Best Debit Cards for International Travel
21 debit cards ranked by what they cost abroad: the foreign transaction fee, ATM withdrawals outside the US and the monthly fee.
Ranked by math · No sponsored placements · How we score
Before you compare
A credit card with no foreign transaction fee is the best way to pay abroad, but you still need a debit card for cash. Two fees decide what that cash costs: the percentage your bank adds to every foreign transaction, and the fees on each ATM withdrawal (your bank’s own and the ATM owner’s). A few accounts refund ATM fees anywhere in the world, which makes local ATMs effectively free. For the card to pair it with, see credit cards with no foreign transaction fee.
The ranking
21 debit cards compared
- 1
Betterment Checking
Betterment · Visa- Travel score
- 100
- Foreign transaction fee
- None
- Monthly fee
- $0
- ATMs abroad: Other banks’ ATM fees refunded worldwide, no limit
- 2
E*TRADE Max-Rate Checking
E*TRADE (Morgan Stanley Private Bank) · Visa- Travel score
- 100
- Foreign transaction fee
- None
- Monthly fee
- $0
- ATMs abroad: Other banks’ ATM fees refunded worldwide, no limit
- 3
Fidelity Cash Management Account
Fidelity · Visa- Travel score
- 100
- Foreign transaction fee
- None
- Monthly fee
- $0
- ATMs abroad: Other banks’ ATM fees refunded worldwide, no limit
- 4
Schwab Bank Investor Checking
Charles Schwab · Visa- Travel score
- 100
- Foreign transaction fee
- None
- Monthly fee
- $0
- ATMs abroad: Other banks’ ATM fees refunded worldwide, no limit
- 5
Capital One 360 Checking
Capital One · Mastercard- Travel score
- 80
- Foreign transaction fee
- None
- Monthly fee
- $0
- ATMs abroad: No bank fee (the ATM owner may charge one)
- 6
ZYNLO More Spending Checking
ZYNLO Bank- Travel score
- 80
- Foreign transaction fee
- None
- Monthly fee
- $0
- ATMs abroad: No bank fee (the ATM owner may charge one)
- 7
SoFi Checking and Savings
SoFi Bank · Mastercard- Travel score
- 77
- Foreign transaction fee
- 0.2%
- Monthly fee
- $0
- ATMs abroad: No bank fee (the ATM owner may charge one)
- 8
Varo Bank Account
Varo Bank · Visa- Travel score
- 66
- Foreign transaction fee
- None
- Monthly fee
- $0
- ATMs abroad: $3.50 bank fee per withdrawal, plus any ATM owner fee
- 9
Ally Bank Spending Account
Ally Bank · Mastercard- Travel score
- 65
- Foreign transaction fee
- 1%
- Monthly fee
- $0
- ATMs abroad: No bank fee (the ATM owner may charge one)
- 10
Ardent Cashback Checking
Ardent Credit Union · Visa- Travel score
- 65
- Foreign transaction fee
- 1%
- Monthly fee
- $0
- ATMs abroad: No bank fee (the ATM owner may charge one)
- Rewards: 1.5% cash back on qualifying purchases
- 11
Axos Checking
Axos Bank- Travel score
- 65
- Foreign transaction fee
- 1%
- Monthly fee
- $0
- ATMs abroad: No bank fee (the ATM owner may charge one)
- 12
Axos ONE Checking
Axos Bank- Travel score
- 65
- Foreign transaction fee
- 1%
- Monthly fee
- $0
- ATMs abroad: No bank fee (the ATM owner may charge one)
- 13
CommunityAmerica Cashback Free Checking
CommunityAmerica Credit Union · Visa- Travel score
- 59
- Foreign transaction fee
- 1%
- Monthly fee
- $0
- ATMs abroad: $1.50 bank fee per withdrawal, plus any ATM owner fee
- Rewards: 1% cash back on qualifying purchases (first $500 a month)
- 14
Nuvision High Yield Checking
Nuvision Federal Credit Union- Travel score
- 56
- Foreign transaction fee
- 0.8%
- Monthly fee
- $0
- ATMs abroad: $3 bank fee per withdrawal, plus any ATM owner fee
- 15
Soarion SkyX Checking
Soarion Credit Union · Visa- Travel score
- 56
- Foreign transaction fee
- 1%
- Monthly fee
- $6/mo (can be waived)
- ATMs abroad: $1.50 bank fee per withdrawal, plus any ATM owner fee
- Rewards: $0.12 back per qualifying purchase of $5 or more
- 16
American Express Rewards Checking
American Express- Travel score
- 40
- Foreign transaction fee
- 2.7%
- Monthly fee
- $0
- ATMs abroad: No bank fee (the ATM owner may charge one)
- Rewards: 0.5 Amex Membership Rewards points per $1 on qualifying purchases
- 17
Primis Perks Checking
Primis Bank- Travel score
- 40
- Foreign transaction fee
- 2%
- Monthly fee
- $5/mo (can be waived)
- ATMs abroad: $2 bank fee per withdrawal, plus any ATM owner fee
- Rewards: $0.25 back per qualifying purchase
- 18
PayPal Debit Card
PayPal · Mastercard- Travel score
- 32
- Foreign transaction fee
- 2.5%
- Monthly fee
- $0
- ATMs abroad: $2.50 bank fee per withdrawal, plus any ATM owner fee
- Rewards: 5% cash back on one category you choose each month (groceries, restaurants, fuel and EV charging, apparel, or rideshare and transit) (first $1,000 a month)
- 19
U.S. Bank Smartly Checking
U.S. Bank · Visa- Travel score
- 17
- Foreign transaction fee
- 3%
- Monthly fee
- $12/mo (can be waived)
- ATMs abroad: $3 bank fee per withdrawal, plus any ATM owner fee
- 20
Chase Total Checking
Chase · Visa- Travel score
- 8
- Foreign transaction fee
- 3%
- Monthly fee
- $15/mo (can be waived)
- ATMs abroad: $5 bank fee per withdrawal, plus any ATM owner fee
- 21
Wells Fargo Everyday Checking
Wells Fargo · Visa- Travel score
- 8
- Foreign transaction fee
- 3%
- Monthly fee
- $15/mo (can be waived)
- ATMs abroad: $5 bank fee per withdrawal, plus any ATM owner fee
Fees side by side
| Card | Foreign transaction fee | ATMs abroad | Monthly fee | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Betterment Checking | None | Other banks’ ATM fees refunded worldwide, no limit | $0 | 100 |
| E*TRADE Max-Rate Checking | None | Other banks’ ATM fees refunded worldwide, no limit | $0 | 100 |
| Fidelity Cash Management Account | None | Other banks’ ATM fees refunded worldwide, no limit | $0 | 100 |
| Schwab Bank Investor Checking | None | Other banks’ ATM fees refunded worldwide, no limit | $0 | 100 |
| Capital One 360 Checking | None | No bank fee (the ATM owner may charge one) | $0 | 80 |
| ZYNLO More Spending Checking | None | No bank fee (the ATM owner may charge one) | $0 | 80 |
| SoFi Checking and Savings | 0.2% | No bank fee (the ATM owner may charge one) | $0 | 77 |
| Varo Bank Account | None | $3.50 bank fee per withdrawal, plus any ATM owner fee | $0 | 66 |
| Ally Bank Spending Account | 1% | No bank fee (the ATM owner may charge one) | $0 | 65 |
| Ardent Cashback Checking | 1% | No bank fee (the ATM owner may charge one) | $0 | 65 |
| Axos Checking | 1% | No bank fee (the ATM owner may charge one) | $0 | 65 |
| Axos ONE Checking | 1% | No bank fee (the ATM owner may charge one) | $0 | 65 |
| CommunityAmerica Cashback Free Checking | 1% | $1.50 bank fee per withdrawal, plus any ATM owner fee | $0 | 59 |
| Nuvision High Yield Checking | 0.8% | $3 bank fee per withdrawal, plus any ATM owner fee | $0 | 56 |
| Soarion SkyX Checking | 1% | $1.50 bank fee per withdrawal, plus any ATM owner fee | $6/mo (can be waived) | 56 |
| American Express Rewards Checking | 2.7% | No bank fee (the ATM owner may charge one) | $0 | 40 |
| Primis Perks Checking | 2% | $2 bank fee per withdrawal, plus any ATM owner fee | $5/mo (can be waived) | 40 |
| PayPal Debit Card | 2.5% | $2.50 bank fee per withdrawal, plus any ATM owner fee | $0 | 32 |
| U.S. Bank Smartly Checking | 3% | $3 bank fee per withdrawal, plus any ATM owner fee | $12/mo (can be waived) | 17 |
| Chase Total Checking | 3% | $5 bank fee per withdrawal, plus any ATM owner fee | $15/mo (can be waived) | 8 |
| Wells Fargo Everyday Checking | 3% | $5 bank fee per withdrawal, plus any ATM owner fee | $15/mo (can be waived) | 8 |
How we score travel debit cards
The travel score weighs three things: the foreign transaction fee (45%), ATM withdrawals abroad (40%) and the monthly fee (15%). The foreign transaction fee part is full marks at 0% and zero at 3% or more. For ATMs, unlimited worldwide refunds of other banks’ fees get full marks. A capped worldwide refund gets at least half, rising to full marks at $25 a month. Without refunds, a card gets at most half, falling to zero at a $5 bank fee per withdrawal, because the ATM owner’s fee still applies. A $0 monthly fee gets full marks. A fee that can be waived gets at least half. Otherwise the fee part falls to zero at $15 a month.
Only accounts that anyone in the US can open are included, and only those whose foreign transaction fee and foreign ATM terms we could confirm. Fees for cards that come with a checking account come from the same database as YourBestSavings. No bank pays for a place on this page. See our methodology.
Questions, answered from the data
Which debit card is best for international travel?
Betterment Checking from Betterment has the highest travel score: none foreign transaction fee, and other banks’ ATM fees refunded worldwide, no limit. Next are E*TRADE Max-Rate Checking and Fidelity Cash Management Account.
Which debit cards have no foreign transaction fee?
Of the 21 cards here: Betterment Checking, E*TRADE Max-Rate Checking, Fidelity Cash Management Account, Schwab Bank Investor Checking, Capital One 360 Checking, ZYNLO More Spending Checking and Varo Bank Account.
Which debit cards refund ATM fees abroad?
Betterment Checking, E*TRADE Max-Rate Checking, Fidelity Cash Management Account and Schwab Bank Investor Checking refund other banks’ ATM fees worldwide with no monthly limit.
How much do big banks charge to use a debit card abroad?
Foreign transaction fees on the cards here run from 0% to 3% of each purchase. A bank fee on foreign ATM withdrawals can come on top, plus whatever the ATM owner charges. Each card’s fees are in the table.
Should I let the merchant or ATM convert to dollars?
No. When a card terminal or ATM abroad offers to charge you in US dollars (“dynamic currency conversion”), it sets its own exchange rate, which is usually worse than your card network’s. Choose the local currency.
How often is this list updated?
The site rebuilds whenever card data changes and at least once a month. The newest check in this data is from October 25, 2026. Confirm current fees on the bank’s site before you travel.