM use. Be sure to read the card's terms of service agreement before applying.
Daria Uhlig, Cynthia Measom and Caitlyn Moorhead contributed to the reporting for this article.
Rates and fees are accurate as of March 13, 2023, and is subject to change.
All information about the Bluebird American Express Prepaid Debit Account has been collected independently by GOBankingRates. The Bluebird American Express Prepaid Debit Account is not available through GOBankingRates.
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