Side-by-side card comparison

ARQ vs Tangem: overall score versus use-case fit

Tangem Card has the higher Overall Score by 13 points (77 vs 64). ARQ Card looks stronger for Transfers, while Tangem Card comes out ahead for Cashback, Travel, and Funds control.

Information checked Oct 11, 202656 official sources reviewed

01 · Overall score versus use-case fit

Tangem Card is the better all-round starting point

Tangem Card has the higher Overall Score in this comparison. ARQ Card may be the better fit for 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.

OverallARQ64Tangem77Higher score
CashbackARQ40Tangem73Higher score
TravelARQ62Tangem63Higher score
Funds controlARQ52Tangem87Higher score
Lowest feesARQ52Tangem52Same score
TransfersARQ75Tangem65Higher score

Choose ARQ Card if transfers matters most

ARQ Card comes out ahead for Transfers 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 Tangem Card if cashback and travel matter most

Tangem Card comes out ahead for Cashback, Travel, and Funds control in this comparison. It is worth a closer look if those are the parts of a card you expect to use most.

  • Apple Pay and Google Pay
  • Direct USDC funding on Polygon
  • No monthly or standard purchase fee

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
ARQ64
Tangem77

Tangem Card has the higher Overall Score by 13 points.

Entry cost & FX
ARQ$0 plan · Provider spread unknown; Argentina/Brazil variant charges may apply FX
Tangem$0 plan · Up to 3% legal cap; current fee unknown 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%
Tangem1% base · up to 2%

Tangem Card has the higher published base cashback rate (1% vs 0%).

Funds control
ARQCustodial balance
TangemHybrid custody

ARQ Card uses a custodial balance setup, while Tangem 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 Pay
TangemVirtual + Physical · Apple Pay, Google Pay

Both cards list the same number of card formats and phone-wallet options.

Money movement
ARQ4 stablecoins · ARQ P2P; USD ACH payout
Tangem2 stablecoins · Stablecoin transfers

ARQ Card lists more stablecoins and ways to send money out (6 vs 3).

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.

2 cards compared
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
1%-2%
Plan cost
$0
FX fee
Up to 3% legal cap; current fee unknown
ATM fee
2–4%
Card formats
Virtual, Physical
Wallet payments
Apple Pay, Google Pay
Receive methods
2 crypto · 2 fiat
Payout methods
1 crypto · 0 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
Cards
ARQ CardOverall64
Tangem CardOverall77
01

Scores

6 fields
Overall Score
ARQ Card
64
Tangem Card
77
Cashback score
ARQ Card
40
Tangem Card
73
Travel score
ARQ Card
62
Tangem Card
63
Funds control score
ARQ Card
52
Tangem Card
87
Lowest fees score
ARQ Card
52
Tangem Card
52
Transfers score
ARQ Card
75
Tangem Card
65
02

Strengths & trade-offs

2 fields
Strengths
ARQ Card
Clear four-country residence coverage, Virtual, physical and phone-wallet access
Tangem Card
Apple Pay and Google Pay, Direct USDC funding on Polygon
Trade-offs
ARQ Card
Provider FX spread remains unclear, Headline cashback requires membership
Tangem Card
Cashback starts at a $30 purchase, ATM withdrawals cost 2%-4%
03

Costs

7 fields
Plan cost
ARQ Card
$0
Tangem Card
$0
FX fee
ARQ Card
Provider spread unknown; Argentina/Brazil variant charges may apply
Tangem Card
Up to 3% legal cap; current fee unknown
Top-up fee
ARQ Card
Standard receive: 3 USDc for USD/crypto and 3 EURc for EUR
Tangem Card
Crypto: no provider top-up fee. Bank: Basic ACH $1 / Fedwire $11; Plus free; third-party costs separate
Card spending fee
ARQ Card
0%
Tangem Card
0%
ATM fee
ARQ Card
1–3%
Tangem Card
2–4%
Virtual card
ARQ Card
Free
Tangem Card
$0 for the first virtual card
Physical card
ARQ Card
Mexico: Standard shipping $4.99; first physical card free with Main Balance above $100 or Premium. Other countries must confirm local terms.
Tangem Card
Basic: destination-dependent delivery $15.63–$63.45; Plus: first physical delivery free
04

Plans

2 fields
Available plans
ARQ Card
3 plans: Standard, Premium, Prestige
Tangem Card
2 plans: Basic, Plus
Top cashback plan
ARQ Card
Prestige: 2%
Tangem Card
Plus: 2%
05

Everyday use

8 fields
Network
ARQ Card
Mastercard
Tangem Card
Visa
Card formats
ARQ Card
Virtual, Physical
Tangem Card
Virtual, Physical
ATM withdrawals
ARQ Card
Available
Tangem Card
Available
Mobile wallets
ARQ Card
Apple Pay, Google Pay
Tangem Card
Apple Pay, Google Pay
Apps
ARQ Card
iOS, Android
Tangem Card
iOS, Android
Daily spending limit
ARQ Card
Not disclosed
Tangem Card
Basic: up to $10,000 daily; Plus: up to $50,000 daily, subject to account controls
Monthly spending limit
ARQ Card
Not disclosed
Tangem Card
No current monthly POS amount is published; up to 1,000 POS transactions per month
ATM limit
ARQ Card
Not disclosed
Tangem Card
$250 per withdrawal; up to three withdrawals per 24 hours; eligible card and ATM required
06

Funding & transfers

5 fields
Networks
ARQ Card
Ethereum, Polygon, Tron
Tangem Card
Polygon, BNB Smart Chain, Base, Arbitrum
Crypto deposits
ARQ Card
Stablecoins: USDC, USDT
Tangem Card
Stablecoins: USDC, USDT
Fiat deposits
ARQ Card
USD receive, EUR receive
Tangem Card
USD ACH deposit, USD Fedwire deposit
Transfers
ARQ Card
ARQ P2P; USD ACH payout
Tangem Card
Stablecoin transfers
Payout currencies
ARQ Card
USD
Tangem Card
Not disclosed
07

Rewards

3 fields
Base cashback
ARQ Card
0%
Tangem Card
1%
Max cashback
ARQ Card
2%
Tangem Card
2%
Reward currency
ARQ Card
USDc cashback
Tangem Card
USDC
08

Earn

5 fields
Advertised APY
ARQ Card
Up to 4.5% APY
Tangem Card
Not offered
How it works
ARQ Card
Earn on spending balance, Optional earn vault
Tangem Card
Not offered
Separate deposit
ARQ Card
Yes
Tangem Card
Not offered
Use balance for spending
ARQ Card
No
Tangem Card
Not offered
Lock-up
ARQ Card
No
Tangem Card
Not offered
09

Trust & availability

5 fields
Custody
ARQ Card
Custodial
Tangem Card
Hybrid custody
Control until payment
ARQ Card
Provider controls funds
Tangem Card
You keep control
Card issuer
ARQ Card
Not disclosed
Tangem Card
Third National
Card processing
ARQ Card
Not disclosed
Tangem Card
Paera LLC
Identity verification
ARQ Card
Not disclosed
Tangem Card
Sumsub
10

Sources

2 fields
Official sources
ARQ Card
36
Tangem Card
20
Last reviewed
ARQ Card
Oct 11, 2026
Tangem Card
Oct 11, 2026

04 · The trade-off

Tangem Card is the stronger all-round choice

Tangem Card finishes ahead with an Overall Score of 77 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. Tangem Card has the higher published base cashback rate (1% vs 0%).

ARQ Card still comes out ahead for 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 Tangem 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 3). 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 Tangem Card reviews first.

05 · Common questions

ARQ vs Tangem FAQ

Is ARQ or Tangem better overall?

Tangem Card has the higher Overall Score (77 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 Tangem?

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 Tangem?

Tangem Card has the higher published base cashback rate (1% vs 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 Tangem differ on custody?

ARQ Card uses a custodial balance setup, while Tangem 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 Tangem comparison?

The latest information check for these two cards was October 11, 2026, using 56 official sources in total. Each full card review lists its own check date, sources and anything the provider has not clearly disclosed.

06 · Try another angle

Compare either card with a nearby alternative, or build a different pair in the comparison workspace.

Open the comparison workspace