A top-up is not a card
Transcash, PCS, Toneo First and Bitsa are prepaid bank cards (Mastercard or Visa). A top-up code, sometimes called a ticket or coupon, adds money to a card you already have. It does not give you a card on its own.
So you need two things before buying a top-up: a card of that brand, and an account with that brand (on its website or in its app), where you enter the code. If you do not have a card yet, order one on the brand's official website first.
The four cards side by side
- Transcash: a prepaid Mastercard, managed in your Transcash account or the official app, where you enter the top-up code to add it to your card. Several card types exist, with different uses and limits.
- PCS: a prepaid Mastercard, available as physical or virtual cards. You enter the 10-digit top-up code in the MyPCS app or your PCS customer area. Money can also be shared between PCS cards, subject to PCS's terms.
- Toneo First: a prepaid Mastercard. You top it up from your ToneoFirst account online or by SMS, following Toneo's instructions. Limits depend on the status of your account.
- Bitsa: a prepaid Visa card, physical and virtual, managed in the Bitsa app. You top it up in the app with Top up, then Coupon. Several plans exist, and a Bitsa Young card is available from 16 with parental consent.
Where you can pay with them
Once topped up, these cards work wherever Mastercard (Transcash, PCS, Toneo First) or Visa (Bitsa) is accepted, online and in shops, up to the balance on the card. That makes them more flexible than payment vouchers such as paysafecard, which only work on websites that accept that voucher.
They are useful for keeping a fixed budget, for teenagers or family spending (depending on the card), for paying online without linking a bank account, or for people who do not have a traditional bank account.
Accounts and limits
All four need an account with the brand, and most ask you to verify your identity for higher limits. The amount you can top up, spend or withdraw depends on the card type and on how far your account is verified.
These limits are set by each brand and can change, so check them in your account or app before a large top-up. If a top-up is refused, it is often because a limit has been reached: the brand's support can tell you which one.
Keep your code private
Enter a top-up code only in your own account, on the brand's official website or app, and keep it private until then: whoever has the code can add the money to their own card.
