Wealthsimple Cash Card Review 2023: Top Pros and Cons

The Wealthsimple Cash Card is one of the best prepaid cards in Canada.

You can easily apply for the card in-app if you have a Wealthsimple Cash account and start earning 1% cash back on all purchases.

This Wealthsimple Cash Card review covers how it works, fees to watch out for, and how to earn cash back when you shop.

Wealthsimple Cash Card Overview

The Wealthsimple Cash Card is a prepaid Mastercard (previously a Visa card) offered by Wealthsimple Payments Inc. via its partnership with People’s Trust Company and Mastercard.

Also referred to as Cash Card, the Wealthsimple Mastercard is a key feature of the company’s P2P money transfer app known as Wealthsimple Cash.

While the app is primarily for receiving and making payments instantly, the Cash Card makes it possible to withdraw money at ATMs, make POS payments, waive FX fees, and earn cash back effortlessly.

Wealthsimple Visa Prepaid Card Benefits

No Annual Fees: The Wealthsimple Cash Card has no monthly or annual fees. This makes it a great option if you are looking for a no-fee cash back credit card.

Earns Cash Back: The average prepaid card is only for convenience and doesn’t offer rewards. Not so with the Cash Card. You earn 1% cash back on all purchases when you pay using your card. Cash back earned is paid out within seven business days of completing the transaction.

ATM Cash Withdrawals: Use your physical prepaid card to withdraw cash at any ATM, like a debit card.

POS Payments: This card can be used at millions of locations where Visa cards are accepted. Simply tap to make POS payments up to $250.

Apple and Google Pay Compatible: This card works with Apple, Samsung, and Google Play, making it easy to complete purchases while on the go.

Virtual Card: In addition to the physical card, you get a virtual Wealthsimple Card in-app that you can use. There’s no need to carry the physical card around.

Save on FX Fees: The Cash Card does not charge extra fees when you use your card for purchases abroad or make payments in currencies other than the Canadian dollar. Standard Visa fees still apply.

Downsides of the Wealthsimple Cash Card

If you were expecting a tungsten metal Wealthsimple Cash card, you may be disappointed. The limited-edition metal card is not available to all users.

Prepaid cards don’t affect your credit score, so don’t expect to use this card to build your credit score.

How To Use The Wealthsimple Cash Card

If you don’t have a Wealthsimple Cash account, you can easily sign up online. Cash is now part of the same app for stock trading and investments. When you sign up for the Wealthsimple App here, you receive a cash bonus after funding the new account.

It may take 2-3 weeks to get your card in the mail. In the meantime, you can use the virtual Cash Card on the app.

When you receive the physical card, call 1-877-868-0854 to activate it and set your PIN.

Note the following transaction limits when using your card:

	Per Transaction	Per Day
Transaction limit	Unlimited	Unlimited
Maximum spending limit	$3,000 CAD	$5,000 CAD
ATM withdrawals	$500 CAD	$1,000 CAD

Wealthsimple Cash Card Fees

The Wealthsimple Cash Card does not charge fees for:

• Foreign currency purchases
• ATM withdrawals in Canada
• ATM withdrawals outside Canada

Note that fees may be charged by ATM operators and other financial institutions that are involved when you make a transaction.

For example, the standard ATM withdrawal fee in Canada is up to $3.

Is Wealthsimple Cash Card Safe?

This card is issued by People’s Trust Company, a Canadian financial institution based in British Columbia. People’s Trust also issues the prepaid cards offered by KOHO and Mogo.

The cash in your Wealthsimple Cash account is held in a custodial account with Canadian Western Trust Bank (CWB).

Since CWB is a member of the Canada Deposit Insurance Company (CDIC), this means your deposits are protected up to $100,000 if it becomes insolvent.

Wealthsimple Cash Card vs. KOHO Mastercard vs. EQ Bank Card

KOHO Prepaid Mastercard

This reloadable prepaid Card is offered by KOHO and comes with a free budgeting app. The regular KOHO Card is free; however, you can also upgrade to KOHO Premium.

Users earn up to 5% cash back on purchases, and when you join here, you get a $20 welcome bonus (use referral code CASHBACK).

EQ Bank Card

The new EQ Bank Card provides access to a high-interest savings rate and unlimited 0.50% cash back on all purchases.

In addition, this free prepaid/debit card offers free ATM withdrawals anywhere in Canada and no-FX fees when you make payments abroad.

Features	Wealthsimple Cash Card	KOHO Prepaid Mastercard	EQ Bank Card
Monthly fees	$0	$0 ($9 for KOHO Premium)	$0
Earn cash back	1% cash back on all purchases	Up to 5% cash back	0.5% on all purchases
FX fees	Waived	1.5% (waived for KOHO Premium)	0%
Earn interest on your balance	n/a	Up to 2%	2.50%
Mobile app	Yes	Yes	Yes
Virtual card	Yes	Yes	No
Apple/Google Pay	Yes	Yes	Yes
Budgeting tool	No	Yes	No
Credit card	No	No	No
Card type	Mastercard	Mastercard	Mastercard
Welcome bonus	n/a	$20 bonus with code CASHBACK	n/a

Conclusion

Wealthsimple offers several innovative financial products that help Canadians save on fees and increase their net worth.

The Wealthsimple Cash Card and app aim to revolutionize how we spend, send and receive money while saving money and earning rewards.

Wealthsimple Cash FAQs

Related:

• Is Cash App in Canada?
• Venmo Canada Alternatives
• Wealthsimple promotions
• STACK vs KOHO

Have you tried the Cash Card? What are your thoughts?