Referral disclosure: MoneyHackHQ may earn a commission or referral bonus when you use our signup links. A reader reward only applies where the provider’s invitation explicitly offers one. Compare fees and suitability before applying.

Which travel card should you choose?

Our first pick for eligible Australians is Ubank for everyday banking and overseas card spending. Its Visa debit card has no Ubank international card-payment or overseas ATM-withdrawal fee, although Visa conversion and local ATM charges still matter. Eligible new customers can also receive a conditional $30 signup bonus using AFWLLL7; read the steps and full offer conditions.

Choose Wise when you need international transfers, overseas income or foreign-currency balances. Consider Revolut Standard when you want currency controls and can stay within its exchange and ATM allowances. There is no universal cheapest card: compare the final cost of your own transaction.

Already have Up or Ubank? You may only need a separate backup card, rather than another everyday account. Our default home-and-away pick remains Ubank; Up is a strong alternative if its budgeting app suits you.

Compare Ubank, Wise, Revolut and Up Bank

Wise vs Revolut vs Up Bank: fees at a glance

Up Bank vs Revolut: which is better for travel?

Choose Up for uncomplicated overseas purchases and cash withdrawals; choose Revolut for foreign-currency balances and exchange controls. Both offer app-based banking, but their travel costs work differently.

The practical difference: if you want to pay from AUD without planning exchanges, Up is simpler. If holding currencies is useful to you, compare Revolut’s final quote and allowances. Neither is always cheaper merely because it advertises a free account.

See Up’s travel features and fees and Revolut Standard’s Australian fee schedule for the full details.

Wise vs Revolut: transfers or currency tools?

Start with Wise if the main job is sending or receiving international money. Compare Revolut if you want an app for currency balances and spending controls. For either provider, quote the same amount, currency and destination at the same time, then compare what the recipient receives after fees.

• Wise: the mid-market rate plus a separately priced conversion fee. The fee varies by currency and payment method. Holding the currency you spend avoids a new conversion at checkout, but acquiring that balance may have cost money.
• Revolut Standard: a variable exchange rate. Within the A$2,000 allowance, fiat exchange fees are 0% during market hours and 1% outside; above the allowance, 0.5% and 1.5%. Its schedule uses New York market hours, so check the app rather than assuming your local weekend.
• Cash: Wise’s Australian allowance is A$400 per calendar month, with 2.69% on the excess. Revolut’s rolling-month amount and five-withdrawal cap work differently. Local ATM charges can apply to both.

For a longer stay or overseas income, see the Wise Australia review. For plan limits, see the Revolut Australia review.

Up Bank vs Wise: do you need both?

For a holiday funded from AUD, Up may already cover the spending job. Wise adds value when you need foreign-currency balances, overseas account details or transfers. Up also offers Wise-powered international transfers inside its app; those transfers have their own quotes and fees. An Up debit-card purchase is a separate Mastercard transaction, not a Wise conversion.

For example, being paid in EUR and later spending EUR is a reason to compare Wise. Simply tapping a card on a short holiday is not, by itself, a reason to open a second currency wallet. Read Up’s explanation of its Wise integration and Wise’s Australian card pricing.

Provider reviews: strengths, limitations and signup steps

Ubank — everyday banking and travel spending

Ubank lets you use one Australian everyday account at home and abroad. Its Visa debit card converts overseas spending from AUD, with no Ubank international card-payment or overseas ATM-withdrawal fee. Local ATM operators can still charge.

Strengths

• Australian transaction account for everyday banking
• No Ubank international card-payment or withdrawal fee
• Visa debit card, alongside separate Save accounts
• Eligible deposits share NAB’s Financial Claims Scheme limit

Limitations

• Cannot hold foreign-currency balances
• Does not offer international SWIFT transfers
• Savings bonus interest has separate monthly balance-growth conditions
• Australian account eligibility applies; complete identity checks before you travel

Use code AFWLLL7 during signup and make five eligible purchases of at least $5 each that settle in 30 days to get the $30 signup bonus. Check the offer terms and steps below.

Read the Ubank debit-card review and Ubank’s overseas card information.

Optional Ubank referral offer: $30

Sign up with code AFWLLL7 by 31 March 2027 and make five eligible card purchases of at least $5 each that settle within your first 30 days.

Join Ubank — $30 signup bonus · code AFWLLL7

Enter the code on the “About you” signup screen. Offer participants must be 18+. The bonus is paid into your Spend account; payment can take around a month after the purchase requirements are met. The current offer is for sign-ups up to 31 March 2027; check Ubank’s terms before you join. Returning customers who held any Ubank account other than a UhomeLoan in the previous 24 months are excluded. Ubank’s full offer terms.

The button opens Ubank. It does not automatically enter the referral code: use AFWLLL7 on the About you screen.

Wise — international transfers, income and currency balances

Wise is the useful complement when a trip involves more than paying merchants. You can compare a transfer quote, hold foreign currencies and receive international payments using available account details. Its Australian physical card costs A$10.

Strengths

• International transfers with fees shown before confirmation
• Foreign-currency balances for planned travel or overseas income
• Available account details can simplify receiving payments
• No withdrawal-count limit within the Australian A$400 monthly ATM allowance

Limitations

• Conversion fees vary; the mid-market rate does not mean every transaction is free
• 2.69% ATM fee applies to the amount above A$400 per month
• ATM owners can add their own charges
• It is not an Australian bank with FCS deposit protection

Where it fits: freelancers receiving overseas income, people moving abroad and travellers who want to hold currency. For a cash-heavy holiday, compare its withdrawal costs against Ubank or Up before treating it as your only card.

Wise Australian card pricing explains the card and cash-withdrawal charges.

Explore Wise

Open the link, confirm your country of residence and compare a live transfer or conversion quote. Check physical-card cost and delivery before ordering.

Revolut — multi-currency features with free-plan limits

Revolut Standard has no monthly subscription fee, but its allowances matter. Standard delivery for the first physical card costs A$4.99. The exchange rate is variable, and exchange fees depend on both the rolling-month allowance and market hours.

Strengths

• Multi-currency balances and exchange tools
• App controls and a separate provider for backup spending
• Free Standard subscription; paid plans are available
• Eligible AUD deposits with Revolut Bank Australia have FCS protection

Limitations

• A$350 or five international ATM withdrawals per rolling month, whichever comes first
• Beyond that allowance: 2%, minimum A$1.50 per withdrawal
• A$2,000 rolling-month exchange allowance on Standard
• Exchange fees apply outside market hours and after the allowance; foreign currencies and trading balances are outside FCS protection

Within the Standard exchange allowance, the exchange fee is 0% during market hours or 1% outside them. Above the allowance, those fees are 0.5% and 1.5% respectively. Market hours follow the provider’s New York schedule, not simply your local weekend.

Revolut’s Australian Standard fees and our Revolut review explain the limits.

Explore Revolut

Open this referral invitation before registering. Check the invitation’s eligibility, required steps and deadline. A reward for the person referring you does not necessarily mean you receive a bonus. Standard card delivery and usage fees still apply.

Up Bank — everyday banking and straightforward travel spending

Up is a strong choice if you want an Australian bank account with budgeting tools and simple overseas spending. It uses Mastercard rather than Ubank’s Visa network, with no Up international transaction or overseas ATM-withdrawal fee.

Strengths

• Australian everyday bank account and app budgeting tools
• No Up international transaction or ATM-withdrawal fee
• Mastercard spending provides a different network from Ubank
• Eligible deposits share Bendigo and Adelaide Bank’s FCS limit

Limitations

• AUD-only account rather than a multi-currency wallet
• Standard daily ATM cash-out limit is A$1,000; approved variations can apply
• Local ATM charges are separate from Up’s fees
• Savings qualification and balance rules are separate from travel spending

Up Bank vs Revolut: Up offers everyday Australian banking and budgeting with Mastercard conversion. Revolut offers currency balances and extra app controls, but Standard’s ATM and exchange allowances need monitoring. The cheaper option depends on your mix of purchases, currency exchanges and cash withdrawals.

Up’s travel information and the Up Bank review cover its features.

Join Up — $21 bonus

Open our invitation to sign up in the Up app. Check card delivery before travel.

Offer eligibility and referral details

Eligible new customers get a $21 sign-up bonus through our Up invitation after successful signup and identity verification. Complete signup within the invitation’s 14-day validity. We may receive a referral reward. Offer conditions apply.

YouTrip — a separate prepaid travel wallet

YouTrip is a travel-wallet alternative, rather than a replacement for an Australian everyday bank account. It lets you exchange and store supported currencies, then spend using its debit Mastercard.

Strengths

• No currency-exchange fee
• A$1,500 overseas ATM allowance per calendar month
• 10 in-app currencies, with automatic conversion for other supported currencies
• Free standard card issuance and delivery

Limitations

• You need to load a separate wallet before spending
• A 2% ATM fee applies after A$1,500 per calendar month
• ATM owners can charge separately
• Not an Australian bank savings account or FCS-protected bank deposit

Compare YouTrip when you want a dedicated travel wallet and its cash allowance suits your budget. Compare the final exchange quote as well as advertised fees; do not assume every provider uses the same rate.

YouTrip Australian fees and ATM rules explain its card and cash charges.

YouTrip welcome offer (checked 26 October 2026): 4% cashback on eligible non-AUD purchases for the first six months, capped at A$25 per calendar month. Signup and account approval must fall between 23 September and 31 December 2026 (AEST). Eligible purchases must be at least A$1; AUD payments, ATM withdrawals and refunded, reversed or disputed transactions do not qualify. Cashback is credited within 30 days after each calendar month ends. Official welcome-offer terms.

Explore YouTrip

Use the invitation to start signup and read the Australian offer terms before applying. Cashback and any referral reward have separate conditions; do not assume they can be combined.

Which card fits your travel style?

Most trips need one everyday card plus a backup on a different card network, kept somewhere separate. Start with the row that matches your trip.

Your trip	Main card	Add	Why this setup
Holiday, 1–3 weeks	Ubank (Visa)	Up (Mastercard) as the backup	Neither charges its own overseas card or ATM fee, and a second network helps when a terminal won’t take one of them.
Backpacking for months	Ubank	Up, carried separately	Two fee-free cards on different networks. Daily cash limits are A$2,000 with Ubank and A$1,000 with Up.
Working remotely, paid in AUD	Ubank	Wise for rent and bills	Spend day to day on Ubank; use Wise to hold local currency and pay landlords or bills by transfer.
Paid in a foreign currency	Wise	Ubank for Australian banking	Receive and hold the currency you’re paid in, then spend or send it without converting to AUD first.
You want currency controls	Revolut Standard	Ubank or Up as the main card	Useful for exchanging ahead of time, but keep an eye on the A$2,000 monthly exchange allowance and the A$350-or-five-withdrawal ATM limit.

Fees, limits and sign-up links for each provider are in the provider reviews above.

Real-world scenarios

Here’s what the provider fees look like on two real trips. Figures are each provider’s own fees only; the exchange rate and any ATM-owner charge come on top for every card.

Bali, two weeks: A$1,200 of card spending and A$700 in cash

The cash comes out in two withdrawals of A$350 each, and everything is paid in rupiah on weekdays.

Card	Card spending	Cash withdrawals	Provider fees
Ubank	No Ubank fee (Visa rate)	No Ubank fee	A$0
Up	No Up fee (Mastercard rate)	No Up fee	A$0
YouTrip	No exchange fee	Within the A$1,500 monthly allowance	A$0
Revolut Standard	No fee within the A$2,000 allowance on weekdays (1% on weekends)	Second A$350 is over the allowance: 2%	A$7.00
Wise	Conversion fee on every purchase (varies by currency)	A$300 over the A$400 allowance: 2.69%	A$8.07 + conversion fees

What it means: for a cash-heavy holiday, Ubank and Up cost nothing in provider fees and need no top-ups. YouTrip also comes to A$0, but you have to load the wallet first. Wise and Revolut start charging once your cash passes their allowances.

Portugal, three months: working remotely and paid in EUR

The job	Use	Why
Get paid by a European client	Wise	Where Wise offers EUR account details, your client pays a local transfer and you keep the money in EUR.
Pay rent and bills	Wise	Pay from the EUR you were paid in, with no conversion back and forth.
Everyday spending	Wise card or Ubank	Spending EUR you already hold avoids a new conversion; Ubank charges no card fee if you spend from AUD.
Cash	Ubank or Up	No issuer ATM fee. Wise charges 2.69% once you take out more than A$400 in a month.
Backup	A card on the other network	Keep it separate from your main card in case one is lost, blocked or declined.

Fee example: a A$500 Revolut exchange

Assume you have your full Standard exchange allowance remaining. A A$500 fiat exchange incurs A$0 exchange fee during market hours or A$5 outside market hours. If the allowance has already been exhausted, the corresponding fees are A$2.50 and A$7.50. These are exchange fees only; the variable rate still determines how much foreign currency you receive.

A different trap: after five overseas withdrawals, a sixth A$20-equivalent withdrawal costs at least A$1.50, even if your total cash withdrawals remain below A$350. ATM-owner charges are extra. See Revolut’s fee schedule.

Bonus example: YouTrip’s cashback cap

At 4%, A$625 equivalent in eligible non-AUD spending reaches the A$25 calendar-month cashback cap. More eligible spending in that month does not increase cashback beyond A$25. Compare exchange rates and any fees too, because the cashback does not change the rate you are charged. Eligibility and exclusions appear in the YouTrip review above.

Before you leave: a practical card checklist

1. Check delivery first. Apply early enough to receive, activate and test the physical card. Digital-wallet access does not guarantee cash access at your destination.
2. Plan cash by date and withdrawal count. Wise and YouTrip use calendar-month allowances; Revolut uses a rolling month and also caps the number of withdrawals. Check the reset date in your app.
3. Choose local currency. If a terminal offers AUD or the local currency, select the local currency to leave conversion to your card provider. Decline an ATM’s offered conversion and review its own surcharge before continuing.
4. Keep a separate backup. Carry it apart from your main card. Check destination restrictions, daily cash limits and access to your banking app if your phone or SIM stops working.
5. Check deposit holds. Confirm a hotel or car-hire operator’s card requirements before booking and allow for any pre-authorisation that reduces available funds.

More help: the Banking & Travel Money hub and Ubank vs Up Bank comparison.

Complete your travel setup

Once your card is sorted, check how you will access mobile data, protect your accounts and arrange suitable cover. These optional services have their own costs and conditions; you do not need to buy them to use a travel card.

Common questions

Fees, offers and where to check them

Fees and offers in this guide were checked on 26 October 2026 against each provider’s Australian pricing and terms. The picks weigh overseas purchases, cash access, transfers, currency balances and how many accounts you want to manage. Worked examples use published fees; your final cost also depends on the exchange rate on the day.

Provider pages: Wise card pricing; Revolut Standard fees; Up pricing and travel features; Ubank fees and referral terms; YouTrip ATM charges and welcome-offer terms.

For deposit protection, read Revolut’s explanation of covered AUD deposits and APRA’s deposit checker. Fees can change after this date. The provider’s current quote and terms take priority.

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