How much do Caxton cards cost in 2026?
Caxton cards are free to order and hold, with no monthly fee. The two costs you actually pay are: a 1.5% FX markup on foreign-currency spending, and a dormancy / inactivity fee that kicks in if your card balance sits unused for around 12 months or more. There is no UK sort code — Caxton is a spending card, not a receiving account.
Last verified 14 May 2026 · Feebite Editorial · Not affiliated with Caxton
Independent breakdown of Caxton card fees for UK freelancers and travellers. For the official site, go to caxton.io. This page focuses on the card specifically — FX, dormancy, ATM, and the alternatives most reviews leave out.
In one sentence: A Caxton card is a free, no-monthly-fee prepaid travel card with a 1.5% FX rate that is 3.6× more expensive than Wise, cannot receive client payments, and applies a dormancy fee on unused balances — useful as a secondary travel card, never as a freelancer's primary account.
Caxton card fees at a glance
| Fee type | Amount | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Card order / delivery | Free | One-time at signup |
| Monthly account fee | Free | Never charged |
| FX markup | 1.5% above mid-market | Every foreign-currency spend |
| ATM withdrawal (UK) | Free | At most UK ATMs |
| ATM withdrawal (abroad) | Free at most ATMs | Operator surcharge possible |
| Dormancy / inactivity fee | Monthly deduction | After ~12 months of no use |
| Top-up from UK bank | Free | Bank transfer |
| Replacement card | Variable | Check current schedule |
What the 1.5% FX fee actually costs
| Annual foreign-currency spend | Caxton (1.5%) | Wise (0.41%) | Revolut Free* | Overpaid vs Wise |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £1,000 | £15.00 | £4.10 | £0 (within limit) | £10.90 |
| £5,000 | £75.00 | £20.50 | £24.00 | £54.50 |
| £10,000 | £150.00 | £41.00 | £54.00 | £109.00 |
| £25,000 | £375.00 | £102.50 | £144.00 | £272.50 |
*Revolut Free: 0% on first £1,000/month, 0.6% above. Revolut Business Grow (£9/mo) is 0% unlimited and beats both above ~£2,000/mo of FX.
Worked example — spending £500 on a EUR trip
- Caxton (1.5%): You're charged ~£507.50 GBP for €580 of EUR spend → £7.50 in FX fees
- Wise card (0.41%): You're charged ~£502.05 GBP for the same €580 → £2.05 in FX fees
- Difference: £5.45 on a single £500 trip — multiplied across the year
The Caxton dormancy fee — what most reviews miss
Caxton's terms specify a monthly dormancy / inactivity fee that begins after a defined unused period (commonly cited as 12 months without a transaction). The fee is deducted from the prepaid balance until either:
- You make a transaction (top-up, spend, or withdrawal)
- The balance reaches zero
- You close the card
Why it matters: Travel cards often sit unused for long periods between trips. A £200 balance left after a holiday can quietly erode if you forget to use the card for a year. Always either move the balance to your bank, close the card, or top up / spend at least once a year to keep it active.
Always cross-check the current dormancy fee on the official Caxton terms — the threshold and amount can change.
Caxton card vs Wise card — head to head
| Caxton | Wise (multi-currency) | |
|---|---|---|
| FX rate | 1.5% | 0.41% |
| Card order | Free | ~£3 one-time |
| Monthly fee | Free | Free |
| Currencies held | 26+ | 40+ |
| Receive client payments (sort code) | ❌ | ✅ |
| Real bank details (USD/EUR/GBP/AUD/CAD) | ❌ | ✅ |
| Mobile app | ✅ | ✅ |
| Dormancy fee | ✅ (after ~12 mo) | None |
| FCA regulated | ✅ (e-money) | ✅ (e-money) |
| Founded | 2002 | 2011 |
Verdict: Wise wins on every dimension that matters for freelancers and most travellers. Caxton's only edge is brand familiarity in the UK travel-card market.
Caxton card vs Revolut card
| Caxton | Revolut Standard (Free) | |
|---|---|---|
| FX rate | 1.5% | 0% up to £1,000/mo, then 0.6% |
| Monthly fee | Free | Free |
| Currencies held | 26+ | 25+ |
| Receive client payments | ❌ | ✅ (GBP / EUR IBAN) |
| ATM withdrawal abroad | Free at most | £200/mo free, then 2% |
| Dormancy fee | ✅ | ❌ |
| Mobile-first banking features | ❌ | ✅ |
Verdict: Revolut Standard is free, has a sort code for incoming payments, and offers 0% FX up to £1,000/month — better than Caxton for almost every use case.
When does a Caxton card actually make sense?
- You're a UK resident who already uses Wise or Payoneer to receive client payments
- You want a separate spending card you can lock and top up specifically for travel
- You travel infrequently and don't mind topping up a fixed amount per trip
- You prefer a UK-headquartered provider with 20+ years of operating history
Even then, the Wise card or Revolut card is usually a better choice — same regulatory status, lower FX, no dormancy fee, and a sort code you can actually use.
Who should NOT use a Caxton card
- Freelancers who need to receive Upwork, Fiverr, or direct-client payments — Caxton has no sort code
- High-volume foreign spenders (£10k+/year) — the 1.5% rate quietly costs £100+/year vs Wise
- People who leave balances sitting — the dormancy fee will erode unused funds
- Anyone outside the UK — Caxton is UK residents only
How to get a Caxton card
- Visit caxton.io and click Get your card
- Complete UK identity verification (photo ID + address proof)
- Wait for the physical card to arrive (a virtual card is usually available immediately)
- Top up from a UK bank account (free via bank transfer)
- Spend in 26+ supported currencies at the live mid-market rate + 1.5%
Sources checked (May 2026)
- Caxton fees and limits page — FX rate, ATM, top-up
- Caxton terms and conditions — dormancy / inactivity fee schedule
- FCA Financial Services Register — Caxton (firm 900663) — regulatory status confirmed
- Wise pricing — for the 0.41% benchmark
- Revolut Standard FX limits — for the 0%/0.6% benchmark
- Editorial review re-verified 2026-05-14. Card terms change periodically — always cross-check the official Caxton fees page before opening or topping up an account.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Caxton card FX fee? 1.5% above mid-market. Roughly 3.6× more expensive than Wise (0.41%).
Is there a Caxton card dormancy fee? Yes — Caxton's terms apply a monthly inactivity fee after the card has been unused for around 12 months. Cross-check the current schedule on Caxton's terms page.
Can I receive client payments to my Caxton card? No. Caxton has no sort code or account number for incoming transfers. Use Wise or Payoneer instead.
Are Caxton cards free? Yes — no order fee, no monthly fee. You pay only the 1.5% FX markup and (if applicable) the dormancy fee.
Is the Caxton card better than Wise? For freelancers and most travellers, no. Wise is cheaper on FX (0.41% vs 1.5%), gives you real bank details to receive payments, and has no dormancy fee.
Compare alternatives: Caxton (full review) · Wise Business · Wise vs Revolut · Best Payment Setup for UK Freelancers
This page was last updated 2026-05-14. Card terms change periodically — always cross-check the official Caxton fees page before opening or topping up.
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