Wise card review for South Asia [2026]
Last update:
Take a look at the Wise card’s features, fees and limitations in South Asia, and how it compares to the World Card
Key takeaways
- The Wise card in India is a personal travel card, not a business card. It is available through Wise personal accounts only
- Wise Business users in India cannot link the card to their business account and existing balances; a separate personal account is required to get the card
- The Wise card is not available in Pakistan or Bangladesh
- There is no annual fee, and spending in a currency already held in the account is free, but conversion fees from 1.16% apply when spending in a currency not held
- Monthly spending for Indian cardholders is capped at INR 70,000
The Wise card supports spending in 160+ countries with no foreign transaction fees when paying in a currency already held in the account. It is available as both a physical and digital card through Wise personal accounts in India only.¹
It is not available in Pakistan or Bangladesh. Also, existing Wise Business account holders in India cannot link the card to their business account; they need to create a separate personal account to access it.¹
This article covers the Wise card’s features, fees and structural considerations. It also compares it with WorldFirst’s World Card as an alternative for businesses that need multi-currency card access.
What is the Wise card?
The Wise card is a payment card issued by Wise, available as both a physical card and a digital card that can be used immediately after setup. The card can be used online, in stores and at ATMs.
The card is not a multi-currency card in the traditional sense. Users can pre-load 40+ currencies into their Wise personal account and spend without conversion fees in those currencies. When spending in a currency not held in the account, Wise auto-converts at the mid-market rate plus a conversion fee from 1.16%.²
This card is linked to Wise personal accounts and not business accounts. While Wise does support business cards in other regions, it doesn’t yet support them in South Asia yet.
Pros and cons of the Wise card
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
|
Wise card fees: The breakdown
| Wise card¹,² | |
|---|---|
| Card issuance | Zero |
| Annual fee | Zero |
| Digital card | Zero |
| Card replacement | Zero |
| Spending in a currency held in account | Zero |
| Spending in a currency not held in account | Conversion fee from 1.16%² |
| ATM withdrawals up to US$200 per month | Zero |
| ATM withdrawals above US$200 per month | US$1.40 + 3.25% fee² |
| E-wallet top-ups (certain currencies) | 2%² |
| Monthly spending limit (India) | INR 70,000² |
Fees checked in May 2026. Wise fees vary by market and currency route.
Wise card: Main features
Spending with the card
The Wise card works by drawing from currency balances held in the Wise personal account. Users first need to top up their Wise e-wallet and they can then use the funds in the wallet through the card. If a user holds USD and makes a USD transaction, there is no conversion fee.
If they spend in a currency not held in the account, Wise automatically converts from another held currency at a conversion fee from 1.16%.²
Though personal accounts in Wise cannot accept funds, only send them. So every time users want to spend using the card, they would have to top up the account with the required currency funds, which would attract some conversion fee.
Users can convert INR into 40+ currencies in advance and then spend without additional fees in those currencies.¹
Cards for team members
The Wise card does not support issuing multiple cards to team members under a single account. Each card is tied to an individual Wise personal account.
Availability in South Asia
The Wise card is available in India only through Wise personal accounts.¹ It is not available in Pakistan or Bangladesh. Wise Business account holders in India cannot link the card to their existing business account or business balances. To access the card, they must create a separate Wise personal account, load funds into it independently, and use the card from that personal balance.¹
This separation means that business funds held in a Wise Business account (where available) cannot be spent directly through the card. There is no bridge between the two account types for card access in India.
Alternative to the Wise card: The World Card
The World Card is a Mastercard-powered business payment card linked to the World Account–a multi-currency account that supports sending, receiving, holding and converting funds in 15+ currencies. WorldFirst offers up to 20 virtual cards per business at zero issuance cost, with no annual fee.
When paying in any of the 15 supported currencies (with sufficient balance held in that currency), no fees apply on the transaction. If the balance in the transaction currency is insufficient, WorldFirst converts from another held currency at competitive exchange rates.
Here are the key features of the World Card
- Business card, not personal. The World Card is designed for business use, with cards issued to team members under the same business account.
- Up to 20 cards per business at zero cost.
- Linked to 15+ currency balances in the World Account, with no fees when paying in supported currencies with sufficient balance.
- Supports 150+ currencies for card payments globally
- No monthly spending cap tied to a country-specific regulatory limit
Head-to-head fee comparison
| WorldFirst World Card | |
|---|---|
| Card issuance fee | Zero |
| Annual fee | Zero |
| Number of cards | Up to 20 per business at zero cost |
| Card type | Business payment card |
| Currencies supported per card | 150+ currencies; no fees in 15 with sufficient balance |
| Fee for spending in held currency | Zero |
| Fee for spending in non-held currency | 1.5% (all currencies) |
| ATM withdrawals | Not applicable (virtual card) |
| E-wallet top-ups (certain currencies) | 2%² |
| Monthly spending limit (India) | INR 70,000² |
Fees checked in May 2026.
FAQ
Is the Wise card available for businesses in India?
The Wise card in India is a personal card, not a business card. Wise Business account holders in India cannot link the card to their business account.
Can I use the Wise card in Pakistan or Bangladesh?
No. The Wise card is not available in Pakistan or Bangladesh. In these markets, Wise personal accounts do not support cards yet.
Sources:
- https://wise.com/card/
- https://wise.com/in/pricing/card-fees
- https://wise.com/in/business/receive-money
This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or professional advice. This article should not be regarded as constituting an offer or a solicitation to buy or sell any regulated or financial products or services. WorldFirst makes no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or applicability of the content, and readers are encouraged to consult with legal professionals or other professionals for advice tailored to their specific situation. WorldFirst does not guarantee the accuracy and completeness of this article and expressly disclaims any and all liability to any person in respect of the consequences of anything done or omitted to be done wholly or partly in reliance on this article.
Hu Wenzhan is the Emerging Markets Country Manager at WorldFirst. He brings expertise across Fintech, Payments, Banking, New Markets Growth to help clients grow their global business.
Hu Wenzhan
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