Updated September 28, 2026 · DebitCue Editorial Team
bunq vs Wirex
bunq
Wirex
Higher score in this comparison
bunq vs Wirex: the differences
| Compare | bunqReviewVisitVisit | WirexReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | €0 | $0 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.5% to 3% | 0%Lower |
| Card network | Mastercard | Visa |
| Currencies | 8 | 150Higher |
| Free ATM withdrawals | Not confirmed | $400 |
| Cashback rate | Not confirmed | 8% |
| Custody | Not confirmed | Custodial |
Same on both: Card type (Debit).
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Key differences
- Wirex scores higher overall: 9.6 vs 9.0.
- Currency conversion fee is lower at Wirex: 0% vs 0.5% to 3%.
- Currencies is higher at Wirex: 150 vs 8.
- Features: only Wirex offers Custodial.
Our verdict on each
bunq
bunq is a euro debit card with a Mastercard and multi-currency accounts, aimed at students and at anyone spending abroad. The monthly fee is €0, the same as Wise at £0, while the currency conversion fee runs 0.5% to 3% on travel spending.
Wirex
Wirex suits people who want crypto spending, travel money and cashback on one custodial Visa debit card. Costs are the draw: a monthly fee of $0 and a currency conversion fee of 0% place it at the front of the 259 brands compared on conversion costs.
Score breakdown
| Area | bunq | Wirex |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.2Cost is mid-range: monthly fee of €0 sits at €0, with 0.5% to 3% above the 1% median. | 9.4HigherMonthly fee of $0 and a currency conversion fee of 0% keep running costs at the floor. |
| Offer | 9.0 | 9.9HigherCashback of 8% and 150 currencies with crypto and virtual card options drive the offer. |
| Trust | 8.8 | Not confirmed |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | bunq | Wirex |
|---|---|---|
| Debit cards | 7 of 1336 | 17 of 1336 |
| Travel cards | 5 of 443 | 12 of 443 |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | bunq | Wirex |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | Not confirmed | |
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed | FCA 902025 |
Additional countries for bunq: 1. Additional countries for Wirex: 1.
What we checked
bunq
- bunq.com: 11 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Wirex
- coincodecap.com: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- currencyexpert.com: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- budgetfitter.uk: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | bunq | Wirex |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Multi currency, Crypto, Virtual card, Travel | Crypto, Custodial, Multi currency, Travel, Virtual cardCovers more |
| Audience | Student | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | bunq B.V. | Wirex Limited |
| Headquarters | Netherlands | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 2012 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Chat | Not confirmed |
Credit cards
| Fact | bunq | Wirex |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | €0 | Not confirmed |
| Pricing model | No annual fee | Not confirmed |
| Card kind | Credit | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | bunq | Wirex | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Currency conversion fee | 0.5% to 3%below the median | 0%below the median | 1 |
| Free ATM withdrawals | Not confirmed | $400highest quarter | $0 |
| Cashback rate | Not confirmed | 8%highest quarter | 2% |
| Currencies | 8at the median | 150highest quarter | 8 |
Median across 387 listed cards.
Pros and cons
bunq
Pros
- Monthly fee of €0 and annual fee of €0, with Wise at £0 charging the same on the monthly side.
- A Mastercard card, on the network behind 38.5% of the cards compared here.
- Multi-currency, crypto, a virtual card and travel features on the plan, with multi-currency listed on 34.9% of cards here.
Cons
- Support runs on email and chat only, with no phone line for urgent card problems.
- The upper end of the conversion fee, 0.5% to 3%, is well above the conversion median of 1% on heavy foreign spending.
- Wise also charges £0, so bunq has to win on features rather than on price.
Wirex
Pros
- Monthly fee of $0 on a standard Visa debit account
- Currency conversion fee of 0%, ranked 1 of 259 brands
- Cashback of 8% returned on everyday card spending
Cons
- The account is custodial, so balances sit with Wirex Limited rather than with you
- Free ATM withdrawals of $400 rank 8 of 115
Who each suits
bunq
Who it suits
- Students, who are the audience listed on student.
- Anyone who wants a Mastercard debit card with a monthly fee of €0 and no annual charge of €0.
- Travellers who pay in several currencies, with 8 currencies supported and multi-currency listed on multi currency, crypto and virtual card.
Who should look elsewhere
- Chime Card (Secured Visa Credit Card) if you want a credit card rather than bunq's debit card, at a monthly fee of $0.
- Wise if you would rather hold pounds, since its monthly fee of £0 is the same as bunq's €0.
- Varo Believe Secured Credit Card if you want secured credit, priced at a monthly fee of $0.
Wirex
Who it suits
- Crypto holders who want to spend through a normal Visa debit card
- Travellers who convert several currencies at a low conversion fee
- Multi currency earners who want cashback and a virtual card
Who should look elsewhere
- People who want to hold their own keys, since the Wirex account is custodial
- Anyone wanting a plain current account: Starling Personal Account Debit Card charges £0
- Anyone who only needs a bank debit card: Wise charges a monthly fee of £0
Current offers
Wirex
Current offer
Bonus
Up to 8% Cashback on Card Spend - Wirex: Up to 8% cashback
Earnings subject to eligibility
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | bunq | Wirex |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | Yes | No |
| United Kingdom | No | Yes |
Questions about each
bunq
Is there a fee for holding a bunq account and card?+
The monthly fee is €0 and the annual fee is €0, so holding the account and the card costs nothing in fees. That matches Wise at £0 on the monthly side. Spending is where costs appear, and the one to watch is the currency conversion fee of 0.5% to 3% when you pay in another currency.
What does it cost to spend money abroad on bunq?+
Converting currency costs 0.5% to 3% on bunq, the range that applies when you spend in a currency other than the one on your balance. A trip concentrated in a single currency tends to sit at the lower end, while heavy multi-currency spending lands near the top. The card runs on Mastercard, which is accepted widely.
Wirex
What does Wirex cost to hold each month?+
The monthly fee is $0 on the standard debit account, and Wirex ranks 1 of 419 brands compared on that measure. Costs are simple to state: the currency conversion fee is 0%, so there is little to add for everyday use.
What does Wirex charge to convert currency?+
The currency conversion fee is 0%, which places Wirex at 1 of 259 brands compared. Travellers moving between several of the 150 currencies held on the account can convert at that rate.