How much does a prepaid card cost?
A prepaid or rechargeable card can cost from EUR 0 to EUR 19 a year: HYPE offers a virtual card with no fee, while Postepay Evolution charges EUR 5 to issue the card plus EUR 19 per year.
Verifiable answer
A prepaid or rechargeable card can cost from EUR 0 to EUR 19 a year: HYPE offers a virtual card with no fee, while Postepay Evolution charges EUR 5 to issue the card plus EUR 19 per year.
- How much does a prepaid card cost?
- €19 / card, per year
- €0 – €19
- Italy
- 29 September 2026
- Confidence: High
- Annual card or payment-account fee; Physical-card issue fee where applicable; Virtual card included in HYPE's basic plan
- Money loaded onto the card; Top-up and cash-withdrawal charges; Foreign-currency payment charges; Optional premium monthly plans
- Virtual or physical card; IBAN and transfer availability; Annual or monthly fee; Top-up channel and frequency; Cash withdrawals and foreign-currency use
- 2 sources
Short answer
There is no single market price: the key differences are virtual versus physical cards, an included IBAN, and top-up or cash-withdrawal fees.
A prepaid card lets you spend money that has been loaded onto it, making it a common choice for online shopping, travel and everyday spending. The headline price can be misleading, though. One card may have no monthly fee but charge for a physical version; another may include an Italian IBAN, transfers and a higher balance limit, while charging every year. This guide keeps the issue fee and recurring fee separate rather than treating them as one price. The official tariffs checked show two useful endpoints: HYPE's basic service supplies a free virtual card and charges for a physical one, while Postepay Evolution has a EUR 5 issue fee and a EUR 19 annual fee. These are verified examples, not a ranking of unlike products.
What is included
- Annual card or payment-account fee
- Physical-card issue fee where applicable
- Virtual card included in HYPE's basic plan
What is not included
- Money loaded onto the card
- Top-up and cash-withdrawal charges
- Foreign-currency payment charges
- Optional premium monthly plans
How the price breaks down
| Item | Type | Frequency | Typical |
|---|---|---|---|
| Postepay Evolution issueOne-off fee for the physical Postepay Evolution card, separate from the minimum top-up required at opening. | Compulsory | one-off | €5 |
| Postepay Evolution annual feeAdvance annual fee applied to new Evolution cards from 12 January 2026. | Compulsory | per year | €19 |
| HYPE physical cardThe basic version includes a free virtual card; the physical card is optional and costs EUR 9.90. | Optional | one-off | €9.90 |
What the price depends on
- Virtual or physical card
- IBAN and transfer availability
- Annual or monthly fee
- Top-up channel and frequency
- Cash withdrawals and foreign-currency use
Hidden costs
- Potential charges for card or cash top-ups
- Withdrawals from ATMs outside the provider's network
- Foreign-exchange mark-up outside the euro area
Three realistic scenarios
Digital only
€0
You use HYPE's basic virtual card for online purchases and fund it by bank transfer, with no activation or recurring fee.
Basic physical card
€9.90
You use HYPE basic but order its physical card; the stated one-off cost is EUR 9.90 and there is no monthly fee.
Postepay with IBAN
€24
You apply online for Postepay Evolution: EUR 5 issue fee plus EUR 19 for the first annual fee, with the provider's minimum top-up for that channel.
How to spend less
- If you mainly pay online, check whether a free virtual card is enough before ordering plastic.
- Compare the second-year cost: a small opening payment does not remove an annual fee.
- Use a bank transfer to top up when the provider makes it free instead of repeatedly using a linked card.
- Check the cash-withdrawal fee at the ATMs you actually use; it can exceed the annual fee.
- Before travelling outside the euro area, read the exchange-rate percentage.
Frequently asked questions
Does every prepaid card have a fee?
No. HYPE's basic virtual card has neither activation nor monthly fee, while other products such as Postepay Evolution have an annual charge. Being rechargeable does not reveal the full price: check issue, recurring and transaction charges separately.
What does Postepay Evolution cost in the first year?
The checked tariff lists a EUR 5 issue fee and a EUR 19 annual fee for a new Postepay Evolution. Applying online requires a EUR 24 minimum top-up, while the stated branch minimum is EUR 27. Those payments include initial credit, so they are not entirely fees.
Is HYPE a prepaid card?
HYPE basic is a payment account with an IBAN and card, not a traditional standalone prepaid card. It is included because its rechargeable, no-fee virtual card is a genuine alternative for someone seeking a card for online spending. Compare its functions and limits with the product you intend to replace.
Are top-ups free?
It depends on the method. HYPE states a EUR 0.90 fee for a linked-card top-up on its basic plan, while transfers can have different terms. Poste Italiane refers users to its information sheet for top-up charges. Count the funding method you will actually use.
Should I choose a physical or virtual card?
A virtual card is sufficient for online payments and compatible wallets; a physical card is useful in many shops, for cash withdrawals and when your phone is unavailable. Avoiding plastic can remove its issue fee, but check limits, compatibility and support arrangements first.
Sources and methodology
How we worked it out
We opened the providers' own tariff pages and used only the amounts they publish. The EUR 0 minimum is HYPE's basic virtual card, which has neither activation nor monthly fee; EUR 19 is the annual fee for newly issued Postepay Evolution cards. Postepay's EUR 5 issue fee and HYPE's EUR 9.90 physical card are shown as separate components because they are one-off rather than recurring costs. We did not manufacture a market average or include top-ups, withdrawals, foreign-exchange charges or bill payments, since they depend on how and where the card is used.
Why this confidence level
Confidence is High for the stated figures because both are published directly by the providers. We do not claim a national average because product features, limits and transaction fees differ substantially.
Postepay Evolution issue fee of EUR 5 and annual fee of EUR 19
Postepay Evolution — condizioni economiche (opens in a new tab)
Poste Italiane S.p.A. · Official tariff · Verified on 29 September 2026
The provider's live tariff page was opened and checked; it also lists the EUR 24 or EUR 27 initial payment by application channel, including the minimum top-up.
Authority4/5
HYPE virtual card with no activation or monthly fee, physical card at EUR 9.90
HYPE — conto a zero spese (opens in a new tab)
HYPE / Banca Sella S.p.A. · Official tariff · Verified on 29 September 2026
The product page was opened and checked; this is a payment account with an IBAN rather than a traditional prepaid card, but it is a practical rechargeable-card alternative.
Authority4/5
Revision history
First published on 29 September 2026 after checking the official Poste Italiane and HYPE tariffs.
- 29 September 2026
- 29 September 2026
- 29 December 2026
What did you actually pay?
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