If you prefer debit over credit but don’t have a bank debit card, below we offer a list of the best reloadable prepaid debit cards on the market. If you want to avoid fees, you might actually want to carry a number of them, because each one lets you avoid certain fees (like per-transaction or ATM fees), but then charges you in a different way — so mix and match to find the right combination:
- Bluebird Prepaid American Express Card – No monthly fee and no per-purchase fee makes this the best prepaid deal on the market. ATM withdrawals are free within the MoneyPass ATM network, and $2.50 out-of-network. Cash reloads may cost up to $3.95 but they are free at Walmart stores. If you want an easy option with the possibility of no fees (or very low fees compared to other cards), this would be our first recommendation.
- American Express Serve – Amex offers 4 other prepaid cards, all of which are also among the best when it comes to low fees or no fee at all. If you will have a direct deposit of at least $500 going on to the card each month, the Direct Deposit Serve prepaid card has no fees per month and no per-transaction or ATM fees. If you won’t use the card often, choose the no monthly fee Pay As You Go Serve prepaid card that charges $1 per transaction and $2.25 per ATM withdrawal. Or, you could pay a monthly $6.95 or $7.95 for one of the other cards (including one that gives cash-back rewards) if you want to avoid most per-transaction fees but won’t have a direct deposit going on to the card.
- PayPal Prepaid Mastercard – This prepaid debit card has a $4.95 monthly fee but no per-transaction fee. It does charge $2.50 per ATM withdrawal. You can reload the card with money from your PayPal account or via Direct Deposit for free, while in-person cash reloads will have a fee. This card is issued in partnership with Netspend.
- Walmart MoneyCard – Walmart’s popular reloadable prepaid Mastercard has a $5.94 monthly fee BUT it can be NO FEE if you have one or more direct deposits that total over $500 per month being put on the card. There are no transaction fees on purchases, and you have the ability to avoid other common fees if you reload via the Walmart app and do your cash withdrawals at Walmart stores. (You will be charged ATM fees or reload fees in other circumstances, so be sure to read the fine print.) Offers cash back rewards when you use the card at Walmart (up to $75 in rewards per year).
- Green Dot Prepaid Cards – Offers a $7.95-per-month plan that can be reduced to no monthly fee if you have a direct deposit of at least $500 on to the card. That plan has no per-transaction fees. You can also choose the Pay-As-You-Go Plan that has no monthly fee but charges you $1.50 per card purchase and a $3 ATM withdrawal fee. NOTE: Depending on which card you choose, if the card is not used for 90 days, a $9.95 “inactivity fee” may be charged.
- Brink’s Money Prepaid Mastercard – Offers 3 possible rate structures, including a pay-as-you-go plan that charges you no monthly fee, but $1.50 per transaction and $2.50 per ATM withdrawal. If you have $500 in direct deposits coming on to the card in a month, you can choose the Reduced Monthly Plan for $5 that has no transaction fees (but still $2.50 per ATM withdrawal). The standard monthly plan is $9.95 if you don’t meet the $500 in direct deposits, with no transaction fees but $2.50 per ATM withdrawal.
- Netspend Prepaid Cards – Offers a $9.95-per-month plan that has no per-transaction fees or you can choose the Pay-As-You-Go Plan that has no monthly fee but charges you $1.50 per card purchase. Either plan will charge $2.95 for each ATM withdrawal. NOTE: If the card is not used for 90 days, a $5.95 per month “inactivity fee” kicks in.
- Western Union NetSpend Prepaid Mastercard – Offers generally the same fee structure as the reloadable NetSpend cards mentioned above, but also has the ability to send or receive money from or to the card via Western Union Money Transfer, including over 200 countries.
- FamZoo Prepaid Debit Card – Marketed as a reloadable prepaid card for kids and teens because parents can control spending privileges on the card, but in reality anyone can get it. You can pay $5.99 per month for one or more FamZoo cards, or pay as little as $2.50 per month if you pay for up to 24 months in advance. (You can try it out for free for one month before paying.) Otherwise, no per-transaction fees and no ATM fees from FamZoo (though the ATM operator may charge a fee).
- Greenlight Prepaid Mastercard – Also marketed as a prepaid card for kids/teens, with certain parental controls built in (via the Greenlight app). Cost is $4.99 per month (with cards for up to 5 kids). No per-transaction or ATM fees (though the ATM operator may charge a fee). Reloads are via bank account or other debit cards, no cash reloads. You can try it for free for one month before monthly fee kicks in.