Send money with prepaid card: your full guide

Looking for the best way to send money with a prepaid card? You’re in the right place. We’ll cover how to send money using your prepaid card, and also some handy apps that let you send money with a prepaid card, like Wise.

No matter whether you’re paying someone in the next street, or on the other side of the globe, we have an answer for you.

Can you send money with a prepaid card?

Some online and in-app services allow you to send money domestically and internationally with a prepaid card. However, not all cards are accepted by all providers, so you’ll need to double check whether yours can be used.

Wise for example, will accept many prepaid cards which have 3DS, alongside a 16 digit card number and expiry date — but not all prepaid cards have these features.

Whether or not you can send money with your prepaid card will ultimately come down to the specific card, and the provider you pick.

How to send money with a prepaid card step by step

OK, so how can I send money with a prepaid card? The exact process you need to follow will vary based on the provider you select, so double check both the eligibility of your card, and the process required.

💡 Here are the basic steps to send money with a prepaid card:

Find the provider you prefer, and double check your card is eligible  Register an account with the provider — you may need to complete a verification step Enter the details of the payment you need to make — including the amount and currency Add your recipient’s details — bank details for a bank deposit, or full name for a cash collection payment Check everything over, enter your card details for payment, and confirm

Your money will be on its way, and you can usually track your transfer in the provider’s app.

How long do prepaid card transfers take?

The exact length of time it takes for your prepaid card payment to arrive will vary based on factors including the provider you use, the destination and the transfer value.

However, specialist money transfer services can often process card payments very quickly — with some transfers even arriving instantly in bank accounts or for cash collection via an agent.

Which apps let you send money with a prepaid card?

Let’s get right into the details, with some of the best apps out there to send money with a prepaid card.

Wise

🏆 Best for: Low, transparent fees and the mid-market exchange rate

Wise supports overseas transfers using a prepaid card, with many cards which have a 16 digit number, expiry date and 3DS eligible.

However, not all prepaid cards can be used with Wise — so you will need to double check your own card before you proceed.

Wise transfers can be sent online and in-app, to 80+ countries, with the mid-market exchange rate and low, transparent fees you can easily see and compare before you confirm.

✅ Pros	❌ Cons
Many prepaid cards can be accepted for Wise payments Send to bank accounts for convenient deposits Fast payments¹ — 50%+ arrive instantly — and low fees²	Not all prepaid cards can be used — check your card is eligible Fees and delivery times vary based on destination

Learn more about Wise

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

Cash App

🏆 Best for: Fast and simple peer to peer payments to a mobile number, email or even just a $Cashtag

Cash App®³ has a pretty huge US user base, and lets people send and receive payments of cash, or even bitcoin or stocks.

Transfers can arrive instantly, and are deposited to the recipient’s own Cash App account.

Send money with just a friend’s $Cashtag — and the good news is you can also use a prepaid card to fund transfers with Cash App.

✅ Pros	❌ Cons
Most prepaid cards are supported for payments⁴ Transfers are instant to other Cash App account holders Support popular app for social payments and more	Deposits to other Cash App users only Not available for international use outside of transfers to the UK

Western Union

🏆 Best for: WU Netspend card to send payments, plus mobile check load, direct deposit and cash back rewards

Western Union® offers the Western Union Netspend⁵ prepaid card, which is provided in partnership with MasterCard®.

You can load funds onto the card yourself, have money added through direct deposit — like your salary — or add checks with mobile check load.

Once you have funds on your card, use your money to send payments all over the world⁶, to bank accounts and for cash collection, or for normal spending as with any other card.

✅ Pros	❌ Cons
Use the WU Netspend prepaid card both for sending payments and spending Huge agent network if you’re sending for cash collection Easy to send money online, in app and by phone	Fees can vary — and can be on the higher side Exchange rates include a markup

What are the advantages and disadvantages of sending money with a prepaid card?

Still unsure if sending money with your prepaid card is the best option? The good news is that it’s far safer than sending cash or a check, and can be fast too.

Here are some pros and cons to consider if you’re still deciding on your best course of action.

✅ Pros	❌ Cons
Safe way to send money, with fast delivery times Choose the provider you prefer, and send online or in-app Usually cheaper than using a credit card, and safer than checks Different providers offer their own payout options, including bank deposits and cash collection	Not all prepaid cards are accepted by specialist providers Fees apply, and if you're sending overseas, the provider may also add a markup to the exchange rate used You’ll often need to register a provider account to send money

Try Wise, an easy way to send money abroad

If you’re sending a payment overseas — with a prepaid card, debit card, credit card or from your bank account — check out Wise for transfers which use the mid-market exchange rate and low, transparent fees².

Register a Wise account online or in the Wise app, and arrange your transfer right from your laptop or smart device. You can send payments to 80+ countries, with 50%+ of payments arriving instantly or within seconds.

Get an instant quote to see how much your transfer will cost, how much the recipient will get, and when it’s likely to arrive. No hassle, no hidden fees² — just easy ways to send payments around the world.

This way to easy
international payments

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

Can you send money to a prepaid card?

Exactly how to add money to your prepaid card will depend on the specific card, but you may be able to have someone send you a payment, or arrange direct deposits if you want your salary or other regular payments to arrive in the card account⁷.

If you’re sending money to someone else and they’d like you to deposit it in their prepaid card account, you’ll need to have them check eligibility to make sure it’s a feature of that specific card.

Spending money with your prepaid card abroad? Read our full guide of best prepaid international cards

How to send money to a prepaid card

If you’re sending money to a prepaid card, you’ll usually follow a process similar to sending to a debit card.

However, as not all prepaid cards are set up to accept payments like this, you’ll need to double check the card you’re sending to is eligible.

Here’s how to send money to an eligible prepaid card:

Step 1. Choose the provider you want to use to send your money to a prepaid card

Step 2. Create an account, and complete any required verification step — usually done online or in-app

Step 3. Enter the details of the payment you want to make — including amount and currency

Step 4. Select deposit to debit card and add the card details

Step 5. Check everything over, select the way you want to pay, and confirm

Sending money with prepaid cards FAQ

Let’s walk through some further common questions about sending money with a prepaid card.

Can you send money abroad using a prepaid card?

Yes. You can send money abroad using a prepaid card by choosing a specialist provider which supports prepaid cards, such as Wise.

Just register an online or in-app account, set up your transfer, and select debit card as your preferred payment method. Not all prepaid cards are accepted, so do double check your card’s eligibility.

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Can you send money from a prepaid card to a bank account?

You can send money from a prepaid card to a bank account by picking a specialist money transfer service which supports prepaid card transfers, and can deliver funds to the country you’re sending to.

Not all prepaid cards are accepted by all providers, so you’ll need to shop around a little to find the best one for your needs.

Can you send money from a prepaid card to Cash App?

You can link most Visa®, MasterCard, Amex® and Discover® cards to your Cash App account, and most prepaid cards are accepted, as well as standard debit and credit cards.

That means you can usually send money from a prepaid card to a Cash App account easily. Double check the eligibility of your own specific card before you get started.

Can you send money from a prepaid card from Cash App?

Cash App is pretty flexible and allows account holders to add cards from most major networks to their Cash App account for payments and transfers.

That means that most prepaid cards, issued on Visa, MasterCard, Amex or Discover can be used with Cash App. Double check the eligibility of your own specific card before you get started.

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Prepaid cards can be handy ways to hold and spend your funds, and to manage your budget.

You can also use them to send payments to bank accounts at home and around the world by using a specialist third party service like Wise. Use this guide to find the provider that suits you best, based on convenience and cost.

Learn more about Wise

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Sources:

1. The speed of transaction claim depends on funds availability, approval by Wise's proprietary verification system and systems availability of our partners' banking system, and may not be available for all transactions
2. Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information
3. Cash App
4. Cash App - Supported cards
5. Western Union - Netspend
6. Netspend - Send money
7. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau - Prepaid cards

Sources checked on 02.24.2023