Best Travel Debit Card for Australians 2026: Ubank vs Up vs Wise vs YouTrip vs Revolut
The big banks charge about 3% on every overseas purchase, which is A$150 on every A$5,000 you spend. These cards cut that to zero. Here’s the best pick for each need:
Our pick: Ubank, with Up as backup
- No Ubank fees on overseas purchases or ATM withdrawals, with no monthly cap
- A real bank account with the $250,000 government deposit guarantee
- $30 sign-up bonus with code AFWLLL7 (join by 31 March 2027)
- Add Up as a Mastercard backup: also no overseas fees, plus $21 bonus through our invite
Which card should you get?
Find what matters most to you, then get that card.
No overseas purchase or ATM fees, no monthly caps, and your money is government-guaranteed.
Pairs with Ubank’s Visa. No overseas fees, a card in Apple Pay or Google Pay the moment you join, and the best banking app in Australia.
Neither charges its own fee on overseas ATM withdrawals, however much you take out.
Lock in exchange rates and get local bank details for USD, EUR, GBP and more.
Top up only what you’ll spend, with A$1,500 of free ATM cash a month.
Budgets, bill splitting and disposable virtual cards, but tight free limits.
Sign-up bonuses
Ubank
- Enter code AFWLLL7 on the “About you” screen
- Make five card purchases of $5 or more in your first 30 days
Join by 31 March 2027
Get $30 with UbankUp
- Join through our invite link
- Verify your identity in the app: the $21 lands straight away
Ongoing
Get $21 with UpYouTrip
- 4% cashback on overseas spending
- Capped at A$25 a month for 6 months (about A$625 of spending a month)
Sign up by 31 December 2026
Get YouTripWise has no sign-up bonus, and Revolut shows any current offer in the app when you join. Ubank’s bonus: both people must be 18 or over, and you can’t have held a Ubank account in the past 24 months. It’s usually paid within a month. Full Ubank terms.
Fees compared
Green cells are the best on each row.
| Ubank | Up | Wise | YouTrip | Revolut Standard | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overseas purchase fee | 0%Free | 0%Free | Small conversion fee, varies by currency | 0% | 0% up to A$2,000 a month on weekdays; 1% on weekends |
| Free overseas ATM withdrawals | No Ubank fee, no capUnlimited | No Up fee, no capUnlimited | A$400 a month | A$1,500 a month | A$350 or 5 withdrawals a month |
| ATM fee above the free amount | – | – | 2.69% | 2% | 2% (minimum A$1.50) |
| Hold foreign currency | No | No | 40+ currenciesMost | 10 currencies | 30+ currencies |
| Card network | Visa | Mastercard | Visa | Mastercard | Mastercard |
| Government deposit guarantee | Yes, to $250,000Protected | Yes, to $250,000Protected | No | No | No |
| Card cost | Free | Free | A$10 | Free | Free on Standard |
| Sign-up bonus | $30 (AFWLLL7)Biggest cash bonus | $21 | None | 4% cashback for 6 months | Varies |
ATM owners can add their own fee with any card. It’s shown on screen before you confirm.
What a trip actually costs
A month away: A$5,000 spent on cards abroad, plus eight ATM withdrawals of about A$300 (A$2,400 in cash).
| Card | A$5,000 of card spending | A$2,400 of ATM cash | Total card fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubank | A$0 | A$0 | A$0Cheapest |
| Up | A$0 | A$0 | A$0Cheapest |
| YouTrip | A$0 | A$18 (2% on the A$900 over the allowance) | A$18 |
| Wise | A small conversion fee on each purchase | A$53.80 (2.69% on the A$2,000 over the allowance) | A$54 plus conversion fees |
| Revolut Standard | About A$15 (0.5% on the A$3,000 above the A$2,000 free limit, weekdays) | About A$41 (2% on the A$2,050 over the allowance) | About A$56 |
| Typical big-bank debit card | About A$150 (3%) | About A$72 (3%) plus around A$5 a withdrawal | About A$260 |
Two habits save more than any card: always pay in the local currency when a shop or ATM offers AUD, and take out larger amounts less often at ATMs that charge their own fee.
Ubank: best overall
NAB’s digital bank. The Visa debit card charges no Ubank fee on overseas purchases or ATM withdrawals and uses Visa’s exchange rate. It’s a full Australian bank account, covered by the government’s Financial Claims Scheme up to $250,000 (shared with any other NAB accounts you hold).
Choose it if: you want one simple card with no overseas fees, no limits to track, and your money in a guaranteed bank account.
Skip it if: you need to hold foreign currency or receive payments from overseas (use Wise for that).
✓ Pros
- 0% on overseas purchases, with no monthly cap
- No Ubank fee on overseas ATM withdrawals, however much you take out
- Visa, so it pairs well with a Mastercard backup
- Savings at 5.60% p.a., or 6.50% for new customers, if your total savings grow by $1 a month
- $30 bonus with code AFWLLL7 until 31 March 2027
✗ Cons
- Can’t hold foreign currency
- Daily ATM withdrawal limits apply
- Simpler app than Up or Revolut
- Australian residents only
Up: best backup card
Bendigo and Adelaide Bank’s digital bank. No international transaction fee, no Up fee at overseas ATMs, and Mastercard’s exchange rate with no markup. Its app shows every purchase in both the local currency and AUD instantly, and Travel Mode shows your balance in the local currency.
Choose it if: you want a second card on Mastercard, or the best budgeting app of any Australian bank.
Skip it if: you need cash from ATMs straight away: the physical card takes 15 to 20 business days, though the digital card works in Apple Pay and Google Pay as soon as you join.
✓ Pros
- 0% on overseas purchases and no Up fee at overseas ATMs
- Digital card in Apple Pay or Google Pay straight away
- $21 bonus paid instantly once your ID is verified
- Mastercard, so it works where Visa isn’t taken
- Excellent budgeting app with up to 50 Savers
- Government deposit guarantee up to $250,000
✗ Cons
- Can’t hold foreign currency
- Bonus savings rate needs five card purchases a month, and withdrawing from a Saver drops its rate to 2.00%
- Physical card takes 15 to 20 business days (the digital card works right away)
More detail in our Up Bank review.
Wise: best for holding foreign currency
Wise isn’t a bank, but it’s the best multi-currency account here. Hold 40+ currencies, convert at the mid-market rate when it suits you, and get local bank details to receive USD, EUR, GBP and more.
Choose it if: you work remotely, get paid in another currency, want to lock in a rate before a trip, or pay overseas bills.
Skip it if: you mostly spend from Australian dollars and take out cash: Ubank or Up is cheaper.
✓ Pros
- Hold 40+ currencies and lock in a rate before you travel
- Receive money from overseas like a local
- Cheaper than bank transfers for sending money abroad
✗ Cons
- A conversion fee on each purchase, higher for some Asian currencies
- Free ATM withdrawals only up to A$400 a month, then 2.69%
- A$10 for the physical card
- No government deposit guarantee
YouTrip: best prepaid card
A prepaid Mastercard: you top it up from your bank, then spend from it. No international transaction fee, and A$1,500 of free overseas ATM withdrawals a month, then 2%.
Choose it if: you’d rather carry a card that isn’t linked to your main bank account, or you want the cashback offer on a big trip. Skip it if: you already have Ubank or Up, which have no ATM cap at all.
✓ Pros
- A$1,500 of free overseas ATM cash a month, the most of the capped cards
- Hold 10 currencies, spend in 150+ countries
- No monthly or card fees
- 4% cashback on overseas purchases (up to A$25 a month for six months) if you join by 31 December 2026
✗ Cons
- You have to top up before you spend
- 2% on ATM withdrawals above A$1,500 a month
- Can’t receive money from overseas
- No government deposit guarantee
Revolut: best app, tightest limits
The slickest app here, with currency balances, budgets, bill splitting and disposable virtual cards. The free Standard plan’s limits are the catch.
Choose it if: you love app features, or travel for short trips with modest spending.
Skip it if: you’ll take out a lot of cash or spend more than A$2,000 a month abroad: the limits run out fast.
✓ Pros
- Hold 30+ currencies
- Best app features on this list
- Paid plans raise the limits and add perks
✗ Cons
- Free ATM withdrawals only up to A$350 or five a month, then 2% (minimum A$1.50)
- Free currency exchange only up to A$2,000 a month on weekdays, then 0.5%
- 1% exchange fee on weekends
- No government deposit guarantee
- Chat-only support
Best setup by trip
| Trip | Main card | Backup | Add |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–3 week holiday | Ubank | Up or your existing bank card | – |
| Months backpacking | Ubank | Up | YouTrip if you want a prepaid spare |
| Cash-heavy Southeast Asia | Ubank | Up | Some cash in a separate place |
| Remote work or overseas income | Ubank | Up | Wise to receive and hold foreign currency |
| Europe, the US or Japan | Ubank | Up | – (cards work almost everywhere) |
Before you fly: order cards at least four weeks ahead, add them to Apple Pay or Google Pay, turn on notifications, and get an eSIM so your banking apps work when you land (see the best travel eSIMs). Check your travel insurance covers lost or stolen cards and cash.
The short version
Get Ubank as your main card ($30 bonus with code AFWLLL7) and Up as a Mastercard backup ($21 bonus). Add Wise only if you need to hold or receive foreign currency.
Travel debit card FAQ
What is the best travel debit card in Australia?
Ubank for most people. It charges no Ubank fees on overseas purchases or ATM withdrawals, with no monthly cap, it’s a real bank account covered by the government guarantee, and you get a $30 bonus with code AFWLLL7. Add Up on Mastercard as your backup.
Which travel card has the best sign-up bonus?
Ubank’s $30 with code AFWLLL7 is the easiest: join by 31 March 2027 and make five card purchases of $5 or more in your first 30 days. Up pays $21 through our invite, straight away once your ID is verified. YouTrip’s 4% cashback can be worth up to A$150 over six months, but only if you spend about A$625 a month overseas.
Which card has the most free ATM withdrawals overseas?
Ubank and Up: neither charges its own fee on overseas ATM withdrawals, with no monthly limit. YouTrip is free up to A$1,500 a month, Wise up to A$400, and Revolut Standard up to A$350 or five withdrawals. The ATM owner can still add its own fee with any card.
Are Up and Ubank the same bank?
No. Up belongs to Bendigo and Adelaide Bank and uses Mastercard. Ubank belongs to NAB and uses Visa. Each has its own $250,000 government deposit guarantee, and you can hold both.
Do I need two cards when travelling?
Yes. If one is lost, blocked or declined, you’re not stuck. Carry one Visa and one Mastercard from different banks, such as Ubank and Up, and keep them in different places.
Is Wise or Ubank better for travel?
Ubank is cheaper for everyday spending from Australian dollars, with no conversion fee and no ATM cap. Wise is better if you want to hold foreign currency, lock in a rate before you go or get paid from overseas.
Is Revolut good for travel from Australia?
Its app is excellent, but the free Standard plan has tight limits: free exchange up to A$2,000 a month on weekdays (0.5% above that, 1% on weekends), and free ATM withdrawals only up to A$350 or five a month, then 2% (minimum A$1.50). Ubank or Up costs less on a long trip.
Should I pay in AUD or the local currency overseas?
Always the local currency. When a shop or ATM offers to charge you in AUD, it sets its own exchange rate, which is usually much worse than your card’s.
Do I need a credit card as well?
Sometimes. Car-rental companies and some hotels want a credit card for the security deposit. Check before you book.
This guide contains affiliate and referral links. If you sign up through them, Backpacking Is Life may earn a reward at no extra cost to you. Up is a brand of Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Limited (AFSL 237879). Ubank is a division of National Australia Bank Limited (AFSL 230686). Wise Australia Pty Ltd holds AFSL 504808. YouTrip is operated by You Technologies Group (Australia) Pty Ltd (AFSL 558059). Rates and offers change, so check each provider’s current terms before signing up. This is general information, not financial advice.