Mascom review
Updated September 28, 2026 · HodlCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
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Our verdict
Mascom's prepaid Visa card suits people in Botswana who want a simple cash card for everyday spending and travel, and it charges a monthly fee of BWP 10 with a free ATM allowance of BWP 0. Loading the card costs free, and it runs on the Visa network.
Key facts
- Best for
- A prepaid Visa card in Botswana for everyday spending, with a free ATM allowance for travel.
- Monthly fee
- BWP 10↗
- Free ATM withdrawals
- BWP 0↗
- Card type
- Prepaid↗
- Top-up fee
- Free↗
- Card network
- Visa↗
- Legal entity
- Mascom (Pty) Ltd↗
- Headquarters
- Botswana↗
- Founded
- 1998↗
- Support channels
- Email, Phone, Help-centre↗
- Features
- Travel
- Official website
- mascom.bw
Facts checked September 26, 2026, 5 sources
Pros and cons
Pros
- Loading the card is free, so topping the balance up adds no extra cost.
- The free ATM allowance is BWP 0, so cash withdrawals do not eat the monthly fee.
- Support runs on email, phone and help centre, which covers phone, email and a help centre.
- Visa is the network on 57.6% of the cards compared here, so the card is the easier one to use while travelling.
Cons
- It is a prepaid card, so money sits loaded on the card until you spend it.
- The BWP 10 monthly fee is a standing cost that a card used only now and then still carries.
Who it suits
- People in Botswana who want a plain prepaid Visa card for daily spending.
- Travellers who want cash on arrival and a free ATM allowance of BWP 0.
- Cardholders who would rather reach support by email, phone and help centre than visit an office.
Who should look elsewhere
- Monzo Flex, which lists a monthly fee of £0, for readers who would rather hold no standing card cost.
- Wise, at a monthly fee of £0, for the same reason where travel cash access is not the priority.
- Bitpanda, which charges a monthly fee of €0 in another currency, for readers comparing costs on a different basis.
Trading and withdrawal fees
Mascom sets a monthly fee of BWP 10 on the card, while loading money onto it is free. That monthly charge is the standing cost to weigh: Monzo Flex lists £0 and Wise lists £0 for comparison. Across the cards here the monthly fee median is €0.
Who runs it
Mascom is run as Mascom (Pty) Ltd, headquartered in Botswana, and it was founded in 1998. That is the company named in the terms, and the same name carries the support desk. Support runs on email, phone and help centre, so a cardholder can reach the company by email, by phone or through the help centre.
How Mascom compares
9.4 vs 9.4
9.4 vs 9.0
9.4 vs 8.2
9.4 vs 9.5
9.4 vs 9.6
9.4 vs 9.0
9.4 vs 9.1A monthly fee of €0, listed in a different currency, for readers comparing card costs on another basis.
9.4 vs 8.9
9.4 vs 8.1
9.4 vs 8.2
9.4 vs 9.5
9.4 vs 9.4
9.4 vs 9.2
9.4 vs 9.1
9.4 vs 9.0
9.4 vs 8.9- 9.4 vs 8.8
9.4 vs 8.8
9.4 vs 8.6
9.4 vs 8.5
9.4 vs 8.3
Where Mascom is available
- Available
- Botswana
Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Frequently asked questions
How much does the card cost each month?+
The card carries a monthly fee of BWP 10, which applies to the card as a standing charge rather than to each purchase. Loading money onto it is free, so topping the balance up adds nothing further. Cash withdrawals are handled separately through the free ATM allowance.
Are ATM withdrawals free?+
The free ATM allowance on the card is BWP 0, so cash withdrawals do not eat into the monthly fee. That allowance matters for travel, where travellers often need local cash. For context, the median free ATM allowance across the cards compared here is €0.
Is the card prepaid or tied to a bank account?+
It is a prepaid card on the Visa network, so the balance is loaded before spending rather than drawn from a current account. Loading itself is free, which keeps the cost simple. Readers who want a card that spends straight from a bank balance should weigh the prepaid label first.
Which network does the card run on, and will it work abroad?+
The card runs on visa, and travel is the feature Mascom lists for it. Visa is the network on 57.6% of the cards in this group, which makes it the more widely accepted one abroad. The free ATM allowance of BWP 0 covers the cash side of a trip.
Who runs Mascom and where is it based?+
The card is run by Mascom (Pty) Ltd, which is headquartered in Botswana and was founded in 1998. That is the company a cardholder deals with for terms, support and any complaint. Support itself runs on email, phone and help centre.
How do I get help if the card stops working?+
Support runs on email, phone and help centre, so a cardholder can use email, phone or the help centre without visiting an office. Phone and email sit alongside the help centre rather than replacing it. The legal entity behind those channels is Mascom (Pty) Ltd, so a claim can be made against a named company.
Is the card meant for travel?+
Travel is the feature listed for it, and a prepaid Visa card with a free ATM allowance of BWP 0 fits trips that mix card and cash spending. The trade-off is the standing monthly fee of BWP 10, which is charged whether or not the card is used away from home.
How does the monthly fee compare with other cards?+
Mascom charges BWP 10 a month, while Monzo Flex lists £0 and Wise lists £0. Bitpanda lists €0. Those amounts sit in different currencies, so the standing cost reads most clearly in the reader's own currency. The median monthly fee in this group is €0.
Sources
- mascom.bw/about-mascom-myzaka checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Top-up fee, Monthly fee
“Loading of Mobile Money into MyZaka Account is FREE to registered customers”
- mascom.bw/about-mascom-wirelesss checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Founded, Headquarters
“Established in 1998, Mascom Wireless is Botswana's leading telecommunications provider”
- mascom.bw/contact-us checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Support channels
“customerservice@mascom.bw; Prepaid 124 and Postpaid 129; Through our service centres you are able to receive the following type of assistance”
- mascom.bw/myzaka-visa-card checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Free ATM withdrawals, Card type, Features, Card network
“CASH WITHDRAWALS Local Banks 7.00 (flat fee per withdrawal, no free allowance listed)”
- mascom.bw/terms-conditions checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Legal entity
“the terms & conditions under which Mascom (Pty) Ltd (hereinafter referred to as "Mascom") will provide you with access to the products & services”
Compiled from 5 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.
Not confirmed yet: Currency conversion fee, Protection.
Mascom
A prepaid Visa card in Botswana for everyday spending, with a free ATM allowance for travel.