ARQARQ
64
Side-by-side card comparison
ARQ vs Lava: overall score versus use-case fit
ARQ Card has the higher Overall Score by 2 points (64 vs 62). ARQ Card looks stronger for Cashback and Travel, while Lava Card comes out ahead for Funds control, Lowest fees, and Transfers.
Information checked Oct 11, 202664 official sources reviewed
01 · Overall score versus use-case fit
ARQ Card is the better all-round starting point
ARQ Card has the higher Overall Score in this comparison. Lava Card may be the better fit for Funds control, Lowest fees, and Transfers. 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.
OverallARQ64Lava62Higher score
CashbackARQ40Lava36Higher score
TravelARQ62Lava46Higher score
Funds controlARQ52Lava56Higher score
Lowest feesARQ52Lava59Higher score
TransfersARQ75Lava80Higher 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 Lava Card if funds control and lowest fees matter most
Lava 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.
- No provider card FX fee
- BTC rewards at selected partners
- Stablecoin and bank funding
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
- ARQ64Lava62
ARQ Card has the higher Overall Score by 2 points.
- Entry cost & FX
- ARQ$0 plan · Provider spread unknown; Argentina/Brazil variant charges may apply FXLava$0 plan · 0% provider FX fee 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%LavaUp to 5%
The providers have not published enough matching base cashback information to name a winner. Check the maximum rates, reward assets, caps and conditions below.
- Funds control
- ARQCustodial balanceLavaHybrid custody
ARQ Card uses a custodial balance setup, while Lava Card uses a hybrid custody setup. Neither approach is always better, so choose the level of control you are comfortable with.
- Everyday access
- ARQVirtual + Physical · Apple Pay, Google PayLavaCard format not disclosed · Apple Pay, Google Pay
ARQ Card lists more card formats and phone-wallet options (4 vs 2).
- Money movement
- ARQ4 stablecoins · ARQ P2P; USD ACH payoutLava3 stablecoins · Stablecoin transfers; Lava account bank withdrawal
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
- Cashback
- Up to 5%
- Plan cost
- $0
- FX fee
- 0% provider FX fee
- ATM fee
- 2%; min $1
- Card formats
- Not disclosed
- Wallet payments
- Apple Pay, Google Pay
- Receive methods
- 3 crypto · 1 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 CardOverall64Lava CardOverall62
ARQ CardOverall64Lava CardOverall62Scores
6 fields- Overall Score
- ARQ Card64Lava Card62
- Cashback score
- ARQ Card40Lava Card36
- Travel score
- ARQ Card62Lava Card46
- Funds control score
- ARQ Card52Lava Card56
- Lowest fees score
- ARQ Card52Lava Card59
- Transfers score
- ARQ Card75Lava Card80
Strengths & trade-offs
2 fields- Strengths
- ARQ CardClear four-country residence coverage, Virtual, physical and phone-wallet accessLava CardNo provider card FX fee, BTC rewards at selected partners
- Trade-offs
- ARQ CardProvider FX spread remains unclear, Headline cashback requires membershipLava CardCard access remains unclear, USD settlement is custodial
Costs
7 fields- Plan cost
- ARQ Card$0Lava Card$0
- FX fee
- ARQ CardProvider spread unknown; Argentina/Brazil variant charges may applyLava Card0% provider FX fee
- Top-up fee
- ARQ CardStandard receive: 3 USDc for USD/crypto and 3 EURc for EURLava CardNo added Lava funding markup. Banks and payment providers may charge; the FAQ lists 1.25% same-day ACH and $25 domestic wire. Regular ACH, SEPA and SPEI are listed as free where eligible. The fee recipient is not specified
- Card spending fee
- ARQ Card0%Lava CardNot disclosed
- ATM fee
- ARQ Card1–3%Lava Card2%; min $1
- Virtual card
- ARQ CardFreeLava CardNot disclosed
- Physical card
- ARQ CardMexico: Standard shipping $4.99; first physical card free with Main Balance above $100 or Premium. Other countries must confirm local terms.Lava CardNot disclosed
Plans
2 fields- Available plans
- ARQ Card3 plans: Standard, Premium, PrestigeLava CardNot disclosed
- Top cashback plan
- ARQ CardPrestige: 2%Lava CardNot disclosed
Everyday use
8 fields- Network
- ARQ CardMastercardLava CardVisa
- Card formats
- ARQ CardVirtual, PhysicalLava CardNot disclosed
- ATM withdrawals
- ARQ CardAvailableLava CardNot disclosed
- Mobile wallets
- ARQ CardApple Pay, Google PayLava CardApple Pay, Google Pay
- Apps
- ARQ CardiOS, AndroidLava CardiOS, Android, Web
- Daily spending limit
- ARQ CardNot disclosedLava CardAccount-specific and collateral-dependent; universal daily amount not disclosed.
- Monthly spending limit
- ARQ CardNot disclosedLava CardAccount-specific; universal monthly amount not disclosed.
- ATM limit
- ARQ CardNot disclosedLava CardAccess is conditional; withdrawal limits not disclosed.
Funding & transfers
5 fields- Networks
- ARQ CardEthereum, Polygon, TronLava CardSolana, Ethereum, Arbitrum, Avalanche, Base, Celo +4
- Crypto deposits
- ARQ CardStablecoins: USDC, USDTLava CardStablecoins: USDC, USDT, PYUSD
- Fiat deposits
- ARQ CardUSD receive, EUR receiveLava CardLava account bank funding
- Transfers
- ARQ CardARQ P2P; USD ACH payoutLava CardStablecoin transfers; Lava account bank withdrawal
- Payout currencies
- ARQ CardUSDLava CardUSD, EUR
Rewards
3 fields- Base cashback
- ARQ Card0%Lava CardNot disclosed
- Max cashback
- ARQ Card2%Lava Card5%
- Reward currency
- ARQ CardUSDc cashbackLava CardBTC
Earn
5 fields- Advertised APY
- ARQ CardUp to 4.5% APYLava CardUp to 6.5% APY
- How it works
- ARQ CardEarn on spending balance, Optional earn vaultLava CardOptional earn vault
- Separate deposit
- ARQ CardYesLava CardYes
- Use balance for spending
- ARQ CardNoLava CardNo
- Lock-up
- ARQ CardNoLava CardNo
Trust & availability
3 fields- Custody
- ARQ CardCustodialLava CardHybrid custody
- Control until payment
- ARQ CardProvider controls fundsLava CardProvider controls funds
- Card issuer
- ARQ CardNot disclosedLava CardThird National
Sources
2 fields- Official sources
- ARQ Card36Lava Card28
- Last reviewed
- ARQ CardOct 11, 2026Lava CardOct 6, 2026
04 · The trade-off
ARQ Card is the stronger all-round choice
ARQ Card finishes ahead with an Overall Score of 64 versus 62 for Lava Card. The starting plan and FX figures are tied, or the providers have not published enough matching information to name a lower-cost option. The providers have not published enough matching base cashback information to name a winner. Check the maximum rates, reward assets, caps and conditions below.
Lava Card still comes out ahead for Funds control, Lowest fees, and Transfers, 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 Lava Card uses a hybrid custody 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 Lava Card reviews first.
Continue with
ARQ Card
Continue with
Lava Card
05 · Common questions
ARQ vs Lava FAQ
Is ARQ or Lava better overall?
ARQ Card has the higher Overall Score (64 vs 62). 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 Lava?
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 Lava?
The providers have not published enough matching base cashback information to name a winner. Check the maximum rates, reward assets, caps and conditions below. Maximum rates may depend on tiers, caps, categories or other conditions, so the entry rate and reward asset matter too.
How do ARQ and Lava differ on custody?
ARQ Card uses a custodial balance setup, while Lava Card uses a hybrid custody setup. Neither approach is always better, so choose the level of control you are comfortable with.
How current is this ARQ vs Lava comparison?
The latest information check for these two cards was October 11, 2026, using 64 official sources in total. Each full card review lists its own check date, sources and anything the provider has not clearly disclosed.