What is Wise Card
Wise (formerly TransferWise) is an international payment service with a real bank account and a Mastercard. The key difference from banks: Wise uses the mid-market exchange rate — the same rate you see on Google. No hidden markup.
Wise Card is a physical or virtual debit Mastercard linked to a multi-currency account. Opened online, no branch visit required.
Who needs Wise Card
- Freelancers and remote workers — receive payments in EUR/USD/GBP and spend without conversion
- Travellers — pay in local currency with no bank surcharge
- Online purchases — pay international services where local cards don't work
- Subscriptions — Netflix, Spotify, Adobe, Figma, GitHub
How the multi-currency account works
A Wise account can hold money in 40+ currencies simultaneously. When you pay in a shop:
- Wise debits in the shop's currency
- If you don't hold that currency — it converts at the mid-market rate
- Conversion fee: 0.33–1.5% (depends on the currency pair)
- For comparison: most banks charge 2–5%
Topping up Wise via voucher
Wise accepts top-ups via Wise Cash vouchers — prepaid codes that are credited directly to your account balance.
How to activate:
- Log in to the Wise app or wise.com
- Go to Add money
- Select Redeem voucher
- Enter the code from your receipt
- Balance appears instantly
Fees and limits
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Card issuance | Free |
| ATM withdrawals | Up to $100/month free, then 1.75% |
| Currency conversion | 0.33–1.5% |
| Holding currencies | Free |
| Same-currency payments | Free |
Wise vs bank card: real example
Suppose you pay €50 for a subscription and your balance is in USD. A bank converts at its own rate with a 3–4% markup — you lose around $1.50–$2. Wise charges roughly 0.5% — about $0.25. On larger amounts the difference is significant.
FAQ
Does Wise work for everyone?
Wise is available to residents of most countries. Some regions have restrictions — check wise.com for your country.
How long does a Wise voucher last?
Usually 12 months from purchase date.
Can I hold multiple currencies?
Yes — Wise supports 40+ currencies on one account simultaneously.
Is Wise a bank?
Wise holds payment institution licenses in multiple countries. Regulated by the FCA in the UK and FinCEN in the US.