Quick summary
Brand and trust
Ready Card is built by the pioneers formerly known as Argent. Operating since 2018 with zero hacks, it offers a level of proven smart-wallet security and reliability that is highly respected in the crypto space.
The hidden cost of spending
To use the MetaMask Card safely, you have to set spending allowances, which requires paying network "gas" fees every time you update your limit. Ready Card uses seamless smart spending approvals that don't cost you a penny to set up or change.
Fees and travel
The free tier of the MetaMask Card charges a 1% cross-border fee, a 2% ATM fee, and up to a 0.875% crypto conversion fee. Ready Card gives you 0% foreign exchange fees, zero conversion fees, and generous free ATM limits right out of the box.
Safe and separate spending
While both cards let you keep custody of your own crypto, MetaMask requires you to juggle specific networks (like Linea or Base) to spend. Ready Card keeps things effortlessly simple: it only touches your "digital cash" (USDC) on your main wallet, isolating and protecting your wider portfolio from the payment network.
Ready Card & MetaMask Card compared
| Ready Metal | Ready Lite | MetaMask Card | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cashback | 3% | 0.5% | 1% - 3% |
| Cashback requirements | None | None | None |
| Upfront cost | $120 / year | Free | Free to $199 / year |
| Card type | Metal + Virtual | Plastic + Virtual | Metal + Virtual |
| Fully self-custodial | Yes  | Yes | Yes |
| Free ATM withdrawals* | $800 / month | $200 / month | No (2% fee) |
| Fee-free foreign exchange | Yes | Yes | Yes  |
| Perks | Yes | Yes | No |
| Brand history & security | Since 2018 (Zero hacks) | Since 2018 (Zero hacks) | Wallet since 2014 |
| Availability | EEA + UK | EEA + UK | EEA + UK |
*Free withdrawals means that the card provider (e.g. Ready) does not charge any fees up to the limit. But the ATM provider may still charge a fee.
Ready Card vs MetaMask Card: The battle of the self-custodial wallets
As more people want to spend their crypto in the real world without handing it over to centralized exchanges, self-custodial cards are leading the charge. Ready Card and MetaMask Card both allow you to hold your own money until the exact moment you buy a coffee or pay a bill. However, they go about it in very different ways.
The good about MetaMask Card
MetaMask is undeniably one of the most famous wallets in the Web3 world. By partnering with Mastercard, they have created a way for their massive user base to spend funds directly from their existing MetaMask app. It is a fantastic step forward for the industry, allowing seasoned crypto users to pay with their digital assets without needing to send them to a traditional bank first. If you are a power user who already lives inside the MetaMask ecosystem and doesn't mind managing different blockchain networks, their card is a welcome addition.
The Ready Card advantage: Digital cash without the clunky mechanics
While MetaMask Card is great for power users, it brings a lot of the "Web3 friction" into the real world. To protect your MetaMask wallet, you have to manually set "spending caps." Every time you set or change one of these caps, you have to pay a network "gas" fee. Furthermore, the MetaMask Card is weighed down by fees: a 1% fee for spending abroad, up to a 0.875% fee just to convert your crypto, and a 2% fee at the ATM. If you want their premium Metal card to improve your rates, it costs a staggering $199 a year.
Ready Card was built from the ground up to eliminate this friction. Built by the trusted team formerly known as Argent, Ready Card lets you spend your "digital cash" smoothly and affordably. There are absolutely no gas fees to set up your spending limits. Furthermore, the free Ready Lite tier gives you 0% foreign exchange fees, zero crypto conversion fees, and free ATM limits straight away.
The clincher: Smarter security with zero hacks
When your everyday spending is connected to your crypto wallet, security is paramount. Ready has been operating since 2018 with zero hacks, establishing an elite reputation in the smart-wallet space.
But where Ready Card truly shines is in how it manages your money behind the scenes. With MetaMask Card, you have to make sure your funds are sitting on specific networks (like Linea or Base) and constantly monitor your paid on-chain allowances. Ready Card simply uses built-in smart spending approvals. You grant the card permission to touch only your "digital cash" (USDC). There is no bridging, no network juggling, and no gas fees to pay. The rest of your crypto investments remain securely walled off. If you lose your card, you simply tap a button to cut off access instantly, for free.
It provides the ultimate peace of mind: the proven security of a Web3 pioneer, the ease of spending digital cash, and zero hidden fees eating into your wealth.