What a prepaid voucher is
A prepaid voucher is a code you buy with a fixed amount, then type in at the checkout of a website instead of a bank card. The website never sees your bank details, and you can never spend more than the amount on the code.
They are popular for games, gaming platforms, streaming and other online services, and for people who prefer not to use a bank card online. The four best known in Europe are paysafecard, Neosurf, CASHlib and Flexepin.
The main question: is it accepted where you want to pay?
A voucher is only useful where it is accepted. Before you buy, look at the payment methods shown at the checkout of the website you want to use: if it lists paysafecard, Neosurf, CASHlib or Flexepin, choose that one.
If several are accepted, compare the code format, whether you need an account, and the limits below. Also choose the voucher for the right country and currency: most are sold per country, and a code must match the currency the website accepts.
The four vouchers side by side
- paysafecard: a 16-digit PIN, accepted on thousands of websites worldwide. You can pay without an account, or add several PINs to a free paysafecard account. paysafecard may charge a monthly fee on a balance left unused for 12 months: see its terms.
- Neosurf: a 10-character code, used on many gaming and digital service websites. You can pay directly with the code or add it to a Neosurf account to manage your balance.
- CASHlib: a 16-digit code, used on more than a thousand partner websites, especially online games. No account is needed; one is optional. The credit has a limited validity from the date of purchase, and payments per transaction are capped without an account: check the current terms on the CASHlib website.
- Flexepin: a 16-digit PIN, entered at the checkout of websites that accept it. Flexepin has a balance check on its website, and its codes cannot be used in the United States.
Accounts, limits and the rest of your balance
With all four, you can usually pay a small amount straight away with the code. If your purchase costs less than the voucher, the rest stays on the code for another payment.
Higher amounts, combining several codes or getting a refund of the balance usually require a free account with the voucher brand, sometimes with an identity check. The exact limits change from brand to brand and from country to country, so check them on the official website before a large purchase.
Keep your codes until they are fully spent, and check the balance on the brand's official website when you need to.
Keep your code private
A voucher code works like cash: whoever has it can spend it. Keep it private until you use it, enter it only at the checkout of websites you chose yourself, and keep your order e-mail until the balance is fully spent.
