Best International Debit Card 2025: Top Picks for U.S. Travelers

Traveling abroad with the right debit card can save you from costly fees. Which debit card is best for international travel

Traveling abroad with the right debit card can save you from costly fees. Which debit card is best for international travel depends on factors like foreign transaction fees, ATM access and global acceptance. Visa and Mastercard are accepted in roughly 200 countries, but issuers add fees. Look for a card with no foreign transaction fee and generous ATM policies to avoid surprise charges. For example, Charles Schwab’s debit card charges 0% foreign fees and refunds all ATM fees worldwide. In this guide we compare the leading travel-friendly debit cards of 2025, so you can choose the one that fits your trips.

International Debit Card 

Key Features of Travel Debit Cards

[Image: A traveler’s pocket with several international debit and credit cards] When evaluating the best travel debit card, focus on these features: low or no foreign transaction fees, ATM fee reimbursement and wide acceptance. Visa and Mastercard (the two main card networks) cover the globe, so having either is fine – the issuer’s fees matter more. Also consider whether the account has any monthly or balance requirements. Cards with no foreign transaction fee (0% forex fee) and ATM fee reimbursements will save the most money on purchases and withdrawals abroad. For example, many top travel debit cards refund ATM fees worldwide, so you only pay the operator’s fee (if any) when pulling cash overseas.

• ATM access: Look for large networks (like Visa Plus, Mastercard Cirrus) or fee-free networks (Allpoint, MoneyPass) abroad.

• Foreign transaction fees: The card should charge 0% on purchases overseas.

• ATM fees: Unlimited ATM fee refunds (even abroad) are ideal; at minimum, choose free withdrawals at partnered ATMs.

• Account fees: Prefer no monthly fees or minimums, since tying up cash can outweigh travel savings.

By assessing these features, you can answer questions like "Which ATM card is best?" or "Which card is best for international transactions?" based on how it handles fees and ATM access.

Comparison of Top Travel Debit Cards

Debit Card (Issuing Bank)	Foreign Transaction Fee	ATM Fee Policy	Global Network/Notes
Charles Schwab High-Yield Checking (Visa)	0%	Unlimited ATM fee refunds worldwide	Broad Visa acceptance worldwide. Requires opening a Schwab One brokerage (no minimum balance).
Capital One 360 Checking (Mastercard)	0%	No Capital One ATM fees; no reimbursements for others	Large ATM network (MoneyPass/Allpoint). Easy U.S. access, no fees abroad but ATM operator fees apply.
SoFi Checking & Savings (Mastercard)	0% on purchases	Part of Allpoint network: 55,000 fee-free ATMs	No monthly fee. Mastercard debit with high APY if requirements met. 0.2% fee on ATM withdrawals (non-reimbursed).
Betterment Cash/Checking (Visa)	0%	Reimburses all ATM fees (domestic & international)	No account fees or balances. Card linked to NBKC bank. Ideal for fee-free withdrawals.
Fidelity Cash Management (Visa)	0% (assumed)	All ATM fees reimbursed if ATM shows Visa/Plus/STAR	No monthly fees. Good for unlimited reimbursements at any ATM (Visa/Plus/STAR).
Aspiration Summit Account (Mastercard)	0% (assumed)	Access to 55,000 Allpoint ATMs with no fees	Free Allpoint ATM withdrawals in US, UK, Canada, etc. No monthly fee (requires $10 deposit). No reimbursement of other ATM fees.
Wise Multi-Currency (Mastercard)	0% on USD (small FX fee when spending)	First $100/month free ATM; then 2% (no reimburse)	Holds funds in 40+ currencies, excellent exchange rates. Best for extended stays/currencies; USD withdrawals limited free.
HSBC Premier (Mastercard)	0% (with Premier)	ATM fee refund up to $15 + no HSBC ATM fee	Premium account ($100k balance). Global account with generous travel perks.

The table above highlights each card’s fees and network. Bolded pros/cons are explained further below for the top picks.

Top Travel Debit Card Reviews

Charles Schwab High-Yield Investor Checking (Visa)

• Network: Visa Platinum Debit.

• Foreign Fee: None – 0% charge on international purchases.

• ATM Fees: Unlimited refunds on all ATM fees worldwide.

• Account Perks: No monthly fee or balance requirement; FDIC-insured up to $250k.

• Pros: No fees at all for foreign purchases or ATM withdrawals; earns interest on balances. Visa network provides wide acceptance.

• Cons: To open, you must also open a Schwab One brokerage account (no added cost, but an extra step). No in-person branches or cash deposits – mostly digital.

Insider tip: Schwab’s debit card is often cited as the best overall travel debit card because it fully eliminates FX and ATM fees. One user review notes “it refunds all fees charged by ATMs worldwide”, making it ideal for getting cash abroad without penalties.

Capital One 360 Checking (Mastercard)

• Network: Mastercard.

• Foreign Fee: None.

• ATM Fees: No Capital One ATM fees anywhere; does not reimburse out-of-network ATM fees.

• Account Perks: No minimum deposit, no monthly fee; broad fee-free ATM networks in US (MoneyPass/Allpoint).

• Pros: No foreign transaction fees on purchases or withdrawals; easy to find Capital One/Allpoint ATMs. Mastercard network has huge global acceptance.

• Cons: Any ATM that’s not MoneyPass, Capital One or Allpoint will charge its own fee, with no refund. So you must stick to fee-free networks or accept the small operator fee.

Capital One is widely available and well-regarded: “you can withdraw up to $1,000 a day at any ATM worldwide using your Mastercard and Capital One won’t charge a fee”. However, keep in mind many foreign ATMs still charge a usage fee that Capital One won’t reimburse.

SoFi Checking & Savings (Mastercard)

• Network: Mastercard (Allpoint/PLUS).

• Foreign Fee: 0% on purchases.

• ATM Fees: No out-of-network fees on Allpoint ATMs (55,000+ globally). A small 0.2% Mastercard fee applies on ATM withdrawals, which SoFi does not refund.

• Account Perks: No monthly fee, high APY possible with direct deposit, ATM reimbursements in network. Cash bonus incentives (up to $300).

• Pros: Large network of fee-free ATMs worldwide (Allpoint), no foreign fees on card purchases. Interest on balances if conditions met.

• Cons: You must be careful to use Allpoint ATMs abroad; otherwise ATM operator fees and a 0.2% network fee on withdrawals apply. No physical branches.

SoFi is great if your destination has Allpoint ATMs. As one expert notes, “SoFi is part of the Allpoint ATM network, so you have free access to over 55,000 ATMs… and SoFi doesn’t charge a foreign transaction fee when you make a purchase abroad”.

Betterment Cash/Checking (Visa)

• Network: Visa (nbkc Bank sponsored).

• Foreign Fee: None.

• ATM Fees: 100% reimbursement of all ATM fees (domestic and international).

• Account Perks: No minimum balance, no monthly fee or overdraft. Cashback rewards at select retailers.

• Pros: Truly zero fees: no foreign fees and all ATM fees refunded. Easy app control, making it traveler-friendly. Great for casual or frequent travelers.

• Cons: No branch network (online only); doesn’t earn interest. Rewards limited to certain stores.

Betterment advertises its checking as “one of the best debit cards for international travel” due to no forex fees and full ATM reimbursements. If avoiding fees is your priority, this card excels – there’s no trick charge hiding abroad.

Fidelity Cash Management (Visa)

• Network: Visa (Plus/STAR).

• Foreign Fee: None (no card fee on FX).

• ATM Fees: Reimburses all ATM fees worldwide, as long as the ATM is on Visa/Plus/STAR.

• Account Perks: No monthly fee or balance requirement; FDIC-insured via partner banks. Earnings swept into short-term FDIC accounts.

• Pros: Very flexible ATM access – “as long as the ATM has either a Visa®, Plus® or Star® logo, all ATM fees will be reimbursed”. No foreign fees assumed.

• Cons: Must use ATMs on major networks for reimbursement; no additional travel benefits beyond ATM refunds.

Fidelity’s Cash Management is essentially a brokerage debit account. It guarantees that “all ATM fees will be reimbursed” as long as the ATM is on standard Visa networks, making cash access abroad worry-free.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, Visa or Mastercard? Both Visa and Mastercard have similarly vast acceptance. Together they reach over 100 million merchants in 200+ countries. Mastercard actually works in slightly more countries, while Visa is accepted by about 20 million more merchants. In practice, either network is fine for travel; the deciding factor is usually which card’s issuer offers the best travel terms (fees and ATM reimbursements).

Which card is accepted in all countries? No card or network is literally accepted everywhere. Due to sanctions or limited infrastructure, some places (e.g. North Korea, Cuba) won’t accept Visa/Mastercard. However, Visa and Mastercard boast coverage in almost all destinations – over 200 countries. In most of the world, you’ll find merchants or ATMs taking a major brand. For a global fallback, consider carrying both Visa and Mastercard cards (or a Visa and UnionPay, etc.).

How to get a platinum debit card? “Platinum” debit cards are typically premium cards tied to higher-tier checking accounts. To get one, you usually need to open a qualifying account or meet certain requirements. For example, Commerce Bank issues a Platinum Visa® Debit Card only with its premium Relationship Checking account. In general, ask your bank if they offer an upgraded debit card. It often means maintaining a higher balance or subscription, but it may come with perks like travel insurance and dedicated support.

Which international debit card has zero forex charges? Many U.S. debit accounts waive foreign transaction fees entirely. Leading examples include Charles Schwab Bank, Capital One 360, Discover Bank, HSBC Bank and Betterment checking. All of the cards reviewed above charge 0% on purchases abroad. Always verify with the bank (terms can change), but the cards listed here are known for no foreign transaction fees.

What is the best international Visa card? If this refers to credit cards, travel experts often cite Chase Sapphire Reserve® (a Visa) as a top travel credit card. It earns huge rewards on travel and comes with premium perks like Global Entry credits. For debit cards, Charles Schwab’s Visa Platinum Debit is a standout choice for travel because of its zero fees. Ultimately, “best” depends on your needs: Sapphire Reserve is great for credit rewards, while Schwab’s Visa debit maximizes simplicity and cost savings overseas.

Conclusion

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but the best debit card for international travel generally has 0% foreign fees, free or reimbursed ATM withdrawals, and broad acceptance. Cards like Charles Schwab’s and Capital One’s meet these criteria and are favorites among U.S. travelers. When choosing yours, consider how often you travel and where. If you frequently visit urban destinations, any Visa/Mastercard will work; if you need cash in remote areas, focus on ATM reimbursement. In short, pack a card with no hidden fees and a good ATM network, and you’ll minimize the hassle and cost of spending abroad. For more details on travel-friendly accounts, see NerdWallet’s guide to the best travel banking options.