Where can I use the Swirl card?

If you have a SWIRL card or you’re considering one for your travels, you might be wondering where you can actually use it. In an effort to answer this question we’re going to take a look at whether or not SWIRL cards can be used abroad, if they can be recharged outside of Ireland and what the fees, exchange rates and available currencies are.

We’ll also take a look at the Wise card as an option for paying and withdrawing abroad in more than 40 currencies.

Discover the Wise card 💳

What is a SWIRL card?

A SWIRL card is a prepaid Mastercard debit card that you can use for your daily spending needs.¹ It’s managed through the SWIRL Card App which you can also use to transfer money to friends and family.

Can I use my SWIRL card abroad?

Yes. A SWIRL Mastercard can be used to buy things online, as well as in store, over the phone and even to withdraw cash from an ATM.² It generally works anywhere in the world that Mastercard is accepted, so it’s okay to use your SWIRL card abroad.

Just keep in mind there are some countries where it may not work, which are listed on the SWIRL website. This includes Cuba, Montenegro, Maldives and Myanmar.³

The base currency for the SWIRL Mastercard is Euro’s. What this means is that any transactions you do abroad in a foreign currency would involve a currency conversion.

Can you use a SWIRL card online?

There’s generally no problem paying with a SWIRL card online as long as the online checkout supports Mastercard, which most do.²

The only time you might run into an issue is with certain businesses who are excluded due to regulatory reasons.³

If you don’t feel like using your physical card for online shopping you can always use a SWIRL virtual card, but more on that soon.

SWIRL card charges abroad 💰

Using your SWIRL card abroad does attract some fees so here’s what you need to know.

We'll also compare the fees of the Wise card, which is also available in Ireland.

* Some additional charges may occur from independent ATM networks.

Can you top up your SWIRL card abroad?

You can top up a SWIRL card abroad by going online and either transferring money onto the card directly from your bank account or by paying with your debit card or credit card. Just keep in mind that card payments do attract a 0,99 EUR fee.²

When topping up the limit for a credit or debit card is €500 per transaction, and for a bank transfer it's €1000. You can load a total of €1000 per day.³

How does the SWIRL card exchange rate work?

When you complete a transaction in a currency other than Euros, the exchange rate for the SWIRL card is the Mastercard Reference Exchange Rate.⁴ You can check it anytime on the Mastercard currency converter calculator.⁵

By comparison, Wise uses the mid-market exchange rate, like you normally see on Google. There’s no extra fees or hidden markups baked in and you can check it any time in the Wise app or on the website.

For you it means peace of mind knowing that when you send money, convert currency or use your Wise card abroad, you’re getting a fair and transparent exchange rate.

Wise: One card for +40 currencies

If you’re looking for a cost effective way to spend overseas then the Wise card is a great option if you're looking for something different than bank cards or prepaid debit cards.

The card is linked to your Wise Account - which allows you to receive, hold and send money in multiple currencies, converting +40 currencies whenever you want at the mid-market exchange rate.

Check out some of the benefits of using a Wise card:

• No monthly account maintenance or inactivity fees
• Spend in +150 countries
• Option to create free virtual cards
• Compatible with major digital wallets
• Able to withdraw up to 200 EUR cash a month for free⁶
• Forget about top up limits, add what you want to your Wise Account.

Order your Wise card 🚀

Can you create a SWIRL virtual card?

SWIRL customers have access to a free virtual card through the SWIRL App. They work exactly the same as a physical card when it comes to spending, being particularly useful for online payments, subscriptions and to keep your physical card details safer.

One of the advantages of the SWIRL virtual cards over the physical card is the number of currencies available.³ Virtual cards can be set up in Euro, Sterling and US Dollars, and you can have one card for each currency. To do that though, you will need to complete the eKYC process in the app.

Can you add the SWIRL card to Apple Pay and Google Pay?

Once you have a SWIRL virtual card you can add it to digital wallets that support Mastercard’s, like Apple Pay and Google Pay. This allows you to make contactless payments in person using compatible smart devices. It’s a convenient way to spend with your SWIRL card that’s becoming increasingly popular in this digital age.

As another option, Wise virtual cards can also be added to digital wallets, and you’re able to have up to 3 virtual cards at the same time.

Unlike the SWIRL card where the currency is set to EUR, GBP or USD and then converted if needed, the Wise card (both physical and digital) can automatically draw from any of the 40+ currency balances you can have in your account.

Wise uses smart technology to take from the local balance first before completing an automatic currency conversion at the mid-market rate to pay any remaining balance.

Read about
Wise virtual cards

Where to buy a SWIRL card?

To get a SWIRL card you can download their Mobile App and set up an account to receive one for free, or buy a card from a Payzone agent for €5.95.²

Sources used:

Sources last checked on date: 16 March 2025