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64
Side-by-side card comparison
ARQ vs Tangem: overall score versus use-case fit
ARQ Card has the higher Overall Score by 4 points (64 vs 60). ARQ Card looks stronger for Cashback, Travel, and Transfers, while Tangem Card comes out ahead for Funds control and Lowest fees.
Information checked Aug 28, 202654 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. Tangem Card may be the better fit for Funds control and Lowest fees. 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.
OverallARQ64Tangem60Higher score
CashbackARQ41Tangem15Higher score
TravelARQ62Tangem27Higher score
Funds controlARQ52Tangem83Higher score
Lowest feesARQ52Tangem53Higher score
TransfersARQ75Tangem58Higher score
Choose ARQ Card if cashback and travel matter most
ARQ Card comes out ahead for Cashback, Travel, and 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 funds control and lowest fees matter most
Tangem Card comes out ahead for Funds control and Lowest fees 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
- ARQ64Tangem60
ARQ Card has the higher Overall Score by 4 points.
- Entry cost & FX
- ARQ$0 plan · Provider spread unknown; Argentina/Brazil variant charges may apply FXTangem$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%Tangem0% cashback
Both cards show the same base cashback rate of 0%.
- Funds control
- ARQCustodial balanceTangemHybrid 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 PayTangemVirtual · 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 payoutTangem1 stablecoin · Stablecoin transfers
ARQ Card lists more stablecoins and ways to send money out (6 vs 2).
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
- 0%
- Plan cost
- $0
- FX fee
- Up to 3% legal cap; current fee unknown
- ATM fee
- Not available
- Card formats
- Virtual
- Wallet payments
- Apple Pay, Google Pay
- Receive methods
- 1 crypto · 0 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
CardsARQ CardOverall64Tangem CardOverall60
ARQ CardOverall64Tangem CardOverall60Scores
6 fields- Overall Score
- ARQ Card64Tangem Card60
- Cashback score
- ARQ Card41Tangem Card15
- Travel score
- ARQ Card62Tangem Card27
- Funds control score
- ARQ Card52Tangem Card83
- Lowest fees score
- ARQ Card52Tangem Card53
- Transfers score
- ARQ Card75Tangem Card58
Strengths & trade-offs
2 fields- Strengths
- ARQ CardClear four-country residence coverage, Virtual, physical and phone-wallet accessTangem CardApple Pay and Google Pay, Direct USDC funding on Polygon
- Trade-offs
- ARQ CardProvider FX spread remains unclear, Headline cashback requires membershipTangem CardNo current cashback, Virtual-only with no ATM access
Costs
7 fields- Plan cost
- ARQ Card$0Tangem Card$0
- FX fee
- ARQ CardProvider spread unknown; Argentina/Brazil variant charges may applyTangem CardUp to 3% legal cap; current fee unknown
- Top-up fee
- ARQ CardStandard receive: 3 USDc for USD/crypto and 3 EURc for EURTangem Card0%
- Card spending fee
- ARQ Card0%Tangem Card0%
- ATM fee
- ARQ Card1–3%Tangem CardNot available
- Virtual card
- ARQ CardFreeTangem Card$0 for the first virtual card
- Physical card
- ARQ Card$4.99 Standard; $0 PremiumTangem CardNot disclosed
Plans
2 fields- Available plans
- ARQ Card3 plans: Standard, Premium, PrestigeTangem CardNot disclosed
- Top cashback plan
- ARQ CardPrestige: 2%Tangem CardNot disclosed
Everyday use
8 fields- Network
- ARQ CardMastercardTangem CardVisa
- Card formats
- ARQ CardVirtual, PhysicalTangem CardVirtual
- ATM withdrawals
- ARQ CardAvailableTangem CardNot available
- Mobile wallets
- ARQ CardApple Pay, Google PayTangem CardApple Pay, Google Pay
- Apps
- ARQ CardiOS, AndroidTangem CardiOS, Android
- Daily spending limit
- ARQ CardNot disclosedTangem CardBasic advertises $10,000 daily; the account system/default shows up to $50,000, so the effective Basic limit is unclear
- Monthly spending limit
- ARQ CardNot disclosedTangem CardNo current monthly POS amount is published; up to 1,000 POS transactions per month
- ATM limit
- ARQ CardNot disclosedTangem CardATM withdrawals are not currently available
Funding & transfers
5 fields- Networks
- ARQ CardEthereum, Polygon, TronTangem CardPolygon
- Crypto deposits
- ARQ CardStablecoins: USDC, USDTTangem CardStablecoins: USDC
- Fiat deposits
- ARQ CardUSD receive, EUR receiveTangem CardNot disclosed
- Transfers
- ARQ CardARQ P2P; USD ACH payoutTangem CardStablecoin transfers
- Payout currencies
- ARQ CardUSDTangem CardNot disclosed
Rewards
3 fields- Base cashback
- ARQ Card0%Tangem Card0%
- Max cashback
- ARQ Card2%Tangem Card0%
- Reward currency
- ARQ CardUSDc cashbackTangem CardNo current purchase rewards
Earn
5 fields- Advertised APY
- ARQ CardUp to 4.5% APYTangem CardNot offered
- How it works
- ARQ CardEarn on spending balance, Optional earn vaultTangem CardNot offered
- Separate deposit
- ARQ CardYesTangem CardNot offered
- Use balance for spending
- ARQ CardNoTangem CardNot offered
- Lock-up
- ARQ CardNoTangem CardNot offered
Trust & availability
5 fields- Custody
- ARQ CardCustodialTangem CardHybrid custody
- Control until payment
- ARQ CardProvider controls fundsTangem CardYou keep control
- Card issuer
- ARQ CardNot disclosedTangem CardThird National
- Card processing
- ARQ CardNot disclosedTangem CardPaera LLC
- Identity verification
- ARQ CardNot disclosedTangem CardSumsub
Sources
2 fields- Official sources
- ARQ Card36Tangem Card18
- Last reviewed
- ARQ CardAug 5, 2026Tangem CardAug 28, 2026
04 · The trade-off
ARQ Card is the stronger all-round choice
ARQ Card finishes ahead with an Overall Score of 64 versus 60 for Tangem 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%.
Tangem Card still comes out ahead for Funds control and Lowest fees, 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 2). 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.
Continue with
ARQ Card
Continue with
Tangem Card
05 · Common questions
ARQ vs Tangem FAQ
Is ARQ or Tangem better overall?
ARQ Card has the higher Overall Score (64 vs 60). 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?
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 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 August 28, 2026, using 54 official sources in total. Each full card review lists its own check date, sources and anything the provider has not clearly disclosed.