Best debit cards with no foreign transaction fees [2023] (2024)

Planning an overseas trip? Whether you’re jetting off for a week’s vacation or going backpacking for a year, you’ll need to find the cheapest way to spend in other countries.

If you use your ordinary bank card, you might incur fees. The good news though is that there are some debit cards with no international fees. We’ll run through all of your best options for fee-free spending and ATM withdrawals below.

This includes cards from Capital One, Charles Schwab, Revolut and of course, Wise.

So, let’s get started.

What debit cards have no international fees?

So, which is the best international debit card with no fees for spending and ATM withdrawals in other countries? Here’s our rundown of the contenders!

Wise

The Wise debit card is available for a one-time fee of just $9 when you open a Wise Account.

You can use it to:

• Spend and withdraw cash from ATMs in 174 countries.
• Have your USD automatically converted to the currency you’re paying with at the mid-market exchange rate, whenever you spend. There’s just a small fee to convert the currency, and no transaction fees.
• Withdraw up to $100 from overseas ATMs for free (although ATM operators may charge their own fees).

Get a Wise debit card today

Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit : Only Pay for What You Use for the most up-to-date pricing and fee information.

Capital One

Open a Capital One 360 Checking Account, and you’ll get a debit card with no fees for international transactions.¹

It’s a contactless Mastercard which can be used anywhere that Visa and Mastercard are accepted. It can be added to your mobile wallet, so you can just use your phone to pay while traveling.

The account itself has no monthly fees or minimum deposit requirements. You’ll also get:¹

• 24/7 mobile banking
• Fee-free cash withdrawals at 70,000 ATMs in the US
• Access to Zelle payments
• Overdraft options
• Add cash in store at CVS locations
• Early Paycheck - get paid up to 2 days early
• FDIC insurance and fraud coverage

Like other banks and debit cards, there are some limits to be aware of. You can spend a maximum of $5,000 a day on purchases and withdrawals combined. But the most you can withdraw from an ATM per day is $1,000.²

Charles Schwab

With the Schwab Bank Investor Checking account, you’ll get a debit card with no foreign transaction fees. Better still, there are no monthly maintenance fees or account minimums.³

The Schwab Bank Visa Platinum Debit Card is contactless, and works with mobile wallets too.

When you use your Schwab debit card at an overseas ATM, you may be charged. However, the account offers unlimited ATM fee rebates so you won’t be left out of pocket.³

The account also offers:³

• 0.45% APY interest on your checking account balance
• Enhanced debit card security features, such as in-app card lock/unlock and travel alerts.
• A user-friendly mobile banking app.

The only thing to note is that when you open this account, you’ll automatically get a brokerage account with the bank.³ There are no monthly fees though, so you can simply not use the account if you don’t need it.

There’s a daily purchase limit of $15,000, and you can only withdraw a maximum of $1,000 in cash per day.⁴

Revolut

Popular digital bank Revolut may be a good option for spending abroad. Its debit card has no fees for spending abroad in over 150 currencies, and you’ll also get fee-free currency exchange Monday to Friday⁵ (a fee of 1% applies at weekends⁶).

Revolut has a few different plans:⁵

• Standard - free
• Premium - $9.99 a month
• Metal - $16.99 a month.

The good news is that you don’t need to get a paid plan to get the travel perks, although you will face some limits. The free Standard plan offers:⁵

• Fee-free withdrawals at 55,000 ATMs in the US
• One free international transfer a month
• $1,000 a month limit on currency exchange (including card spending)
• Fee-free withdrawals at out of network ATMs up to $1,200 a month - a 2% fee applies after that.⁶

HSBC

The HSBC Premier checking account comes with an HSBC Premier Debit World Mastercard, which has no foreign transaction fees on purchases.⁷

The account also offers all kinds of other features, including global support, the option to open other international accounts and access to wealth products and advice from finance professionals.

However, there’s a pretty major catch. To open the account and swerve a hefty $50 monthly maintenance fee, you’ll need to meet one of the following criteria:⁷

• Have at least $75,000 to deposit
• Make at least $5,000 in deposits each month
• Have a mortgage loan of at least $500,000.

Betterment

Although perhaps best known for its robo investment products, Betterment also offers a checking account and card that works pretty well for travel.

The mobile-first account has no minimum requirements or monthly fees, and comes with a contactless Visa debit card. It works with mobile wallets, and for spending and withdrawals wherever Visa and Mastercard are accepted.⁸

With Betterment, you’ll get ATM and foreign transaction fees automatically reimbursed. The account also offers:⁸

• No overdraft fees
• Cashback at US retailers and brands
• FDIC insured up to $250,000.

The transaction limits on the Betterment card are a little lower than some others, however. You’ll only be able to spend a maximum of $2,000 a day, and withdraw only $510 a day from ATMs.⁹

Santander¹⁰

Open a Santander Select checking account and you’ll get all kinds of travel-friendly benefits.

This includes a Santander Select World Debit Mastercard, which has no international transaction fees for purchases or ATM withdrawals. The bank also has a global network, so it can offer fee-free cash withdrawals at over 30,000 Santander ATMs worldwide.

The account also offers:

• Up to $30 reimbursem*nt per service period for cash withdrawal surcharges from using non-Santander ATM operators
• No fees for issuing a replacement card
• Travel Protection cover for canceled/delayed trips, or lost/delayed luggage
• Free Priority Pass annual membership
• Exclusive tickets and reservations with Mastercard Concierge Services
• Manage your card and account through a user-friendly mobile banking app.

There is a minimum account opening deposit, but it’s just $25. There’s no minimum balance required after that, but if you can keep at least $25,000 in your account you’ll avoid the monthly fee of $25.

Citibank¹¹

Lastly, there’s Citibank. Its premium accounts such as the Citi Priority Package come with travel benefits, including a debit card with no Citibank fees on ATM withdrawals overseas. There are also no foreign exchange fees when using your debit card in countries outside the US.

You’ll also get other features with the Citi Priority Package, such as:

• Investment benefits, including on-demand financial advisor services
• Commission-free ETF trades
• Everyday banking fees waived
• Higher limits on debit card purchases and ATM withdrawals.

All of these perks do come at a price, however. The account has a $30 monthly service fee, but it’s waivable if you can maintain a monthly balance of at least $30,000.

Bottom line

So, which debit card is best for international travel? There’s not much to choose between the options we’ve listed here, although some offer more travel benefits - and some come with tougher conditions to waive the monthly fee. It all depends on what you’re looking for.

When comparing options though, there are a few key things to consider. Many options won’t give you the best exchange rate, unlike the Wise debit card which always uses mid-market rates with no margins on top. You should also check the spending limits, and make sure the rest of the account features work for you.

Learn more about Wise

FAQs

Which debit card does not charge international fees?

Most of the debit cards we’ve listed here don’t charge international fees, including cards from Wise, Capital One and Revolut. But some work in a slightly different way, reimbursing you for any ATM or foreign transaction fees you’re charged during your trip.

Which debit card can be used internationally?

All of the cards included in this guide can be used internationally. But if you’re unsure, check with your bank before you travel.

What is the best fee-free debit card for international travel?

It all depends on your needs, but two of the cards we’ve covered here may perhaps have the edge over some of the others. This includes the Wise debit card, which offers fair exchange rates as well as low fees, and the Santander Select World Debit Mastercard - which comes with all kinds of extra travel benefits.

How can I avoid debit card fees abroad?

Always check the small print before you travel, and stay within your transaction limits. And if asked whether you want to pay in USD or the local currency, choose the local currency.

Sources used for this article:

1. Capital One - Online checking account
2. Capital One - Disclosures - Online checking account
3. Schwab - Checking
4. Schwab - Visa debit card agreement
5. Revolut - Our pricing plans
6. Revolut - Standard fees
7. HSBC US - Premier
8. Betterment - Checking
9. Betterment - Consumer Deposit Agreement
10. Santander - Select Checking
11. Citi - Priority

Sources checked on 02-Jun-2023.