A payroll card is a prepaid card you can use to transfer your employees’ wages electronically every pay period, making paydays more convenient and cost-effective for you and your staff. Employees can use it as a debit card, to purchase goods, and to withdraw their pay using a preferred ATM or bank cashier. The best payroll card providers have programs that are simple to set up, give access to funds quickly, and have low withdrawal fees. Some pay cards even offer employees a range of benefits, such as cash back and discounts.
In this guide, we evaluated 10 payroll card providers and narrowed it down to our top four recommendations.
- Skylight ONE (Netspend): Best overall payroll card
- Wisely by ADP: Best for integrated pay card, payroll, and tax solutions
- FlexWage: Best for small restaurants and retail stores
- rapid! PayCard: Best for fraud prevention tools
I have over 5 years of experience evaluating payroll and HR software for Fit Small Business and 10 years of experience in human resources and handling HR systems. As a result, I am deeply familiar with the needs of business owners and the HR solutions available on the market.
See our full methodology below.
- Strict, unbiased editorial policy
- Evaluated alongside 10 payroll card providers across a dozen data points
- Regularly updated and fact-checked
Best Payroll Card Provider Compared
Our Score (Out of 5) | Paycard Subscription | ATM Withdrawal Fees | Account Inactivity Fees | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 4.43 | Pay-as-you-go option: Monthly plan: $9.95 (flat fee) | $2 | $5.95 monthly after 60 days of inactivity |
 | 4.18 | $0 | $3 for out-of-network ATMs | $4 per month after 90 days of inactivity |
 | 4.09 | $0 | $3 for out-of-network ATMs | $4.95 per month after 180 days of inactivity |
 | 4.03 | $0 | $1.5 for out-of-network ATMs | $4.95 per month after 365 days of inactivity |
All the payroll pay card providers on our list offer free signup, implementation support, and mobile apps for iOS and Android devices. These pay cards are also Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)-insured for fraud protection and can be used to pay bills and receive salary payouts.
Skylight ONE (Netspend): Best Overall Payroll Card Provider
Pros
- No activation fee
- No minimum balance required to open a savings account and earn up to 5% annual percentage yield (APY)
- Pay card can be used anywhere Visa debit or Debit Mastercard is accepted
- Cardholders can apply for tuition assistance through the Netspend Scholarship Program
Cons
- High fees associated with some of the transactions (such as cash loading and inactivity fees)
- Monthly maintenance fee (for non-pay-as-you-go plan subscribers)
- Charges purchase transaction fees (for pay-as-you-go plan subscribers)
Overview
Who should use it:
Skylight ONE has over 15 years of experience helping companies in different industries streamline salary payouts. It offers pay cards that employees can use to receive wages, withdraw funds, and even pay bills online. As an employer, you can use its cashback rewards and financial tools to supplement your employee wellness programs, which can help boost staff engagement.
Why we like it:
With Skylight ONE, you get step-by-step implementation support to help you get the pay card program up and running as fast as possible. The client assistance extends beyond the pay card implementation, with the provider assigning a dedicated support team to handle your queries and even help you resolve card issues. However, while it topped our list of best payroll card providers, some fees were higher than the other payroll cards we reviewed. For a more reasonably priced option, consider FlexWage or rapid! PayCard.
Pay card subscription
- Pay-as-you-go: $0 but charges $2 per purchase transaction (for both signature- and PIN-required transactions)
- Monthly plan: $9.95 per month
Other fees*
- ATM withdrawal: $2 per withdrawal
- Cash loading: Up to $3.95 per load
- Money transfer fee: $3 per transaction of $20 or more; $1.50 per transaction of under $20
- Bills payment: $0
- Inactivity fee: $5.95 after 60 days of no transactions
*These are just some of the transaction fees. These fees may also vary, depending on the institution and agent. Visit the Netspend website or contact its sales team for full pricing details.
Skylight ONE (Netspend) pay cards allow your employees to receive their pay, withdraw funds from ATMs, pay bills, and shop online. (Source: Netspend)
- Setup assistance includes marketing, training, and compliance support.
- Has an online “Corporate Portal” where you can add employees via SFTP file transfers or integrated Application Programming Interface (API) call requests.
- “Corporate Portal” can be integrated with top HR software and HR information systems (HRISes), which allow you to include pay card enrollments in onboarding processes.
- Inventory management tools for tracking pay card inventory.
- You can deposit government payments and tax refunds to the Skylight ONE card (aside from Wisely by ADP, none of the other payroll card providers in this guide have this functionality).
- Employee benefits include cashback rewards from Skylight ONE’s partner merchants, budgeting and financial management tools, and an option to open a savings account with 5% APY.
- Employees can apply for tuition assistance through the Netspend Scholarship Program (none of the providers in this guide have a similar feature).
Wisely by ADP: Best for Integrated Pay Card, Payroll, and Tax Solutions
Pros
- No activation fee
- Employee tax refunds and government payments can be added to the card
- 24/7 phone support
Cons
- Tax refund payouts and early direct deposits (up to two days) require upgrading to the premium version
- Support team isn’t responsive
- High cash loading fee compared to the others on our list
Overview
Who should use it:
The advantage of getting Wisely by ADP is the ease of implementation if you’re an ADP user. Employee payments are made easy, especially if done through the Wisely by ADP pay card, because you’re using a single provider to handle your HR, payroll, and payroll taxation needs. Plus, ADP’s products connect well with each other, so you don’t have to worry about potential integration errors.
Why we like it:
Similar to the other paycard providers on our list, Wisely by ADP doesn’t have activation fees and you (and your employees) can create an account for free. It also lets you transfer funds instantly to employee pay cards and view your account balance online or via its mobile apps. Wisely by ADP can even handle off-cycle payouts, such as final payments for resigned and terminated employees.
However, Wisely by ADP’s customer support is less than ideal. Many users who left feedback on review sites like G2 and the Apple Store complained about unresponsive support reps. This is unlike FlexWage, whose support team is more responsive on mobile app sites.
- Pay card subscription: $0
Other fees*
- ATM withdrawal: $3 per withdrawal from out-of-network ATMs
- Cash loading: Up to $5.95 per load
- Money transfer fee: $0 if transferring to a bank account using a routing and account number; $3 per transaction for debit card transfers
- Bills payment: $0
- Inactivity fee: $4 after 90 days of no transactions
*These are just some of the transaction fees. These fees may also vary, depending on the institution and agent. Visit the Wisely by ADP website or contact its sales team for full pricing details.
Wisely by ADP can handle various employee payment types, such as salaries and tax refunds. (Source: ADP)
- Card enrollments can be completed in just a few clicks.
- Access to educational and promotional tools you can use during pay card implementation to increase awareness and help educate employees on how to use its features.
- Option to get a second Wisely pay card where eligible employees can receive tip payments at the pay frequency you want (e.g. after every shift).
- Administrative portal lets you manage your Wisely card program and employee payments.
- Similar to rapid!, Wisely pay cards have Europay, Mastercard, and Visa (EMV) chips for better card security.
- Employees can get paid up to two days early via direct deposit and receive income from various sources, such as government payouts and tax refund payments, provided they have the upgraded Wisely pay cards.
- Employee benefits include financial management tools, cash back on gift cards and at partner stores, an option to get three Wisely cards for family members at zero cost, and the option to add Wisely card details to digital wallets like Apple Pay and Samsung Pay.
FlexWage: Best for Small Restaurants & Retail Stores
Pros
- No activation fee
- Easy implementation
- Funds are immediately accessible from ATMs
Cons
- Mobile app glitches
- Support is only available on weekdays
- Lacks a cashback program for employees
Overview
Who should use it:
The FlexWage Visa Pay Card is a reloadable debit card that gives immediate access to employees’ wages, tips, commissions, and bonuses—making it best for restaurants and retail stores. Funds are easily accessible from ATMs and employees can even track their finances and save up for the future.
Why we like it:
Its simple-to-learn online portal makes sending funds to pay cards easy. FlexWage’s transaction fees for employees are also reasonable, charging fees only if you withdraw from out-of-network ATMs and if you transfer funds more than once a day. However, for a more budget-friendly option, consider rapid! PayCard. It charges a minimal fee for out-of-network ATM withdrawals, only $1.5 per withdrawal versus FlexWage’s fee of $3 per withdrawal.
- Pay card subscription: $0
Other fees*
- ATM withdrawal: $3 per withdrawal from out-of-network ATMs
- Cash loading: $0
- Money transfer fee: $0 once per day; $2 after
- Bills payment: $0
- Inactivity fee: $4.95 after 180 days of no transactions
*These are just some of the transaction fees. These fees may also vary, depending on the institution and agent. Visit the FlexWage website or contact its sales team for full pricing details.
FlexWage’s payroll card provides employees immediate access to wages on pay days. (Source: FlexWage)
- Online portal integrates with top payroll systems (although Skylight ONE’s portal is more flexible as it can connect with HRIS and HR systems).
- FlexWage pay cards are FDIC-insured and covered by Visa’s zero-liability policy.
- Employee benefits include financial management tools, instant access to funds, and an on-demand pay feature, allowing your employees early access to earned wages in case of financial emergencies.
- FlexWage can work with you to set up guard rails on how much employees can access from earned wages in between paydays. It also lets you create funding guidelines to ensure employees have enough money in their wages to cover taxes and benefits deductions at the end of the pay period.
- Access to qualified financial wellness coaches your employees can contact if they need tips or expert advice in managing finances.
rapid! PayCard: Best for Fraud Prevention Tools
Pros
- No activation fee
- Easy fund access
- Interest-bearing savings account
- Spending behavior learning tool helps spot fraud
Cons
- Mobile app glitches and login issues from time to time
- Support team isn’t helpful
Overview
Who should use it:
Businesses that require strong pay card security and fraud protection tools will appreciate rapid! PayCard’s compliance features. Similar to Wisely by ADP, it keeps its pay cards secure with EMV chips. It also tracks state laws and regulations, which helps you stay on track with both pay card and payroll compliances.
Why we like it:
rapid! PayCard offers a payroll card program with minimal fees for fund transfers and out-of-network ATM withdrawals. Implementation is easy and employee training is free. Plus, it can help detect fraud through its spending behavior learning tool—a solution that none of the other payroll card providers we reviewed offer.
- Pay card subscription: $0
Other fees*
- ATM withdrawal: $1.5 per withdrawal from out-of-network ATMs
- Cash loading: $0
- Money transfer fee: $1 per transaction for card-to-card transfers; $1.50 per transaction for ACH-to-bank account transfers
- Bills payment: $0
- Inactivity fee: $4.95 per month after 365 days of inactivity
*These are just some of the transaction fees. These fees may also vary, depending on the institution and agent. Visit the rapid! website or contact its sales team for full pricing details.
rapid! pay cards offer added security and safety to protect your employees from fraud and unauthorized transactions. (Source: rapid!)
- Comprehensive APIs allow you to integrate payroll software into its system. It even has an easy-to-use do-it-yourself API integration tool—although, rapid! can also do it for you.
- rapid! PayCard is FDIC insured and is also covered by the Mastercard zero liability (which means Mastercard won’t hold you accountable for unauthorized transactions using your account)
- Fraud protection and detection are built on intelligent “neutral network” security tools that learn the cardholder’s spending behavior.
- Online platform for managing the pay card program. It also comes with automated card inventory features to help you track pay card inventory across multiple locations.
- Employee benefits include cashback rewards from partner merchants, access to on-demand pay, and an interest-bearing savings account.
Methodology: How We Evaluated the Best Payroll Card Providers
We evaluated each system based on pricing (including fund transfer and ATM withdrawal fees) and general features (such as pay card capabilities). We also looked at ease of use, customer support, and user reviews.
Click through the tabs below for our full evaluation criteria.
35% of Overall Score
We determined if the payroll card providers offer free signup or if they have affordable subscription pricing. We also looked into additional fees that could be charged if an employee transfers funds or withdraws from an ATM.
35% of Overall Score
We required each provider to have a lost card replacement system. We also confirmed if they are FDIC insured and if a mobile application is available for its cardholders. Card capabilities such as bill payment, including transfer and card balance, were also checked. Payroll cards with on-demand access and rewards like discounts and cashback or creating savings accounts were also given high ratings.
30% of Overall Score
Aside from a smooth implementation, we also gave pay card providers plus points if they have 24/7 customer support. Additional points were given if the pay card system integrates well with the employer’s existing payroll system or bank. Points were also awarded for systems with positive user reviews.
Best Payroll Card Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
A payroll card is a prepaid card that an employer gives to an employee. Employers can electronically transfer wage payments to the payroll cards every pay cycle. Employees, on the other hand, can use it to withdraw their salaries from ATMs or make purchases.
Yes, you can. Depending on the payroll card provider, this can be done via direct deposits and depositing money through the provider’s partner shops that accept money transfers.
The activation process can vary depending on the paycard provider, but the most common option requires calling the paycard company to request activation.
Employers can get payroll cards for employees from reputable banks and paycard providers, like those on our list. Some payroll software providers also offer pay card options, such as ADP with its Wisely card.
Bottom Line
Payroll cards are a better alternative to paper checks, especially when paying unbanked employees. They are cheaper, often costing nothing to implement, and save employees money by not charging them to pay fees to cash a paper check. Some payroll cards even provide a savings account and budgeting tools. However, employees should also be educated about the fees associated with the card’s use.
We found Skylight ONE (Netspend) to be the best overall payroll card service. Card activation and system implementation are free, plus it has some of the best benefits for employees.