Credit building
Improve your credit rating with one of our prepaid cards. Not only can these cards help you to build up a credit history, they don't require any credit checks or proof of income when you apply, meaning acceptance is guaranteed.
Another clever way to save a lot, by doing very little
Compare pre-paid cards with MoneySuperMarket and find the right deal for you - whether you're spending overseas, looking to improve your credit rating, or simply want to earn cashback and rewards.
Cashplus Prepaid MasterCard (Freedom)
Monthly fee
Free
Card fee
£9.95
Transaction fee
Free
UK ATM fee
Free
International ATM fee
£3.00
Great for
But be aware that
THE BASICS
Card issuer: APS Financial Ltd
Card type: MasterCard
The card is valid for 36 months
BENEFITS
Online account management
24 hour service
Accepted online
Sort code & account number included
Benefits notes:
Free UK ATM withdrawals
Free UK purchases
Free to set up Direct Debits and standing orders
Free purchase protection
CARD FEES
Card application fee - £9.95
Monthly service fee - Free
Annual service fee - Free
Card replacement fee - £5.95
Card cancellation fee - N/A
Dormancy fee - No dormancy fees
Card fee notes:
No UK purchase fees
RELOAD OPTIONS (Online)
Cash - Free
RELOAD OPTIONS (Post Office)
Cash - 0.50%
Reload notes:
Bank transfers onto account: Free
Post Office loads: 0.50% fee will apply to the total amount paid in (min fee £3.00)
TRANSACTION FEES
Foreign transaction Fee: 2.99%
Purchase fee: Free
Internet Purchase fee: Free
ATM WITHDRAWAL FEES
ATM withdrawal fee (UK): Free
ATM withdrawal fee (International): £3.00
ELIGIBILITY
You must be a UK resident and aged 18+
You are advised to check the lenders Terms & Conditions for information relating to interest rates, fees and charges.
Suits Me Premium
Transaction fee
£1.97
Monthly fee
£4.97
Card fee
Free
UK ATM fee
£1.25
International ATM fee
£2.50
Great for
But be aware that
THE BASICS
Card issuer: PrePay Technologies Limited
Card type: MasterCard
The card is valid for 36 months
BENEFITS
Online account management
Accepted online
Sort code & account number included
Benefits notes:
Apply online and you could get instant approval with no proof of address or credit checks
Account opening within 10 minutes where you'll gain instant access to your account number and sort code, and mobile and online banking to start managing your money and finances
CARD FEES
Card application fee - Free
Monthly service fee - £4.97
Annual service fee - Free
Card replacement fee - £5.00
Card cancellation fee - Free
Dormancy fee – n/a
Reload notes:
PayPoint Load: £0.99 + 2.6%
PayPoint: £1.29+ 2.6%. Maximum load of £250 per day
Bank Transfer (UK): Maximum of £10,000
TRANSACTION FEES
Foreign transaction fee – n/a
Purchase fee - £1.97
Internet Purchase fee - Free
Transaction fee notes:
No UK transaction fees
European transaction fee (EUR, RON, SEK): 2.35% of the transaction value
International transaction fee (Other currencies): £1.97 plus 2.57% of the transaction value
ATM WITHDRAWAL FEES
ATM withdrawal fee (UK) - £1.25
ATM withdrawal fee (Europe) - £2.50 plus 2.35% of the transaction value
ATM withdrawal fee (International) - £2.50 plus 2.57% of the transaction value
ELIGIBILITY
You must be a UK resident aged 18 or over
You are advised to check the lenders Terms & Conditions for information relating to interest rates, fees and charges.
Premium Plus
Transaction fee
£1.97
Monthly fee
£9.97
Card fee
Free
UK ATM fee
Free
International ATM fee
£2.50
Great for
But be aware that
THE BASICS
Card issuer: PrePay Technologies Limited
Card type: MasterCard
The card is valid for 36 months
BENEFITS
Online account management
Accepted online
Sort code & account number included
Benefits notes:
Apply online and you could get instant approval with no proof of address or credit checks
Account opening within 10 minutes where you'll gain instant access to your account number and sort code, and mobile and online banking to start managing your money and finances
CARD FEES
Card application fee - Free
Monthly service fee - £9.97
Annual service fee - Free
Card replacement fee - £5.00
Card cancellation fee - Free
Dormancy fee – n/a
Reload notes:
PayPoint Load: £0.80 + 2.6%. Maximum load of £250 per day
Bank Transfer (UK): Maximum of £10,000
TRANSACTION FEES
Foreign transaction Fee - Free
Purchase fee - £1.97
Internet Purchase fee - £0
Transaction fee notes:
No UK transaction fees
European transaction fee (EUR, RON, SEK): 2.35% of the transaction value
International transaction fee (Other currencies): £1.97 plus 2.57% of the transaction value
ATM WITHDRAWAL FEES
ATM withdrawal fee (UK) - Free
ATM withdrawal fee (International) - £2.50
UK ATM withdrawal fee notes:
4 free UK ATM withdrawals permitted per month
A fee of £1.12 per withdrawal is then applied
ELIGIBILITY
You must be a UK resident aged 18 or over
You are advised to check the lenders Terms & Conditions for information relating to interest rates, fees and charges.
Suits Me Essential
Transaction fee
£1.00
Monthly fee
Free
Card Fee
Free
UK ATM fee
£1.00
International ATM fee
£2.50
Great for
But be aware that
THE BASICS
Card issuer: PrePay Technologies Limited
Card type: MasterCard
The card is valid for 36 months
BENEFITS
Online account management
Accepted online
Sort code & account number included
Benefits notes:
Apply online and you could get instant approval with no proof of address or credit checks
Account opening within 10 minutes where you'll gain instant access to your account number and sort code to start managing your money and finances
CARD FEES
Card application fee - Free
Monthly service fee - Free
Annual service fee - Free
Card replacement fee - £5.00
Card cancellation fee - Free
Dormancy fee – n/a
Reload notes:
Bank transfer in from UK - £1.25
PayPoint - £2:30 + 2.6%. Maximum load of £250 per day
TRANSACTION FEES
Foreign transaction fee – n/a
Purchase fee - £1.00 plus 2% of the transaction value
Internet Purchase fee – Free
Transaction fee notes:
No UK transaction fees
International transaction fee: £1 plus 2% of the transaction value
ATM WITHDRAWAL FEES
ATM withdrawal fee (UK) - £1.50
ATM withdrawal fee (International) - £2.50 plus 2% of the transaction value
ELIGIBILITY
You must be a UK resident aged 18 or over
You are advised to check the lenders Terms & Conditions for information relating to interest rates, fees and charges.
Caxton Currency Card
Card fee
Free
Transaction fee
Free
UK ATM fee
£1.50
International ATM fee
Free
Monthly fee
Free
Great for
But be aware that
THE BASICS
Card issuer: PSI-Pay Ltd pursuant to a license by Mastercard® International Incorporated
Card type: MasterCard
The card is valid for 36 months
BENEFITS
Online account management
No fee on foreign transactions
Accepted online
CARD FEES
Card application fee - Free
Monthly service fee - Free
Annual service fee - Free
Card replacement fee - £5.00
Card cancellation fee - Free
Dormancy fee - £2.00pm if there have been no transactions, card loads or balance switches in the previous 12 months
TRANSACTION FEES
Foreign transaction Fee - Free
Purchase fee - Free
Internet Purchase fee - Free
ATM WITHDRAWAL FEES
ATM withdrawal fee (UK) - £1.50
ATM withdrawal fee (International) - Free
ELIGIBILITY
You must be aged 18 or over
You must be a UK resident
You are advised to check the lenders Terms & Conditions for information relating to interest rates, fees and charges.
Travel Debit Card
Card fee
Free
Transaction fee
Free
UK ATM fee
UK ATM withdrawals not allowed
International ATM fee
Free
Monthly fee
Free
Great for
But be aware that
THE BASICS
Card issuer: Currensea
Card type: MasterCard
The card is valid for 60 months
BENEFITS
Online account management
No fee on foreign transactions
Accepted online
Benefits notes:
A new travel money card that connects directly to your high street bank account: no top-ups, no pre-pay. Works with all leading high street banks
You don't need an app or access to WiFi to operate the card
Supports all currencies
CARD FEES
Card application fee - Free
Monthly service fee - Free
Annual service fee - Free
Card replacement fee - £5.00
Card cancellation fee - Free
Dormancy fee - n/a
Card fee notes:
0.50% markup above interbank or Mastercard rates, no transaction charges, saves up to 85% vs your high street bank
TRANSACTION FEES
Foreign transaction Fee - Free
Purchase fee - Free
Internet Purchase fee - Free
Transaction fee notes:
Zero transaction fees
ATM WITHDRAWAL FEES
ATM withdrawal fee (UK) - UK ATM withdrawals not allowed
ATM withdrawal fee (International) - Free
ELIGIBILITY
You must be at least 18 years old
You must be a UK resident
You must have a UK high street bank account
You are advised to check the lenders Terms & Conditions for information relating to interest rates, fees and charges.
FairFX Currency Card
Card fee
Free
Transaction fee
Free
UK ATM fee
£1.00
International ATM fee
£1.00
Monthly Fee
Free
Great for
But be aware that
THE BASICS
Card issuer: Valitor Limited
Card type: MasterCard
The card is valid for 36 months
BENEFITS
Online account management
Accepted online
Benefits notes:
One card with 15 currencies
Lock in great rates and spend in more than 190 countries, wherever Mastercard is accepted
Your funds are securely held in a safeguarded account with Citibank
A friendly, UK-based team are available 7 days a week, 365 days a year
CARD FEES
Card application fee - Free
Monthly service fee - Free
Annual service fee - Free
Card replacement fee - £6.00
Card cancellation fee - Free
Dormancy fee - £2.00 per month or currency equivalent on expired cards with leftover balances
Card fee notes:
No fees applied when you pay in the UK or in any of the 15 currencies
RELOAD OPTIONS (Online)
Debit Card - Free
Credit Card - Free
Reload notes:
Bank transfers onto account: Free
TRANSACTION FEES
Foreign transaction Fee - 1.75%
Purchase fee - Free
Internet Purchase fee - Free
Transaction fee notes:
A 1.75% out of currency fee is charged when you use the card in a different currency to what is held on the card – including ATM withdrawals
ATM WITHDRAWAL FEES
ATM withdrawal fee (UK) - £1.00
ATM withdrawal fee (International) - £1.00
ATM withdrawal fee notes:
When you use your card at an ATM, you may also be subject to applicable fees, surcharge rules, and regulations of the relevant ATM, or other financial institution or association
ELIGIBILITY
You must be a UK resident and aged 18+
You are advised to check the lenders Terms & Conditions for information relating to interest rates, fees and charges.
Prepaid cards work a little differently to other types of plastic. Although you can use them to make purchases or withdraw cash in the same way as a debit or credit card, the key difference is that they need to be loaded up with cash in advance – and you can then only spend the balance on the card.
There are a number of benefits to using a prepaid card, so it pays to compare your options carefully and select the right one for your needs
Prepaid cards usually fall into two categories – pay monthly and pay-as-you-go. Pay monthly prepaid cards charge a monthly fee, but in return you pay lower transaction fees than you would with a pay-as-you-go card, and often, you will also be given rewards or cashback on your spending.
Pay monthly prepaid cards are more suited to those who regularly spend on their card, while pay-as-you-go options are more suited to those who only make a handful of transactions on their card each month.
Because you can only spend the money you've pre-loaded onto your prepaid card, they are a great choice for those on a budget, for parents who want to keep an eye on their children's spending, or even for businesses.
But another benefit of prepaid cards is that they don't require a credit check and, as a result, they are easier to get hold of than credit or debit cards. This means they can be a good option for those with a poor credit score or no credit history at all. Some prepaid cards will also allow you to add a 'credit builder' service to your card which will help you to improve your credit rating.
What's more, certain prepaid cards can even be used as an alternative to a bank account, allowing your salary to be paid onto them.
Prepaid cards can also be a handy addition to your wallet if you're holidaying abroad. This is because a number of cards allow you to pre-load them with foreign currency and then side-step the expensive fees charged by many debit and credit cards for use overseas.
Prepaid cards can be riddled with fees, so it's important to read the small print carefully.
In particular, you should watch out for monthly fees, charges for loading funds onto your card, fees for withdrawing cash or spending on your plastic, and inactivity fees – which kick in if you don't use your card for a number of months.
Finally, unlike credit cards, prepaid cards are not covered under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974. This protects credit card purchases between £100 and £30,000 against a retailer going bust, or your goods arriving faulty or damaged. This protection was extended up to £60,260 under the 2011 Consumer Credit Directive.
You work hard to earn your money, and we don’t think you should waste a penny of it paying over the odds on your household bills. That’s why at MoneySuperMarket, we’re on a mission to save Britain money.
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So how do we make our money? In a nutshell, when you use us to buy something, we get a reward from the company you’re buying from.
You might be wondering if we work with all the companies in the market, or if our commercial relationships with our partners might make us feature one company above another. We’ve got nothing to hide, and we want to give you clear answers when it comes to questions like these, so we’ve pulled together everything you need to know on this page.