{"id":247971,"date":"2026-04-13T22:10:01","date_gmt":"2026-04-13T22:10:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/?p=247971\/"},"modified":"2026-05-05T18:59:39","modified_gmt":"2026-05-05T18:59:39","slug":"spirit-debit-card","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/news\/airlines\/spirit-debit-card\/","title":{"rendered":"Spirit Airlines Free Spirit Debit Card: What It Costs, What You Can Earn, and Whether It\u2019s Worth It"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em><strong>Update: Spirit Airlines ceased operations on May 2, 2026, and you can no longer sign up for the Free Spirit Debit Card. Do note that if you have this card, your funds are safe. <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/news\/future-of-spirit-airlines-credit-cards\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Read more here<\/a>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Nearly a year ago, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/news\/airlines\/free-spirit-program-changes\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Spirit Airlines first teased a rewards-earning debit card<\/a>. Since that original announcement, we\u2019ve watched United and Southwest roll out debit cards of their own. But now, Spirit\u2019s competing product is live, and as of April 13, 2026, you can become an accountholder.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s what to know about the Free Spirit Debit Card, including its earning rates, benefits, and welcome offer.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Spirit_Airlines_Launches_a_Points-Earning_Debit_Card\">Spirit Airlines Launches a Points-Earning Debit Card<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/freespiritdebit.com\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Free Spirit<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Debit Mastercard<sup>\u00ae<\/sup><\/a> is issued by Cross River Bank, which also issues products like the Current Build Card and Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa<sup>\u00ae<\/sup>, among other niche offerings. It carries a $6.99 monthly fee that fee can't be waived.<\/p>\n<p>On the bright, expressive landing page, Spirit advertises 200 <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/airlines\/free-spirit-rewards\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Free Spirit<\/a> points just for signing up. You\u2019ll also earn 200 points each month for the first 12 months where your monthly fee is successfully processed. All in, that\u2019s 2,600 points without having to actually swipe the card even once.<\/p>\n<p>The guaranteed 2,600 points per year is technically enough for a \u201cfree\u201d flight at Spirit\u2019s lowest redemption rates. But with a $6.99 monthly fee, you\u2019re paying $83.88 per year, so that flight isn\u2019t exactly free.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_248171\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"750\/336\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-248171 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Screenshot-2026-02-19-at-10.09.42-AM.png\" alt=\"Free Spirit Debit Card Lander\" width=\"750\" height=\"336\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Screenshot-2026-02-19-at-10.09.42-AM.png 2504w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Screenshot-2026-02-19-at-10.09.42-AM-750x336.png 750w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Screenshot-2026-02-19-at-10.09.42-AM-900x403.png 900w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Screenshot-2026-02-19-at-10.09.42-AM-768x344.png 768w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Screenshot-2026-02-19-at-10.09.42-AM-1536x688.png 1536w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Screenshot-2026-02-19-at-10.09.42-AM-2048x918.png 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><center><em>Credit: Spirit<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<p>In addition to the signup bonus, you\u2019ll earn Free Spirit points on everyday spending. Here\u2019s how it breaks down:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Earn 1 point per dollar on eligible Spirit purchases<\/li>\n<li>Earn 1 point per $2 spent on qualifying everyday purchases<\/li>\n<li>No cap on points earned each year<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>And much like the <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/airlines\/united-mileageplus\/united-debit-card\/\" rel=\"noopener\">United MileagePlus<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Debit Rewards Card<\/a>, cardholders can earn bonus Free Spirit points for keeping a balance in their debit account. You can earn up to 4,000 points per month based on your average daily balance, as follows:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>$1,000 to $2,499:<\/strong> 100 points per month<\/li>\n<li><strong>$2,500 to $4,999:<\/strong> 200 points per month<\/li>\n<li><strong>$5,000 to $9,999:<\/strong> 400 points per month<\/li>\n<li><strong>$10,000 to $24,999:<\/strong> 800 points per month<\/li>\n<li><strong>$25,000 to $49,999:<\/strong> 2,000 points per month<\/li>\n<li><strong>$50,000+:<\/strong> 4,000 points per month<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span id=\"How_to_Get_the_Free_Spirit_Debit_Card\">How to Get the Free Spirit Debit Card<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>To get the card, you\u2019ll first need to download the Free Spirit Rewards Debit Card app \u2014 <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/us\/app\/free-spirit-rewards-debit-card\/id6757635167\" rel=\"noopener\">click here for the Apple App Store<\/a> or <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.alviere.aps.android.spirit.app&hl=en_US\" rel=\"noopener\">here for Google Play<\/a>. Once downloaded, you\u2019ll walk through the steps to create your account.<\/p>\n<p>After your account is established, you can fund it via bank transfer (ACH), debit card, direct deposit, or cash deposits at participating ATMs, which you can locate in the app. Just note that if you fund your account with a debit card, you\u2019ll incur a 2.5% transaction fee.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"This_Debit_Card_Unlocks_Benefits_When_Flying_Spirit\">This Debit Card Unlocks Benefits When Flying Spirit<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The Free Spirit Debit Card comes with a handful of flying perks, some of which you won't see on other airline debit cards. Here\u2019s what cardholders get when flying Spirit:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Group 2 boarding<\/li>\n<li>Priority check in<\/li>\n<li>Points Pooling with up to 8 friends and family<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_209503\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"600\/480\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-209503 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Spirit-Airlines-Featured-Lisha-Riabinina-Unsplash.png\" alt=\"Window view of a Spirit Airlines winglet.\" width=\"600\" height=\"480\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Spirit-Airlines-Featured-Lisha-Riabinina-Unsplash.png 1000w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Spirit-Airlines-Featured-Lisha-Riabinina-Unsplash-300x240.png 300w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Spirit-Airlines-Featured-Lisha-Riabinina-Unsplash-768x614.png 768w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Spirit-Airlines-Featured-Lisha-Riabinina-Unsplash-325x260.png 325w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><center><em>Credit: Lisha Riabinina\/Unsplash<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<p>Group 2 boarding takes place after pre boarding and Group 1, which includes Spirit Gold members and travelers who purchased a Big Front Seat. Group 2 also includes Spirit Silver members, shortcut boarding purchasers, Spirit credit card holders, and premium economy passengers.<\/p>\n<p>Priority check in gives you access to a separate line at the airport counter. It\u2019s currently available at 20+ Spirit airports, so if you plan to use this perk, it\u2019s worth confirming your airport offers it.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Related: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/travel\/family-points-pooling\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Family Points Pooling: Combine Miles for Faster Free Travel<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Why_Would_Spirit_Launch_A_Debit_Card\">Why Would Spirit Launch A Debit Card?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Credit cards get a lot of attention, but debit cards still make up roughly a third of payments in the U.S. As airlines look to build deeper financial relationships with customers, adding a debit card is a natural extension of the brand.<\/p>\n<p>Most AwardWallet readers focus on credit cards, but that\u2019s not everyone. Some travelers aren\u2019t comfortable opening a credit card, and others may not qualify for one just yet. A debit card gives those customers a way to earn Free Spirit points on everyday purchases, even if the earning rates are lower.<\/p>\n<p>If you are comfortable with a credit card, using it like a debit card and paying it off in full each month might still be the optimal strategy. The Free Spirit<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Travel More MasterCard<sup>\u00ae<\/sup>\u00a0earns at a faster rate and includes perks like a <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/credit-cards\/airlines\/spirit-mastercard-free-bag-benefit\/\" rel=\"noopener\">free checked bag on every flight<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Bottom_Line\">Bottom Line<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Free Spirit points aren\u2019t the most exciting currency out there, but if you\u2019re loyal to the airline, award flights can start as low as 2,500 points. That said, the $6.99 monthly fee is a tough sell in my book.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re mainly interested in the travel perks and can qualify for a Spirit credit card, that\u2019s likely the more cost effective route. The Spirit Travel More Mastercard carries a $79 (waived for the first year) annual fee, which is ultimately a cheaper carry than the Free Spirit Debit Card is.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ftoc\"><div id=\"toc_container\" class=\"toc_light_blue no_bullets\"><p class=\"toc_title\">Page Contents<\/p><ul class=\"toc_list\"><li><a href=\"#Spirit_Airlines_Launches_a_Points-Earning_Debit_Card\">Spirit Airlines Launches a Points-Earning Debit Card<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#How_to_Get_the_Free_Spirit_Debit_Card\">How to Get the Free Spirit Debit Card<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#This_Debit_Card_Unlocks_Benefits_When_Flying_Spirit\">This Debit Card Unlocks Benefits When Flying Spirit<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Why_Would_Spirit_Launch_A_Debit_Card\">Why Would Spirit Launch A Debit Card?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Bottom_Line\">Bottom Line<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Nearly a year ago, Spirit Airlines first teased a rewards-earning debit card. Since that original announcement, we\u2019ve watched United and Southwest roll out debit cards of their own. But now, Spirit\u2019s competing product is live, and as of April 13, 2026, you can become an accountholder. Here&#8217;s what to know.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":97,"featured_media":198825,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_wpscppro_dont_share_socialmedia":null,"_wpscppro_custom_social_share_image":0,"_facebook_share_type":"default","_twitter_share_type":"default","_linkedin_share_type":"default","_pinterest_share_type":"default","_linkedin_share_type_page":"","_instagram_share_type":"default","_medium_share_type":"default","_threads_share_type":"","_google_business_share_type":"","_selected_social_profile":[],"_wpsp_enable_custom_social_template":false,"_wpsp_social_scheduling":{"enabled":false,"datetime":null,"platforms":[],"status":"template_only","dateOption":"today","timeOption":"now","customDays":"","customHours":"","customDate":"","customTime":"","schedulingType":"absolute"},"_wpsp_active_default_template":true},"categories":[12069],"tags":[12621,29699],"coauthors":[36469],"class_list":["post-247971","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-earning-strategy","tag-spirit-free-spirit"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/247971","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/97"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=247971"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/247971\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":261608,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/247971\/revisions\/261608"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/198825"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=247971"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=247971"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=247971"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=247971"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}