Best Debit Card for Travel: Spend Abroad Without Fees

If you’re searching for the best debit card for travel, a debit card with no fees abroad, or simply want to stop your bank quietly skimming money every time you spend overseas, this guide shows you the best options available right now.

I’ve used most of these cards myself while travelling. The difference between a good travel debit card and a bad one isn’t pennies — it’s real money over the course of a holiday.

Quick answer: best debit cards for travel

If you just want the short version:

• Best overall debit card for travel: Starling Bank
• Best debit card for cashback abroad: Chase
• Best app-based card with flexibility: Revolut
• Best for multiple currencies: Wise
• Best high-street bank option: First Direct

If you want the detail, read on.

Best debit cards to use abroad: at a glance

Some overseas ATMs charge their own fees regardless of the card used.

Fees to watch out for when using a debit card overseas

Foreign transaction fees

Many standard UK debit cards still charge around 2.75% every time you spend abroad. It adds up fast.

ATM withdrawal fees

Some banks charge for withdrawals, and foreign ATMs may add their own fee. Always check the screen before accepting.

Exchange rate markups

“Fee-free” doesn’t always mean cheap. Cards using Mastercard, Visa or interbank rates are usually far better than merchant-set rates.

Account fees

Some accounts charge monthly fees in exchange for extras like insurance. Only worth it if you’d pay for those anyway.

The best debit cards for overseas travel (ranked)

Starling – Best Overall Debit Card for Travel

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.7/5 – Best overall debit card for travel

Best for: Fee-free spending and cash withdrawals abroad

Starling is one of the best all-round debit cards for travelling overseas. It offers fee-free card spending and free cash withdrawals abroad, all managed through a simple app. There are no hidden exchange rate markups, making it an easy, reliable choice for most trips.

✓ No foreign transaction fees
✓ Free cash withdrawals abroad
✓ Simple, reliable mobile app
✗ £300 daily cash withdrawal limit

Key facts

• Monthly fee: £0
• Foreign spending fee: £0
• Cash withdrawals abroad: £0
• Exchange rate: Mastercard
• Debit card: Yes

Visit Starling

Chase – Fee-Free Spending Abroad

⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ 4.5/5 – Fee-free card spending abroad (no cashback overseas)

Best for: Fee-free spending abroad with cashback on UK supermarket purchases

Chase is one of the best travel debit cards currently available in the UK. It offers fee-free spending abroad and cashback on debit card UK supermarket purchases, making it a strong option for everyday travel spending. Cash withdrawals are also free, although limits apply, so it works best if you mainly pay by card.

✓ No foreign transaction fees
✓ Cashback on debit card spending
✓ Easy-to-use mobile app
✗ Cashback is time-limited
✗ Cash withdrawal limits apply

Key facts

• Monthly fee: £0
• Foreign spending fee: £0
• Cash withdrawals abroad: £0 (limits apply)
• Cashback: Yes (time-limited)
• Debit card: Yes

Visit Chase

Monzo – Best for App Features

⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ 4.4/5 – Great debit card for managed travel spending

Best for: App-based travel spending with strong controls

Monzo is a popular travel debit card thanks to its excellent app and clear spending controls. Card spending is fee-free worldwide, and cash withdrawals are free in the EEA. Outside Europe, limits apply unless you upgrade.

✓ No foreign transaction fees
✓ Excellent app and spending insights
✓ Free ATM withdrawals in the EEA
✗ Cash withdrawal limits outside Europe

Key facts

• Monthly fee: £0
• Foreign spending fee: £0
• Cash withdrawals abroad: Free in EEA, limits elsewhere
• Exchange rate: Mastercard
• Debit card: Yes

Visit Monzo

Revolut – Best for Flexibility

⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ 4.3/5 – Flexible travel card with limits

Best for: Flexible spending and multiple features abroad

Revolut offers fee-free spending abroad within fair-use limits and supports multiple currencies. It uses the interbank exchange rate during the week, but weekend markups apply. It works well if you’re organised, but it’s not the simplest option.

✓ No FX fees within limits
✓ Supports multiple currencies
✓ Strong budgeting tools
✗ Weekend exchange rate markups
✗ Cash withdrawal limits on free plan

Key facts

• Monthly fee: £0
• Foreign spending fee: £0 (fair use)
• Cash withdrawals abroad: £200/month free
• Exchange rate: Interbank (weekday)
• Debit card: Yes

Visit Revolut

Wise – Best for Multiple Currencies

⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ 4.2/5 – Best international debit card

Best for: Holding and spending multiple currencies abroad

Wise is ideal if you regularly deal with different currencies or get paid from abroad. Card spending is fee-free, and it uses the mid-market exchange rate. Cash withdrawals are limited, so it’s better for card use than cash-heavy travel.

✓ Mid-market exchange rate
✓ Hold and spend multiple currencies
✓ Transparent fees
✗ Limited free cash withdrawals
✗ Small card fee applies

Key facts

• Monthly fee: £0
• Foreign spending fee: £0
• Cash withdrawals abroad: 2 free up to £200/month
• Exchange rate: Mid-market
• Debit card: Yes

Visit Wise

First Direct – Best High-Street Bank Option

⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ 4.2/5 – Simple fee-free travel debit card

Best for: Fee-free travel spending from a traditional bank

First Direct doesn’t market itself as a travel card, but it quietly offers fee-free spending and cash withdrawals abroad. It’s a good choice if you prefer a high-street bank without paying extra to use your card overseas.

✓ No foreign transaction fees
✓ Free cash withdrawals abroad
✓ High customer service ratings
✗ Fewer app features than digital banks

Key facts

• Monthly fee: £0
• Foreign spending fee: £0
• Cash withdrawals abroad: £0
• Exchange rate: Mastercard
• Debit card: Yes

Visit First Direct

Cards worth considering (but not top picks)

Kroo

Fee-free spending, but tight cash withdrawal limits make it less appealing for travel than it once was.

Nationwide FlexPlus

£13 monthly fee, but includes worldwide travel insurance, phone cover and breakdown cover. Worth it only if you’d pay for those separately. Uses the Visa exchange rate.

Visa vs Mastercard: which is better for travel?

In practice, there’s very little difference.

Both Visa and Mastercard offer competitive exchange rates, and the difference between them is usually tiny. What matters far more is whether your bank adds fees on top.

If you’re searching for the best Visa debit card for travel, Nationwide FlexPlus and some high-street cards use Visa. Most digital banks use Mastercard.

Do you actually need a Euro account instead?

If you travel to Europe a couple of times a year, a travel card is usually enough. But if you spend in euros regularly — or want to avoid repeated currency conversions — a dedicated euro account can be cheaper and easier.

A euro account lets you hold euros permanently, spend directly from that balance, and avoid converting money every time you pay or withdraw cash. For some people, that works out cheaper than relying on a travel card alone.

I’ve compared the best euro accounts for UK residents, including which ones are cheapest for spending, which offer FSCS protection, and which are better if you get paid in euros.

Or use a travel credit card

A debit card isn’t always the best option.

The Halifax Clarity Mastercard has no foreign transaction fees on purchases and no cash withdrawal fees — just interest if you don’t repay immediately.

The NatWest Travel Reward credit card also offers fee-free spending abroad with cashback, but charges for cash withdrawals.

Final verdict: which is the best debit card for overseas travel?

For most people, the answer is still Starling.

If you want cashback, choose Chase.
If you want flexibility, choose Revolut.
If you deal with multiple currencies, choose Wise.

All UK bank accounts listed are FCA-regulated and protected by the FSCS up to £120,000. E-money accounts safeguard funds differently.

Further reading

If you find that you return home from abroad with a lot of loose change, why not find out what you can do with your foreign coins?