Latitude's 28 Degrees card vs Wise (ex. TransferWise) card in Australia. Which one is for you?

If you’re travelling abroad, you may be looking for an international card that saves you money on exchange rates and conversion fees. There are many different options available to you, including the 28 Degrees card from Latitude or the Wise (ex. TransferWise) debit card, each offering different features and benefits.

In this article, we’ll explore both of these options, delving into what these two companies do, the main features of each card, and a comparison of conversion fees and exchange rates to help you determine which card is right for you.

💸 Hold over 40 currencies in your account and spend at the mid-market exchange rate with the Wise Debit card while abroad.

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Wise Account and card

Wise vs Latitude

Let’s take a quick look at these two companies to give you a better understanding of their backgrounds.

Who is Latitude?

Latitude is a finance business in Australia that provide services regarding digital payments.¹

They provide services to 2.4 million people and offer services including credit cards, finance, personal loans, buy now pay later options, and credit insurance.¹

What is the 28 Degrees card and how to get it?

The Latitude 28 Degrees Global Platinum Mastercard is a travel card that is promoted to customers travelling in other countries that are looking to save money on international transaction fees.²

The card is a credit card and can be applied for online via the Latitude website.²

Who is Wise (ex-TransferWise)?

Wise (previously known as TransferWise) is a company specialising in international payments, providing services including international payment transfers and multi-currency accounts.

They provide services to Australian customers and businesses and are used world-wide by those looking for more affordable ways to send/receive money internationally.

What is the Wise debit card and how to get it?

The Wise debit card allows you to spend money in over 40 currencies with low conversion fees and no transaction fees.

It’s available to customers with a Wise account in the UK, US, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Japan, Switzerland, and EEA, Malaysia, Canada, Brazil and can be ordered online in 5 minutes.

28 Degrees vs Wise Card — Main features

Take a look at the below table to understand the main features of each card:

28 Degrees Card¹

Wise Card ⁶

No annual fee/international transaction/currency conversion fees Available with a cardless payment option Free Global Data Roaming Free Flight Delay Pass Compatible with Flexiroam which provides access to a network of 580 telcos in 150 countries 3GB of free data for 15 days 15% discount on additional data purchased

Spendable in 40 currencies No charge for 2 or less withdrawals of $350 AU per month or under, 1.75% on amount over $350 AU. For 3 or more withdrawals a $1.50 AU fee applies on $350 AU per month or uner, and $1.50 AU + 1.75% of amount over $350 AU Available with a cardless payment option Money spendable in over 150 countries Money spent is charged at the mid-market rate (if not held in Wise Account)

As seen on 11 July 2023

28 Degrees vs Wise Card — Fees

Below is a comparison of the fees required when using a 28 Degrees card and a Wise card:

Fee	28 Degrees¹	Wise ⁶
Annual Fee	None	None
Application Fee	None	$10 AU
ATM Fees	3% or $4 AU (whichever is higher)	2 or less withdrawals per month: Free on $350 AU per month or under, 1.75% of the amount over $350 AU 3 or more withdrawals: $1.50 withdrawal on $350 AU per month or under, $1.50 AU + 1.75% of the amount over $350 AU
International Transaction Fees	None	None
Currency Conversion Fees	None	Conversion fees charged at the mid-market rate.
Interest rate on cash advances	29.99% P.A²	N/A
Payment Handling Fee	In-person: $3.95 AU² Online: $0.95 AU²	N/A
Paper Statements	$2.50 AU²	N/A
Late fee	$35 AU²	N/A

As seen on 11 July 2023

Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up-to-date pricing and fee information.

28 Degrees vs Wise — Exchange rates used

Here is a table showing the exchange rates used by 28 Degrees and Wise when you pay with either of these cards abroad or in a foreign currency:

28 Degrees	Wise
The exchange rate is calculated daily by Mastercard International. Transactions will initially be converted into US dollars before being converted to Australian dollars.³	Exchange rate charged at the mid-market rate.

As seen on 13 July 2023

Read more: What's the exchange rate of the 28 degrees card?

What to know when spending or withdrawing abroad

We’ve included below some specific details to be aware of when spending or withdrawing money abroad using the 28 Degrees card and the Wise card.

28 Degrees Credit card

If you’re using a 28 Degrees card when travelling abroad, you’ll incur no international transaction fees or currency conversion fees when spending online or in-store.¹

However, as this card is a credit card there are interest fees to bear in mind, with 26.99% P.A. interest on purchases and 29.99% P.A. interest on cash advances. You will receive an interest-free period of 55 days when applying for the card.²

For withdrawing money abroad, you will be required to pay 3% on cash withdrawals or $4 AU (whichever is higher).¹

Wise Debit card

When spending money abroad with a Wise card, it’s recommended that you select to pay in the foreign currency you need to pay in. This ensures that Wise carries out the conversion at the mid-market rate, therefore saving you money on conversion fees.⁶

When it comes to withdrawing money abroad the following fees apply (please note that third-party ATM fees may be applicable):

• 2 or less withdrawals per month - Free on $350 AU per month or under, 1.75% of the amount over $350 AU
• 3 or more withdrawals - $1.5 withdrawal on $350 AU per month or under, $1.5 AU + 1.75% of the amount over $350 AU

Note:Wise will not charge you for these withdrawals, but some additional charges may occur from independent ATM networks

28 Degrees vs Wise — Supported currencies

Below is a list of supported currencies for the 28 Degrees card and the Wise card:

28 Degrees	Wise⁵
Mastercard is accepted globally excluding the following countries³: Iraq Sudan North Korea Syria Cuba	GDP, CAD, USD, AUD, HUF, PHP, AED, IDR, PLN, ARS, INR, RON, BWP, JPY, SEK, BGN, KES, SGD, CHF, KRW, THB, CLP, LKR, TRY, CNY, MAD, TZS, CRC, MXN, UAH, CSK, MYR, UGX, DKK, NGN, UYU, EGP, NOK, VND, GEL, NPR, XOF, GHS, NZD, ZAR, HKD, EUR, ZMW

As seen on 13 July 2023

Pros and cons of these cards

Here are a list of pros and cons for the 28 Degrees card and the Wise card:

	28 Degrees¹	Wise⁶
Pros	No annual fee No international transaction/currency conversion fees $1,000 minimum credit limit 0% interest P.A for 55 days	Mid-market exchange rates No recurring card fee Digital cards available Free withdrawals on 2 or less withdrawals less than $350 AU per month
Cons	High-interest rates with 26.99% P.A. interest on purchases and 29.99% P.A. Interest on cash advances² Set withdrawal fees of 3% or $4 AU (whichever is higher)	Wise Account required Lack of cash top-ups for the card

What about card safety?

We’ve included below some information about card safety that is relevant to these two cards/companies:

28 Degrees

As the 28 Degrees card is a Mastercard, it is not linked to any of your other accounts which prevents your other money from being at risk if fraud were to occur.

It also offers protection with the $0 AU liability guarantee from Mastercard.⁴

Wise

Wise is regulated by ASIC, and holds an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL), AFS Licence number is 513764. Wise is also authorised by Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) as an authorised deposit taking institution.

On top of this, Wise has dedicated compliance teams and systems working around the clock to keep our customers’ money safe.

A 2-step verification process is also in place to provide extra security. The systems for 2-step verification include the following options:

• Receiving a code by text/phone call
• Receiving a notification in the Wise app on a trusted device
• Entering a code from an authenticator app.

Online reviews for 28 Degrees and Wise in Australia

Take a look at the below table to view some review profiles for each of these cards:

28 Degrees reviews	Wise reviews
Trustpilot reviews: 1.9 13 reviews:	Trustpilot reviews: 4.3 192,563 reviews
Product Review AU: 3.7/5 1,843 reviews	Capterra: 4.5/5 36 reviews

As seen on 13 July 2023

Customer support and contacts

You can use the information listed below if you need to contact either of these companies:

28 Degrees	Wise
Phone: +61 1300 764 454	Website: Contact us

Wrapping up

In summary, the 28 Degrees Global Platinum Mastercard is a good option for you if you’re looking for a card with no international transaction fees or currency conversion fees when travelling abroad.

The Wise card may suit you better if you’re to spend money that you’ve stored in different currencies within an existing Wise Account, and benefit from 2 or less free cash withdrawals under $350 AU per month. Ultimately the best choice for you is the card that better fits your needs.

You can register for a Wise Account in minutes and apply for a Wise card to spend this money in over 150+ countries at the mid-market rate. You can store your money in over 40 currencies with a Wise Account and start saving money on your conversion fees.

Join over 16 million customers currently enjoying Wise. It’ll only take a few minutes to register and see what’s inside.

Register your Wise account
in minutes 🚀

Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up-to-date pricing and fee information.

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Sources:

1. About Us - Latitude 28 Degrees Global Credit Card
2. Home Page - Latitude 28 Degrees Global Credit Card
3. FAQs - Latitude 28 Degrees Global Credit Card
4. Your Guide To Safe Online Shopping - Latitude 28 Degrees Global Credit
5. Multi-Currency Account - Wise
6. See Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up-to-date pricing and fee information.

Sources checked on: 11 July 2023