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The Top 5 Travel Debit Cards in 2024

Debit cards make paying easier, but which is the best debit card for travelling overseas?

Using travel money cards overseas is extremely handy for paying for shopping, taxis, corner shops and withdrawing cash at ATMs.

It's a great option as long your bank does not charge fees for foreign transactions or ATM withdrawals.

So, how do you find out where to get the best travel debit cards?

To save you time, we've compared a large number of debit cards for overseas travellers to help you make the right decision.

 

Debit Card

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Wise Travel Card

Best Exchange Rate

  • 40+ currencies available
  • Best exchange rates globally
  • One of the lowest conversion fee on the market
  • No international transaction fees
  • No annual or monthly fees
  • Extremely low costs to send money overseas
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Wise Travel Card

  • Cross currency conversion fees are between 0.24–3.69%. AUD to USD, EUR or GBP was 0.42%, which is one of the lowest on the market
  • Free cash withdrawals up to $350 every 30 days. However after that, Wise charge a fixed fee of $1.50 per transaction + 1.75%
  • Daily ATM withdrawal is $2,700
  • Issue up to 3 virtual cards for temporary usage
  • It takes between 7 to 14 business days to receive your card
  • Can be used wherever MasterCard is accepted

The Wise Travel Card is great for frequent travellers as it offers over 40 currencies at the inter-market exchange rate, which is the cheapest rate globally. In addition you can buy goods online from overseas with no transaction fee plus get the best exchange rate. However if you use ATMs frequently this is not the card to use due to the fees. Finally Wise Travel Card lets you transfer money to an overseas bank account with extremely low fees and the best exchange rate.

Our Wise Travel Card Review

Revolut - Low Fees

  • 30+ currencies available
  • One of the best exchange rates globally
  • No international transaction fees
  • No annual or monthly fees for standard membership
  • No initial card fee
  • Instant access to a range of cryptocurrencies
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Revolut Travel Card

  • No fee ATM withdrawals up to A$350, or 5 ATM withdrawals, whichever comes first, per rolling 30 day period and 2% of withdrawal amount (minimum charge of A$1.50) after that
  • Exchanging currency on the weekend can incur a 1% mark-up fee
  • Fees on international money transfers were introduced in April 2021.
  • Can be used wherever Visa is accepted

The Revolut Travel Card is a decent option for those who travel a lot as it offers over 30 currencies at a great exchange rate, which is the cheapest rate globally. However if you exchange currency on the weekend you can incur a one-percent mark-up fee. In addition they have introduced fees for international transfers. Finally if you use ATMs frequently this is not the card to use due to the fees.

Macquarie Transaction Account Debit Card

  • No monthly fees
  • No initial card fee
  • No foreign transaction fee
  • No ATM fees in Australia
  • No ATM fees overseas
  • Contactless limit with no PIN up to $200 per transaction
  • Joint accounts available
  • Discounts of up to 10% on eGift cards to use at over 50 leading retailers
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Macquarie Transaction Account Debit Card

  • Simple and easy to work out costs for account
  • Can be used in Australia as an EFTPOS card
  • Instant transfers can be made using PayID and OSKO
  • Works with Apple Pay, Google Pay, Fitbit and Garmin
  • Available to 14 year olds and older
  • Easily lock and unlock your card in the app if your card is lost or stolen
  • Multi award winning account including Mozo Best Everyday Savings for 2021
  • $2,000 daily limit for ATM withdrawals
  • Exchange rates are MasterCard exchange rates, which are normally 2% - 6%+ the market rate
  • Added security with a mobile app that sends actionable push notifications for you to approve or deny online transactions and account activity
  • Tools for spending each time you make a transaction, it’s automatically categorised into groups such as groceries, travel, leisure or technology. In addition you can see how you're spending at a glance and over time.
  • Can be used wherever MasterCard is accepted

There's a lot to love about the Macquarie Bank Transaction account debit card starting with no fees, no foreign transaction fees, no ATM fees in Australia or overseas. In addition the only fee you will pay is the currency conversion charged by Mastercard.

The debit card works in Australia and the contactless limit is $200, which is super handy. It also works with Apple Pay, Google Pay, Fitbit and Garmin. Finally it has tools to help you track your spending, can be given to teenagers over 14 and is easy to lock or unlock your card through the app if lost or stolen.

HSBC Everyday Global Debit Card

  • No initial card or closure fees
  • No monthly or account fees
  • No international transaction fees
  • No international ATM fees
  • No cross currency conversion fees
  • Lock in very competitive exchange rates before travel
  • No maximum balance
  • Earn 2% cashback
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HSBC Everyday Global Debit Card

  • 10 Currencies can be loaded are AUD, USD, GBP, EUR, HKD, CAD, JPY, NZD, SGD, CNY (currency restrictions apply to CNY)
  • Awarded 5 gold stars by CANSTAR in 2021 for Outstanding Value
  • Very competitive exchange rates on all currencies when you have currencies already loaded on your card
  • ATMs within Australia need to be HSBC and overseas they need to display a VISA or VISA Plus logo, not be be charged fees
  • Earn 2% cash back when you tap and pay with Visa pay wave, Apple Pay or Google Pay for purchases under $100. With a maximum of $50 cash back per month. In addition you need to deposit $2,000 or more into your Everyday Global Account each calendar month.
  • Daily maximum ATM withdrawal is $2,000
  • Fraud protection covered by Visa Zero Liability
  • Can be used wherever Visa is accepted

The HSBC Everyday Global Debit Card is a good option to take travelling and to spend money in Australia with no international transaction fees, international ATM fees and monthly fees. In addition there is no maximum balance on currencies held and a 2% cash back incentive when you tap and pay under $100.

Finally it is one of the only travel cards that offers Chinese Yuan. To avoid ATM fees you need to find HSBC branches in Australia and only use ATMs overseas with a VISA or VISA Plus logo.

ING Orange Everyday Account Debit Card

  • No ATM fees
  • No international transaction fees
  • No initial card fee
  • No account keeping fees
  • Can be used in Australia with no additional costs
  • No fees for paying via bank transfer or Bpay
  • Transfer limits can be set by user
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ING Orange Everyday Account Debit Card

  • Simple and easy to work out costs for account
  • As long as you you deposit at least $1000 and make at least 5 payments each month ING will waive international transaction fees and refund overseas ATM withdrawal fees
  • Can be used in all countries
  • Can be used in Australia to buy goods overseas and not pay international transaction fees
  • Works with Apple Pay and Google Pay
  • Can be used wherever Visa is accepted
  • Visa currency conversion rates apply, which are normally 4% above market

The ING Orange Everyday Account Debit Card is a good card for most Australians travelling overseas for ATM access, with no fees. It also allows you to to buy goods online without an international transaction fee.

Furthermore you can use it in Australia for free and there are no fees to get your initial card, for account keeping or to top up your card. A word of caution however, if you travel overseas for longer than 1 month, you still need to deposit at least $1,000 and make at least 5 payments each month to get the rebates.

Learn more about the best travel money, credit and prepaid cards for travel

FAQs

What is the difference between a debit card and a travel card?

The difference between a debit card and a travel card is that you preload a travel card with foreign currency before you leave. The exchange rate is set for your time overseas. Most preloaded currency cards have 10 different currencies on them for you to choose from.

A debit card only has Australian dollars in it. You pay a currency conversion fee every time you make an online overseas purchase or pay with your debit card overseas.

How do you use a debit card overseas?

Using a debit card overseas is similar to how you use it in Australia and you wave your card over the charging device. You might be asked to key in your pin, which will be the same pin as you use in Australia. It is always advisable to let your bank know you are travelling overseas as they might block the transaction.

Is a travel card better than a debit card for travelling overseas?

A travel card is better for currency exchange rates and a debit card is better for convenience. Both are equally good for security. A travel card has a cheaper currency exchange rate around 2% however a debit card is more expensive at around 4%. A debit card can be used in Australia once your travels are over and if you choose Macquarie, Up Bank, Citibank, HSBC or ING you will not pay for foreign transaction fees.

What is a good travel debit card?

A good travel debit card will save you lots of money and does not charge monthly or account keeping fees. It does not charge a foreign transaction fee or fees to withdraw cash from ATMs in Australia or abroad. It has good security and is easy to transfer funds into when overseas.

Can you use an Australian debit card overseas?

You can use most Australian debit cards overseas, if you advise your bank you are travelling overseas in advance. In some cases you can not use your Australian debit card overseas, so it is best to check before you depart Australia.

How to choose a debit card for overseas travel?

The first thing to look for are no foreign transaction fees, these can be between 3-5%. Second, you need to look for a debit card that does not charge for overseas ATM withdrawals, as these can be $5 per transaction plus 3%. Therefore a cash withdrawal of $300 will withdraw $314 from your account.

Third, you need to look for a debit card with no monthly fees or account keeping fees. Finally you need to choose a debit card with good security and is easy to transfer money into while you are travelling overseas.

Pros and cons of using a debit card overseas

The pros of using a debit card overseas is that they are very convenient as you can use them when you return to Australia to pay for everyday items like groceries and fuel. They are generally accepted in most places around the world especially if they are linked to Visa or Mastercard.

The cons of using a debit card overseas is that they can get expensive if you choose one with foreign transaction fees, monthly fees and fees for withdrawing cash from ATMs.

What happens if I lose my debit card overseas?

Luckily the days of having to call an international number to report a stolen or lost card are gone. In most cases you should be able to notify your bank through the mobile app your debit card has been lost or stolen and they will deactivate your debit card immediately to stop unauthorised spending.

Are there any ongoing fees with an overseas debit card?

If you choose a Macquarie, Up Bank, Citibank, HSBC or ING debit card then you will not have any ongoing fees with an overseas debit card. If you choose the Commonwealth World, the NAB Platinum or Westpac Choice debit card you will have ongoing monthly fees.

How do I move money to my debit card overseas?

It's simple. To move money to your debit card overseas, you login into the account you want to transfer money from and transfer your Australian dollars to the bank account that is linked to your debit card overseas. If your bank uses OSKO or Pay ID this should happen immediately, even if you are overseas at the time.

Should I use a Mastercard or Visa?

According to NerdWallet Mastercard gives the best currency conversion rates globally, giving better rates 70% of the time. This includes the major traded currencies such as the US dollar, Euro, Great British Pound, Australian dollar, Japanese yen, Hong Kong dollars, Canadian dollars, Singapore dollars, Swiss francs and New Zealand dollars. However Visa does give better currency conversion rate for Thai baht, Hungarian forint, Icelandic Krona and Tunisian dinar.

More Travel Card Guides

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