Greenlight is better suited for families looking for parental controls and financial education tools, while Wise is a strong choice for individuals who frequently make international transactions and need a flexible, fee-free solution for foreign spending.
| Attribute | Greenlight Debit Card | Wise Debit Card |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Fee | Starts at $5.99/month for the whole family (up to five kids). Some partner banks offer the Greenlight Select plan for free when you connect your bank account as the funding source. | Generally, there are no monthly fees for the Wise Debit Card. However, this can vary by region. |
| Minimum Age Requirement | No minimum age. The primary account holder must be at least 18 years old and a U.S. resident. | Not available |
| Spending Limits | Parents can set flexible spending controls, including how much kids can spend and where. | Wise card comes with default spending limits that can be adjusted via the app or website. Daily and monthly limits apply, which reset at midnight and on the first of each month, respectively. Specific limits vary by country. |
| Parental Controls | Set spending limits, block specific spending categories, turn the card on/off, get real-time transaction notifications, set store-level spend controls, manage chores and allowance. | Not available |
| ATM Access and Fees | Greenlight doesn't charge ATM withdrawal fees, but ATM operators may impose surcharges. | Wise debit card can be used at millions of ATMs worldwide. The fees depend on where the card was issued. Many regions offer 2 free withdrawals per month up to a certain amount (e.g., $100 USD, 200 GBP, 350 AUD/NZD/SGD). After that, fixed fees and percentage-based fees apply. ATM operators may also charge their own fees. |
| FDIC Insurance | Yes, Greenlight debit cards are FDIC-insured up to $250,000. | Wise is not a bank and is not FDIC insured. However, if you opt-in to the interest feature, your USD balance may be held with partner banks, where it earns interest and is FDIC insured up to $250,000. |
| Purchase Protection | Offered with the Greenlight Max and Infinity plans. | If you pay with the Wise VISA or Mastercard card, you have up to 90 days to dispute the transaction and you'll likely get your money back. Debit transactions in the US are covered up to $500 dollars while Credit card transactions are fully covered to chargeback at any amount. |
| Educational Resources | Financial literacy games (Greenlight Level Up), interactive money lessons, videos, and quizzes, tools for setting savings goals. | Not available |
| Reload Methods and Fees | Parents load money onto the card from their connected funding source via the Greenlight app. | You can top up the card in your preferred currency via the app. Fees vary depending on the method and currency. Adding to balance via ACH direct debit may incur a fee. Wise does not allow topping up with cash or checks. |
| Foreign Transaction Fees | None. The card can be used internationally in most countries. | Wise doesn't charge foreign transaction fees. It uses the mid-market exchange rate with a conversion fee, which starts from 0.43% and varies by currency. |
| Interest or Rewards | Greenlight Core: 2% annual savings reward. Greenlight Max: 3% annual savings reward and 1% cashback on debit card purchases. Greenlight Infinity: 5% annual savings reward. Greenlight Family Shield: 6% annual savings reward. | The Wise card doesn't offer cashback or rewards points. Wise offers an interest feature (not available in NY and AK), where you can earn interest on USD, EUR, and GBP balances. |
| Mobile App Features | For Parents: Send money instantly, set controls, receive alerts, automate allowance, manage chores. For Kids: Request money, see activity, customize the debit card, check off chores, set savings goals. | The Wise app is user-friendly and allows you to manage your account, card, and transactions. Features include: Freezing/unfreezing your card, Setting up transaction notifications, Generating virtual card numbers for online shopping, Tracking spending by category and currency, Managing payment methods, Checking your PIN, Adjusting spending limits |