UK Travel Debit Card Comparison
Nine UK debit cards that charge little or nothing abroad, side by side — and what £1,000 of cash from Thai ATMs actually costs on each, once allowances, daily limits and the ฿220 machine fee are counted.
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Fee-free spending and cash — the right daily limit for Thai ATMs.
A good debit card does most of the work on a trip to Thailand. It pays for your meals, hotels and Grab rides at the Visa or Mastercard rate, and it gets you baht from Thai ATMs without your bank adding a fee. The wrong one adds about 3% to everything.
This page puts nine UK debit cards that charge little or nothing abroad side by side — spending fees, free cash allowances, fees above the allowance, daily limits and monthly cost — and works out what £1,000 of cash from Thai ATMs would actually cost on each. That last table matters more than you might think: a lower daily limit means smaller withdrawals and more ฿220 machine fees, and a "free" allowance of £200 doesn't go far in Thailand.
For a fuller explanation of each card and how to use them in Thailand, see our guide to the best UK debit cards for Thailand travel. Figures were checked on 11–12 October 2026.
The short answer
Chase UK is the best all-rounder: no Chase fee on spending or cash abroad and a £500 daily cash limit, though fee-free cash abroad is capped at £1,500 a month. Starling has no monthly cap on fee-free cash, which suits long stays, but its £300 daily limit means more Thai ATM fees. Kroo is the best fee-free Visa — the ideal backup to a Mastercard.
Monzo, Revolut and Wise are excellent for card payments but have modest free cash allowances on their free plans. If you'll rely on cash, a card with no cash fee saves more.
UK travel debit cards compared
UK card fees only — Thai ATMs add ฿220 per withdrawal with any card. Scroll sideways on a phone.
| Card | Spending fee | Free cash abroad | Above allowance | Daily cash limit | Monthly cost | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chase UK (Mastercard) | None | Up to £1,500/month | Monthly cap applies | £500 | £0 | Get card |
| Starling (Mastercard) | None | Unlimited | — | £300 | £0 | Get card |
| Kroo (Visa) | None | Unlimited | — | £300 (6 withdrawals) | £0 | Get card |
| First Direct (Mastercard) | None | Unlimited | — | Varies | £0 | Get card |
| Nationwide FlexPlus (Visa) | None | Unlimited | — | Varies | £18 (incl. travel insurance) | Get card |
| Monzo, free plan (Mastercard) | None | £200 per 30 days | 3% | Varies | £0 | Get card |
| Revolut Standard | None up to £1,000/month | 5 withdrawals or £200/month | 2% (min £1) | Varies | £0 | Get card |
| Wise | From 0.43% conversion | £250/month | 2.69% | Varies | £0 (£7 card) | Get card |
| Currensea Essential | None up to £500, then 1% | £200/month | 2% | Varies | £0 (£4.95 card) | Get card |
| Typical standard debit card | 2.75–2.99% | None — fee on all cash | 2.75–2.99%, sometimes plus a fixed fee | Varies | Varies |
Figures from each provider's published terms, checked 11 October 2026; Which? (October 2026). Revolut charges more at weekends and above its allowances on the free plan.
What £1,000 of cash in Thailand costs on each card
£1,000 is about ฿44,380 at October 2026 rates. We assume withdrawals of up to ฿20,000 at a time where the card's daily limit allows, and the ฿220 Thai ATM fee on every withdrawal.
| Card | Withdrawals needed | UK card fees | Thai ATM fees | Total | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chase UK | 3 | £0 | £14.87 | £14.87 | Get card |
| First Direct | 3 | £0 | £14.87 | £14.87 | Get card |
| Nationwide FlexPlus | 3 | £0 | £14.87 | £14.87 (+£18 monthly fee) | Get card |
| Starling | 4 (£300 a day) | £0 | £19.83 | £19.83 | Get card |
| Kroo | 4 (£300 a day) | £0 | £19.83 | £19.83 | Get card |
| Revolut Standard | 3 | £16 (2% over £200) | £14.87 | £30.87 | Get card |
| Currensea Essential | 3 | £16 (2% over £200) | £14.87 | £30.87 | Get card |
| Wise | 3 | £20.18 (2.69% over £250) | £14.87 | £35.05 + conversion fee | Get card |
| Monzo, free plan | 3 | £24 (3% over £200) | £14.87 | £38.87 | Get card |
| Typical standard debit card | 3 | £29.90 (2.99%) | £14.87 | £44.77 |
Mid-market ฿44.38 (Wise, 12 October 2026); ฿220 = £4.96. Assumes allowances unused before the trip. Standard card based on a 2.99% non-sterling fee (Barclays); some banks add a fixed fee per withdrawal too.
Each card in brief
The essentials, and who each card suits in Thailand.
1.Chase UK
Best all-rounderNo Chase fee on spending or cash abroad, the Mastercard rate and a £500 daily limit — enough for ฿20,000 at a time.
- Spending abroad
- No fee
- Cash abroad
- No fee, £1,500/month
- Daily cash
- £500
- Network
- Mastercard
Why it works in Thailand
- Fewest Thai ATM fees
- Strong app with instant freeze
- Full UK current account
Watch out for
- £1,500 monthly cap on cash abroad
- UK residents only
2.Starling Bank
Best for long staysNo fees on spending or cash abroad and no monthly cap — the simplest choice for a long trip or a winter in Thailand.
- Spending abroad
- No fee
- Cash abroad
- No fee, no cap
- Daily cash
- £300
- Network
- Mastercard
Why it works in Thailand
- No monthly cap
- Mastercard rate, no markup
- FSCS protected
Watch out for
- About ฿13,000 per withdrawal
- More ฿220 fees than Chase
3.Kroo
Best Visa backupA fee-free Visa debit card with no cap on fee-free cash — the ideal second card alongside a Mastercard.
- Spending abroad
- No fee
- Cash abroad
- No fee
- Daily cash
- £300, 6 withdrawals
- Network
- Visa
Why it works in Thailand
- Covers you if Mastercard has a problem
- No monthly cap
Watch out for
- £300 daily limit
- Visa rate includes a small markup
4.First Direct 1st Account
Best traditional bankA full-service bank with 24/7 UK phone support and no fees on its debit card abroad since 2023.
- Spending abroad
- No fee
- Cash abroad
- No fee
- Support
- 24/7 phone
- Network
- Mastercard
Why it works in Thailand
- Human support around the clock
- No monthly fee
Watch out for
- Eligibility criteria apply
- Fewer travel app features
5.Monzo
Best for card paymentsNo fee on spending abroad and a brilliant app, but only £200 of free cash every 30 days on the free plan.
- Spending abroad
- No fee
- Free cash
- £200 per 30 days
- Above that
- 3%
- Paid plans
- £400–£600 free
Why it works in Thailand
- Great for paying by card
- Instant notifications
Watch out for
- 3% on cash above £200
- Not ideal if you rely on cash
6.Wise
Best for locking in a rateThe mid-market rate with a small, visible fee, plus the ability to hold baht and send money to a Thai bank account.
- Conversion fee
- From 0.43%
- Free cash
- £250 a month
- Above that
- 2.69%
- Card
- £7 one-off
Why it works in Thailand
- Hold baht before you go
- Cheap transfers to Thailand
Watch out for
- Fee on cash above £250
- Safeguarded, not FSCS protected
Which debit card suits which traveller
Two-week holiday
Chase UK — the £500 daily limit means fewer ฿220 fees, and £1,500 a month of fee-free cash covers most holidays. Add a Visa such as Kroo as a backup.
A month or more
Starling — no monthly cap on fee-free cash. Pair it with Chase to take out larger amounts when you need them.
Mostly paying by card
Monzo or Revolut are excellent for card payments; take cash on a card with no cash fee.
Want to fix your budget
Wise — convert to baht before you fly at the mid-market rate, then spend or withdraw it in Thailand.
Whichever card you choose, carry two — ideally one Mastercard and one Visa from different banks — so a blocked card or a network outage doesn't leave you stuck. And always decline when a Thai ATM offers to convert your withdrawal into pounds.
Why the daily limit matters in Thailand
Almost every Thai bank ATM charges a foreign card a flat ฿220 per withdrawal, whatever the amount — about £5. That makes the size of each withdrawal important: ฿20,000 at once costs about 1.1% in machine fees; ฿5,000 at once costs 4.4%.
Your UK card's daily limit decides how much you can take out in one go. Chase's £500 limit covers a full ฿20,000 withdrawal; Starling's and Kroo's £300 limits stop at about ฿13,300, so the same cash needs more withdrawals. Thai ATMs also set their own maximum per withdrawal — commonly ฿20,000 to ฿30,000 — so check the screen.
See our guide to Thai ATM fees and ATM withdrawal limits in Thailand for every bank's charges and limits.
Setting up your cards before you fly
Most of the digital banks in this comparison let you open an account in minutes on your phone, but the physical card still has to reach you in the post — usually within a few working days, sometimes longer. Apply at least two to three weeks before you travel, so there's time to receive the card, activate it and use it once in the UK.
- Activate the card and know your PIN. Thai ATMs and many card machines ask for a four-digit PIN.
- Turn on instant notifications so you see every payment and withdrawal in pounds as it happens.
- Check your app works abroad. Some banks send one-time passcodes by text to your UK number — keep that SIM active or switch to app-based approval.
- Know how to freeze the card in the app, and save your bank's overseas phone number.
- Raise limits in advance if your app lets you, so you can take out larger amounts at Thai ATMs.
- Carry the two cards separately — one in your wallet, one in the hotel safe.
Most UK digital banks no longer need you to tell them you're travelling, but traditional banks sometimes still block unusual foreign transactions. A quick check in the app or a call before you go avoids a declined card on your first night.
How we compared the cards
We included the UK debit cards most often recommended for travel that charge no fee, or only a small transparent fee, for use abroad, and compared them on spending fees, free cash allowances, fees above the allowance, daily cash limits and monthly cost. Fees are from each provider's published terms on 11 October 2026, cross-checked against Which? (October 2026).
These accounts are designed for UK residents; some providers restrict accounts if you move abroad permanently. If you're relocating, read our guide to travel card eligibility for UK residents. We review this page at least every six months.
Our verdict
Chase UK is the best UK debit card for most trips to Thailand: no Chase fees on spending or cash, and a £500 daily limit that keeps Thai ATM fees down. Starling is best for long stays, with no cap on fee-free cash, and Kroo is the best fee-free Visa backup.
On £1,000 of cash, the right card costs under £20 in total; a standard debit card costs about £45. Carry two cards on different networks, take out larger amounts less often, and always pay in baht.
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What is the best UK debit card for Thailand?
Chase UK for most travellers: no Chase fees on spending or cash abroad and a £500 daily cash limit. Starling is best for long stays because its fee-free cash has no monthly cap.
Which UK debit cards have no fees in Thailand?
Chase, Starling, Kroo, First Direct and Nationwide FlexPlus charge no fees of their own for spending or cash abroad. Monzo, Revolut, Wise and Currensea are fee-free up to an allowance.
How much does it cost to withdraw cash in Thailand with a UK debit card?
Thai ATMs charge about ฿220 per withdrawal with any foreign card. On top of that, standard UK cards add around 2.75% to 2.99%; fee-free cards add nothing.
What is Chase's cash limit abroad?
£500 a day, with fee-free cash abroad capped at £1,500 a month.
Does Starling charge for cash in Thailand?
No. Starling charges no fee for spending or withdrawing abroad, with no monthly cap — only a £300 daily limit.
Is Monzo good for Thailand?
It's excellent for card payments, with no fee and the Mastercard rate. On the free plan, cash abroad is free only up to £200 every 30 days, then 3%.
Is Wise a debit card?
Yes — Wise issues a debit card linked to your Wise account. It's not a bank, so your money is safeguarded rather than FSCS protected.
Should I take a Visa or Mastercard to Thailand?
Both are accepted almost everywhere cards are. Carry one of each, from different providers, as backups for each other.
Why does the daily limit matter?
Because Thai ATMs charge per withdrawal. A higher daily limit means larger withdrawals and fewer ฿220 fees.
Can I use these debit cards if I live in Thailand?
They're designed for UK residents, and some providers restrict accounts if you move abroad. Most long-term residents open a Thai bank account too.
Do fee-free debit cards cover hotel deposits?
Yes, but the hold comes out of your account balance until it's released. A fee-free credit card keeps holds off your current account.
How often is this comparison updated?
We checked every figure on 11–12 October 2026 and review the page at least every six months, or sooner when a provider changes its terms.
British expat and long-term Thailand resident with more than 30 years of experience in international finance. Lawrence writes the Just Landed in Thailand finance guides for people moving, travelling and retiring here.
Sources and how we checked
Card terms from each provider's published information (checked 11 October 2026) and Which? (best debit cards to use abroad, October 2026). Cash cost table uses the mid-market rate of ฿44.38 (Wise, 12 October 2026), a ฿220 Thai ATM fee per withdrawal and withdrawals of up to ฿20,000 where daily limits allow; it assumes allowances are unused before the trip. Figures are illustrative. We review this page at least every six months.
- Chase UK — Travelling with Chase
- Starling Bank — Using your card abroad
- Monzo — Fees for using your card abroad
- Wise — Card spending and ATM pricing (UK)
- Revolut — Standard plan fees (UK)
- Kroo — Foreign card transaction limits
- Nationwide — FlexPlus insurances and benefits
- Moneyfacts — First Direct drops fees on overseas debit card spend
- Currensea — Plans and pricing
- Which? — Best debit cards to use abroad (October 2026)
- Barclays — Using your debit card abroad
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UK Card Foreign-Fee Comparison
What every major UK bank charges you abroad.
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Thai ATM Fee Reference
Every Thai bank ATM: fees and withdrawal limits.
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Important: This guide is general information, not personal financial advice. Fees, limits and eligibility change; we checked every figure on the date shown, but always confirm the current terms with the provider before you apply or travel. Some links on this page may be affiliate links, which means JLIT may earn a commission if you open an account. This never changes the price you pay or the order of our recommendations.
