You often hear about prepaid cards, payment instruments whose credit is not deducted from the bank account, but directly from the current funds replenished on the card. What are the best prepaid cards?
Prepaid cards can be a great way to manage your monthly expenses and expenses. We can compare them to a kind of virtual wallet that the user can recharge when he wants by pouring any type of amount.
So let’s see the advantages of having prepaid cards and why have several.
Top 5 Prepaid cards with IBAN
The prepaid card, in most cases, has an IBAN, through which you can also recharge it from another current account, get your salary credited or make home recurring expenses.
In addition, prepaid cards are the best solution to buy online or to pay while traveling abroad.
The advantages of a prepaid card are:
Operating costs almost always equal to 0;
There is no payment of stamp duty;
Issuance and receipt of transfers free of charge;
Free refills or with costs significantly lower than average (1 or 2 euros maximum)
Free withdrawals in Italy and abroad at ATMs or other credit institutions anonymously;
Online shopping in total safety;
Contactless payments if the amount to be paid does not exceed 25 euros;
App from which to manage the account.
In addition, these are very useful payment tools to empower younger people, who can administer and learn to manage their finances through mobile apps.
1. N26
N26 is one of the best singing cards on the market right now.
Very useful result for the management of personal finances, so much so that it is considered the best card for freelancers.
Belonging to the Mastercard circuit, N26 is manageable from an app, in an easy and intuitive way.
Registration is done via affiliate link or directly from the site where the whole step b procedura
2. Hype
HpePe is another of the best 5 prepaid cards with IBAN, connected to the famous Banca Sella. There are several accounts: the Start one, Plus and Premium, which differ in services and conventions.
Through the official website you can apply for the card and register later via app. The card belongs to the Mastercard circuit, and is very simple to use because it can be managed comfortably through the app.
It is very simple to use and has very low costs: the Start card is free and has no annual fees; the Plus, on the other hand, costs 12 euros per year; and the Premium, on the other hand, has a monthly cost of 9.90 euros.
On the other hand, however, the HpePe card has different plafonds, according to the different option you choose. With H StartPe Start the ceiling is 2,500 euros, with HpePe Plus it is 50,000 euros and finally with H PremiumPe Premium you have an unlimited ceiling.
3. Revolut
​​The prepaid card with IBAN Revolut is one of the most versatile cards. Belonging to the Visa circuit, it can be used, as well as for the management of personal expenses, also to manage the accounts of a more complex company or associations.
Unlike other cards, Revolut offers the possibility to have only the digital card, being mainly an e-account. You can request through the site or through referral links.
The card can be obtained free of charge and does not present a monthly payment fee.
The great advantage of this card is that it is ideal for those who travel a lot because the credit can be used in over 150 currencies.
On the other hand, for the free account, a maximum withdrawal of 200 euros per day is allowed.
4. Wise
Wise is the most convenient IBAN account card used by freelancers.
In fact, this card allows you to receive and send transfers in all currencies worldwide, simplifying all banking operations.
Wise operates on the Mastercard network and offers remarkably low fees for the services it provides, with an excellent balance between costs and the services received.
Additionally, it is ideal and secure for online purchases, as well as for withdrawals around the world. Opening the account, which can be done through the website, is free, as is its management.
On the downside, money transfers are sometimes limited, particularly by the banks from which the funds originate. Moreover, it’s important to know that there may be some limitations due to its key feature and service: the conversion of credit into virtual money.
5. Yap
Yap is one of the prepaid cards with IBAN on the Mastercard network.
The Yap account can be opened through a referral link or via the website completely free of charge, and account management is also free, with no fees or commissions.
The major advantage of this account is that a physical card is not necessarily required. The balance can be managed via the app, and payments can be made using an e-wallet at all stores equipped with contactless.
On the downside, without a physical card, it is not possible to withdraw cash. However, for top-ups, they can be made even if the card is not linked to a bank account, as only the app is needed.
The Top 5 Prepaid Cards for Traveling
Traveling is wonderful, and knowing how to manage your travel expenses is even better.
That’s why below you’ll find the best prepaid cards for traveling, with a focus on which ones are most convenient for minimizing withdrawal fees.
Our general advice is to never rely on just one card, especially when you’re outside of Italy.
1. Bunq Travel card
The Bunq prepaid card, which is part of the Mastercard network, is ideal for travelers because it has no extra costs related to exchange rates. Additionally, it can be conveniently managed through the app or online banking.
The activation fee for the card is a one-time payment of €9.90, as the annual fee is completely free. As for extra costs, there is a withdrawal fee of €0.99 with a zero-cost exchange rate.
Furthermore, the card allows you to make and receive SEPA transfers and enables you to save 3% on expenses incurred abroad.
2. Vivid Money
This card is simply a tool linked to a virtual account, allowing for withdrawals and payments. When you open the account, you can also choose whether to have the physical card or not.
The Vivid Money prepaid card is part of the Visa network, and to obtain it, you must first open an account. The process is simple and immediate; just visit the official website and register your details. You can choose to have a virtual card, which is activated immediately, or a physical card that will be sent to the provided address within a few days.
When you open an account with Vivid Money, you can choose between two options:
– Vivid Standard: free account
– Vivid Prime: monthly fee of €9.90
One limitation of the card is that it has a German IBAN, which may incur additional costs for certain services in some cases.
3. N26 You
N26 You is an account card that, for ease of management, is comparable to a prepaid card. The account associated with the card allows you to manage daily expenses simply and quickly, making it suitable for travelers, with a monthly fee of €9.90.
This account card provides insurance that covers travel and city transportation, including flight cancellations or delays, unexpected medical emergencies that occur in a foreign country, and lost luggage.
Additionally, there are no extra costs for withdrawals and payments abroad, and no fees are applied.
4. Wise
We’ve seen this card before; it’s ideal for transferring money between two bank accounts operating in different currencies. To summarize, this card:
– Has no monthly fee and costs only €7 if you want the physical card.
– Offers the option to hold over 40 different currencies in the account, allowing for transfers and receipts in currencies other than the euro at extremely competitive rates.
– Allows for two completely free withdrawals worldwide of up to €200 every 30 days, after which a fee of €0.50 plus 1.75% of the withdrawn amount applies.
– Does not charge commission fees for currency exchange if payments are made with currencies held in the account; otherwise, a fee ranging from 0.33% to 3.56% applies.
5. Revolut
We’ve also seen this card before; it offers various account types, some free and others paid. To summarize:
– The account can hold 28 different currencies.
– International transfers and payments are made at the interbank exchange rate in over 29 and 150 currencies, respectively, up to €1,000 per month. After that, a fee of 0.5% applies for the Standard and Plus accounts, while the Premium and Metal accounts have no monthly limit.
– Withdrawals are completely free worldwide up to €200 per month for the Standard account and €400 for the Premium account.
– There’s a 1% conversion fee on weekends.
– Travel insurance is included with the paid Premium and Metal accounts.
The Top 5 Prepaid Cards for Online Shopping
Nowadays, shopping online is very safe. Moreover, online purchasing has become a habit for almost everyone and is increasingly common in Italy as well. Here are the 5 best prepaid cards for making online purchases with complete security.
1. PostePay Evolution
This is a prepaid card issued by Poste Italiane, which, unlike the standard PostePay, allows for online purchases and cash withdrawals through the Mastercard and Postamat networks.
In addition to online shopping, this card enables you to shop freely in physical stores using a POS.
Moreover, this card has a dedicated IBAN (allowing you to receive and make transfers) and can be quickly topped up at Poste Italiane, at Sisal outlets, at Postamat ATMs, and from another PostePay, with variable fees (minimum €1).
To request the card, you need to go to the post office and make a deposit of €5.00 plus a minimum top-up of €15.00 on the card. The annual fee for the card is €12.00, and the limit is €30,000.00, but we must consider the withdrawal costs:
– Free from Postamat ATMs;
– €1 from authorized post offices;
– €2 from authorized bank ATMs in Italy and Europe;
– €5 from authorized bank ATMs outside Europe;
– For non-Euro countries, a commission of 1.10% on the amount.
2. Paypal
Among the best prepaid cards we can use online is the PayPal prepaid card, which operates completely independently from a PayPal account (although it can be linked to one).
With this card, you can make online purchases in Italy and worldwide, thanks to the Mastercard network. It can be quickly topped up via your PayPal account (with instant transactions), through bank transfers (using the IBAN), or at authorized tobacco shops.
Top-ups for the card cost between €1.10 and €2.50. Withdrawals incur a fee ranging from €1.90 to €3.90.
3. Genius Card
One of the best prepaid cards is offered by UniCredit Banca, allowing for online purchases and shopping in physical stores thanks to the Mastercard network. This card has a waived monthly fee for those under 30 (otherwise, it’s €2 per month) and allows for free withdrawals from any UniCredit ATM.
You can top it up through a cash deposit via postal or bank transfer, at UniCredit banks (without fees), via salary deposit, or by recharging at Sisal outlets.
The only additional costs are for withdrawals from other ATMs: in Italy, the fee is €2, while abroad it’s €5. To request the card, simply visit the website and ask for a call with a consultant or go to a branch.
4. Superflash
Another excellent prepaid card for online purchases is Intesa Superflash, issued by the Intesa Sanpaolo group. This card also functions as a bank account, allowing you to receive your salary or pension, make transfers within Italy and Europe, set up direct debits for bills, and provides advanced fraud protection.
The card has an annual fee of €26.90 and allows for free withdrawals from all Intesa Sanpaolo ATMs. For withdrawals from other ATMs in Italy, the fee is €2 (and €5 for withdrawals from ATMs abroad).
You can also top up the card at Intesa Sanpaolo ATMs (using another card from the same group) or at an Intesa branch (with a topping-up fee of €1). To activate the account, simply visit the website and request to speak with a consultant.
5. CheBanca Conto Tascabile
The card issued by Che Banca, called Conto Tascabile, is one of the most affordable on the market and is suitable for online purchases. It is part of the Mastercard network, allowing payments at both online and physical stores, including those with Contactless POS.
It enables free bank transfers and the ability to receive salary or pension payments thanks to its IBAN. You can top it up at an advanced ATM or at a branch without any fees.
Withdrawals in euros are free, both in Italy and across Europe (from any ATM); for withdrawals in other currencies, a fee of €3 applies, and there is a monthly fee of €2.
The Top 5 Prepaid Cards for Minors
Have you ever had your son or daughter ask for your credit or debit card for an online purchase? Everyone, including minors, makes purchases, so why not have a prepaid card for them?
Well, now there’s an alternative to help teach them to spend responsibly. Here are the top 5 prepaid cards for minors, useful for making online purchases or any other type of payment that requires a credit or debit card.
1. Yap
As we saw earlier, this card is free; it has no fees or commissions.
It’s a digital card, but you can request a physical card for less than €10.
This tool is well-suited to the needs of younger users because it can be activated and managed entirely through a mobile app.
Additionally, the card has limits on both withdrawals and spending, making it very useful for effectively managing the financial resources of minors.
2. Flowe
Flowe is an Italian project with a green spirit. In fact, in addition to being a regular card, Flowe commits to planting a tree for every purchase made with it.
It’s a free account that can be activated online, featuring an Italian IBAN.
Additionally, the Flowe account offers two different pricing plans:
– FAN: completely free with a range of standard features.
– FRIEND: for a cost of €10/month, it provides access to a series of exclusive functions.
While the account can be opened from the age of 12, adults can also open it and receive salary or pension deposits, or have utility bills debited, for example.
Like any card, withdrawals are free at all ATMs across Europe, and the account can be recharged via bank transfer or top-up, with a physical card costing €15.
3. Tinaba
With Tinaba and Banca Profilo, you have a free account with no hidden costs paired with a card. It’s a convenient, simple, and secure way to manage your finances.
This is a zero-fee checking account that allows you to send and receive bank transfers for free. Additionally, you can create a savings jar to save even faster.
The card is reloadable for free with no hidden commissions, allowing you to make payments securely worldwide. It also lets you create shared expenses and participate in crowdfunding projects for charitable purposes.
To open the account, simply visit the official website and register your details.
4. Enel X Pay
The Enel X Pay card is a reloadable card associated with an IBAN that allows for the following operations:
– Make online payments
– Pay in physical stores
– Withdraw cash at ATMs if the card is issued on a physical support
– Receive charges and make bank transfers
The card can be issued to minors aged 11 to 17, allowing them to perform transactions. However, the card is always monitored via an app by a parent or guardian, and the bank reserves the right to disable the card for purchasing certain items (like alcohol, tobacco, etc.).
Finally, the card can be activated through the website and serves as an excellent tool for teaching young people the value of a bank account and a card, as well as the responsibilities that come with them.
5. Hype Start
Available for those aged 12 and up, Hype Start is a contactless prepaid card.
As mentioned earlier, this card provides you with an immediately available IBAN, with reloads and withdrawals free of commission and expenses always under control.
Additionally, Hype allows you to set savings goals: choose the amount you want to save, set a deadline, and start saving right away.
It’s also suitable for all online purchases, for which you’ll receive up to 10% cashback.
