Is there a difference between the Visa Reloadable Prepaid Card and Visa Gift Card? This question was posed on Yahoo Answers recently and since I have seen the question asked a couple of times already, I did some research on the subject and here is what I found.

While both cards are accepted anywhere visa debit cards are accepted, there are differences between the two cards that should be considered before buying.

1. The Visa Gift Card is not “reloadable”. Once the initial value on a Visa Gift Card is spent, the plastic becomes worthless. On the other hand, the Visa Reloadable Prepaid card can be reloaded with cash several times over until the expiration date listed on the card.
2. The Visa Gift Card can be purchased at many grocery stores or supermarkets without any precondition, such as age requirement or proof of ID. However, to purchase Visa Reloadable Prepaid Card, you must be at least 18 years of age and must provide a government issued ID.
3. You can use a Visa Reloadable Prepaid Card to get cash at an ATM while the Visa Gift Card does not allow you to get cash at the ATM.
4. The Visa Reloadable Prepaid Card also allows you to add money to the card through direct deposit of your wages, tax refunds, or other disbursements, such as social security, child support, welfare or other payments. This feature does not exist with the Visa Gift Card.
5. The Visa Reloadable Prepaid Card can be used for online bill payment, including recurring bills and subscriptions while the Visa Gift Card does not usually work for recurring bills and subscriptions.

The Visa Gift Card and the Visa Reloadable Prepaid Card have a few things in common, including the following:

1. As mentioned earlier, both cards are accepted anywhere Visa debit cards are accepted-including supermarkets, pharmacies, drug stores, retail stores and online merchants, as well as mail and phone orders.
2. Both cards can be replaced when lost (you need to provide your Card number for a replacement card to be issued).
3. Both come with fees, so be sure you understand all the fees that will be assessed and when they are charged before buying either card.

Why would someone buy a Visa Reloadable Prepaid Card instead of a Visa Gift Card?

1. The Visa Reloadable Prepaid Card works best for those without a credit card or those with spotty credit who want the benefits of a credit card (such as paying recurring bills, buying things online) without having to apply for a credit card and go through credit verification.
2. It also helps those without a bank account to manage their money better by having it directly deposited onto the card and having the money readily available without going through a check cashing place.
3. It’s a good way to help college students learn money management stills since they can only spend the money loaded on the card, rather than using a credit card which may cause them to spend more than they probably should.

For places that sell the Visa Gift Card, click here. For places that sell the Visa Reloadable Prepaid Card, click here.

Readers, have you ever used the Visa Reloadable Prepaid Card? Do you prefer it over carrying cash or a credit card? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Source: Visa.com