Upgrade review
Updated September 28, 2026 · DebitCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
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Our verdict
Upgrade pairs a free debit card with cash back on everyday spending, so it suits people who want no monthly charge and a reward on routine bills. The currency conversion charge of 3% is the catch, and that makes it a weaker fit for regular travel spending.
Key facts
- Best for
- A no cost debit card that pays cash back on everyday bills.
- Monthly fee
- $0 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Currency conversion fee
- 3% (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Free ATM withdrawals
- $0 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Card type
- Debit (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Cashback rate
- 2% (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Card network
- Visa (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Legal entity
- Upgrade, Inc. (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Headquarters
- United States (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Support channels
- Email, Phone, Help-centre (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Features
- Rewards
- Official website
- upgrade.com
Credit cards
- Annual fee
- $0 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Currency conversion fee
- 3% (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Rewards type
- Cashback (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Rewards rate
- 3% cash back on gas, groceries, streaming and monthly subscriptions, and utilities; 1% on everything else, uncapped (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Perks
- Visa Zero Liability protection, Travel and Emergency Assistance Services, Roadside Dispatch, Upgrade Shopping offers, Rewards do not expire, 24/7 fraud monitoring and real-time alerts, Flexible payment options Pay Now, Pay in 4, Pay Over Time (coming soon) (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Card kind
- Credit (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Legal entity
- Upgrade, Inc. (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Headquarters
- United States (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Support channels
- Email, Phone, Help-centre (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Pricing model
- No annual fee
- Features
- Rewards
Pros and cons
Pros
- The debit account's monthly fee is $0 and the credit card's annual fee is $0, so both are free to run.
- Perks include Visa Zero Liability protection, roadside dispatch, travel and emergency assistance, and fraud monitoring with real time alerts.
- Support runs on email, phone and help centre.
Cons
- A currency conversion charge of 3% is the weak spot, ranking 218 of 259 brands on this measure.
- The free ATM allowance is $0, so cash machine withdrawals are not free.
- Cash back on the checking side runs at 2%, below the richer category rates the credit card pays.
Who it suits
- People who want a debit card with a monthly fee of $0 and cash back on routine household spending.
- Spenders who keep their balance in a single currency and travel little, given a conversion charge of 3%.
- Card users who want help by phone and email as well as a help centre, through email, phone and help centre.
Who should look elsewhere
- Wise, if currency conversion is your main cost, because Upgrade charges 3% on it.
- Starling Personal Account Debit Card, if you take out cash often, since Upgrade's free ATM allowance is $0.
Fees and currency costs
The debit checking account has a monthly fee of $0, which is the cheapest end of the range compared here. Currency conversion is the cost that matters: the charge is 3% each time you spend in a currency your balance is not held in. Spending in your own currency runs at no monthly cost.
Who runs it
Upgrade is operated by Upgrade, Inc., which is headquartered in the US. Support runs on email, phone and help centre, so help is available by phone, by email, or by working through the help centre on your own. The card and the account sit with the same provider, so one support line covers both.
How Upgrade compares
8.9 vs 9.4
8.9 vs 9.0
Upgrade vs Nexo8.9 vs 8.9
8.9 vs 9.2
8.9 vs 8.8
8.9 vs 8.5
8.9 vs 8.5
8.9 vs 9.0
8.9 vs 8.8
8.9 vs 8.8
8.9 vs 8.7
8.9 vs 9.2Its monthly fee is €0, so the running cost matches, and the choice comes down to the wider offer, with cash back at 2% on Upgrade's checking side.
Upgrade vs Bitpanda Card8.9 vs 9.0
8.9 vs 8.9
8.9 vs 8.8
8.9 vs 9.6
8.9 vs 9.4
8.9 vs 9.4
8.9 vs 9.2
8.9 vs 9.1
8.9 vs 9.1
8.9 vs 9.1
8.9 vs 9.1
8.9 vs 8.8
8.9 vs 8.8- 8.9 vs 8.8
- 8.9 vs 8.8
8.9 vs 8.8- 8.9 vs 8.8
8.9 vs 8.5
8.9 vs 8.5
8.9 vs 8.5
8.9 vs 8.3
8.9 vs 8.2
8.9 vs 8.0
8.9 vs 8.0
Where Upgrade is available
- Available
- United States
Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Frequently asked questions
Is there a fee for keeping the account open?+
No. The monthly fee is $0 and the card carries an annual fee of $0, so nothing is added to your regular outgoings just for holding the account. Spending in another currency is the main extra cost to plan around.
What does Upgrade charge for currency conversion?+
A charge of 3% applies when you spend in a currency other than the one your balance is held in. It is the biggest cost to budget for, and it ranks 218 of 259 brands on this measure, so frequent travellers get a poorer deal here.
Are ATM withdrawals free?+
The free ATM allowance is $0, so cash machine withdrawals are not free and you pay each time you take money out. If cash is a regular part of your budget, that charge adds up and an account with a free allowance suits you better.
What cash back does the account pay?+
Rewards come as cashback. The checking side pays a base rate of 2%, while the credit card pays a higher rate on gas, groceries, streaming, monthly subscriptions and utilities, with a lower rate elsewhere and no cap on earning.
What card do I get and which network is it on?+
The account comes with a debit card, and the range also includes a credit card with a credit structure. Both sit on the visa network, so the card is accepted wherever Visa cards are. Spending draws on your account balance.
What protection and perks come with it?+
Perks under Visa Zero Liability protection, Travel and Emergency Assistance Services and Roadside Dispatch include Visa Zero Liability protection, travel and emergency assistance, roadside dispatch, shopping offers and fraud monitoring with real time alerts. Rewards do not expire, so a quiet month does not wipe out what you have earned.
Who runs the account and how do I get help?+
The provider is Upgrade, Inc., headquartered in the US, and it issues the debit card and the credit card. Support runs on email, phone and help centre, so help is available by phone, by email, or through the help centre at your own pace.
Sources
- upgrade.com checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Legal entity, Card network, Support channels
“Copyright 2026 Upgrade, Inc. All rights reserved.”
- upgrade.com/about checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Headquarters
“San Francisco Headquarters”
- upgrade.com/atm-network checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Free ATM withdrawals
“There is no fee to use an AllPoint® ATM. There is a $2.50 fee for cash withdrawals at out-of-network ATMs.”
- upgrade.com/credit-card/onecard-essentials checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Annual fee, Card kind, Features, Pricing model, Perks, Rewards rate, Rewards type
“Upgrade OneCard Essentials has no annual fee.”
- upgrade.com/rewards-checking-preferred checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Card type, Cashback rate, Currency conversion fee, Monthly fee
“Rewards Checking Preferred - The debit card with up to 2% cash back on purchases ... use your Upgrade Visa® Debit Card for purchases”
Compiled from 5 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.
Not confirmed yet: Protection.