Wirex Card Review: Pros & Cons, Tiers, Fees, Limits & Alternative
Finding a cost-effective crypto card is a complex task due to the range of available options. However, we’ve researched all the top contenders.
Throughout our Wirex card review, we’ll examine the product in depth, analyzing its benefits, accessibility, fees, and overall performance to help our readers decide whether it’s right for you. Let’s begin.
Table of Contents
Wirex Crypto Card Key Takeaways
Key Takeaways
- You can fund the Wirex card using cryptocurrency or fiat stored on the Wirex platform.
- Users can select the order in which their assets get converted to cover any accrued Wirex card spending.
- The Wirex card has a dedicated account number and sort code, allowing users to set up direct debits and send payments.
- Wirex Cryptoback is a cashback rewards program that lets users earn up to 7% back on their transactions, paid in the platform’s native WXT token.
- To get the maximum benefits from the Wirex card, you must purchase a premium Wirex subscription and lock 7.5 million WXT tokens.
- The Wirex card can be used with 61 million merchants globally, making it an excellent choice for people who wish to transact in multiple currencies.
- Wirex imposes many limits on specific activities, such as ATM withdrawals. These restrictions differ based on a user’s country of residence.
Wirex Card Quick Summary
- The Wirex card is a prepaid crypto debit card.
- Users can transact with the Wirex card anywhere a Mastercard or Visa is accepted.
- Wirex has a premium subscription service affecting its card.
- Users can order physical and virtual Wirex cards.
- The Wirex card comes with free monthly ATM withdrawals.
| Features | Free ATM Withdrawals, Earn Cryptoback Rewards, Dedicated Account Number/Sort Code |
| Rewards | 0.5% to 7% |
| Availability | UK, EEA, Singapore, Australia, and the US |
| Funding/Top-Up Methods | Cryptocurrency, Fiat Wallet, Credit/Debit Card |
| Supported cryptocurrencies | BTC, ETH, XRP, DOGE, ADA, LTC |
| Fees | ATM Withdrawals 2%, Crypto Conversion Fee 1% |
| Benefits | Virtual/Physical Cards, Send Money Transfers, Great Track Record |
| Limits | Total ATM Withdrawals, Withdrawal Frequency, Card Funding |
| Withdrawals | ATM Withdrawals |
| Global Acceptance | Accepted at Over 61 Million Merchants |
| Security | Biometric Security, 2FA, AES 256-bit, Multi-Sig Wallets |
Wirex Card Explanation
The multi-currency Wirex debit card allows crypto holders to spend their digital assets in real-world establishments like bars and restaurants. In contrast to other crypto debit cards we’ve looked at, the Wirex card offers free ATM withdrawals and a dedicated account number/sort code, making it one of the most versatile options on the market.
How Does The Wirex Card Work?
The Wirex card works similarly to a traditional debit card. After creating and verifying a Wirex account, users can order their physical card or add a virtual Wirex card to their phone for convenient spending.
The Wirex card can be used to spend crypto or traditional fiat currencies, making it an excellent option for anyone looking to spend multiple assets on a single card. To start spending, you must add funds to the card via your Wirex crypto wallet, a transfer from another user, or a third-party payment processor.
The card offers several benefits, including free ATM withdrawals, low fees, and Wirex’s Cryptoback rewards program.
- Multi-Currency: The Wirex card supports crypto assets and fiat currencies, increasing accessibility.
- Virtual and Physical Cards: The Wirex card is available in physical and virtual forms, so users always have a convenient way to spend.
- Additional Benefits: The Wirex card offers several extra benefits compared to a typical debit card, making it a strong choice for people who want to get the most from their money.
Wirex Card Alternative
swissmoney is a financial services provider that empowers people to use their cryptocurrency as if it were fiat. The platform offers dedicated IBAN accounts for USD, GBP, EUR, and CFH, providing a streamlined way to store and send currency. Moreover, swissmoney supports SEPA transfers, allowing users to send international payments quickly.
While Wirex offers a capable crypto debit card, swissmoney gives users greater control over their funds. With an in-built crypto trading desk and far higher limits than Wirex, swissmoney makes it convenient to swap large sums of crypto and allocate a portion for spending.
Some of the benefits swissmoney offers over Wirex include:
- Limits: While the Wirex card imposes many limits against its users for activities like spending, swissmoney has no hard limits, making it ideal for anyone looking to conduct high-value purchases or transfers.
- Multi-Currency Support: The Wirex card transacts in a native fiat currency based on where the user lives. However, swissmoney offers access to four fiat IBAN accounts, letting users hold their wealth in several currencies, which is helpful for international payments and hedging your holdings.
Wirex Card Tiers and Features Comparison
| Wirex X-tras Tier | Monthly Cost | WXT Lockup Requirments | Cryptoback Rewards | WXT Savings Bonus |
| Standard (Entry) | $0 | 0 | 0.5% | 0% |
| Standard (Enhanced) | $0 | 150,000 | 1% | 1% |
| Premium (Entry) | $9.99 | 0 | 1% | 0% |
| Premium (Enhanced) | $9.99 | 250,000 | 2% | 3% |
| Premium (Ultimate) | $9.99 | 750,000 | 3% | 6% |
| Elite (Entry) | $29.99 | 0 | 4% | 0% |
| Elite(Enhanced) | $29.99 | 1.5 Million | 6% | 8% |
| Elite (Ultimate) | $29.99 | 7.5 Million | 8% | 16% |
The card doesn’t have a typical tier system. Instead, the Wirex platform has a series of premium plans users can subscribe to for increased Cryptoback and WXT savings benefits. Each plan also has Enchaned and Ultimate tiers, which require the user to lock a specific amount of Wirex’s native WXT token.
- Premium-Only: Unlike other providers, which typically require users to hold their propriety tokens to earn bonuses, Wirex utilizes a premium subscription service from $9.99 to $29.99.
- WXT Tokens: While each of Wirex’s premium accounts has a tier with no WXT token requirements, users must lock a substantial amount of the asset to get the maximum value from their subscriptions.
- Wirex Card: While the various premium plans affect the Wirex card, the changes are limited to the platform’s Cryptoback rewards program. As such, if earning cashback rewards isn’t a priority, there is very little reason for cardholders to get a Wirex premium subscription.
The Wirex card offers a handful of benefits to help users get more from their money. However, while a tier system is in place, it only impacts one feature of the card: Cryptoback rewards. That said, there is a 14,000% difference in cashback rate between the lowest and highest tiers, so the program can pay for itself if you make large transactions on a Wirex card.
Wirex Card Pros & Cons
| Wirex Card Pros | Wirex Card Cons |
| Dedicated account number/sort code | GEO-specific limits |
| Free ATM withdrawals | High WXT lockup requirements for Cryptoback |
| Earn rewards for spending | Premium subscription service |
| Widely available | Cumulative limits |
| Tiers without WXT lockup requirements | Hidden fees |
| Good quantity of daily withdrawals | |
| Virtual and physical cards |
Wirex Benefits in Detail
While the Wirex card provides users with the same core functionality as other crypto cards, it also offers several additional benefits, which we found during our research for our Wirex review.
Virtual and Physical Cards
Wirex users with the platform’s card benefit from owning virtual and physical cards. As such, people can begin spending their crypto immediately after being accepted without waiting for their card to be shipped. Furthermore, it means the Wirex card can be used offline even if you don’t have access to a mobile device.
Dedicated Account Number
One of the most significant benefits of the Wirex card compared to other crypto cards we’ve looked at, like the Crypto.com and Nexo cards, is that Wirex’s product comes with a dedicated account number and sort code. As such, users can send payments to friends or family and quickly set up direct debits using a Wirex card, providing users far greater control over their funds.
Free ATM Withdrawals
In contrast to products like the BitPay card, Wirex makes it accessible for users to withdraw funds each month. Users can withdraw 200 of their local currency at no charge at any ATM that supports Visa or Mastercard transactions. While $200 isn’t an exceptionally high threshold, it means that Wirex provides a free crypto off-ramp, which is seldom seen in the industry.
Wirex Benefits Conclusion
While Wirex doesn’t include a large selection of unique features, the platform advances the core functionality of a crypto card. Users get free withdrawals, virtual/physical cards, and a dedicated account number for sending money to others, making Wirex’s crypto debit card one of the most versatile on the market.
Wirex Limitations and Drawbacks
While Wirex is a robust platform that offers a crypto exchange, an in-built wallet, and a crypto debit card, there are a few drawbacks to be aware of before creating a Wirex account.
GEO Restricted
While Wirex is a reasonably straightforward platform, it has many limits that change based on a user’s country of residence. Unfortunately, these GEO-based restrictions make it challenging for new customers to understand the Wirex platform’s fees and limitations.
Hidden Fees
The Wirex card discloses most of its costs and charges no annual or foreign transaction fees. However, every Wirex transaction is subject to a variable spread fee of around 1%, which arises when Wirex sells your crypto for fiat to cover spending. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to predict this cost as Wirex doesn’t disclose it.
Premium Subscription
Instead of a traditional loyalty tier system, Wirex offers two premium subscriptions, which offer increased savings rates and additional Cryptoback rewards.
Despite already requiring a monthly fee, the premium subscriptions also have WXT lockup requirements users must hit to attain the maximum rewards. The highest tier requires users to lock up 7.5 million WXT tokens worth around $55,000. With such a high threshold and a $29.99 monthly charge, most users will be unable to enjoy the card’s maximum crypto rewards rate.
Wirex Card Fees and Rates
| Fee Type | Fee Amount |
| Foreign Transaction | Free |
| ATM Withdrawal Charge | 2% (Outside of free withdrawals) |
| Crypto Conversion | Variable spread (roughly 1%) |
| Card Issuance | Free |
| Pin Change | Free |
| Card Delivery | €5 |
| Card Delivery (US) | Free |
When deciding whether a specific crypto debit card meets your requirements, fees are one of the most crucial considerations. Wirex is largely transparent regarding costs on its platform. However, there are a few charges that aren’t immediately apparent.
Transaction Fees
The Wirex card has only a few fees. There is no spending fee, and users enjoy free withdrawals that refresh monthly. However, when you spend using the Wirex card, you’ll be charged a hidden conversion spread fee. The spread Wirex charges are typically around 1%, substantially reducing the card’s cost-effectiveness.
Account Fees
Regarding account-centric fees, Wirex is one of the cheapest crypto debit cards on the market. According to research for our Wirex card review, there is no PIN change or card issuance fee. However, users wanting a physical card will need to cover delivery costs of around €5. In the US, this charge is waived.
Overall Wirex Fees
On the surface, Wirex offers users a relatively cheap crypto debit card without additional fees. However, the card charges a roughly 1% crypto conversion fee on all spending, making it more costly than it first seems. In fact, for base tier users without any locked WXT, the conversion fee entirely erodes any rewards generated from the Cryptoback program.
Wirex Card Limits
| Limit Type | APAC | UK | EEA | USA | SG | AU |
| Max Transaction | 20,000 SGD | 30,000 EUR | 30,000 EUR | 2,500 USD | 20,000 SGD | 20,000 AUD |
| Max Daily Purchases | 20,000 SGD | 30,000 EUR | 30,000 EUR | 4,000 USD | 20,000 SGD | 20,000 AUD |
| Max Monthly Purchases | N/A | 30,000 EUR | 30,000 EUR | 10,000 USD | N/A | N/A |
| Max 3 Monthly Purchases | N/A | 75,000 EUR | 75,000 EUR | 30,000 USD | N/A | N/A |
| Max 6 Monthly Purchases | N/A | 100,000 EUR | 100,000 EUR | 55,000 USD | N/A | N/A |
| Max Daily Cash Withdrawal | 1,400 SGD | 500 EUR | 500 EUR | 500 USD | N/A | 1,400 AUD |
| Max Monthly Cash Withdrawal | 5,000 SGD | 5,000 EUR | 5,000 EUR | 2,000 USD | N/A | 5,000 AUD |
| Total Daily Withdrawals | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | N/A | 5 |
Like other prepaid crypto debit cards, the Wirex card has several limits that directly impact use. Based on research for our Wirex review, we found the card to have a larger than average quantity of limits compared to competitors like the Bybit card.
- GEO-Based: The majority of the Wirex card’s limits have different restrictions based on where a user resides. Typically, the US had the lowest limits of any region, which should be considered before applying for the Wirex card.
- Cumulative Limits: The Wirex card utilizes daily, monthly, three-monthly, and six-monthly limits, meaning users could accidentally hit a longer-term threshold through normal activities and be left unable to use their card.
Wirex Card Rewards
| Standard (Entry) | Standard (Enhanced) | Premium (Entry) | Premium (Enhanced) | Premium (Ultimate) | Elite (Entry) | Elite(Enhanced) | Elite (Ultimate) | |
| Cryptoback Rewards | 0.5% | 1% | 1% | 2% | 3% | 4% | 6% | 7% |
| Points Cap Per Transactions | 100 | 250 | 250 | 500 | 1,500 | 500 | 3,000 | 9,000 |
| Monthly Points Cap | 10,000 | 20,000 | 50,000 | 75,000 | 100,000 | 125,000 | 200,000 | 250,000 |
The Wirex card has a single rewards program that lets users earn between 0.5% and 7% back based on their premium subscription and the number of WXT tokens they have locked. Unfortunately, users wishing to attain the highest rewards yield must pay the $29.99 subscription fee and lock up 7.5 million WXT, worth approximately $55,000. Rewards are automatically paid in WXT.
- Points Cap: Each tier has monthly and per-transaction points caps, which affect the WXT a user can earn. People with a premium subscription who have locked WXT enjoy the highest points cap.
- Earn WXT: The Wirex Cryptoback program lets users earn rewards paid using the platform’s native WXT token. As such, it’s convenient for users to lock their nearly earned tokens to attain a higher reward rate.
- WXT Requirements: While Wirex supports earning points without locking any WXT, users looking to maximize their earnings must lock between 150,000 and 7.5 million WXT, representing a significant hurdle.
Wirex Card Withdrawals
| UK | EEA | APAC | SG | AU | USA | |
| Free Monthly ATM Withdrawals | 200 GBP | 200 EUR | 200 SGD | 200 SGD | 400 AUD | 250 USD |
| Max Daily Cash Withdrawal | 1,400 SGD | 500 EUR | 500 EUR | 500 USD | N/A | 1,400 AUD |
| Max Monthly Cash Withdrawal | 5,000 SGD | 5,000 EUR | 5,000 EUR | 2,000 USD | N/A | 5,000 AUD |
| Total Daily Withdrawals | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | N/A | 5 |
Wirex card users wishing to withdraw fiat will need to use an ATM. The company offers relatively low limits for withdrawals, hampering large-volume transactions. While Wirex offers free withdrawals for users, the platform charges a 2% fee on all withdrawals outside of users’ free limits.
- Region Restricted: Users wishing to withdraw funds from an ATM using a Wirex card must consider regional restrictions. Depending on where a user is based, Wirex offers significantly different withdrawal limits.
- Low Limits: Unlike other products we’ve examined, like the BitPay card, Wirex has far lower daily and monthly withdrawal limits. As such, there are better options than the Wirex card for people wanting to withdraw large amounts of cash using a crypto card.
- Withdrawal Quantity: Despite boasting lower-than-average withdrawal limits, the Wirex lets users conduct a comparatively high number of withdrawals daily, making the card suitable for high-frequency, low-volume withdrawals.
Wirex Card Supported Cryptocurrencies
A crypto card should support a wide range of assets. Otherwise, topping up your crypto card can become challenging or costly. The Wirex card takes funds from one of a user’s fiat accounts based on the priority set. However, the system will always try to pay using the purchase currency if possible.
A user funds their Wirex card using assets stored in their accounts. As such, fiat is prioritized, and cryptocurrency must be converted to fiat before spending, resulting in a fee. Unfortunately, based on research for our Wirex review, the company only supports six assets: BTC, LTC, ETH, XRP, ADA, and DOGE.
- Set Priority: Users can select the order from which accounts funds will be subtracted, offering control over spending.
- Limited Assets: Wirex has streamlined its crypto lineup and currently only supports six assets, meaning users wishing to deposit a broad range of cryptocurrencies may prefer an alternative.
Wirex Card Global Acceptance
The Wirex card’s most significant benefits are its availability and acceptance. Anyone in the UK, EEA, Singapore, Australia, or the US can apply for a Wirex card. Moreover, it can be used worldwide at over 61 million locations, anywhere Visa or Mastercard is accepted.
- Available Globally: Unlike other products, the Wirex card is available in more regions, so millions of crypto enthusiasts worldwide can apply.
- Mastercard or Visa: In contrast to other crypto debit cards we’ve looked at, the Wirex can be used anywhere Mastercard or Visa is accepted.
Wirex Card Security and Reliability
Security is one of the most essential elements of a crypto credit or debit card. Without robust protective measures, users and their funds are at risk. Wirex is relatively transparent about its security measures, offering users additional confidence.
Security Measures
Wirex uses the latest anti-fraud technology to root out illegitimate transactions and protect users. The company also utilizes multi-signature wallets and cold storage to secure users’ crypto holdings. The platform also offers Two-Factor Authentication (2FA), biometric security, and 256-bit AES encryption.
Has Wirex Been Hacked?
Since launching in 2016, Wirex has serviced millions of users and handled billions of dollars of funds. The company has a stellar track record and has not been hacked or otherwise compromised.
Wirex Card Areas of Improvement:
Wirex offers a well-rounded crypto debit card available to millions of users worldwide. While the card is a solid product, it could be improved in a few areas.
Crypto Conversion Fees
Unfortunately, Wirex is not transparent about its crypto conversion fees, which could confuse users about why they’ve spent more than expected. It would benefit users significantly if Wirex made its crypto conversion fee transparent and easy to view.
WXT Lockup Requirments
Wirex utilizes a premium subscription service in place of a traditional tier system. However, despite users having to already pay for the service, Wirex still imposes lofty WXT lockup requirements for people wanting to earn the most cashback rewards. It would be nice to see Wirex lower its WXT lockup requirements to account for the fact users already have to pay a premium.
Additional Cryptocurrencies
Unfortunately, Wirex supports different cryptocurrencies based on your region. Moreover, the platform supports just six major assets, making it far less accessible than competitor products. To improve convenience for users trying to top up their Wirex card using crypto, it would be beneficial if the company increased its crypto asset support.
How to Top Up Wirex Card
Top Up from Fiat Wallet
Step 1: Create/verify your Wirex account and apply for a card.
Step 2: Set your spending priority.
Step 3: Load your Wirex account with funds.
Step 4: Use your card for spending anywhere Mastercard or Visa is accepted.
Fees: Network fees and crypto conversion fees (roughly 1%)
Top Up via Credit/debit Card
Step 1: Use your credit or debit card to deposit funds to Wirex.
Step 2: Choose in which order your assets are spent.
Step 3: Add funds to your various Wirex wallets.
Step 4: Use your Wirex card for everyday purchases.
Fees: Variable card deposit and network fees, crypto conversion fees (roughly 1%)
Top Up via Crypto
Step 1: Deposit your cryptocurrency to Wirex.
Step 2: Exchange the assets for a supported currency (if needed).
Step 3: Set your spending priority.
Step 4: Use your Wirex card to spend crypto.
Fees: Network fees, exchange fees, crypto conversion fees
Is a Wirex Card worth it?
After thorough testing for our Wirex card review, we found that the product is well-designed and bridges the gap between cryptocurrency and traditional finance. It is available globally and supports over 61 million merchants. In addition to facilitating crypto spending, the Wirex card also lets people earn Cryptoback rewards of up to 7%, offsetting the card’s fees.
While the Wirex card does an excellent job facilitating crypto purchases, it charges a variable crypto conversion fee, which Wirex doesn’t clearly disclose. Additionally, Wirex only supports six assets, making it difficult to deposit and fund the card using a person’s existing crypto holdings.
The Wirex card is ideal for people looking for a card that supports multiple currencies and can be used worldwide. However, the platform’s regional restrictions and premium subscription service have somewhat let it down. Nevertheless, the Wirex card is worth considering if you want a simple-to-use crypto card with rewards.
Can a Wirex card be used anywhere?
Once you’ve verified your Wirex account and received your crypto card, you can use it in over 200 countries worldwide. The card can be used anywhere a Mastercard or Visa card is accepted, meaning users can access 100+ million merchants globally.
How do you withdraw money from a Wirex Card?
Once you’ve added funds to a Wirex card, you can transfer money to another person or withdraw the money as cash via an ATM transaction. Alternatively, you can withdraw USDC or other cryptocurrencies from a Wirex wallet and transfer them to a crypto exchange or external wallet.
Can I use my Wirex card at an ATM?
Anyone with a physical Wirex card can withdraw from any ATM that supports Visa or Mastercard products. Users are granted around €200 in free withdrawals monthly. After hitting this threshold, Wirex will charge 2% on any ATM withdrawals.
Is Wirex card free?
Applying for the Wirex card is free, with no annual costs or issuance fees. However, Wirex does levy a €5 to €14.99 fee to cover delivery. Fees vary based on a user’s region. For example, US residents get free delivery, and Australian Wirex users only have to pay 1 AUD.
Why use a Wirex card?
Everyone will have their reasons for wanting to use a prepaid crypto debit card, like Wirex’s product. Most users will seek a convenient way to use crypto to cover their everyday spending. However, others may wish to take advantage of Wirex’s Cryptoback program to earn rewards for their spending.
How Do I Get a Wirex Card?
It’s simple to get a Wirex card. After creating and verifying your account, anyone in a supported region can order the card. You’ll need to provide some information and cover the delivery fee, and then Wirex will ship you a physical card. However, users can also spend instantly using a Wirex virtual card.
How long does it take to get a Wirex card?
Delivery times vary from person to person based on factors like country of residence, shipping service congestion, and quantity of applications. However, Wirex customer support states, and most users agree, that the card will be delivered within roughly two weeks.
How do I use the Wirex card?
Using the Wirex card will feel familiar to anyone with experience using another crypto or a traditional debit card. You add funds to Wirex, use them to top up the card, and can begin spending. Wirex will automatically convert the crypto to cover your spending.
Is Wirex trustworthy?
Wirex is one of the world’s most popular crypto exchanges and a leading financial service provider that serves millions of users worldwide. Despite launching in 2016, the platform has never been hacked, indicating a strong level of security. As such, most people consider Wirex to be trustworthy.
Is the Wirex card suitable for crypto newcomers or those with limited experience?
The Wirex card functions very similarly to a traditional debit card, resulting in a low barrier to entry. However, getting the most value from a Wirex card helps users understand using a crypto exchange and topics like network fees. Otherwise, users could need clarification on the top-up process.
How do Wirex cards compare to other crypto cards?
The Wirex card facilitates the same core function as other crypto debit cards. It boasts competitive fees, lower account costs, greater control over funds, and a more solid cashback rewards program than other crypto cards. However, compared to other products we’ve reviewed, the Wirex card lacks transparency and enforces many limits on users.
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