Curve is a Google wallet replacement app that consolidates multiple bank cards into a single smart card and digital wallet, making it easier to manage your finances. Here are some key points:
PRO:
- Curve allows you to link multiple debit and credit cards to one Curve card, simplifying your wallet and making it easier to switch between accounts.
- The app claim to offer robust security features, including instant card freezing, transaction notifications, and the ability to set spending limits.
- Curve provides cashback and rewards on purchases, which can add up over time and provide extra value.
- The app is intuitive and easy to navigate, with clear transaction histories and spending insights.
- Go Back in Time: A unique feature that lets you switch the card used for a transaction after the purchase, providing flexibility and control.
CONS:
- While the basic version is free, some premium features come with a subscription fee.
- Curve is not available in all countries, however, should be available in all EU and the UK.
okay, and who are they selling my transaction history to?
They got a privacy policy that tell you everything they do with your data. Isn’t an open source app, isn’t privacy focused and that’s absolutely bad. But, my alternative is keep using Google. This is an alternative.
You have a third option beyond “google as card aggregator” and “curve as card aggregator”. Third option is no card aggregator.
I want an app like that just to be able to pay with my phone, the rest of functionalities are quite superfluous to me.
But bruh… How will I digital?
Does the NFC payment feature work without Google Play?
Yes, it should work on a degoogled phone, that’s my point in using it but there are some review on streaming platforms you might want to see. It’s definitely working on E/OS.
I’m running some additional tests in the next few weeks.
There are two (really) good things about Curve:
- no forex for your first 250€
- fallback cards if the selected card declines the transaction
Otherwise, would not recommend
Edit: here https://feddit.it/post/17220902 they say that on Android it will work as an NFC wallet, so I’m wrong!
Is there any other replacement for Google Wallet you would recommend?
Hi OP! I didn’t mean to be negative, but it depends on what you use x Wallet for:
- if you use to consolidate cards, then it will be a bit harder but it will accomplish the goal
- if you use to pay from your phone, then there are a multitude of national apps, which UX this again a bit worse, imho. In Italy we have Satispay, then there’s Wero Pay (DE, FR, BE, NL iirc), Swish (SE) and Mobile Pay (DK, FI and maybe NO). We should aim for a EU-wide payment app
There is a project for a wide eu platform, it goes a bit further than that including other functionality, however, even if they started a few years ago, they didn’t make massive progress. This is the only service based in Europe (UK) that provides service to all Europe.
Why not? Got Curve for about two years to make Amazon and other online payments with my otherwise unsupported Diners Club via Curve. Works really good. Although I wish there was a EU based payment system that’s available everywhere…
That’s an edge case I didn’t consider. Diner’s cards aren’t so widespread.
Edit: there are a few cases where Curve is really useful, but not as an Apple/Google Wallet replacement
How on earth does combining cards work, and what on earth are the benefits (and drawbacks)?
Ask them. I would never use that, got a card and it’s more than enough, but…it might be useful for others.
I am not a huge fan of having multiple cards. Its economic suboptimization.
People tell me they get cashback, points and all sorts of advantages.
If you calculate the actual savings in euros, its not that impressive.
If you spend 10 000€ a year with 1% cashback. That’s 100€. Which is more than nothing. However you can ignore the whole min/maxing with cards and just make a couple more meals from scratch, bring coffee instead of buying for a couple weeks, buy something used instead of new once or twice etc.
The time spent getting all these points and maximizing is often comprehensive. The credit card bill has to be paid every month, if you miss it once, then the whole thing was a waste of time. So you have to be certain. Checking if everything is paid is thus important.
Also they loyalty part is manipulative and might not actually be beneficial in many cases.
So I stick to my ONE debit card.
You’d better cut out the avocado toast too. That’s the real budget killer.
Haha, with a price of about 1.5 euros per avocado. You got to skip a lot of toasts 😂
