The Best Prepaid Debit Cards of 2024 With Low Monthly Fees

A prepaid debit card is like a cross between a gift card and a credit card. They're like gift cards because you purchase the card and your limit is the balance you put into it.

They're like credit cards because you can use them for purchases the same way you would a credit card. These are great options if you're unable to be approved for traditional credit cards. (They're also great options if you're unable or unwilling to open a bank account.)

How do they work? You can use them to make retail purchases and withdrawals at ATMs.

However, they're not linked to a traditional bank account or a line of credit. (In fact, there’s no such thing as a prepaid credit card). There are several ways to add money to a prepaid card.

You can load money via direct deposit or bank transfer, you can purchase reload cards, or you can deposit a check via mobile deposit.

Most prepaid cards use the same card payment networks (American Express, Discover, MasterCard, and Visa) as traditional debit and there are several ways to add money to a prepaid card.

There are numerous prepaid cards available nationwide, and we have sorted through them to highlight the low annual fee prepaid debit cards for you here:0

Best for Cash Back Rewards

The Walmart MoneyCard MasterCard Prepaid Card is ideal for those frequent Walmart shoppers because it offers high levels of cash back rewards on Walmart purchases, including online and in-store spending.

Additionally, you get a long list of benefits including free Walmart check-cashing, free cash withdrawals at Walmart MoneyCenters, mobile check deposit, check-writing capabilities and more.

The card has $1 purchase and a $5 monthly fee that can be waived when you have $1,000 or more loaded to your account in the previous month.

Why Prepaid Cards Are a Great Financial Building Block

When all is said and done, a prepaid card is a great option as a building block for your finances.

Start with prepaid debit cards, work your way up to secured credit cards, and then up to traditional credit cards. That's how you'll be able to open the door to as many options as you'd like for the future of your finances.

Prepaid Cards Best if You Don't Have a Bank Account or Credit Card

The best reason to use a prepaid debit card is if you don't have a bank account or credit card.

Does not build credit

However, prepaid debit cards are not a good option if your main aim is to improve your credit score.

If you don't qualify for a traditional credit card but want to improve your score, secured credit cards are your best option.

One of the best ways to improve your credit score is to make on-time payments on a credit card every month. That's because your payment history is a large factor on your credit score.

However, since a prepaid debit card is not a credit card, your payment history isn't recorded this way. Thus, the prepaid debit card doesn't do anything to improve your score.

Banking history is irrelevant

Not everyone realizes that their banking behavior is recorded just like their credit behavior. But rather than bureaus like Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, Chexsystems records banking behavior.

Since prepaid debit cards aren't tied to a bank account, your activity isn't recorded that way either.

So the beauty of the prepaid debit card is that it isn't a credit card or a bank account. But this benefit becomes an issue if your main goal is to build or improve credit.

At the end of the day, if you need a way to make purchases via a card and you don't want/can't get a bank account, a prepaid card can greatly help you.

But if you want to focus on increasing your credit score, then you'll want a secured card to help you build credit.

The Cost of Using ATMs and Swipes

Accessing your prepaid funds can be the most expensive aspect of owning a prepaid ATM card. Unless the prepaid card is connected to partnering ATM network for free access, expect to pay a fee at an ATM. (Not just for withdrawals, you can even be charged for checking your balance at an ATM.)

Furthermore, the owners of these ATMs often impose their own surcharge, usually around $2-$3.

Luckily, there are ways to withdraw cash from your card without paying a penalty. The best way to do this is to use the cash back feature any time you're making a purchase.

Here's how that works. Let's say you have a balance of $100 and you're making a $20 purchase.

You could theoretically ask for $80 cash back at the time of your purchase. You would then have your cash without paying a fee to get it. Keep in mind that not all stores allow this, though, so check first if getting cash is an urgent matter.

No interest to pay

One of the greatest things about a prepaid debit card is the fact that they can't get you into debt. With a credit card, you're given a line of credit to borrow from.

Then you're charged interest if you don't pay your balance off before the end of the billing cycle. On a bank account, you can get into deep fees if you overdraw your account. You could even be charged additional fees for having a negative balance.

But with a prepaid debit card, neither of these situations can occur. You aren't given a line of credit to borrow from.

The amount you can spend is the amount you deposited minus all purchases and withdrawals. And, if you don't have enough funds to complete a purchase, your card will be denied. No overdraws, no fees.

Monthly Fees are Low

Most prepaid cards have a monthly or annual fee. Prepaid cards also sometimes come with upfront fees such as activation and purchase fees. But that doesn't mean you always have to pay these fees.

In fact, some of the best prepaid debit cards don't charge monthly fees at all.

As you look for a prepaid card, keep in mind that these are not the same thing as cash-value gift cards. The difference is that prepaid debit cards are reloadable and cash-value gift cards can only be used once.

Checkwriting Rarely Found with Prepaid Cards

Most prepaid debit cards don't allow you to write checks. The reason for this is because paper checks can too easily lead to overdrawn accounts.

Rather, most prepaid debit cards will give you the option to pay your bills for free online.

Then, if you want to write a check to someone, you'd just put that person down as the payee of a bill that you're paying online.

Reloadable Cards Require Social Security Number

There are multiple types of prepaid cards - and the reloadable debit card requires you to give a social security number.

This rule was created under the USA PATRIOT Act, which aimed to thwart money laundering and other fraudulent activity. (Activity prepaid cards made easier to do before the social security number requirement.)

How to Reload Your Prepaid Debit Card

When it comes to prepaid cards, the best thing you can do is avoid fees.

These fees come in small amounts, but they can add up quickly. That's why you'll want to understand how you'll usually reload your card. Then view the options given by your desired card to see if it matches.

How a card allows reloads will vary - as will the fees for reloading.

Typically, you can reload any prepaid card for free via direct deposit, with a bank deposit, or with another debit card.

Typically, you can reload any prepaid card for free via:

• direct deposit
• electronic bank transfer
• another debit card

Cash deposits to your prepaid card will be the major hurdle. That's because these prepaid cards rarely maintain or partner with extensive ATM networks.

Instead, many prepaid card companies work with retailers that sell their prepaid cards to provide cash reloads. To reload at the register can cost up to $5 each time.

Other ways to deposit that are usually free may include mailed-in check deposits and mobile check deposits. These options will vary per card.

Prepaid Cards Allow Multiple Users

Much like checking accounts and credit cards, prepaid cards may allow multiple users for the same card account.

This can be useful to manage spending among family members.

For instance, some cards allow parents to provide subaccounts to teens to teach them how to responsibly use debit cards. Some also use prepaid cards to work their way up to traditional bank accounts.

Tips for Choosing Prepaid Debit Cards

Like all financial accounts, prepaid cards have both advantages and disadvantages that should be carefully considered according to your unique situation before you make a selection.

Even the best prepaid cards may not work for all users – so do a little research before grabbing a card and depositing money.

When comparing options for the best prepaid debit cards, consider how you plan to use your account.

ATM networks and access

If you use ATMs frequently, make sure you can do so without fees.

Usually, that means using an in-network ATM.

That means you have to find out if there are ATMs in your most frequently-visited places (i.e., work and home).

Research reload options

Consider when and how you will reload your prepaid card so you can compare costs for reloading, and preferably find a prepaid card that allows you to deposit funds without paying any fees.

People who sometimes struggle with a checkbook and paying overdraft fees will probably find budgeting easier with a prepaid card that does not allow you to write checks.

It eliminates the possibility of having a negative account balance and keeps you on track.

Deposit limits

Finally, when comparing the wide variety of prepaid debit card options, don’t forget to consider whether or not there are any deposit limitations and if there are – will the limits affect your ability to manage your finances?

Best Reloadable Debit Cards