Paysafecard review: prepaid online payments without a bank account
We tested Paysafecard's voucher system and the myPaysafe account — here's what it costs, how it works, and where it fits your payment needs.
What will you mainly use Paysafecard for?
Verdict in 30 seconds
Paysafecard is a prepaid payment method that lets you pay online using cash. By buying a voucher at a retail store, you can deposit or spend without sharing bank or card details. It's the ultimate method for cash-based privacy, though from the second month after purchase a monthly service fee (€4 in euro countries such as France, Germany and the Netherlands) is deducted from any credit left on the code.
What we liked
- Pay online with cash without exposing financial details
- 650,000+ sales outlets globally
- Instantly credited to merchants
- myPaysafe account allows storing multiple pins in one balance
- Prepaid Mastercard available for offline/online spending
- Easy spending control — you can only spend what you load
What to watch
- €4/month service fee on credit left on a code from the 2nd month after purchase
- Cannot withdraw cash directly from voucher; requires myPaysafe payout
- FX conversion markup on cross-currency payments
- Finding physical outlets is necessary if not buying online credit
Paysafecard fees, plainly
Published personal-account fees as of October 2026. Confirm current rates on paysafecard.com before transacting.
| Action | Fee | Speed |
|---|---|---|
| Open account | Free | 2 min |
| Buy voucher (in-store) | Free | Instant |
| Spend at merchant | Free | Instant |
| Monthly service fee (from 2nd month) | €4/month (£4 in the UK) | — |
| Payout to bank account | €7.50 refund fee (varies by country) | 1–3 business days |
| Currency conversion | Varies by region | — |
*The service fee is deducted from the remaining credit of each prepaid code from the 2nd month after purchase. A free PaysafeCard account (formerly myPaysafe) avoids it; the account only charges a monthly fee from the 13th month if it has had no transactions for 12 months.
From zero to first payment — the exact steps
As with every wallet: <strong>verify immediately after registering.</strong> Limits stay low until KYC is complete, and myPaysafe's flow makes it quick.
Find a sales outlet
Use the Paysafecard store finder to locate a local supermarket, kiosk, or petrol station that sells Paysafecard PINs.
~5 minPurchase a PIN voucher
Buy a voucher with cash or card in denominations of €10, €25, €50, or €100. You will receive a 16-digit PIN code.
~2 minRegister a myPaysafe account (Optional)
Create a free online account to store all your PINs in one place, allowing you to pay with username/password instead of entering individual PINs.
~3 minPay online instantly
At the merchant checkout, select Paysafecard, enter your 16-digit PIN or log into your myPaysafe account to confirm the payment.
InstantManage or withdraw
Keep track of your PIN balances in the app, or request a refund/withdrawal to your bank account if needed (processing fees may apply).
1–3 daysHow Paysafecard compares
| Paysafecard | Skrill | PayPal | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Funding | Cash voucher | Bank / Card | Bank / Card |
| Main advantage | Cash privacy | Low transaction fees | Buyer Protection |
| Acceptance | Wide (gaming) | Widest | Wide |
| Inactivity fee | €4/month from 2nd month | €5/month after 6 months | up to €10/year after 12 months |
Paysafecard wins on physical cash-based privacy; Skrill and Neteller win on balance withdrawal flexibility. See the full e-wallet comparison for 2026. To see which of those two wallets costs less, read our Skrill and NETELLER head-to-head.
Paysafecard questions, answered
Is Paysafecard safe?
Yes. Paysafecard is part of Paysafe Group and regulated as an e-money institution in Europe and the UK. Since you do not enter bank details or credit card numbers, it is one of the most secure ways to pay online.
Do Paysafecard PINs expire?
Paysafecard PINs do not expire, but a monthly service fee of €4 (or the local equivalent, e.g. £4 in the UK) is deducted from the remaining credit from the second month after purchase. It is best to spend the full balance within the first month.
Can I withdraw money from Paysafecard?
Yes, but not directly from the voucher itself. You must register a myPaysafe account and request a payout to your bank account, which requires identity verification.
Where can I buy Paysafecard?
At over 650,000 retail locations globally, including supermarkets, newsagents, petrol stations, and authorized online pin shops.
How does myPaysafe work?
myPaysafe is a personal portal where you can upload your 16-digit PINs. Your balance is consolidated, letting you pay with a login instead of entering long PIN codes.