The first time I travelled to Europe solo was back in 2011 and I didn’t know much about avoiding fees on credit or debit cards back then.
I took my trusty debit card from my regional bank and paid $3.50 for every cash withdrawal in addition to whatever the local ATM charged. I also traveled with my trusty Chase Freedom Student Card (no longer available for applications) and paid a 3% foreign transaction fee on every purchase made on that card.
I don’t have the records for exactly how much I paid in fees on this trip, but knowing approximately how much I spent, I can estimate I paid over $150 in fees alone during this four-week trip.
With a lot more experience traveling abroad, I now consider a small group of cards to be the best debit cards for international travel, and I don’t leave the U.S. without at least two of these in my wallet (and sometimes three or four!). In this guide, I'll share them with you so that you can hopefully avoid the hefty fees I've been paying in the past.
Which Are The Debit Cards for International Travel?
The best debit cards for international travel have a few key features that we kept in mind. Since travellers will generally be using ATMs outside of their home country and often withdrawing money in foreign currencies, we primarily considered cards without foreign transaction fees or ATM withdrawal fees.
Some debit cards will even reimburse ATM fees charged by a local ATM.
For the real-world cost, we assume that you’re a digital nomad and frequent traveler who, on average, makes four ATM withdrawals of $250 each while traveling outside of the U.S. each month.
We assume that the rest of your purchases are made with a credit card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees. Of course, depending on your destination and digital nomad budget, these numbers could be much lower or higher, but this will give you an idea of what it would cost you to use each of the debit card options we’ve highlighted in this article
| Card Name | Foreign Transaction Fee | ATM Withdrawal Fee | ATM Fee Reimbursement | Monthly Real-World Cost Estimate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wise International Debit Card | 0% (if money is in your Wise account) | $100 fee-free, then 2% | No reimbursement | $18** + other ATM’s fees |
| Chime | 0% | $2.50 at out-of-network ATMs; Fee free at 60,000+ ATMs in the U.S. | No reimbursement | $10 + other ATM’s fees |
| Betterment Checking | 0% | $0 | No limit, reimbursement within 48 hours | $0 |
| Charles Schwab Investor | 0% | $0 | No limit, monthly reimbursement | $0 |
| Fidelity Cash Management | 1% on some ATM withdrawals | $0 | No limit; daily reimbursement | $10 |
| Revolut Standard Account | 0% up to $1,000 per rolling month for 25+ currencies Monday-Friday; 1% on the weekend | Fee-free up to $400 per month; then 2% fee; Fee-free at 55,000+ ATMs in the U.S. | No reimbursement | $12* + other ATM’s fees |
* Assuming all withdrawals were made during the week. Plus 1% for withdrawals made on the weekend.
** Assuming money is already in your Wise account.
1. Wise
If you’ve been traveling for a while, or even if you haven’t, you may have heard about Wise (previously Transfer Wise). Wise is a great tool for transferring money to people in other countries and currencies, and also offers the Wise International Debit Card.
The Wise International Debit Card will automatically convert your USD to local currency at the mid-market exchange rate with no fee if you already have money in your Wise account. If you don’t, Wise will charge a small conversion fee.
You can withdraw up to $100 per month from overseas ATMs with no fee, after which Wise will charge 2%. This is in addition to the fee charged by the local ATM you use—Wise does not reimburse ATM fees charged by other banks.
Or read our Wise debit card review here:
Lev Baker
2. Chime®
Chime® is another online bank that makes sign-up quick and easy. The Chime Visa Debit Card doesn’t have minimum balance requirements or monthly fees and offers fee-free ATM withdrawals at over 60,000 ATMs in the U.S.
For those who spend more time abroad, Chime also doesn’t charge an international transaction fee, but you will have to pay a $2.50 fee for each withdrawal made at an out-of-network ATM. This is in addition to any fee that may be charged by that ATM.
3. Betterment Checking
Betterment Checking is a relative new-comer to the no-fee ATM withdrawals/ATM fee reimbursements space, and it’s well-worth consideration.
Betterment Checking’s Visa Debit Card reimburses unlimited ATM fees and doesn’t charge foreign currency conversion fees, and there’s no minimum account balance either.
For couples who travel together (or separately) and prefer to have a joint account, that’s an option with Betterment Checking.
4. Charles Schwab Investor Checking
Charles Schwab Investor Checking was my first go-to when I learned that there were debit cards that reimburse ATM fees charged by other ATMs each month, in addition to not charging an ATM fee on its own.
To get this card, you’ll need to open a Charles Schwab Investor Checking account and a linked Charles Schwab Brokerage account, but as both have $0 minimums and no fees this additional account requirement isn’t a huge deal.
5. Fidelity Cash Management
Fidelity Cash Management is another account that I personally have and can recommend based on my experience. It’s a little bit different than the other accounts on this list because the Fidelity Cash Management account is a brokerage account that comes with a debit card.
One thing that’s nice about the Fidelity Cash Management account is that it will reimburse ATM fees on the same day as your ATM withdrawal, compared to the monthly reimbursement from Charle Schwab, that means you’ll get your money back a lot sooner. The flip side is that Fidelity charges a 1% foreign conversion fee on debit card purchases and some cash withdrawals at ATMs.
6. Revolut
Revolut offers different kinds of memberships, some with a fee, but Revolut’s standard fee-free account also comes with a debit card that can be used abroad. The fees you’ll pay for regular transactions will depend on which account type you choose.
| Account Type | Monthly Fee | Currency Exchange Fee | ATM Fees | Other Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | $0 | 0% up to $1,000 per rolling month for 25+ currencies Monday-Friday; 1% on the weekend | Fee-free at 55,000+ ATMs in the U.S. Fee-free up to $400 per month; then 2% fee |
|
| Premium | $9.99 | 0% up to $10,000 in 25+ currencies Monday-Friday; 1% otherwise | Fee-free at 55,000+ ATMs in the U.S. Fee-free up to $800 per month; then 2% fee |
|
| Metal | $16.99 | 0% for 25+ currencies Monday-Friday; 1% on the weekend | Fee-free at 55,000+ ATMs in the U.S. Fee-free up to $1,200 per month; then 2% fee |
|
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Luca Mussari
Luca Mussari
The Bottom Line
If you’re planning to travel abroad for a few weeks, few months, or few years, you need to pick a debit card that will help you save money on foreign transaction/currency conversion fees and minimize the amount you spent on ATM fees.
Here’s our bottom line takeaway from each of the options outlined above:
- Wise International Debit Card is ideal for travelers already holding funds in their Wise account, offering competitive conversion rates and low fees on the first $100 withdrawn monthly.
- Chime offers simplicity and accessibility with its extensive network of fee-free ATMs in the U.S., though it falls short for international ATM withdrawals due to additional fees.
- Betterment Checking and Charles Schwab Investor Checking both stand out by offering no foreign transaction fees, unlimited ATM fee reimbursements, making them excellent choices for frequent travellers who face varied banking needs abroad and seeking the absolute lowest cost.
- Fidelity Cash Management offers a unique proposition with its daily ATM fee reimbursement, despite a small foreign conversion fee, which might appeal to those prioritizing immediate reimbursements or making small withdrawals.
- Revolut provides flexible plans with its tiered account options, catering to diverse needs from basic to extensive travel benefits, though the fee structure can be complex.
There’s no single best option that will be the right fit for every single digital nomad, so you need to weigh the pros and cons of each to find the best fit for your travel style.
If you’re looking to choose your bank account based on more factors than just its debit card, check out our recommendations for the best bank accounts for digital nomads:
Luca MussariReady to Optimise Your Finances With Your New Travel Debit Card?
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