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The Best Mastercard Prepaid Cards in Canada for 2024

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Fact Checked

This article covers the best Mastercard prepaid cards in Canada, including reloadable prepaid cards like the Neo Money Card, EQ Bank Card, KOHO Mastercard, and Wealthsimple Cash Card.

Prepaid cards are easy to qualify for as you donโ€™t need a credit history to get approved, and the very best ones offer cash back rewards and other perks.

Since you are spending only the cash available when you use a prepaid card, it can help you manage your finances better and avoid debt. Also, there are no interest fees to worry about compared to a regular credit card.

Read on to learn about the best Mastercard prepaid cards in Canada, their features, benefits, fees, and alternatives.

9 Best Mastercard Prepaid Cards in Canada

Prepaid MastercardBest ForAnnual Fee
KOHO Prepaid MastercardCash back rewards, savings interest, and budgeting$0* for Essential account (paid plans also offered)
EQ Bank CardCash back rewards and high savings interest, no FX fees$0 monthly
Neo Money CardCash back rewards and high savings interest$4.99 for Premium
BMO Prepaid MastercardTravel convenience$6.95; $5/month inactivity fee
Cash Passport Prepaid MastercardTravel convenience$15 purchase fee; $3 reload fee; $2.80 monthly inactivity fee

1. KOHO Mastercard Prepaid Card

The KOHO Prepaid Mastercard is one of the top reloadable Mastercard prepaid cards you can get in Canada.

The standard version offers 1% cash back on grocery, restaurant, gas, and transportation purchases and high savings interest on your balance.

KOHO also includes a free budgeting app that helps you save money automatically. If you want to improve your credit score, you can subscribe to its optional credit-building feature (it costs an extra $5 to $10 monthly).

You can keep a balance of up to $40,000 on your KOHO Card and add funds to it using e-Transfer and direct deposit.

Interac e-Transfers are available, and FX fees are lower at 1.5% (compared to the standard 2.50% fee). Users also get access to 0% APR cash advances in-app of up to $250.

Get all monthly fees waived for the KOHO Essentials account by setting up a recurring direct deposit.

KOHO Prepaid Mastercard

Rewards: Earn 1% cash back on groceries and transportation, up to 5% unlimited cash back at partner stores in Canada. Get up to 5% interest on your entire balance. Users also get access to a free budgeting app, 0% APR cash advances and free credit score checks.

Welcome offer: $40 sign up bonus after first purchase (use GETCASH promo code during sign-up)

Interest rate fee: N/A

Annual fee: $0*

2. EQ Bank Prepaid Mastercard

The EQ Bank Mastercard works in tandem with the EQ Bank Personal Account, a high interest savings account. It offers perks you wonโ€™t find at other prepaid card providers, such as:

  • 0.50% cash back on all purchases (no maximum limits and no categories)
  • No ATM fees when you use ATMs in Canada
  • FX fees are waived on foreign transactions โ€“ saving you up to 3% in fees
  • Earn up to 4% interest on your card balance
  • No monthly or annual fees

To get the EQ Bank prepaid Mastercard, you can open a free Personal Account online, fund it using Interac e-Transfer, direct deposit, or mobile cheque deposits, and request a card.

You can spend up to $5,000 daily using this card and hold up to $10,000. ATM withdrawals are limited to $500 daily.

EQ Bank Card

Rewards: Earn 0.50% cash back on all purchases and up to 3.75% savings interest on your entire balance.

Perks: Free ATM transactions in Canada, no foreign currency transaction fees abroad, and unlimited transactions.

Interest rate fee: 0%

Annual fee: $0

3. Neo Money Card

The Neo Money Card connects with a free savings account and offers up to 3% cash back at several locations in Canada.

This prepaid Mastercard offers:

  • Cash back rewards at participating retailers
  • Access to a mobile app that tracks your spending
  • Free e-transfers using the Neo Money account
  • Unlimited transactions and bill payments

The standard Neo Money card is free; however, you can opt for a premium account for $4.99 monthly and access extra perks.

The maximum balance you can have in your Neo Money account is $200,000. A 2.5% FX fee applies to foreign transactions where applicable.

Get a $10 bonus when you open a free account and fund your card with at least $50 or more.

Neo Money card

Rewards: Earn up to 3% cash back at Neo partners.

Welcome offer: n/a

Interest rate fee: 0%

Annual fee: $0 (no monthly fees)

4. BMO Prepaid Mastercard

The BMO Prepaid Travel Mastercard has a $6.95 annual fee. It is reloadable and offers similar conveniences as a credit card.

You can add funds to this card using your BMO Chequing or BMO savings account. If you are not a BMO customer, you can link your bank account to other Canadian financial institutions.

This card offers an extended warranty and purchase protection insurance coverage; however, cash back rewards are lacking.

The maximum balance for the BMO Prepaid Mastercard is $10,000.

In addition to its annual fee, you should note its $5 for statement requests or cash advances, 2.50% foreign currency conversion fees, and an inactivity fee of $5 per month.

Learn more about the card in this review.

bmo-prepaid-travel-mastercard

5. Canada Post Cash Passport Prepaid Mastercard

The Cash Passport Mastercard holds multiple currencies, including Canadian Dollars, US Dollars, Euros, British Pounds, Australian Dollars, Mexican Pesos, and Japanese Yen.

When making payments in any of these currencies, you avoid paying FX fees if you have an adequate balance on your card.

This prepaid card can be purchased easily at Canada Post offices for $15.

Other fees that apply include:

  • 1.50% fee when used in Canada
  • $2.80 monthly inactivity fee
  • $3 for loading money onto the card
  • Variable fees for ATM withdrawals depending on the currency
  • 3.25% foreign exchange fee
  • $18 shortfall fee
  • $20 cash out fee
  • Variable fees when you cash out over the counter

The maximum amount you can load in a 12-month period is $30,000. Get more details in this Canada Post Prepaid Mastercard review.

canada post cash pasport

6. Vanilla Prepaid Mastercard

Vanilla Prepaid Cards are available as Vanilla Prepaid Mastercard and Vanilla Prepaid Visa cards.

You can purchase them at multiple locations across Canada, including Walmart, Petro-Canada, London Drugs, Express Mart, Ultramar, and Best Buy.

The Vanilla Prepaid Mastercard is available in $25, $50, $100, and $200 denominations and is non-reloadable.

Activation fees vary based on the amount and range between $3.95 and $7.50. There is also a 2.50% FX fee when you make payments in a foreign currency.

Vanilla prepaid cards are not accepted at gas stations, and they cannot be used for withdrawing cash at ATMs or for pre-authorized billing.

Learn more about how they work in this review.

Vanilla Prepaid Mastercard

7. Titanium+ Prepaid Mastercard

Titanium+ Prepaid Mastercard is a reloadable prepaid card sold at Money Mart and Insta Cheques locations in Canada.

It is issued by Peoples Trust Company under license by Mastercard International Incorporated. Peoples Trust also issues several other prepaid cards, including:

  • Cash Passport Prepaid Mastercard
  • EPIC Prepaid Mastercard
  • MyVanilla Prepaid Mastercard
  • Preferences Prepaid Mastercard
  • Universal Prepaid Mastercard
  • West Edmonton Mall Mastercard

You can load the Titanium+ Prepaid Mastercard at any Money Mart store, deposit your paycheque using DirectLoad, or purchase a Vanilla Reload PIN.

This Prepaid card has many fees, including a $9.99 activation fee, $2.99 to $3.95 to load funds, $1.99 for ATM withdrawals in Canada (and $2.99 + 3% abroad), $1.50 for live customer service, $4.99 for a replacement card, $0.25 for automated customer service, and more.

The maximum balance for the Titanium+ Prepaid Mastercard is $15,000.

You can learn more about how it works here.

Titanium_ MasterCard

8. Opt+ Prepaid Mastercard

The Opt+ Prepaid Mastercard is issued by PACE Savings & Credit Union. You can purchase it at any Cash Money store for $14.95 + tax.

To load this prepaid card, you can visit a Cash Money location or set up a direct deposit, so your paycheque is paid directly to your card.

The maximum balance for the Opt+ Prepaid Mastercard is $10,000.

Other card fees include a $7 monthly service fee (after 30 days), $5 for card replacement, a 3% FX fee, $2 for ATM withdrawals in Canada ($3 +3% abroad), $5 for paper statements, $4.95 monthly dormancy fee after 60 days of inactivity, and more.

9. Wealthsimple Cash Card

The Wealthsimple Cash Card is a Prepaid Mastercard that offers 1% cash back rewards on all purchases.

This no-fee Prepaid card is one of the best reloadable Mastercard Prepaid cards in Canada.

You can add funds to your card by linking a bank account.

While there are no transaction limits per day, the maximum spending limit per transaction is $5,000, and ATM withdrawals are limited to $500 per transaction.

Learn more in this review.

best prepaid mastercard in canada

Prepaid Mastercard Alternatives in Canada

If you are looking for a no-fee prepaid Visa Card, the CIBC AC Conversion Card works well for foreign currencies.

If your need is for a credit card that is easy to qualify for, you can consider the following options:

Simplii Financial Cash Back Visa Card

Simplii Financial Cash Back Visa Card

Rewards: Earn 4% cash back at restaurants; 1.5% on gas & groceries, and 0.5% elsewhere (category spending limits apply).โ€ 

Welcome offer: na.

Interest rates: 20.99% on purchases and 22.99% on cash advances.

Annual fee: $0

โ€ Terms and conditions apply. Click โ€˜Apply Nowโ€™ for complete details. This offer is not available for residents of Quebec.

Neo Mastercard

Neo Credit card

Rewards: Average of 5% cash back at 12,000+ partners.

Welcome offer: $25 welcome cash bonus.

Interest rates: 19.99% โ€“ 29.99% on purchases; 22.99% โ€“ 31.99% for cash advances.

Annual fee: $0 to $4.99 monthly

Tangerine Money-Back Mastercard

Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card

Rewards: Earn up to 2% unlimited cash back in up to 3 spending categories and 0.50% on all other purchases.

Welcome offer: Get an extra 10% cash back on up to $1,000 in spending in the first 2 months ($100 value); 1.95% balance transfer rate for 6 months.

Interest rates: 19.95% for purchases, balance transfers, and cash advances.

Annual fee: $0

Related: Best Visa Prepaid Cards in Canada.

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Author

Gravatar for Enoch Omololu, MSc (Econ)
Enoch Omololu, MSc (Econ)

Enoch Omololu, personal finance expert, author, and founder of Savvy New Canadians, has written about money matters for over 10 years. Enoch has an MSc (Econ) degree in Finance and Investment Management from the University of Aberdeen Business School and has completed the Canadian Securities Course. His expertise has been highlighted in major publications like Forbes, Globe and Mail, Business Insider, CBC News, Toronto Star, Financial Post, CTV News, TD Direct Investing, Canadian Securities Exchange, and many others. Enoch is passionate about helping others win with their finances and recently created a practical investing course for beginners. You can read his full author bio.

About Savvy New Canadians

Savvy New Canadians is one of Canada's top personal finance platforms. Millions of Canadians use our site each year to learn how to save for retirement, invest smartly, maximize rewards, and earn extra cash. We have been featured in prominent finance media, including Forbes, Globe and Mail, Business Insider, CBC, MSN, Wealthsimple, and TD Direct Investing. Learn more about Savvy New Canadians.

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