Writer: Eric Bank
Editor: Lillian Guevara-Castro
Reviewer: Ashley Fricker
Disclosure: When you apply through links on our site, we may earn a referral fee from our partners. For more, see our ad disclosure and review policy.
Free prepaid debit cards look just like regular credit cards and enjoy the same level of acceptance. But you can use them without a credit rating or bank account (or any financial institution account).
If all that sounds good to you, check out our review of the best dozen.
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Free Prepaid Debit Mastercards
Mastercard is a card issuer and the second-largest payment network behind Visa. Its logo graces dozens of the best credit, debit, and prepaid cards. All Mastercard prepaid debit cards offer Mastercard ID Theft Protection™, a free service that alerts you to suspicious activity.
Here are three of the very best Mastercard prepaid debit cards:
- Brink’s knows Security! 24/7 access to a suite of security benefits to help keep your account armored.
- Get access to over 100,000 Brink’s Money ATMs.
- Get paid faster than a paper check with direct deposit.
- Add funds to your Brink’s Armored Account and use Brinks Armored debit card anywhere Debit Mastercard is accepted.
- Account opening is subject to registration and ID verification. Terms & fees Apply. Deposit Account is established by Pathward®, N.A., Member FDIC.
- Waive your monthly fee when you direct deposit $500+ in previous monthly period. Otherwise, $5.94 a month.*
- Earn 3% cash back at Walmart.com, 2% cash back at Walmart fuel stations, & 1% cash back at Walmart stores, up to $75 each year.*
- Earn 2% interest rate on up to $1,000 balance in your savings account. Plus, get chances to win cash prizes each month!*
- Get peace of mind with three coverage levels, up to $300, for purchase transactions with opt-in & eligible direct deposit.*
*Please see site for full terms and conditions.
Additional Disclosure: Walmart MoneyCard® is a debit card offer.
- Move money from your PayPal account to fund your prepaid card account.
- Earn cash back and personalized offers, just for using your card.
- With Direct Deposit, you can get paid faster than a paper check.
- Card issued by The Bancorp Bank, Member FDIC. Card may be used everywhere Debit Mastercard is accepted.
- Click PayPal Prepaid Mastercard® for additional features & program details, and to request a Card.
Additional Disclosure: The information related to PayPal Prepaid Mastercard® has been collected by CardRates.com and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product or service.
Another feature these cards offer is Mastercard rePower®, which lets you instantly add funds to an eligible Mastercard prepaid card at participating locations.
Free Prepaid Debit Visa Cards
Several top prepaid debit cards carry the famous Visa logo, representing the world’s largest payment network. You can use these cards online and in person to pay bills, add funds, and make purchases wherever Visa debit cards are accepted.
This trio represents the best free prepaid Visa debit cards:
- Earn points on swipes: Earn up to 7x the points on card swipes at over 14,000 participating merchants, then redeem them for cash back in your account.*
- Get paid up to 2 days faster with direct deposit*
- If you qualify, you can access up to $750 before payday with a paycheck advance
- Qualifying direct deposits receive fee-free overdrafts*
- No minimum balance fees, no overdraft fees, no bank transfer fees
- Access to more than 40,000 fee-free ATMs*
- *View product disclosures here.
- Overdraft protection up to $300 with opt-in and eligible direct deposit*
- No monthly fees with eligible direct deposit, otherwise $5 per month
- Earn up to 7% cash back when you buy eGift Cards in the app
- Get your pay up to 2 days early – Get your government benefits up to 4 days early.*
- High-yield savings account, 4.50% APY paid quarterly on savings up to $5,000.*
*Terms and conditions apply. GO2bank™ cards are issued by Green Dot Bank, Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A., Inc. Visa is a registered trademark of Visa International Service Association. Overdraft fees may apply. Click Apply Now to learn more.
- With Direct Deposit, you can get paid faster than a paper check.
- No late fees or interest charges because this is not a credit card.
- Use the Netspend Mobile App to manage your Card Account on the go and enroll to get text messages or email alerts (Message & data rates may apply).
- Card use is subject to activation and ID verification. Terms and Costs apply.
- Card issued by Pathward N.A., Member FDIC. Card may be used everywhere Visa debit card is accepted.
- See additional NetSpend® Prepaid Visa® details.
These cards free you from nasty overdraft fees, and you can get them without worrying about your credit score since no credit check is required. In addition, Visa’s Zero Liability Policy protects you against lost, stolen, and fraudulently used cards.
Free Prepaid Debit American Express Cards
American Express, a payment network and card issuer, offers cards with a unique blend of prestige and value — and these prepaid debit cards are no exception. Whether you opt for the groundbreaking Bluebird Card or the feature-laden Serve Cards, you won’t find a better prepaid account anywhere.
Here are our choices for the best prepaid American Express cards:
- A reloadable prepaid debit account that can be used anywhere American Express® cards are accepted
- Get your paycheck up to 2 days faster with free direct deposit
- With Visa’s Zero Liability Policy you can have peace of mind when making purchases with Bluebird
- Get free ATM access at over 40,000 MoneyPass® ATM locations. It’s free to add cash to your account at Family Dollar locations and free to transfer money to other Bluebird Accountholders.
- With Roadside Assistance, you can call us in case of emergency for coordination and assistance services to help you get on your way
- Pay no monthly fees or foreign transaction fees
- Enjoy FREE withdrawals at over 37,000 MoneyPass® ATM locations nationwide.
- 24/7 access to world-class American Express Customer Service
- No monthly fee when you direct deposit $500 or more within a statement period
- Use Online Bill Pay to help you save time and help you avoid late fees. Terms apply.
- Check your balance and recent transactions, pay bills on the go, get SMS text alerts, and send money to family or friends who have a Serve Account
- No credit check, no hidden fees
- Seamlessly transfer funds between Serve Accounts in no time and without a fee
- Get rewarded with unlimited 1% Cash Back when you spend money in stores or online. The funds are available to add to your account as soon as the transaction settles with us, so you don’t have to wait to enjoy the rewards.
- Shop with added confidence and Purchase Protection which can help protect eligible purchases made with the card against accidental damage and theft for up to 120 days from the date of purchase.
- You can withdraw your money without a fee at over 37,000 MoneyPass® ATM locations nationwide.
- Can’t find your Serve card? No need to worry – you can quickly freeze it while you look for it and unfreeze it when you find it. And for extra reassurance, know you won’t be held responsible for fraudulent charges.
- With Emergency Assistance, you can get select access to select emergency coordination and assistance services when you’re traveling more than 100 miles from home.
- Amex Offers provides a range of offers – shopping, dining, and more – from places you love. It’s easy and free.
These Amex prepaid cards give you free direct deposit, free online bill pay, and free fraud protection. What’s more, you can withdraw your money without a fee at over 30,000 MoneyPass ATM locations nationwide.
Free Prepaid Debit Cards For Kids & Families
A prepaid debit card for families can give your kids an excellent introduction to money management. These cards are under parents’ control but give minors a certain amount of financial autonomy without worrying about debt or overdrafts.
These cards connect to accompanying mobile apps that provide additional features. Among them are automatic allowances, easy funding from family and friends, and parent-paid interest.
The best examples of free prepaid debit cards for kids and families are:
- Take your kid’s spending freedom to the next level with a BusyKid VISA® Prepaid Card. Eliminate concerns over having on-hand cash. It’s easy to use, secure, and it teaches your kids how to manage money they can’t see.
- Every family subscription comes with up to five cards (one per child).
- Cards are backed by the Visa® Zero liability policy and can be locked temporarily if misplaced.
- Given it’s backed by the trusted name of Visa®, the BusyKid Spend Card is widely accepted in stores and online
- BusyPay™ is an easy way for family or friends to instantly send money to a child’s BusyKid account
- Choose from a variety of card designs to find which fits your busy kid best
- Great for families who wish to store money on multiple prepaid cards linked together
- No risk of debt, overdraft, or hidden fees
- Retain parental visibility and control while empowering kids of all ages
- Separate funds into multiple purpose-driven accounts
- Alert parents and children about card activity and the remaining balance in real time
- A paid FamZoo subscription entitles you to use all of the active prepaid cards in your FamZoo family for as long as your subscription remains active. Adding family members and adding cards does not impact your subscription fee.
These prepaid debit cards give parents the ability to monitor their children’s spending habits closely. Additionally, parents can easily lock or unlock the cards whenever necessary.
Can I Get a Prepaid Debit Card For Free?
Prepaid debit cards are typically free to obtain when you sign up online. However, they often incur various fees for the services they offer, such as:
- Purchasing or activating a card at a retail location. Typically, this is a one-time fee of about $3.
- Plan fees in the form of a flat monthly fee (about $5 to $10 per month) or a per-use fee of around $1.50.
- A cash reload fee at specified locations or via a mobile banking app.
- Money transfers, such as those made to a PayPal account.
- Having a low balance or account inactivity
- Cash withdrawals from ATMs, cash reload locations, and financial institutions. The ATM fee may not apply to in-network ATMs.
- Declined transactions
- Replacement or custom cards
This is not a complete list of possible fees. The fee amounts you’ll pay depend on how you use the card, and several fees are avoidable, including a monthly fee or per-use fee.
It’s really worth taking some time to go over a card’s fee schedule in the cardholder agreement. In fact, reading the entire agreement before signing up is a smart move.
How Does a Prepaid Debit Card Work?
If you have ever used a debit card linked to your savings or checking account, you’re already familiar with most of the concepts involved in the workings of a prepaid debit card. The difference between a bank (or other financial institution) debit card and prepaid debit cards is their funding:
- The money in your bank account funds a bank debit card.
- A prepaid debit card is funded by the money you deposit into the card’s account — no bank account is needed.
The two card types share certain features:
- No credit score is required.
- No credit is offered — you can spend only the amount in your account. However, some cards may provide a small purchase cushion (~$10) to handle minor overdrafts.
- Purchases and cash withdrawal transactions are immediately deducted from the account balance.
- No overdraft fee (except for accounts with a purchase cushion that goes unpaid).
- No late payment fees.
- Both types of cards are accepted by the same merchants.
- Do not affect your credit score nor credit history.
Some similarities exist between a prepaid debit card and a secured credit card in that a secured credit card is backed by your cash deposit. The difference is that you don’t deplete a secured card’s deposit by using the card — you are using credit instead.
Occasionally, you’ll hear the term “prepaid credit card” to refer to a prepaid debit card. But a prepaid credit card is a misnomer which really shouldn’t be used.
You can sign up for the prepaid cards in this review for free. You can use the cards to withdraw money without an ATM fee if the ATMs are in-network.
What Is the Best Prepaid Card With No Fees?
The Bluebird® American Express® Prepaid Debit Account is the best prepaid card because it generally has the fewest fees. For example, the card offers free in-network ATM withdrawals, free direct deposits, free online bill pay, and free cash reloads and transfers at Walmart.
The card charges for:
- New cards obtained from sources other than online
- Adding funds at designated locations
- Using out-of-network ATMs
- Transferring cash via Ria® or a bank transfer
The list of fees you don’t pay is much longer and includes:
- No activation fee
- No overdraft fee
- No monthly or annual fees
- No online purchase fee
- No fees for sending money, spending money, withdrawing funds, or inquiring about account information.
Another standout feature of the Bluebird card is the use of subaccounts to give minors 13 or older their own card, but under parental control for funding and spending. A primary Bluebird account holder can designate up to four subaccounts.
With the Bluebird Mobile App, you can easily track your balance in real-time, get alerts for low balances, receive direct deposits up to two days early, and even freeze your card without any cost.
Using a prepaid debit card is simple: You buy the card, fund the card, and use the card to charge purchases. You can also use the card to make cash withdrawal transactions and transfer money to third parties or to your other accounts, including a bank transfer. Merchants widely accept prepaid cards.
As of late, some prepaid cards are incorporating a tap-to-pay feature for added convenience.
Some payment terminals may ask whether you are using your card for a debit transaction or a credit transaction. Don’t let these labels confuse you — what they really mean is:
- Debit transaction: You enter a four-digit PIN code to verify your usage of the card.
- Credit transaction: You sign your name on the terminal or sales slip.
The merchant is usually charged a larger transaction fee for a credit transaction, even though no credit is involved in this case.
Some prepaid cards offer rewards, although generally not nearly as large as those available from the better credit card offerings. Moreover, the fee structure of prepaid cards can be somewhat more elaborate than those for debit or credit cards.
Can I Add Money to a Prepaid Card Online?
A prepaid card differs from a gift card in that it is a reloadable prepaid card — you can’t reload a gift card the way you can a reloadable prepaid card. You usually have more than one way to add money to a prepaid card. Unless you reload the card online, expect to pay a fee for the privilege.
- Retail locations: You can add money to your prepaid spend card by sauntering into a designated reload location (for example, a Walmart store) and plunking down cash, a check, or money order.
- Reload packs: You can purchase a reload pack from designated locations and then do a debit card transfer (online or via an app) from the pack to the prepaid card.
- Transfers: An online debit card transfer allows you to move money to your prepaid card from another one of your accounts, including those at banks, as well as your Venmo or PayPal account.
- Direct deposits: You can have your employer or a government agency directly deposit money into your prepaid card account. Typically, direct deposits are free and shave two days off the waiting time to receive funds.
- MoneyGram/Western Union: You can use Western Union Reload+ to reload your prepaid card at an agent location. If you prefer, you can transfer money at a MoneyGram agent location or kiosk.
- Mobile check deposit: You can use your mobile app to scan and transmit a check to reload your card.
The prepaid card’s fee schedule will detail how much each reload method will cost.
For example, one of the highly rated cards in this review charges nothing for direct deposits and standard mobile check loads. But it does charge fees for expedited check loads (2% to 5% of the check amount, minimum $5) and some money transfers.
What Is the Highest Limit Prepaid Card?
Our friends at DoughRoller rate the CashPass Prepaid Visa Debit Card and the NexsCard Prepaid Visa Debit Card as the two prepaid cards with the highest credit limits at $20,000.
The CashPass card has some limits to prevent fraud: a $5,000 daily spending cap, a $10,000 daily reload maximum, and a $920 daily ATM limit. You’ll face a $2.50 charge for each ATM withdrawal, $2.00 for every PIN transaction, and a $2.00 fee for each reload.
There is also a $3.95 inactivity fee when you don’t load or unload funds within 90 days and a $1.00 charge to pay a bill electronically.
The NexsCard fraud prevention restrictions are somewhat lower, as are its fees.
Several of the reviewed cards offer a $15,000 limit, including:
- PayPal Prepaid Mastercard®
- Brink’s Armored™ Account
- Serve® American Express® Prepaid Debit Account
- Bluebird® American Express® Prepaid Debit Account
- NetSpend® Visa® Prepaid Card
As to why you may want to load $15,000 or $20,000 onto a prepaid card, we imagine that there are several valid reasons, especially if you are wealthy.
You may need that kind of money to pay for a big-ticket purchase or an expensive lifestyle, but whatever the reasons, it’s good to know that high limits are available when you need them.
Do Prepaid Cards Require a Bank Account?
They don’t. In fact, that’s one of their biggest advantages because many people opt for them instead of a traditional bank account. Some folks avoid banks for reasons like limited disposable income, fear of fees, or simply as a stance against the system.
Checking accounts can and do charge high fees for overdrafts and insufficient funds. If you’ve ever been burnt by this kind of fee, you may be a good candidate for a prepaid account instead.
If you choose carefully, you’ll be able to get a low-cost prepaid card that may save you hundreds of dollars annually relative to the fees you may pay for a checking account.
No matter why you prefer to steer clear of banks, a prepaid card offers you the ease of using a debit card without needing a checking account.
Another option is to open a share account at a credit union. These are usually less expensive than bank checking accounts, especially when it comes to items like overdrafts. Also, a credit union savings account may pay more interest than its neighboring banks do.
Are There Drawbacks to Prepaid Cards?
Prepaid cards are not all rainbows and unicorns. Perhaps their biggest drawback is that you can’t use them to establish or build your credit score. Your prepaid card activity is not reported to the credit bureaus and doesn’t figure into the calculation of your credit score.
This chart summarizes some of the most significant differences between unsecured, debit, and prepaid cards:
| Secured Credit Cards | Debit Cards | Prepaid Cards | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operated by major issuers | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Can use for in-store purchases | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Can use for online purchases | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Connected to a bank account | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Uses a line of credit for purchases | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Reports to the credit bureaus | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Can impact credit scores | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Can carry an outstanding balance | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
You might already have a high credit score and not be concerned about how your prepaid card activity appears. Or perhaps your score is low, and it still doesn’t bother you.
One downside of prepaid cards is that, generally, they don’t offer rewards, although a few Netspend cards provide Payback Rewards tailored to your spending. In contrast, a rewards credit card often delivers more substantial benefits than even the most rewarding prepaid cards.
Compare Free Prepaid Debit Cards Online
There are many reasons to like free prepaid debit cards. You can use them to get most of the benefits offered by a checking account without any overdraft fees. And you can use them as you would a credit card to charge purchases without paying interest or late fees.
We’ve made it simple for you to compare different prepaid debit cards by providing links to their websites, where you can check out all the specifics, including the costs. Just hit APPLY NOW, and you’ll be on your way to a more straightforward, cost-effective alternative to traditional bank or credit cards.
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