Verdict
- bunq scores higher overall (7.2 vs 6.4 out of 10).
- Lava Card is clearly stronger on: Cashback & rewards, Transparency.
- A full annual cost comparison is not possible yet because some fees are not disclosed or not yet researched.
bunq is a good fit for
- Users who need credit rather than a debit/prepaid card
- Frequent travellers
Lava Card is a good fit for
- Stablecoin holders
- Frequent travellers
Stronger on: Cashback & rewards, Transparency
★ Our pickEditorial choice · score unchanged · Affiliate link
Neither card is our pick. The card we recommend instead:
Crypto native · ether.fi
Why we recommend it
- 3% cashback in ETHFI on up to $2,000 of spend a monthConditions apply
- 5.35% variable interest on your balanceConditions apply
- No annual or monthly fee on the base tierConditions apply
- Extras on the base tier: airport lounge access, travel / rental car insurance, purchase protectionConditions apply
- Self-custody: funds stay in your own walletConditions apply
Conditions apply; the review lists them with sources.
Score by criterion
| Criterion | bunq | Lava Card |
|---|---|---|
| Fees | 100 | 100 |
| Cashback & rewards | 16 | 33 |
| Availability | 90 | – |
| FX & international | 100 | 100 |
| Product features | 70 | – |
| Custody & security | 75 | – |
| Credit & financing | 70 | – |
| Limits & ATM | 70 | – |
| Transparency | 86 | 100 |
| Best for Cashback | 5.2 | 5.4 |
| Best for Travel | 8.2 | 7.6 |
| Best for Stablecoins | n/a | 7.4 |
| Best for High Spenders | 5.8 | 6.1 |
| Best for Low Fees | 9.3 | 9.3 |
| Best for Beginners | 7.7 | 6.8 |
| Best Crypto Credit Card | 6.8 | n/a |
| Best E-Money Card | 8.9 | n/a |
Conditions apply, e.g. only for the base tier, up to a monthly cap or in some countries. Tap a value with * (or hover over it) to see them.
Product
Product status
ActiveShow source
ActiveShow source
Card type
Debit card, Credit cardConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Debit Card or Credit Card; Credit Card can pay from own money or with an optional Credit Limit
Credit cardConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Secured: spends only the available dollar balance; no unsecured credit
Network
MastercardShow source
VisaShow source
Custody model
CustodialConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
The provider holds the funds
Card issuer / program manager
bunq B.V.Show source
Card program by Rain with a partner issuerShow source
Tiers / plans
Free €0 · Core €3.99/mo · Pro €9.99/mo · Elite €18.99/moShow source
Fees
Annual fee
FreeShow source
Monthly fee
FreeConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Free plan; Core €3.99, Pro €9.99, Elite €18.99 per month
Physical card fee
€99Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Metal card on Pro and Elite; extra physical cards €9.99 plus a monthly fee
Virtual card fee
FreeShow source
FX fee
0%Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
ZeroFX card payments abroad: Free plan up to €1,000 per year (fee beyond not stated on this page); Core, Pro, Elite unlimited
0%Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
No spread on Visa's exchange rate
ATM fee
€2.99Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Free plan: €2.99 each; Core/Pro/Elite: €0.99 for the first 5/month, then €2.99; Pro and Elite include 6 free withdrawals/month
Other fees & markups
Metal card €99 per card (Pro/Elite)Show source
Cashback & rewards
Base cashback
0%Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Programme ended 7 Dec 2025; partner cashback offers still available
1%Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Users based outside the US; 3% for US users; 5% at Lava merchant partners
Max cashback
0%Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Cashback programme ended 7 Dec 2025 (previously Elite/Business credit card); partner cashback offers still available
5%Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
At Lava merchant partners, worldwide
Cashback paid in
BTCShow source
Cashback type
NoneConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Cashback programme ended on 7 December 2025
CryptoShow source
Interest on balance
3.11%Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Savings interest included in every plan incl. Free; variable
Cashback conditions
3% back in bitcoin for US-based users, 1% outside the US · 5% at Lava merchant partners · Redeemable from 100,000 sats (0.001 BTC) · No rewards on fines, taxes, insurance, rentals and schoolsShow source
Credit & financing
Credit line
YesConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Optional Credit Limit on the Credit Card
Spend own balance directly
YesShow source
YesShow source
Availability
Available in
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, SwedenConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
bunq personal account (all bunq cards require one): citizens and residents of the listed supported EEA countries; non-EU citizens living there may also sign up with suitable documents. Overseas regions/territories excluded. Minors allowed with guardian permission.
Not available in
AW, BQ, CW, PF, TF, GL, NC, BL, PM, SX, WF, GF, GP, MQ, YT, REConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Residents of Overseas Countries and Territories (Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, French Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Territories, Greenland, New Caledonia, Saba, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Sint Eustatius, Sint Maarten, Wallis and Futuna) and French overseas regions (French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte, Réunion) cannot currently open an account. Non-EEA residents can join a country waitlist.
Account / spend currencies
USDConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Page says "Spend in Dollars"
Own IBAN / bank details
YesConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Free 3, Core 5, Pro/Elite 25 accounts; local IBAN in your country on all plans
Features
Apple Pay
YesConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
All plans
Google Pay
YesConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
All plans
Physical card
YesConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Not on Free plan; Core 1 included, Pro/Elite 3 included
Virtual card
YesConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Free/Core 1 digital card, Pro/Elite 25
ATM withdrawals
YesShow source
Spend stablecoins
YesConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Stablecoin deposits are credited as dollars
Travel / rental car insurance
NoConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Only bunq Elite plan
Limits
ATM limit
€1,000Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Personal accounts, per calendar day per person, for accounts verified 3 months or longer; €250 per day for accounts verified less than 3 months ago. Business: €1,000 per card per day.
Security & custody
Regulation / licences
Full European banking licence issued by De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB)Show source
Deposit protection
YesConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Up to €100,000 via the Dutch Deposit Guarantee Scheme
Annual cost at 1,500 EUR/month
bunq
- Annual & monthly fees+0 EUR
- FX costs+0 EUR
- Crypto conversion–
- ATM costs−36 EUR
- Cashback+0 EUR
- Net annual value-36 EUR
Lava Card
- Annual & monthly fees+0 EUR
- FX costs+0 EUR
- Crypto conversion–
- ATM costsunknown
- Cashback+180 EUR
- Net annual valuenot enough data
Assumes 300 EUR foreign spend and 100 EUR ATM per month, base tier only. Use your own numbers