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64
Side-by-side card comparison
ARQ vs Uphold US: overall score versus use-case fit
Uphold Card US has the higher Overall Score by 6 points (70 vs 64). ARQ Card looks stronger for Funds control and Transfers, while Uphold Card US comes out ahead for Cashback, Travel, and Lowest fees.
Information checked Oct 14, 202649 official sources reviewed
01 · Overall score versus use-case fit
Uphold Card US is the better all-round starting point
Uphold Card US has the higher Overall Score in this comparison. ARQ Card may be the better fit for Funds control 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.
OverallARQ64Uphold US70Higher score
CashbackARQ40Uphold US75Higher score
TravelARQ62Uphold US71Higher score
Funds controlARQ52Uphold US44Higher score
Lowest feesARQ52Uphold US56Higher score
TransfersARQ75Uphold US65Higher score
Choose ARQ Card if funds control and transfers matter most
ARQ Card comes out ahead for Funds control 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 Uphold Card US if cashback and travel matter most
Uphold Card US comes out ahead for Cashback, Travel, 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.
- Essential has no annual fee
- Apple Pay and Google Pay
- Elite raises spending limits
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
- ARQ64Uphold US70
Uphold Card US has the higher Overall Score by 6 points.
- Entry cost & FX
- ARQ$0 plan · Provider spread unknown; Argentina/Brazil variant charges may apply FXUphold US$0 plan · 0–1.5% 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%Uphold US2% base · up to 4%
Uphold Card US has the higher published base cashback rate (2% vs 0%).
- Funds control
- ARQCustodial balanceUphold USCustodial balance
ARQ Card and Uphold Card US use the same custodial balance setup.
- Everyday access
- ARQVirtual + Physical · Apple Pay, Google PayUphold USVirtual + 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 payoutUphold US0 stablecoins · US bank withdrawal
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.
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- 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
- 2%-4%
- Plan cost
- $0
- FX fee
- 0–1.5%
- ATM fee
- Essential: $2.95; Elite: $0
- Card formats
- Virtual, Physical
- Wallet payments
- Apple Pay, Google Pay
- Receive methods
- 0 crypto · 3 fiat
- Payout methods
- 0 crypto · 1 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 CardOverall64Uphold Card USOverall70
ARQ CardOverall64Uphold Card USOverall70Scores
6 fields- Overall Score
- ARQ Card64Uphold Card US70
- Cashback score
- ARQ Card40Uphold Card US75
- Travel score
- ARQ Card62Uphold Card US71
- Funds control score
- ARQ Card52Uphold Card US44
- Lowest fees score
- ARQ Card52Uphold Card US56
- Transfers score
- ARQ Card75Uphold Card US65
Strengths & trade-offs
2 fields- Strengths
- ARQ CardClear four-country residence coverage, Virtual, physical and phone-wallet accessUphold Card USEssential has no annual fee, Apple Pay and Google Pay
- Trade-offs
- ARQ CardProvider FX spread remains unclear, Headline cashback requires membershipUphold Card USAsset sales can reduce rewards, Rewards have a disputed time window
Costs
7 fields- Plan cost
- ARQ Card$0Uphold Card US$0
- FX fee
- ARQ CardProvider spread unknown; Argentina/Brazil variant charges may applyUphold Card US0–1.5%
- Top-up fee
- ARQ CardStandard receive: 3 USDc for USD/crypto and 3 EURc for EURUphold Card USACH: no deposit fee; external card: 3.99%
- Card spending fee
- ARQ Card0%Uphold Card USNot disclosed
- ATM fee
- ARQ Card1–3%Uphold Card USEssential: $2.95; Elite: $0
- Virtual card
- ARQ CardFreeUphold Card USFree on both plans
- 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.Uphold Card USEssential: $4.99 plastic; Elite: metal included in $99.99 annual plan
Plans
2 fields- Available plans
- ARQ Card3 plans: Standard, Premium, PrestigeUphold Card US2 plans: Essential, Elite
- Top cashback plan
- ARQ CardPrestige: 2%Uphold Card USElite: 3%
Everyday use
8 fields- Network
- ARQ CardMastercardUphold Card USVisa
- Card formats
- ARQ CardVirtual, PhysicalUphold Card USVirtual, Physical
- ATM withdrawals
- ARQ CardAvailableUphold Card USAvailable
- Mobile wallets
- ARQ CardApple Pay, Google PayUphold Card USApple Pay, Google Pay
- Apps
- ARQ CardiOS, AndroidUphold Card USiOS, Android
- Daily spending limit
- ARQ CardNot disclosedUphold Card USEssential: $2,500/day; Elite: $25,000/day
- Monthly spending limit
- ARQ CardNot disclosedUphold Card USEssential: $10,000/month; Elite: $100,000/month
- ATM limit
- ARQ CardNot disclosedUphold Card USEssential: $500/day, $2,000/month; Elite: $2,000/day, $10,000/month
Funding & transfers
5 fields- Networks
- ARQ CardEthereum, Polygon, TronUphold Card USNot disclosed
- Crypto deposits
- ARQ CardStablecoins: USDC, USDTUphold Card USNot disclosed
- Fiat deposits
- ARQ CardUSD receive, EUR receiveUphold Card USLinked US bank account, USD bank transfer, External card deposit
- Transfers
- ARQ CardARQ P2P; USD ACH payoutUphold Card USUS bank withdrawal
- Payout currencies
- ARQ CardUSDUphold Card USUSD
Rewards
3 fields- Base cashback
- ARQ Card0%Uphold Card US2%
- Max cashback
- ARQ Card2%Uphold Card US4%
- Reward currency
- ARQ CardUSDc cashbackUphold Card USXRP
Earn
5 fields- Advertised APY
- ARQ CardUp to 4.5% APYUphold Card USNot offered
- How it works
- ARQ CardEarn on spending balance, Optional earn vaultUphold Card USNot offered
- Separate deposit
- ARQ CardYesUphold Card USNot offered
- Use balance for spending
- ARQ CardNoUphold Card USNot offered
- Lock-up
- ARQ CardNoUphold Card USNot offered
Trust & availability
4 fields- Custody
- ARQ CardCustodialUphold Card USCustodial
- Control until payment
- ARQ CardProvider controls fundsUphold Card USProvider controls funds
- Card issuer
- ARQ CardNot disclosedUphold Card USCross River Bank
- Custody / key management
- ARQ CardNot disclosedUphold Card USUphold HQ Inc.
Sources
2 fields- Official sources
- ARQ Card36Uphold Card US13
- Last reviewed
- ARQ CardOct 11, 2026Uphold Card USOct 14, 2026
04 · The trade-off
Uphold Card US is the stronger all-round choice
Uphold Card US finishes ahead with an Overall Score of 70 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. Uphold Card US has the higher published base cashback rate (2% vs 0%).
ARQ Card still comes out ahead for Funds control and Transfers, which may matter more than the overall result if that is how you plan to use the card. ARQ Card and Uphold Card US use the same custodial balance setup.
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 Uphold Card US reviews first.
Continue with
ARQ Card
Continue with
Uphold Card US
05 · Common questions
ARQ vs Uphold US FAQ
Is ARQ or Uphold US better overall?
Uphold Card US has the higher Overall Score (70 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 Uphold US?
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 Uphold US?
Uphold Card US has the higher published base cashback rate (2% 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 Uphold US differ on custody?
ARQ Card and Uphold Card US use the same custodial balance setup.
How current is this ARQ vs Uphold US comparison?
The latest information check for these two cards was October 14, 2026, using 49 official sources in total. Each full card review lists its own check date, sources and anything the provider has not clearly disclosed.