Verdict
- Wise Card scores higher overall (6.9 vs 6.4 out of 10).
- Lava Card is clearly stronger on: Cashback & rewards, FX & international.
- A full annual cost comparison is not possible yet because some fees are not disclosed or not yet researched.
Lava Card is a good fit for
- Stablecoin holders
- Frequent travellers
Stronger on: Cashback & rewards, FX & international
Wise Card is a good fit for
- Frequent travellers
★ 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 | Lava Card | Wise Card |
|---|---|---|
| Fees | 100 | 100 |
| Cashback & rewards | 33 | 12 |
| Availability | – | 100 |
| FX & international | 100 | 83 |
| Product features | – | 70 |
| Custody & security | – | 75 |
| Credit & financing | – | 30 |
| Limits & ATM | – | 51 |
| Transparency | 100 | 100 |
| Best for Cashback | 5.4 | 5.0 |
| Best for Travel | 7.6 | 7.5 |
| Best for Stablecoins | 7.4 | n/a |
| Best for High Spenders | 6.1 | 4.9 |
| Best for Low Fees | 9.3 | 8.8 |
| Best for Beginners | 6.8 | 8.1 |
| Best E-Money Card | n/a | 8.4 |
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
Credit cardConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Secured: spends only the available dollar balance; no unsecured credit
Debit cardShow source
Network
VisaShow source
VisaConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Visa in Ireland and the EEA; network depends on issuing country
Custody model
CustodialConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
The provider holds the funds
Card issuer / program manager
Card program by Rain with a partner issuerShow source
Fees
Annual fee
FreeShow source
Monthly fee
FreeConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
No subscription required
Physical card fee
€7Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Ireland page; one-time card order fee
Virtual card fee
FreeConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Ireland page
Replacement fee
€4Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Ireland page; free if the card was expiring
FX fee
0%Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
No spread on Visa's exchange rate
0.43%Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
From; varies by currency pair; 0% when spending a currency you hold
Top-up fee
FreeConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Domestic bank transfer only; other payment methods have varying fees
ATM fee
2.69%Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Eurozone-issued cards, above the free allowance; ATM operators may add fees
Free ATM allowance
€250/monthConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Eurozone-issued cards; no limit on the number of free withdrawals
Other fees & markups
Conversion fee when spending a currency not held in the account · Fee may apply to get or replace the card · ATM withdrawals free only up to a certain amountConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Spending a currency you hold is free
Cashback & rewards
Base cashback
1%Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Users based outside the US; 3% for US users; 5% at Lava merchant partners
0%Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
No cashback on card spending (owner research)
Max cashback
5%Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
At Lava merchant partners, worldwide
Cashback paid in
BTCShow source
Cashback type
CryptoShow source
NoneConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
No cashback on card spending (owner research); Wise's 'balance cashback' is interest on the balance, recorded as interest
Interest on balance
2.4%Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Balance cashback for EEA customers on USD balances (September 2026, annualised, variable); EUR 1.20%, GBP 2.20%; 30% Belgian withholding tax deducted; minimum balance applies
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
Minimum balance
€101Conditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Held for the whole month to receive balance cashback, based on September 2026 rates (55 GBP, 51 USD)
Reward exclusions
Account outside the EEA · Money held in Wise Assets (interest/stocks) · Negative or suspended account · Pre-tax cashback under 0.10 · Opted out of cashbackShow source
Credit & financing
Credit line
NoShow source
Spend own balance directly
YesShow source
YesShow source
Availability
Available in
Australia, Brazil, Canada, EEA, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Switzerland, Thailand, United Kingdom, United StatesConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Thailand only for accounts registered on or after 21 January 2026
Not available in
Hong KongConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Cards are blocked on moving to Hong Kong; no new card offered
Account / spend currencies
USDConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Page says "Spend in Dollars"
EUR · GBP · USD · and many moreShow source
Own IBAN / bank details
YesConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Personal accounts; business accounts may pay a one-time setup fee
Features
Apple Pay
YesShow source
Google Pay
YesShow source
Physical card
YesShow source
Virtual card
YesShow source
ATM withdrawals
YesShow source
Spend stablecoins
YesConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Stablecoin deposits are credited as dollars
Security & custody
Regulation / licences
Wise Europe SA: authorised payment institution supervised by the National Bank of BelgiumConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
EU entity
Deposit protection
NoConditions apply: tap or hover for detailsShow source
Funds safeguarded (cash at commercial banks and money market funds), not covered by the Belgian Deposit Guarantee Scheme; Assets investment feature has separate Estonian Guarantee Fund protection
Annual cost at 1,500 EUR/month
Lava Card
- Annual & monthly fees+0 EUR
- FX costs+0 EUR
- Crypto conversion–
- ATM costsunknown
- Cashback+180 EUR
- Net annual valuenot enough data
Wise Card
- Annual & monthly fees+0 EUR
- FX costs−15 EUR
- Crypto conversion–
- ATM costs+0 EUR
- Cashback+0 EUR
- Net annual value-15 EUR
Assumes 300 EUR foreign spend and 100 EUR ATM per month, base tier only. Use your own numbers