Combo Cards vs Genome
Torn between Combo Cards and Genome? The comparison below is built from the same test data we use across the rest of the site.
Combo Cards issues on Visa + Mastercard and Genome on Visa; both ask for ID + proof; only Combo Cards takes crypto top-ups.
Combo Cards is the more cost-effective option for everyday spending and travel thanks to its free virtual cards, no monthly fee, 0% foreign transaction fees, no top-up fee. Genome is the better fit for power users who need AI subscriptions.
Two cards, one decision
| Field | Combo Cards | Genome |
|---|---|---|
| Card network | Visa + Mastercard | Visa |
| Card type | Crypto Card | Digital Bank / Neobank |
| KYC | ID + proof | ID + proof |
| Card issuance fee | Free | Virtual card 1 EUR (first 10); 10 EUR from 11th |
| Monthly fee | Free | Free EUR (card monthly fee); non-EEA personal account 20 EUR/mo or 200 EUR/yr |
| Top-up fee | — | Non-Genome card top-up 3% (externally initiated 1%) |
| FX fee | — | Non-card currency transactions 2%; EUR/USD/GBP conversion 1% |
| Crypto funding | Yes | No |
| AI tool support | — | ChatGPT |
| Risk level | Medium | Medium |
| Our rating | 7.5 | 9.3 |
| User reviews | 638 | 159 |
| Best for | Ad spend · App Store / Play | Ad spend · AI subscriptions |
A green left edge marks the side that holds the advantage on that row, where the data gives one.
The short version of the matchup
- If the monthly outgoings matter, Combo Cards leaves more in your pocket than Genome.
- Multi-task users get more from Genome — it clears more of the checkouts we run through our test suite.
- Combo Cards can sit on a crypto balance; Genome cannot, so the call depends on how you fund it.
- In our scoring, Genome finished ahead of Combo Cards — not by a mile, but enough to tilt a tiebreak.
The head to head
Combo Cards is the cheaper card to hold: free to create and no top-up fee, against about $1.09 and a 3% top-up at Genome. Genome earns its keep only if you need AI subscriptions.
Questions people ask
That depends on what you spend on. Combo Cards scores 7.5/10 against Genome's 9.3/10 in our tests, but the two split on fees, KYC and crypto funding. Read the table above, then match it to the checkouts you actually run.
Combo Cards works out cheaper: no virtual card issuance fee, free account maintenance, 0% foreign transaction fee, no top-up fee. Genome adds about $1.09 per virtual card, a 2% FX fee, a 3% top-up fee.
Combo Cards asks for ID + proof at signup; Genome asks for ID + proof. If a light sign-up is the priority, the one with the lower KYC label is the faster route.
Both show up in 3 of the same test scenarios, including Pinterest Ads, Snapchat Ads, Taboola. They overlap on a good share of checkouts, so the choice between them matters most on those pages. Where one is accepted and the other is not usually comes down to the billing country and 3-D Secure handling.
Where both show up
Combo Cards and Genome both landed in our top picks for 3 checkouts. Grouped by category so you can jump straight to the one you actually pay for:
📈 Ad Platforms 3
Their BIN ranges
Cards issued in 🇨🇦 Canada · 🇦🇺 Australia — the country guides group every range we track from there.
What our charge log shows
Every count here is a real charge attempt we placed on that range, renewals included, with the gateway response recorded. Weeks tracked is how long the range has been in the programme: