PhantomPhantom
59
Side-by-side card comparison
Phantom vs ARQ: overall score versus use-case fit
ARQ Card has the higher Overall Score by 5 points (64 vs 59). Phantom Card looks stronger for Funds control and Transfers, while ARQ Card comes out ahead for Cashback, Travel, and Lowest fees.
Information checked Aug 5, 202650 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. Phantom 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.
OverallPhantom59ARQ64Higher score
CashbackPhantom14ARQ41Higher score
TravelPhantom25ARQ62Higher score
Funds controlPhantom89ARQ52Higher score
Lowest feesPhantom44ARQ52Higher score
TransfersPhantom88ARQ75Higher score
Choose Phantom Card if funds control and transfers matter most
Phantom 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.
- Self-custody until settlement
- Apple Pay and Google Pay
- No US purchase fee
Choose ARQ Card if cashback and travel matter most
ARQ Card 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.
- Clear four-country residence coverage
- Virtual, physical and phone-wallet access
- Paid tiers add cashback and earnings
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
- Phantom59ARQ64
ARQ Card has the higher Overall Score by 5 points.
- Entry cost & FX
- PhantomNot verified plan · May apply; shown before confirmation FXARQ$0 plan · Provider spread unknown; Argentina/Brazil variant charges may apply 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
- Phantom0% cashbackARQ0% base · up to 2%
Both cards show the same base cashback rate of 0%.
- Funds control
- PhantomSelf-controlled walletARQCustodial balance
Phantom Card uses a self-controlled wallet setup, while ARQ Card uses a custodial balance setup. Neither approach is always better, so choose the level of control you are comfortable with.
- Everyday access
- PhantomVirtual · Apple Pay, Google PayARQVirtual + Physical · Apple Pay, Google Pay
ARQ Card lists more card formats and phone-wallet options (4 vs 3).
- Money movement
- Phantom5 stablecoins · Stablecoin transfers; Standard ACH bank payout, Fast ACH bank payoutARQ4 stablecoins · ARQ P2P; USD ACH payout
Phantom Card lists more stablecoins and ways to send money out (8 vs 6).
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.
- Cashback
- 0%
- Plan cost
- Not disclosed
- FX fee
- May apply; shown before confirmation
- ATM fee
- Not available
- Card formats
- Virtual
- Wallet payments
- Apple Pay, Google Pay
- Receive methods
- 4 crypto · 2 fiat
- Payout methods
- 1 crypto · 1 fiat
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
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
CardsPhantom CardOverall59ARQ CardOverall64
Phantom CardOverall59ARQ CardOverall64Scores
6 fields- Overall Score
- Phantom Card59ARQ Card64
- Cashback score
- Phantom Card14ARQ Card41
- Travel score
- Phantom Card25ARQ Card62
- Funds control score
- Phantom Card89ARQ Card52
- Lowest fees score
- Phantom Card44ARQ Card52
- Transfers score
- Phantom Card88ARQ Card75
Strengths & trade-offs
2 fields- Strengths
- Phantom CardSelf-custody until settlement, Apple Pay and Google PayARQ CardClear four-country residence coverage, Virtual, physical and phone-wallet access
- Trade-offs
- Phantom CardUS-only and virtual-only, No ATM; international fee unclearARQ CardProvider FX spread remains unclear, Headline cashback requires membership
Costs
7 fields- Plan cost
- Phantom CardNot disclosedARQ Card$0
- FX fee
- Phantom CardMay apply; shown before confirmationARQ CardProvider spread unknown; Argentina/Brazil variant charges may apply
- Top-up fee
- Phantom Card0.3–3.5%ARQ CardStandard receive: 3 USDc for USD/crypto and 3 EURc for EUR
- Card spending fee
- Phantom Card0%ARQ Card0%
- ATM fee
- Phantom CardNot availableARQ Card1–3%
- Virtual card
- Phantom CardFree virtual cardARQ CardFree
- Physical card
- Phantom CardNot availableARQ Card$4.99 Standard; $0 Premium
Plans
2 fields- Available plans
- Phantom CardNot disclosedARQ Card3 plans: Standard, Premium, Prestige
- Top cashback plan
- Phantom CardNot disclosedARQ CardPrestige: 2%
Everyday use
8 fields- Network
- Phantom CardVisaARQ CardMastercard
- Card formats
- Phantom CardVirtualARQ CardVirtual, Physical
- ATM withdrawals
- Phantom CardNot availableARQ CardAvailable
- Mobile wallets
- Phantom CardApple Pay, Google PayARQ CardApple Pay, Google Pay
- Apps
- Phantom CardiOS, AndroidARQ CardiOS, Android
- Daily spending limit
- Phantom Card$2,000 default daily and per transaction; up to $5,000/day by support requestARQ CardNot disclosed
- Monthly spending limit
- Phantom CardMonthly card-spend limit not publishedARQ CardNot disclosed
- ATM limit
- Phantom CardNot availableARQ CardNot disclosed
Funding & transfers
5 fields- Networks
- Phantom CardSolanaARQ CardEthereum, Polygon, Tron
- Crypto deposits
- Phantom CardStablecoins: USDC, USDT, USDG, PYUSDARQ CardStablecoins: USDC, USDT
- Fiat deposits
- Phantom CardStripe card, Apple Pay, Google Pay or linked-bank deposit, ACH transfer or domestic wireARQ CardUSD receive, EUR receive
- Transfers
- Phantom CardStablecoin transfers; Standard ACH bank payout, Fast ACH bank payoutARQ CardARQ P2P; USD ACH payout
- Payout currencies
- Phantom CardUSDARQ CardUSD
Rewards
3 fields- Base cashback
- Phantom Card0%ARQ Card0%
- Max cashback
- Phantom Card0%ARQ Card2%
- Reward currency
- Phantom CardNot applicableARQ CardUSDc cashback
Earn
5 fields- Advertised APY
- Phantom CardNot disclosedARQ CardUp to 4.5% APY
- How it works
- Phantom CardOptional earn vaultARQ CardEarn on spending balance, Optional earn vault
- Separate deposit
- Phantom CardYesARQ CardYes
- Use balance for spending
- Phantom CardNoARQ CardNo
- Lock-up
- Phantom CardNot disclosedARQ CardNo
Trust & availability
6 fields- Custody
- Phantom CardSelf-custodyARQ CardCustodial
- Control until payment
- Phantom CardYou keep controlARQ CardProvider controls funds
- Card issuer
- Phantom CardLead BankARQ CardNot disclosed
- Card processing
- Phantom CardBridge Ventures LLC, GalileoARQ CardNot disclosed
- Deposits & withdrawals
- Phantom CardStripeARQ CardNot disclosed
- Identity verification
- Phantom CardLinkARQ CardNot disclosed
Sources
2 fields- Official sources
- Phantom Card14ARQ Card36
- Last reviewed
- Phantom CardAug 5, 2026ARQ CardAug 5, 2026
04 · The trade-off
ARQ Card is the stronger all-round choice
ARQ Card finishes ahead with an Overall Score of 64 versus 59 for Phantom 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%.
Phantom 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. Phantom Card uses a self-controlled wallet setup, while ARQ Card uses a custodial balance setup. Neither approach is always better, so choose the level of control you are comfortable with.
Phantom Card lists more stablecoins and ways to send money out (8 vs 6). 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 Phantom Card and ARQ Card reviews first.
Continue with
Phantom Card
Continue with
ARQ Card
05 · Common questions
Phantom vs ARQ FAQ
Is Phantom or ARQ better overall?
ARQ Card has the higher Overall Score (64 vs 59). 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, Phantom or ARQ?
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, Phantom or ARQ?
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 Phantom and ARQ differ on custody?
Phantom Card uses a self-controlled wallet setup, while ARQ Card uses a custodial balance setup. Neither approach is always better, so choose the level of control you are comfortable with.
How current is this Phantom vs ARQ comparison?
The latest information check for these two cards was August 5, 2026, using 50 official sources in total. Each full card review lists its own check date, sources and anything the provider has not clearly disclosed.