It may seem cheap, but is that card really the most cost effective for you in the long run? Compare the cost of ownership in our comparison table.

All the key uses of a prepaid card in one place. See what suits you and choose the most appropriate card with our Card chooser.

Day-to-day - online, offline, or over the phone; in pubs, clubs, supermarkets or stores; day or night.  If you want to use your card a lot, look for one that is made for day-to-day usage.  You should even be able to put your wages into your account.

Holiday cards - going away for some fun in the sun or a wonderful winter break?  Look at a specific holiday card to help keep your costs down.

Long term travel - for faraway travel or long trips there are prepay cards to suit this, you can even get discounts on trips or flights with some.

Money Transfer - if you spend a lot of time and money transferring cash to loved ones abroad then you may be able to cut the costs considerably if you get an account with additional cards on it. 

Students - Whether you a student or a parent with a child about to go away and want to make sure 'emergencies' are covered, then get an account with an extra card.  You can rest assured that money can be sent quickly AND you are not leaving your credit card open to any potential abuse...not that any teenager has ever done that!  For the students, it's a great way to get a Visa or MasterCard that you can't overspend on.

Managing your spending - If you aren't that great at managing your money and tend to get yourself into a little bit of trouble, then choose a prepay card to suit you.  Work out how you are going to use it (day-to-day, occasionally, or as a 'money pot') and choose the option that will be most cost effective.

Credit building - Need to build your credit rating? For whatever reason, and there are many reasons why you may not have a good or any credit rating, you can use a prepay card to help build a rating for you.  All you need to do is make sure you behave yourself elsewhere, in a credit sense, and make your regular repayment.

One-off purchases - Do you just want a card for the occasional purchase? Maybe you just want to buy big items every now and then online and feel more comfortable using a card that is not linked to your bank account?  Check out one of the cheaper pay as you go options to find a card that won't be too expensive.

Price may not be so important to you.  Purchase protection, building your credit profile, ease of top-up or Chip and PIN may be what is on your mind.

If it’s all about the money then you’re in the right place. Check out the prices of the main cards.