ARQARQ
64
Side-by-side card comparison
ARQ vs Exa: overall score versus use-case fit
Exa Card has the higher Overall Score by 2 points (66 vs 64). ARQ Card looks stronger for Cashback and Travel, while Exa Card comes out ahead for Funds control, Lowest fees, and Transfers.
Information checked Aug 23, 202667 official sources reviewed
01 · Overall score versus use-case fit
Exa Card is the better all-round starting point
Exa Card has the higher Overall Score in this comparison. ARQ Card may be the better fit for Cashback and Travel. A score cannot tell you whether a provider will accept your application or whether every feature will be available where you live, so check the latest provider terms before signing up.
OverallARQ64Exa66Higher score
CashbackARQ41Exa19Higher score
TravelARQ62Exa61Higher score
Funds controlARQ52Exa88Higher score
Lowest feesARQ52Exa67Higher score
TransfersARQ75Exa97Higher score
Choose ARQ Card if cashback and travel matter most
ARQ Card comes out ahead for Cashback and Travel in this comparison. It is worth a closer look if those are the parts of a card you expect to use most.
- Clear four-country residence coverage
- Virtual, physical and phone-wallet access
- Paid tiers add cashback and earnings
Choose Exa Card if funds control and lowest fees matter most
Exa Card comes out ahead for Funds control, Lowest fees, and Transfers in this comparison. It is worth a closer look if those are the parts of a card you expect to use most.
- Deposited assets can earn yield
- Spend balance or borrow USDC
- Self-custody on Exactly Protocol
Where each card has the edge
The overall leader does not win every use case, so the reason you want the card matters here.
- Overall Score
- ARQ64Exa66
Exa Card has the higher Overall Score by 2 points.
- Entry cost & FX
- ARQ$0 plan · Provider spread unknown; Argentina/Brazil variant charges may apply FXExa$0 plan · 1.5% FX
The starting plan and FX figures are tied, or the providers have not published enough matching information to name a lower-cost option.
- Purchase rewards
- ARQ0% base · up to 2%Exa0% cashback
Both cards show the same base cashback rate of 0%.
- Funds control
- ARQCustodial balanceExaSelf-controlled wallet
ARQ Card uses a custodial balance setup, while Exa Card uses a self-controlled wallet setup. Neither approach is always better, so choose the level of control you are comfortable with.
- Everyday access
- ARQVirtual + Physical · Apple Pay, Google PayExaVirtual · Apple Pay, Google Pay
ARQ Card lists more card formats and phone-wallet options (4 vs 3).
- Money movement
- ARQ4 stablecoins · ARQ P2P; USD ACH payoutExa1 stablecoin · Stablecoin transfers; USD ACH bank payout, USD domestic wire payout, EUR SEPA bank payout
ARQ Card lists more stablecoins and ways to send money out (6 vs 5).
02 · Read the shortlist
A closer look at the split decision
Start with the strengths that drive each use-case result, then test them against costs and access.
64
- Cashback
- 0%-2%
- Plan cost
- $0
- FX fee
- Provider spread unknown; Argentina/Brazil variant charges may apply
- ATM fee
- 1–3%
- Card formats
- Virtual, Physical
- Wallet payments
- Apple Pay, Google Pay
- Receive methods
- 2 crypto · 2 fiat
- Payout methods
- 0 crypto · 1 fiat
66
- Cashback
- 0%
- Plan cost
- $0
- FX fee
- 1.5%
- ATM fee
- $1 + 0.65%
- Card formats
- Virtual
- Wallet payments
- Apple Pay, Google Pay
- Receive methods
- 5 crypto · 4 fiat
- Payout methods
- 1 crypto · 2 fiat
03 · Compare the details
See how the trade-offs line up
Comparable figures receive a marker; missing or unverified details stay visible instead of becoming an assumed advantage.
Best known Not disclosed
CardsARQ CardOverall64Exa CardOverall66
ARQ CardOverall64Exa CardOverall66Scores
6 fields- Overall Score
- ARQ Card64Exa Card66
- Cashback score
- ARQ Card41Exa Card19
- Travel score
- ARQ Card62Exa Card61
- Funds control score
- ARQ Card52Exa Card88
- Lowest fees score
- ARQ Card52Exa Card67
- Transfers score
- ARQ Card75Exa Card97
Strengths & trade-offs
2 fields- Strengths
- ARQ CardClear four-country residence coverage, Virtual, physical and phone-wallet accessExa CardDeposited assets can earn yield, Spend balance or borrow USDC
- Trade-offs
- ARQ CardProvider FX spread remains unclear, Headline cashback requires membershipExa CardHeavy Exactly Protocol dependency, Pay Later needs DeFi literacy
Costs
7 fields- Plan cost
- ARQ Card$0Exa Card$0
- FX fee
- ARQ CardProvider spread unknown; Argentina/Brazil variant charges may applyExa Card1.5%
- Top-up fee
- ARQ CardStandard receive: 3 USDc for USD/crypto and 3 EURc for EURExa Card1%
- Card spending fee
- ARQ Card0%Exa CardNot disclosed
- ATM fee
- ARQ Card1–3%Exa Card$1 + 0.65%
- Virtual card
- ARQ CardFreeExa CardFree with Exa Wallet
- Physical card
- ARQ Card$4.99 Standard; $0 PremiumExa CardNot available
Plans
2 fields- Available plans
- ARQ Card3 plans: Standard, Premium, PrestigeExa CardNot disclosed
- Top cashback plan
- ARQ CardPrestige: 2%Exa CardNot disclosed
Everyday use
8 fields- Network
- ARQ CardMastercardExa CardVisa
- Card formats
- ARQ CardVirtual, PhysicalExa CardVirtual
- ATM withdrawals
- ARQ CardAvailableExa CardAvailable
- Mobile wallets
- ARQ CardApple Pay, Google PayExa CardApple Pay, Google Pay
- Apps
- ARQ CardiOS, AndroidExa CardiOS, Android, Web
- Daily spending limit
- ARQ CardNot disclosedExa CardDynamic / collateral-based; exact Exa App limit shown in app
- Monthly spending limit
- ARQ CardNot disclosedExa CardDynamic / collateral-based; exact Exa App limit shown in app
- ATM limit
- ARQ CardNot disclosedExa Card$250/withdrawal; $1000/day
Funding & transfers
5 fields- Networks
- ARQ CardEthereum, Polygon, TronExa CardOptimism
- Crypto deposits
- ARQ CardStablecoins: USDC, USDTExa CardStablecoins: USDC; Other crypto: ETH, OP, WBTC, wstETH
- Fiat deposits
- ARQ CardUSD receive, EUR receiveExa CardUSD ACH deposit, USD wire deposit, EUR SEPA deposit, Local currency deposit
- Transfers
- ARQ CardARQ P2P; USD ACH payoutExa CardStablecoin transfers; USD ACH bank payout, USD domestic wire payout, EUR SEPA bank payout
- Payout currencies
- ARQ CardUSDExa CardUSD, EUR
Rewards
3 fields- Base cashback
- ARQ Card0%Exa Card0%
- Max cashback
- ARQ Card2%Exa Card0%
- Reward currency
- ARQ CardUSDc cashbackExa CardNo cashback
Earn
5 fields- Advertised APY
- ARQ CardUp to 4.5% APYExa CardUp to 0.99776% APY
- How it works
- ARQ CardEarn on spending balance, Optional earn vaultExa CardEarn on spending balance, Borrow against collateral
- Separate deposit
- ARQ CardYesExa CardNo
- Use balance for spending
- ARQ CardNoExa CardYes
- Lock-up
- ARQ CardNoExa CardNo
Trust & availability
6 fields- Custody
- ARQ CardCustodialExa CardSelf-custody
- Control until payment
- ARQ CardProvider controls fundsExa CardYou keep control
- Card issuer
- ARQ CardNot disclosedExa CardThird National Bank, Third National
- Card processing
- ARQ CardNot disclosedExa CardExa Labs SAS
- Deposits & withdrawals
- ARQ CardNot disclosedExa CardBridge, Manteca
- Programme operator
- ARQ CardNot disclosedExa CardExa Labs SAS
Sources
2 fields- Official sources
- ARQ Card36Exa Card31
- Last reviewed
- ARQ CardAug 5, 2026Exa CardAug 23, 2026
04 · The trade-off
Exa Card is the stronger all-round choice
Exa Card finishes ahead with an Overall Score of 66 versus 64 for ARQ Card. The starting plan and FX figures are tied, or the providers have not published enough matching information to name a lower-cost option. Both cards show the same base cashback rate of 0%.
ARQ Card still comes out ahead for Cashback and Travel, which may matter more than the overall result if that is how you plan to use the card. ARQ Card uses a custodial balance setup, while Exa Card uses a self-controlled wallet setup. Neither approach is always better, so choose the level of control you are comfortable with.
ARQ Card lists more stablecoins and ways to send money out (6 vs 5). Before applying, confirm availability in your country and recheck the provider's current fees and reward conditions.
If one card now looks like the better fit, you can check the latest application terms on the provider site or read our full ARQ Card and Exa Card reviews first.
Continue with
ARQ Card
Continue with
Exa Card
05 · Common questions
ARQ vs Exa FAQ
Is ARQ or Exa better overall?
Exa Card has the higher Overall Score (66 vs 64). That does not make it better for everyone: your preferred fees, rewards, way of holding funds and country availability can change the practical choice.
Which has lower fees, ARQ or Exa?
The starting plan and FX figures are tied, or the providers have not published enough matching information to name a lower-cost option. Compare plan, FX, card-spend, top-up and ATM charges separately because one fee does not represent the full cost.
Which has better cashback, ARQ or Exa?
Both cards show the same base cashback rate of 0%. Maximum rates may depend on tiers, caps, categories or other conditions, so the entry rate and reward asset matter too.
How do ARQ and Exa differ on custody?
ARQ Card uses a custodial balance setup, while Exa Card uses a self-controlled wallet setup. Neither approach is always better, so choose the level of control you are comfortable with.
How current is this ARQ vs Exa comparison?
The latest information check for these two cards was August 23, 2026, using 67 official sources in total. Each full card review lists its own check date, sources and anything the provider has not clearly disclosed.