Multi-currency cards are a type of prepaid card designed to be used as payment for goods and services anywhere in the world. They offer the same level of chip-and-pin protection offered by UK credit and debit cards but with better exchange rates and much lower fees.
See our guide to prepaid multi-currency cards for more information.
To remain impartial these comparisons are ranked solely on the number of reviews each card issuer has received. You may want to compare several cards by clicking on them for full details before you decide which is best for you.
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Prepaid Multi-currency Cards - also known as "Sterling Cards" or "Travel Cards" - are a special kind of payment method which are designed to be more cost-effective than a standard UK credit or debit card when used overseas. They are intended to be a modern replacement to Travellers Cheques as they are more secure, more widely accepted and can be used anywhere in the world that accepts VISA or MasterCard.
Like traditional bank cards they are made of high-quality, durable plastic and come complete with chip-and-pin protection as standard which means they are just as secure as a regular bank card. However, unlike traditional bank cards, prepaid cards are not linked to your bank account in any way which means you cannot go overdrawn with them; you simply top-up your card over the phone or internet (paying using your regular bank card) and top your balance up when it runs out. There are no hidden charges and no surprise bills when you return home from abroad!
Most prepaid multi-currency cards are free to purchase (a minimum initial top-up of around £50 is usually required) and are suitable for everyone from solo travellers and couples to families and large groups. Multiple cards can be linked to the same account which is perfect for families on a budget and any left-over currency at the end of your trip can be converted back into Pounds, usually at the rate you bought it at.
Prepaid multi-currency cards lie somewhere between cash and credit / debit cards when it comes to cost-effectiveness. Here are a couple of typical usage examples so you can see how the costs compare. We've used Australian Dollars in our example but the figures are representative of all world currencies:
* Based on data taken on 24/11/14. The cash equivalent was calculated using the AUD rate of 1.7955 offered by Travel FX. The cards we compared were: Moneycorp Explorer Card, Barclays Visa Debit and Barclays Visa Credit.
How do prepaid multi-currency cards work?
Why are prepaid multi-currency cards better than credit or debit cards?
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