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Prepaid cards are a boon for anyone who wants to manage their budget or just have an alternative to paying cash. They're also a good fit for parents who want to monitor the spending of their children and teens and those with poor or limited credit who aren't eligible for a credit card. Prepaid cards allow users to make online bill payments and other purchases without worrying about cash, interest rates or late fees. Many will also appreciate that they don't require a credit check for approval. When looking for a prepaid card, we recommend you read through the fee structure so any fee charges don't come as a surprise later. The downside to prepaid cards is that they won't help rebuild your credit history because they don't report to the credit bureaus. If you are interested in card that can help rebuild your credit, take a look at our secured credit card reviews.
Prepaid Card Reviews & Prices
Updated 05-22-2013
| Name & Card | Set-Up Fee | Monthly Fee | Cash Withdrawal Fees | Features | Our Rating & Bottom Line | |
| Serve® from American Express |  | Free | Free | ATM = free for 1 withdrawal/mo; $2.00 thereafter POS = free | Deals & offers; mobile app; purchase protection; online account management | Our Rating: Our top choice with free monthly fees, strong online & mobile tools, and great American Express features |
| PayPal™ Prepaid Mastercard® |  | Free | $4.95 | ATM = $1.95 POS = free | Online account management (requires PayPal acct); rewards program | Our Rating: Best for those who are either PayPal customers or who plan to be |
| PrePaid Visa® Classic RushCard |  | $3.95-$14.95 | $0.00 - $9.95 (depending upon plan) | ATM = $0.00-$2.95 POS = $0.00-$1.00 | Discount prescription card & healthcare plans; mobile app; text & email alerts; online account management | Our Rating: Good choice with lots of bonus features and easy online & mobile access |
| Netspend® Visa® Prepaid Card |  | Free | $0.00 - $9.95 (depending upon plan) | ATM = $2.50 POS = $0.00-$2.00 | Prescription discount card; rewards program; mobile apps; text/email alerts; online account management | Our Rating: Features great online and mobile tools along with prescription savings and limited rewards program |
| SpendSmart™ Prepaid Mastercard® |  | Free | $3.95 | ATM = $1.50 POS = free | Lock & unlock teen's card via text; mobile app; text/email alerts; online account management | Our Rating: Prepaid card for teens that allows parents to monitor teen spending and even block specific online and offline purchases |
| BillMyParents® Reloadable Prepaid Mastercard® |  | Free | $3.95 | ATM = $1.50 POS = free | Lock & unlock teen's card via text; mobile app; text/email alerts; online account management | Our Rating: Prepaid card for teens that includes ability for parents to monitor teen spending |
| Account Now Gold Visa® Prepaid Card |  | Free | $9.95 | ATM = $2.50 POS = free | Text alerts; online account management | Our Rating: A basic prepaid debit card without frills |
| READYDebit Platinum Visa® Prepaid Card |  | $9.95 | $14.95 | ATM = $2.00 POS = free | Mobile app; text alerts; online account management; credit score tracker | Our Rating: Rather pricey but offers free credit score and score tracking with direct deposit |
Disclaimer: This content is not provided or commissioned by the credit card issuers. Opinions expressed here are author's alone, not those of the credit card issuers, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuers. This site may be compensated through the affiliate program of the credit card issuers.
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