The 7 best debit cards for international travel in 2024 [No foreign transaction fees!]

Heading abroad? If you’ve got an overseas vacation planned, you’ll need to find the best (and cheapest) way to spend in your destination.

The most convenient option would be to use your existing debit card. But not all are suitable for spending outside the US, with some charging high fees for foreign transactions.

So to help you find a better option, we’ve put together a list of the best debit cards for international travel. This includes the Wise international debit card, which we’ll look at first.

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Wise international debit card

Before we dive into our list, let’s talk about the Wise international debit card. It’s tailor-made for international travel, with no foreign transaction fees and great exchange rates.

The Wise international debit card offers the following features:

• Spend and withdraw cash in over 160 countries, anywhere that Visa and Mastercard are accepted.
• Automatically converts your USD to the local currency at the mid-market exchange rate whenever you spend. There’s just a small conversion fee, or no charge if you already have the currency in your Wise account.
• Withdraw $100 a month from overseas ATMs for free, with a tiny fee of 2% after that.

This means you can shop, dine and travel worldwide, knowing you're always getting a great exchange rate. And there’s no need to convert currency or carry cash around with you. All you need is your Wise card in your wallet.

Open a Wise Account online, and you can order a Wise card for a one-time fee of just $9.

Get a Wise Account today

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

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

Which debit card is best for international travel?

Now, let’s take a look at the best of the rest. Our list includes debit cards that have no foreign transaction fees and that work worldwide.

Some even have extra travel-friendly benefits and rewards. These could make them the most attractive pick for your next vacation.

1: Revolut

The digital bank and app Revolut is a good option for spending abroad. You’ll need to create an account, choosing from the following:¹

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

You’ll get a Revolut debit card included as standard with each plan. This lets you spend worldwide in over 150 currencies, at what Revolut describes as _“market leading exchange rates”.¹ _

On the Standard plan, there are no fees on currency exchange for 25+ currencies from Monday to Friday. At the weekend, a fee of 1% applies.²

The free Standard plan also offers:

• Fee-free withdrawals at 55,000 ATMs in the US¹
• $1,000 a month limit on currency exchange (including card spending)²
• Fee-free withdrawals at out of network ATMs up to $400 a month - a 2% fee applies after that.²

2: Chime³

Another money app like Revolut, Chime offers a straightforward checking account with a Visa debit card and no monthly fees. The card has no foreign transaction fees, so you can use it on your travels without being hit with high charges.

The Chime debit card also offers the following features:

• Free withdrawals at 60,000+ ATMs in the US
• Add your card to mobile wallets like Google Pay and Apple Pay, so you can pay with your phone
• Manage your card (including security) in the Chime app.

You’ll just need to turn on international transactions in the Chime app before your trip.

The only thing to note is that if you withdraw cash at an out-of-network ATM (such as one in another country), you’ll be charged a fee of $2.50 each time.⁴

3: Capital One

The Capital One 360 Checking Account comes with a contactless Mastercard debit card.

It’s one of the best bank debit cards for international travel, as it

has no fees for overseas transactions, and can be used anywhere that Visa and Mastercard are accepted.

You can also add the card 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:⁵

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

Like other debit cards, there are some limits with the Capital One card. This includes a daily maximum of $5,000 on purchases and withdrawals combined. The most you can withdraw from an ATM per day (in the US or overseas) is $1,000.⁶

4: Charles Schwab

If you open a Schwab Bank Investor Checking account, you’ll get a debit card with no foreign transaction fees. What’s more, there are no monthly maintenance fees or minimum deposit requirements associated with the account.

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

You may be charged by the operator when you use your Schwab debit card at an overseas ATM. But the bank has that covered too, as it offers unlimited ATM fee rebates so you won’t be left out of pocket.⁷

There’s a daily purchase limit of $15,000 with this card, and you can only withdraw a maximum of $1,000 in cash per day.⁸

The Investor Checking account also offers:⁷

• 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.

You’ll automatically get a brokerage account with the bank when you open the Investor Checking Account. But you don’t need to use it, as there are no monthly fees or other requirements.⁷

5: HSBC⁹

As an international bank, it’s no surprise that HSBC has decent options available for overseas spending.

Open an HSBC Premier checking account and you’ll get an HSBC Premier Debit World Mastercard. Handily, this has no foreign transaction fees on purchases.

The account also offers all kinds of other features, which could be useful for both travel and everyday money management. This includes global support, the option to open other international accounts and access to wealth products and advice from finance professionals.

But there is a catch, and it could be a deal-breaker for some. To open the account and avoid a $50 monthly maintenance fee, you’ll need to meet one of the following criteria:

• 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.

6: Betterment¹⁰

It may be better known for its investment products, but the NYC-based Betterment also offers a checking account and card that works pretty well for travel.

There are no minimum requirements or monthly fees with this mobile-first account. It comes with a contactless Visa debit card, which works with mobile wallets and can be used wherever Visa and Mastercard are accepted.

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

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

The transaction limit for spending on the Betterment card is $2,000 a day. You can withdraw up to $510 a day from ATMs both within the US and overseas.¹¹

7: Santander¹²

Last but not least, we have Santander. Open a Santander Select checking account with the Spanish-owned bank and you’ll get all kinds of travel-friendly perks.

One of these is a Santander Select World Debit Mastercard, which has no international transaction fees for purchases or ATM withdrawals.

The bank also has an extensive global network. This means it can offer fee-free cash withdrawals at over 30,000 Santander ATMs worldwide.

You’ll also get the following account features:

• Up to $30 reimbursement per service period for cash withdrawal surcharges from using non-Santander ATM operators
• Travel Protection cover for canceled/delayed trips, or lost/delayed luggage
• Free Priority Pass annual membership
• Exclusive tickets and reservations with Mastercard Concierge Services

You can easily manage both your card and account through a user-friendly mobile banking app.

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

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Bottom line

So, what is the best debit card for international travel? All of the options on this list can be used for spending and ATM withdrawals overseas, with no foreign transaction fees.

Some have travel-related rewards that you might find useful, while others have international ATM networks so you can withdraw cash for free when you need to.

When comparing options though, remember that it’s not all about the fees. Many options won’t give you the best exchange rate, unlike the Wise international debit card which always uses mid-market rates with no margins on top.

Learn more about Wise

💡 Looking for the best prepaid debit card for international travel? Read our guide to choose the right option for you.

FAQs

Which debit cards don’t charge foreign transaction fees?

None of the debit cards on our list charge foreign transaction fees. But you’ll also need to check the small print, as some cards can charge fees for using out-of-network ATMs and for currency conversion at certain times.

Is there a debit card that can be used internationally?

Many banks are waking up to the fact that their customers want to use their US-issued debit cards when they travel. This is why you see more and more debit cards advertised with no foreign transaction fees. This means they can be used worldwide without charging additional fees when you spend abroad.

Which debit card is globally accepted?

All of the cards we’ve included on this list are either Visa or Mastercard. These are the biggest providers of debit cards globally, so are accepted pretty much worldwide. This means you should be able to use your debit card wherever you see the Visa or Mastercard logo, in whatever country you’re in.

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Sources used for this article:

1. Revolut - Our pricing plans
2. Revolut - Standard fees
3. Chime - No fees
4. Chime - Help - Where can I withdraw cash?
5. Capital One - Online checking account
6. Capital One - Disclosures - Online checking account
7. Schwab - Checking
8. Schwab - Visa Debit Card Agreement
9. HSBC US - Premier
10. Betterment - Checking
11. Betterment - Consumer Deposit Agreement
12. Santander - Select Checking

Sources checked on 10-Jun-2023.