Wise Card Australia Review: Is Wise a Good Travel Card for You?

The Wise card is a multi-currency debit card which is linked to a powerful international account supporting 40+ currencies for holding and exchange. With Wise you can convert between currencies with the mid-market rate and low exchange fees, to spend as you travel, or when you shop online with overseas retailers. Plus you can use your Wise card in an ATM at home and abroad for those times only cash will do.

If you’re not sure whether it’s the right fit, our Wise travel card review can help. We’ll cover key Wise card fees, features and safety measures, and also how to get a Wise card if you decide it’s the one for you.

What is a Wise card?

The Wise card is a specialist international debit card, linked to a digital multi-currency account from Wise. You simple have to top up your card, and then you can tap and pay in stores when you travel, or for online shopping. You’ll also be able to make ATM withdrawals whenever you need cash.

You can use your Wise card to spend and withdraw as you would your bank debit card. However, Wise isn’t a bank, it’s a specialist in international payments and currency conversion - and as such, your Wise card is optimised for overseas and travel use. That can mean it’s probably cheaper to use than your bank when you're abroad or if you want to buy something online from a retailer billing in a foreign currency. More on that later.

Is Wise safe?

Wise is regulated in Australia by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), and holds an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL). It is also a reporting entity with the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC). In order to maintain its license, Wise must comply with strict rules about keeping customers and their funds safe. As a business which operates broadly in many other countries globally, Wise is also regulated by other similar bodies overseas, such as the FCA in the UK, and FinCEN in the US.

As well as complying with local and international regulations, Wise also has stringent security features built into its app. These include proprietary industry leading security systems, over 1,000 anti fraud specialists, 24/7 customer support and strict safeguarding processes. You can also view your card details and transactions instantly in your Wise app at any time, and freeze or unfreeze your card in a few taps if you ever need to.

How does the Wise card work?

You can open a Wise account using your phone or laptop, and add money in AUD or one of the other 20 or so supported top up currencies, from your bank or with your preferred card. Leave the balance in the currency you load, or convert to the currency you want to spend - in either case you get the mid-market rate with no hidden fees, and no foreign transaction fee. 

Here are some helpful ways you can use your Wise card:

• Tap and pay for contactless transactions in Australia and globally
• Add your card to a wallet like Apple Pay for mobile payments wherever they’re accepted
• Get free virtual cards instantly to spend securely online, and to help manage your budget
• Use your physical Wise card to make cash withdrawals at an ATM abroad whenever needed
• Track transactions in the Wise app instantly, set your own payment limits, and freeze or unfreeze your card if you need to
• Activate Wise Interest to earn variable return on AUD and USD balances*

*'Interest' is a custody and nominee service offered through Wise Australia Investments Pty Ltd. Capital at risk, growth not guaranteed.

Wise card fees

Here’s a summary of the most important Wise card fees if your residential address is in Australia:

• It should be noted that while Wise does not charge any ATM fees in addition to what is listed above, third-party ATM providers may charge their own fees on each transaction. 

Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up-to-date pricing and fee information.

Wise card’s exchange rates

One of the most important features of the Wise card is the exchange rate used to manage your spending and conversions.

Wise currency conversion uses the mid-market rate. That’s the rate you’ll find if you use a currency conversion tool or Google search for your currency pairing, which you can also see below. The mid-market rate is generally considered a good benchmark for a fair rate - but it's often not available to retail customers. Instead, banks and debit card providers tend to add a markup - a fee - to the rate used for currency conversion. This pushes up your costs, even if you don’t realise it.

With the Wise card, you can lock in the exchange rate for a currency you need to spend. Say, for example, you’re planning a trip to Europe - you can add money in AUD and convert to EUR to lock in the rate, and set your travel budget ahead of time. Or if you prefer more flexibility, you can use the card’s auto-conversion tool instead. This allows you to leave your funds in AUD and let the card manage the conversion for you whenever you spend or make a withdrawal.

Whenever you convert funds, you get the mid-market exchange rate and the low Wise fee for conversion, which varies based on the currency involved. There are no hidden fees - and you’ll see the details in your Wise app before you switch currencies so there are no surprises.

Wise card review: Is it a good travel card for Australians?

The Wise card is likely to work differently to your bank debit card when it comes to spending in a foreign currency. There are no foreign transaction fees when using the Wise card -  just low, transparent fees when you convert from one currency to another. This is different to many bank debit cards which add a foreign transaction fee - a percentage charge every time you use your card to spend in a foreign currency. To give you an idea, the Commbank foreign transaction fee on most cards is 3.5%¹. If you’re spending 1,000 AUD this adds 35 dollars in fees - which you might not even notice. Plus with Wise, you can store 40+ currencies in one account, and the option to earn returns on selected balances.

Here’s what customers reviewing Wise on Trustpilot say:

Trustpilot score: ⭐ Excellent 4.3 out of 5 stars (+230,000 reviews²)

Happy customers comment on the ease of use, and the low costs of using Wise when travelling. Speed of transactions, flexibility and good customer support also come up as positives among many customers. As Trustpilot ratings are dynamic, you can take a look at the most recent customer feedback when you’re deciding if Wise is the right provider for your unique needs.

How to get a Wise card

Ordering a Wise card in Australia is quick and straightforward:

1. Open a Wise account: Sign up online or via the Wise app. You will need to complete a verification step by providing a clear image of your ID (such as an Australian passport or driver’s licence) and proof of address.
2. Request your card: Once your account is set up, navigate to the 'Card' tab and select 'Order Card'. There is a one-time fee of 10 AUD to order your physical card.
3. Use your digital card immediately: While waiting for your physical card to arrive in the mail, you can generate a Wise digital card and add it to Apple Pay or Google Pay to start spending online or via contactless payments.
4. Activate your physical card: Once your card arrives, simply make a Chip and PIN payment at any store to activate it for future use.

➡️ Order a Wise card

Summary: Is the Wise travel card right for you?

The Wise card offers a flexible all round option for spending and cash withdrawals when you travel, with secure physical and virtual cards, mobile payments and in app transaction monitoring. You can also use your Wise card when you spend online and in apps. With no foreign transaction fees and low, transparent pricing, Wise usually gives you the best value for your money.

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1. Commbank international transaction fees
2. Trustpilot - Wise