How to use the Wise digital card (UK guide)

Love to use mobile wallets for card-free spending? Then you’ll definitely be interested in the Wise digital card, available to Wise customers here in the UK.

It’s a multi-currency virtual card you can store in mobile wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay. Linked to your Wise account, it lets you spend in countries worldwide without having to carry a physical card with you - making it ideal for travellers.

But how do you use the Wise digital card, and what’s the difference between it and the physical Wise card?

Read on for everything you need to know.

How does the Wise digital card work?

The Wise digital card offers all the same benefits as the physical Wise card, except that you don’t actually need to carry any plastic around with you. It has different card details to your physical card, but is linked to your Wise account just the same.

It can be used for spending online and in apps, as well as in person when it’s stored on your phone.

As a virtual card, it only exists on your phone. This means you don’t need to worry about carrying (or accidentally losing) your physical card.

This makes it excellent from a security perspective. Your physical card and its details remain separate, and it isn’t possible to lose a virtual card.

If you’re worried your virtual card has been compromised, you can freeze or delete it in just a few taps in the Wise app. This avoids the need (and the inconvenience ) of having to destroy your physical card.

The only restriction is that you can’t use your Wise digital card in situations where a physical card is essential. An example of this is ATM withdrawals, although many banks are starting to make contactless ATMs available in a number of countries.

All things considered, the Wise digital card is a convenient, safe and easy option for pretty much all other day-to-day transactions.

How to get a Wise digital card - a step-by-step guide

It’s quick and easy to create your first virtual card.

The first thing you need to do is open a Wise account, which you can do in just a few minutes. Order a physical Wise card - there’s just a one-time fee of to pay, and no annual subscription fees or hidden charges to worry about.

Open a balance in one of the currencies available, and top up your account.

Now you’re ready to get a Wise digital card. Here’s how to do it, in just a few simple steps:

1. Download and open the Wise app
2. Tap ‘digital card’
3. Slide your cards to the right until you spot the purple card
4. Tap ‘Get a digital card’.

And that’s it! You can start using your new virtual card immediately.

You can also create a virtual card on the Wise website, by logging into your account and accessing the cards tab.

How to use the Wise digital card

For most transactions, your Wise digital card can be used like any debit or credit card you have in your wallet.

To shop online, all you need are the virtual card details - such as the card number and expiry date.

To shop in stores, buy a coffee or purchase train tickets in the real world, you can make a contactless payment using just your phone. Store your Wise digital card in a mobile wallet like Apple Pay or Google Wallet, and you can just tap your phone or smart watch on the terminal to pay.

Does the Wise digital card work overseas?

Yes, the beauty of both Wise digital and physical cards is that they can be used in countries worldwide. You can use your virtual card wherever contactless payments are accepted, making sure to add it to your mobile wallet first.

This makes it a great option for holiday spending, as well as covering expenses for work trips and visits to family members living in other countries.

Better still, it automatically converts currency at mid-market exchange rates whenever you spend. This means no margin or mark-up on the rate, which is what banks and other providers usually use to make a profit on currency conversion. Wise charges just a small, upfront fee for currency conversion*.

Or if you’ve already topped up the relevant currency balance in advance, there’s no fee to pay. Your Wise digital card will automatically take the payment from that currency balance, with no additional fee to pay*.

Using the Wise digital card in the UK

As well as using your Wise digital card overseas, you can also use it here in the UK.

You’ll just need to make sure you have enough money loaded into your GBP balance, then you can spend freely.

Tap and pay as you usually would with a contactless card or mobile wallet, and the spending is deducted directly from your GBP balance with no extra fees to pay.

Using the Wise digital card online

Love to shop online? You can use your Wise virtual card to pay, even when shopping on overseas websites. Just like when spending in person, your card will either draw from the relevant currency balance in your Wise account or convert the currency at mid-market exchange rates.

So if you plan to buy new shoes from a US website, for example, you can do one of the following:

• Top up your USD balance and then use your Wise digital card at the checkout page
• Spend without topping up your USD balance, and the money will be converted to USD from another currency balance at the mid-market rate.

Just make sure that at least one currency balance is topped up with the required sum.

To spend online, simply enter your Wise virtual card details at checkout, selecting debit card as the payment method.

Your Wise virtual card comes with its own card number, CVV and expiry date. Remember that the card number won’t be the same as your physical card.

This can offer extra security. For example, if you’re spending online with a merchant you don’t know, if you’re using a shared computer or phone, or if you’re connected to an open wifi network. If you have concerns about security, you can use the card for your purchase, then freeze or delete it to make sure it’s not compromised.

When to use the Wise digital vs physical card

If you have both a physical and virtual Wise card, you’ll need to know when to use each. The great news is that they work in pretty much the same way, and can be used in very nearly all the same situations.

Here’s a quick at-a-glance guide on when to use the Wise digital vs. physical card:

Wise card	When to use it
Wise physical card	Online shopping In-person purchases (both Contactless and Chip & PIN) ATM withdrawals With mobile wallets
Wise digital card	Online shopping In-person purchases (contactless only) Contactless ATM withdrawals With mobile wallets

Wise digital card FAQs

Still have some burning questions about the Wise digital card? We’ll tackle some of the most commonly asked queries below.

Why are virtual cards more secure than physical ones?

Virtual cards offer a number of security benefits, including the following:

• They can’t be stolen and used by someone else
• It’s easy to freeze, unfreeze and delete cards in just a few taps
• The card details are different to your physical card, so it remains uncompromised.

How many Wise digital cards can I create?

You can create and use up to three Wise digital cards at a time. This can be handy for managing your spending, as you can use different cards for different expense types.

Are there any fees with the Wise digital card?

It’s free to create a Wise virtual card, but you’ll need to have ordered your physical Wise card at a one-time cost of just .

There are no foreign transaction fees or subscription fees to worry about. Fees for converting currency start from 0.33%*.

What mobile wallets does the Wise digital card work with?

The Wise digital card works with nearly all popular mobile wallets, including:

• Apple Pay
• Google Pay
• Samsung Pay
• Fitbit Pay
• Garmin Pay.

Are Wise digital cards available for business customers?

Yes, Wise digital cards are available for both personal and business customers in the UK.

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And that’s it - everything you need to know about using the Wise digital card in the UK and worldwide. We’ve looked at how to create virtual cards, what they can be used for and some of the benefits.

After reading this, you should be all set to create and use your own Wise digital cards with confidence. Just remember to sign up for a Wise account and order your first physical card first - then you’re all set to enjoy the benefits of virtual cards.