WeSwap

WeSwap is a peer-to-peer currency exchange platform that matches travellers heading in opposite directions and swaps their travel money directly. Launched in July 2013, the service is available as a smartphone app on Android and iOS and currently supports 18 different currencies worldwide.

One of the best inclusions with the WeSwap service is the global travel card and app available. The card can be loaded via the app within a matter of minutes and doesn’t have any hidden fees that may come back to haunt you after your trip. They also don’t charge any ATM fees on withdrawals of more than £200, meaning you can avoid the steep commission that most banks charge when taking out money abroad.

If you lose the card, you can even lock it via the app until you find it and then easily unlock it again. This saves calling banks and cancelling cards which they appear at the bottom of your suitcase.

Another good feature is the ability to send unused currency to WeSwap who will then put it directly onto your card. I found this to be a great addition to their service as I often find myself with leftover money from a trip in a currency I won’t ever use again. With WeSwap you can put all your leftover money to good use by charging up your card that can then be used across any of their 18 currencies available.

One issue with WeSwap is that you are limited to loading £12,000 onto the card each year. That means that if you are working in a foreign country and receiving more than £12,000 a year, you won’t be able to use the WeSwap card to withdraw money or pay for things after a certain amount.

David Jones

I am a professional travel writer and travel enthusiast who traveled the world twice, so I am sharing my firsthand knowledge about everything related to travel and spending time abroad.