Wise Card vs BigPay Card 2024 : Travel Card in Malaysia (Part 1)

When it comes to managing international transactions, Malaysians have several options, but two of the most popular choices are the Wise Card and the BigPay Card. Both offer unique features and benefits that cater to different needs. In this review, we’ll compare these two cards to help you decide which is the best fit for your international spending. But if you want to learn more details about BigPay card check out our BigPay Card Malaysia 2024 review article.

Choosing the right card for international transactions is crucial for saving on fees and getting the best exchange rates. Wise and BigPay are two prominent players in this space, each offering distinct advantages. Let’s dive into the details and see which one stands out as the best international transaction method for Malaysians in 2024. Also if you would like to learn more about international transaction method, GXBank Malaysia from under the umbrella of Grab group is the latest trend of digital bank in Malaysia 2024. Check out for more info.

Overview of Wise Card Malaysia 

Company Background: Wise, formerly known as TransferWise, was launched in 2011. It has grown to become a leading provider of low-cost international money transfers and multi-currency accounts.

Key Features:

• Multi-Currency Support: Hold and manage over 50 currencies.
• Real-Time Exchange Rates: Uses the mid-market rate with no hidden markups.
• Low Transaction Fees: Transparent and competitive fees for international transactions.
• Mobile App Functionalities: Manage your account, track spending, and more via the Wise app.

Pros and Cons:

• Pros: Competitive exchange rates, ability to hold multiple currencies, transparent fees.
• Cons: Requires a minimum top-up for card issuance, some fees for certain transactions.

Overview of BigPay Card Malaysia

Company Background: BigPay, launched by AirAsia in 2017, aims to provide accessible financial services to Malaysians, combining the convenience of a digital wallet with a physical card.

Key Features:

• Integration with AirAsia BIG Points: Earn points on transactions.
• Competitive Exchange Rates: Low fees for international spending.
• Transparent Fee Structure: Clear breakdown of costs for different transactions.
• User-Friendly App: Easy account management and tracking.

Pros and Cons:

• Pros: Earn AirAsia BIG Points, competitive fees, strong security features.
• Cons: Limited to MYR accounts, fewer supported currencies compared to Wise.

Crunching the Numbers in Malaysia : Comparing Fees and Charges

Understanding the fees and charges associated with using Wise and BigPay is crucial for making an informed decision about which card is best for your international transactions. Here’s a detailed comparison of the costs you can expect from each card.

Card Issuance Fee

• Wise Card: The issuance fee for the Wise Card is RM13.70. This fee is relatively low and allows you to start using the card immediately for both online and in-store purchases​.
• BigPay Card: To get a BigPay Card, you need to make an initial deposit of RM20. This amount can be used later for spending, effectively making the card free, although the upfront cost is slightly higher than Wise​.

ATM Withdrawal Fees

• Wise: Wise offers two free withdrawals per month up to RM1,000. After this limit, there is a charge of RM5 plus 1.75% of the withdrawal amount. This makes it cost-effective for occasional use but potentially costly for frequent withdrawals.
• BigPay: BigPay charges RM6 per local ATM withdrawal and RM10 or 2% of the amount, whichever is higher, for international withdrawals. While this structure is straightforward, frequent travelers may find the costs adding up quickly​.

Foreign Transaction Fees

• Wise: One of Wise’s key advantages is its low foreign transaction fees, which range from 0.41% to 1.75% depending on the currency. This competitive rate is ideal for frequent international spenders​.
• BigPay: BigPay charges a 1% fee on international transactions, which is competitive but slightly higher than Wise’s lowest rates. This fee applies to all purchases made in foreign currencies, whether online or in-store​​.

Currency Conversion Fees

• Wise: Wise uses the mid-market exchange rate for currency conversions, adding a fee that starts at 0.41%. This transparency ensures that you get a fair rate without hidden markups, making it ideal for converting large amounts of money or making frequent currency exchanges​​.
• BigPay: For currency conversion, BigPay uses the Visa/Mastercard exchange rate and adds a 1% fee. This rate is generally competitive but may not be as favorable as Wise for larger transactions.

Account Maintenance Fees

• Wise: According to SoyaCincau Malaysia, Wise does not charge a monthly maintenance fee, which is a significant advantage for users who prefer to avoid regular charges​​.
• BigPay: BigPay imposes a monthly maintenance fee of RM2.50 if no transactions occur within the month. Currently, this fee is waived, but it’s essential to be aware of potential future charges​.

Summary Table: Fees and Charges

User-Friendly Features: Comparing Wise and BigPay Apps

When it comes to digital banking, user experience and interface are crucial elements that can significantly affect how easily and effectively you manage your finances. Both Wise and BigPay have developed intuitive, user-friendly apps that make it simple to handle everyday transactions and monitor your financial health. Let’s explore how each app performs in terms of usability, features, and overall user satisfaction.

Wise Card Malaysia

App Usability: Wise is renowned for its clean, intuitive interface that caters to both beginners and experienced users. The app provides a seamless experience for transferring money, managing multiple currencies, and tracking transactions. Users can easily switch between currencies, check real-time exchange rates, and manage their Wise account from anywhere in the world.

Features:

• Multi-Currency Management: Hold and manage over 50 currencies, allowing you to transfer, spend, and receive money in multiple currencies with ease​.
• Real-Time Exchange Rates: Provides the mid-market exchange rate with no hidden fees, ensuring you always get a fair deal.
• Expense Tracking: The app offers detailed transaction histories and spending analytics, helping you keep track of your finances and make informed decisions​.
• Virtual Cards: Create multiple virtual cards for online shopping and subscriptions, enhancing security and convenience​.

Customer Reviews: Users frequently praise Wise for its transparency, low fees, and ease of use. The app’s design is often highlighted for its simplicity and efficiency, making international transactions straightforward and hassle-free​​.

BigPay Card Malaysia

App Usability: BigPay’s app is designed with the user in mind, offering a sleek and straightforward interface that makes managing money easy. From tracking expenses to making payments, everything is accessible within a few taps. The integration with AirAsia services also adds an extra layer of convenience for frequent flyers.

Features:

• Integration with AirAsia: Earn AirAsia BIG Points on every transaction, which can be redeemed for flights and other rewards​​.
• Budgeting Tools: The app includes features to help you track and manage your budget, providing insights into your spending habits and helping you stay on top of your finances​​.
• Real-Time Notifications: Receive instant notifications for every transaction, ensuring you are always aware of your account activity.
• Bill Payments and Transfers: Easily pay bills and transfer money to other BigPay users or bank accounts, both locally and internationally​​.

Customer Reviews: BigPay users appreciate the app’s user-friendly design and comprehensive features. The integration with AirAsia is a significant draw for travelers, and the expense tracking tools are frequently mentioned as a helpful feature for managing daily finances​.

Secure and Supported: Wise vs BigPay in Security and Customer Care

When it comes to digital banking, security and customer support are paramount. Both Wise and BigPay have implemented robust security measures to protect users’ financial data and offer reliable customer support to assist with any issues. Here’s a detailed comparison of how each service fares in these critical areas.

Wise Malaysia : Security Features:

• Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Wise employs 2FA to add an extra layer of protection to your account, ensuring that even if someone has your password, they won’t be able to access your account without a second form of verification​.
• Advanced Encryption: All data transmitted through Wise is encrypted using advanced technology, safeguarding your financial information from potential cyber threats​.
• Fraud Detection: Wise uses sophisticated algorithms and monitoring systems to detect and prevent fraudulent activities. Any suspicious transactions are flagged and investigated promptly.
• Account Management: Users can easily freeze and unfreeze their accounts via the app, providing an additional security measure if the card is lost or stolen​.

Customer Support:

• In-App Chat: Wise offers a responsive in-app chat feature where users can get real-time assistance from customer service representatives​.
• Email Support: For detailed inquiries, Wise provides support through email, with a reputation for quick and helpful responses​.
• Phone Support: Wise also offers phone support, ensuring that users can speak directly with a representative for immediate help​​.

BigPay： Security Features:

• Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): BigPay also employs 2FA to ensure that your account is protected with an additional layer of security beyond just your password​​.
• Instant Account Freezing: In the event of a lost or stolen card, users can instantly freeze their accounts using the BigPay app, preventing unauthorized transactions​​.
• Encryption and Data Security: BigPay uses state-of-the-art encryption to secure all user data, protecting your personal and financial information from potential breaches​​.
• Real-Time Notifications: Users receive instant notifications for all transactions, enabling them to monitor account activity and quickly detect any unauthorized use.

Customer Support:

• In-App Chat: BigPay’s in-app chat provides users with immediate support, available 24/7 to resolve issues and answer questions​​.
• Email Support: For more complex issues, BigPay offers email support, known for its prompt and effective responses​.
• Phone Support: BigPay also provides phone support, allowing users to directly contact customer service representatives for urgent matters​.

International Spending Made Easy in Malaysia 

When dealing with international transactions, both Wise and BigPay offer unique advantages tailored to different user needs. Understanding these benefits can help you choose the right card for your global financial activities.

Travel Abroad with Wise Card Malaysia

Wise Malaysia stands out for its extensive multi-currency support and transparent fee structure. Users can hold and manage over 50 currencies in their Wise account, which is particularly beneficial for frequent travelers and those conducting business internationally. Wise uses the mid-market exchange rate, ensuring that there are no hidden markups, which makes currency conversion both transparent and cost-effective. Conversion fees start as low as 0.41%, making it an economical option for exchanging currencies.

In terms of international spending, the Wise card is accepted in over 170 countries, providing a versatile option for global travelers. It automatically uses the best available rate for transactions in currencies you hold, without additional fees. This global acceptance is complemented by Wise’s transparent fee structure, where all costs are clearly outlined before transactions, helping users avoid unexpected charges.

Wise also excels in international money transfers, offering fast and reliable services to more than 70 countries. A significant portion of transfers are either instant or completed within 24 hours. The low transfer costs further enhance Wise’s appeal, making it cheaper than traditional banks, with transparent fees and no hidden costs.

Lower Fee Better Travel with BigPay Malaysia

On the other hand, BigPay Malaysia offers a straightforward fee structure and competitive rates, making it a great choice for frequent travelers and AirAsia customers. BigPay uses the Visa/Mastercard exchange rate with a 1% fee on international transactions. This simple fee structure helps users easily understand the costs associated with their transactions, without the complexity of variable fees.

The BigPay card can be used wherever Visa or Mastercard is accepted globally, offering convenience for international travelers. Additionally, BigPay integrates seamlessly with AirAsia, allowing users to earn BIG Points on international transactions. These points can be redeemed for flights and other rewards, adding extra value for frequent flyers.

For international ATM withdrawals, BigPay charges RM10 or 2% of the amount, whichever is higher. While this fee might be higher compared to some competitors, the global ATM access it provides is a significant benefit. Users also receive instant notifications for all transactions, enabling them to monitor account activity and quickly detect any unauthorized use. The app’s detailed spending analytics further help manage expenses while abroad.

In conclusion, both Wise and BigPay offer valuable benefits for international transactions, but they cater to different needs. Wise is ideal for those who frequently deal with multiple currencies and require cost-effective solutions for international transfers and spending. BigPay, with its straightforward fees and integration with AirAsia, is perfect for travelers who value rewards and simple, clear fee structures.

Conclusion of Part 1

In this first part of our comprehensive comparison between Wise and BigPay, we have explored their backgrounds, key features, user experiences, interfaces, security measures, and customer support. Both cards offer unique benefits tailored to different user needs.

Wise stands out with its extensive multi-currency support, low conversion fees, and transparent pricing. Its robust security features and user-friendly app make it an excellent choice for those who frequently travel internationally or conduct business across borders.

BigPay, on the other hand, is highly beneficial for frequent AirAsia travelers due to its integration with the airline’s rewards program. Its straightforward fee structure, competitive exchange rates, and useful budgeting tools make it a convenient option for everyday spending and international transactions.

Stay tuned for Part Two of our review, where we will dive deeper into the specific benefits of international transactions, detailed real-world use cases, and provide a final verdict on which card offers the best value for Malaysians in 2024.