IDebit cards are quite different from credit cards though they are issued from the same providers for the most part. With debit cards you are making automatic payments at the time of the purchase which is withdrawn from an account connected to the debit card. There is no paying at a later time and it’s not lending of money as with a credit card.

Check cards, as they are also called, have other differences and similarities to credit cards. Because purchases are made from an account and taken out immediately debit card holders must be very aware of their balance so as not to overdraw the account. This factor in turn means you’re less likely to overspend which is very possible with a credit card.

Also with debit cards you get a little more security knowing that you have a PIN number that must be used on debit purchases. However, with many debit cards you can also sign for purchases, which is essentially counted as a credit purchase, though the money is still withdrawn from an account.

When used as a credit purchase many debit cards have reward programs similar to credit cards in which debit card holders can get cash back, points and more. With debit cards you also get the benefit of withdrawing cash for a low fee, sometimes for free depending on the provider, which makes getting cash in hand when you need it a lot less expensive than with a credit card.

Debit cards are extremely convenient for making your everyday purchases that would otherwise require writing a check. There is added convenience with debit cards that have the Visa or MasterCard logo as they are accepted anywhere just like credit cards.

Though there are fees with debit cards, debit cards holders aren’t going to be subject to interest rates that are connected to credit cards.