Wink review

Wink charges a monthly fee of CRC 0 on the standard account, so there is no standing cost to hold the card. Most cards in this category sit at the same level, with a median of €0, so the fee alone will not decide it. Reach and currency range matter more here.

Wink is a debit card, so spending draws on the balance held in the account rather than on borrowed money. It runs on the visa network, and the same account includes a virtual card you can use for online payments where you would rather not share the physical number.

The account covers 2 currencies, and multi-currency handling is one of the listed features. That is a narrow range, so the account suits holding local money plus a small set of foreign balances rather than shifting large sums across many currencies.

Support runs on help centre and email, meaning a help centre with articles plus email contact. There is no phone line or live chat listed, so a blocked card or a disputed payment may wait on a written reply, which is worth knowing before you rely on the card while travelling.

Wink lists CR as its home market, and the service is run as a Costa Rican operation, so the account is aimed at residents there rather than at a global market. Anyone living elsewhere should check the availability rules before planning a trip around the card.

The listed features are multi currency, virtual card and travel, covering a multi-currency account, a virtual card and travel use. The virtual card handles online payments, and the travel features sit alongside the physical debit card rather than replacing it. The debit card remains the main way to pay in person.

Wink's monthly fee is CRC 0, the same level as £0 at Wise and £0 at Monzo Flex, so cost does not separate them. Reach does: Wink is a CR operation, while the other two are aimed at UK customers.