Swan Cards
swan.io
What it is
Swan Cards provides embedded banking features—accounts, cards, and payments—for companies integrating financial services into their own products. Swan presents its platform to European software companies adding white-labeled banking. Its Mastercard debit cards come in virtual, physical, and digital formats, including single-use virtual cards. They can be added to Apple Wallet and Google Wallet for NFC payments; other digital wallets are not supported. Partners can set spending limits and payment rules based on amount, currency, merchant, city, or country. Card packages have different spending limits and FX fees: Standard, Essential, and Premium list €10,000, €40,000, and €100,000 limits, with fees of 2%, 1%, and 0%, respectively. Swan offers a GraphQL API, a ready-made web banking interface, and an open-source frontend for customization. API calls must originate from a partner’s backend, not a frontend app. The free Sandbox uses fake accounts, cards, and payments. Paid service starts at €2,990/mo.
Spec sheet
- What it does
- Swan lets companies embed bank accounts, cards and payments inside their own products.Read 15 Oct 2026 · swan.io
- Product
- Swan provides embedded banking features—including accounts, cards, and payments—for integration into other companies’ products.Read 29 Sep 2026 · swan.io
- Audience
- Swan describes itself as a platform helping European software companies add white-labeled banking services to their products.Read 29 Sep 2026 · swan.io
- API
- Swan exposes a GraphQL API for accounts, cards, transactions and other banking actions.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.swan.io
- Integrations
- Swan offers a GraphQL API, a ready-made web banking interface, and an open-source Swan Banking Frontend for customized web banking.Read 29 Sep 2026 · docs.swan.io
- Security
- Sensitive card-related changes require consent, and Swan cards support 3-D Secure for online payments.Read 29 Sep 2026 · docs.swan.io
- Support
- The support center covers onboarding, identifications, accounts, cards, transfers, direct debit, merchants and Tap to Pay.Read 15 Oct 2026 · support.swan.io
- Headquarters
- Paris, FranceRead 28 Sep 2026 · swan.io
- Founded
- 2019Read 28 Sep 2026 · swan.io
- Account features
- The platform offers local IBAN accounts, virtual IBANs, account funding and SEPA or international transfers.Read 15 Oct 2026 · swan.io
- API constraint
- For security reasons, Swan requires API calls to originate from the partner’s backend rather than a frontend application.Read 29 Sep 2026 · docs.swan.io
- API environments
- Live and Sandbox environments use separate endpoints, credentials and projects, and Sandbox data cannot be moved to Live.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.swan.io
- API limits
- The default API rate limit is 2,000 requests per IP every five minutes; Sandbox operations also have complexity, depth and concurrency limits.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.swan.io
- API security model
- Swan blocks browser-originated API calls, requiring backend communication.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.swan.io
- Card controls
- Spending controls can be set by amount, currency, merchant, category, city or country.Read 15 Oct 2026 · swan.io
- Card formats
- Swan supports instant virtual, single-use virtual, physical and digital Mastercard debit cards.Read 15 Oct 2026 · swan.io
- Card package billing
- Card packages can involve a monthly active-card fee, non-euro FX fees and one-time physical-card printing and shipping fees.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.swan.io
- Card packages
- Standard, Essential and Premium packages have €10,000, €40,000 and €100,000 spending limits, with FX fees of 2%, 1% and 0%.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.swan.io
- Card programs
- Partners can create branded and compliant card programs under their own user experience.Read 15 Oct 2026 · swan.io
- Card types
- Swan offers Mastercard debit cards in virtual, physical, and digital formats, including single-use virtual cards.Read 29 Sep 2026 · docs.swan.io
- Company history
- Swan’s company history page says it was born in 2019, when its three co-founders began writing the first lines of code.Read 29 Sep 2026 · swan.io
- Company size
- LinkedIn lists Swan as privately held, founded in 2019, headquartered in Paris and employing 201–500 people.Read 15 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
- Custom card limit
- Custom physical-card projects can take up to 16 weeks and require a first batch of at least 1,000 cards.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.swan.io
- Developer tooling
- Documentation links an API Explorer, API reference, Postman collection, Testing API, Event Simulator and MCP servers.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.swan.io
- Documentation depth
- The documentation includes product topics, task guides, API concepts, mutations, queries, webhooks, authentication, pagination and troubleshooting.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.swan.io
- Funding news
- TechCrunch reported on 29 January 2025 that Swan raised a €42 million Series B extension led by Eight Roads.Read 15 Oct 2026 · techcrunch.com
- Funds safeguarding
- Client funds are segregated with BNP Paribas and protected by FGDR up to €100,000 per client if the bank defaults.Read 15 Oct 2026 · swan.io
- Google Play listing
- The Swan app listing shows 10K+ downloads but no numerical rating or review count.Read 15 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
- Limit: account incidents
- Trustpilot reviews report delayed transfers, unexplained restrictions, repeated KYC requests and account freezes.Read 15 Oct 2026 · uk.trustpilot.com
- Limit: capital deposits
- Capterra reviewers describe capital deposits being canceled repeatedly, refunds delayed and eligibility decisions insufficiently explained.Read 15 Oct 2026 · capterra.in
- Limit: pricing and support
- Capterra and GetApp reviewers criticize pricing and ask for more personalized support or clearer instructional videos.Read 15 Oct 2026 · capterra.in
- Mobile wallets
- Swan cards can be added to Apple Wallet and Google Wallet for NFC payments; other digital wallets are not supported.Read 29 Sep 2026 · docs.swan.io
- Open-source frontend
- Swan publishes an open-source Banking Frontend that can be combined with its API for a customizable web-banking interface.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.swan.io
- Praise: customization
- GetApp and Capterra reviewers praise creating highly customized white-label banking experiences quickly, including reports of setup in about five minutes.Read 15 Oct 2026 · getapp.com.au
- Praise: support
- Trustpilot reviewers repeatedly describe Swan support as fast, clear, professional and effective.Read 15 Oct 2026 · uk.trustpilot.com
- Rating on Apple App Store
- 1.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings on the France listing for Swan.Read 15 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
- Rating on Capterra
- 3.0 out of 5 from 6 reviews.Read 15 Oct 2026 · capterra.in
- Rating on G2
- 4.5 out of 5 from 1 review.Read 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
- Rating on GetApp
- 3.0 out of 5 from 6 reviews.Read 15 Oct 2026 · getapp.com.au
- Rating on Trustpilot
- 4.0 out of 5 from 454 reviews.Read 15 Oct 2026 · uk.trustpilot.com
- Regulatory status
- Swan says it is an ACPR-authorized French electronic-money institution and a Mastercard principal member.Read 15 Oct 2026 · swan.io
- Safeguarding
- Swan says client funds are segregated and deposited with BNP Paribas, with FGDR protection up to €100,000 per client in the event of BNP Paribas default.Read 29 Sep 2026 · swan.io
- Security certification
- Swan's 2025 wrap-up says it achieved ISO/IEC 27001 certification and DORA readiness.Read 15 Oct 2026 · swan.io
- Wallet support
- Digital cards work with Apple Wallet and Google Wallet; other wallets are not supported.Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.swan.io
Plans and prices
Sandbox Free Unlimited sandbox users · fake accounts, cards and payments · API Explorer/Postman · Testing API · Event Simulator Read 15 Oct 2026 · swan.io
Swan €900 a month Starting at €900/month Listing reports subscription pricing · free version · no free trial available Read 15 Oct 2026 · getapp.com.au
Swan on demand €2,990 a month Starting from 2990€/m Local IBAN accounts · SEPA and multi-currency transfers · virtual IBANs · branded physical and virtual cards · Apple Pay/Google Pay Read 15 Oct 2026 · swan.io
Swan Enterprise Priced on request Custom Dedicated implementation manager · interchange revenue sharing · fully customized physical cards Read 15 Oct 2026 · swan.io
Strong points and limits
Strong points
- Virtual, physical, and digital Mastercard debit cards
- Configurable spending limits and payment rules
- GraphQL API and web banking interface
- Free Sandbox with fake accounts, cards, and payments
Limits
- API calls must come from a partner backend
- Apple Wallet and Google Wallet are the supported digital wallets
- Paid service starts at €2,990/mo
Who it suits
Swan suits European software companies seeking to integrate white-labeled banking into their products. Its Sandbox lets teams explore with fake accounts, cards, and payments before choosing a paid service.
Swan Cards in depth
Read the full write-up
Overview
Swan Cards brings accounts, cards and payments into software products under a partner’s brand. It is aimed at European software companies building financial services, especially teams that can integrate through a backend. Its configurable card controls and web banking options are useful, but live services start at €2,990/mo.
Key features
Swan combines embedded accounts, Mastercard debit cards, SEPA payments, KYC/AML tools and a ledger. Cards can be physical, virtual or digital, including single-use virtual cards. Partners can set spending limits and payment rules by amount, currency, merchant, city or country, making the platform a better fit for products that need controls tailored to their own customers than for simple card issuance.
Standard, Essential and Premium packages have spending limits of €10,000, €40,000 and €100,000, with FX fees of 2%, 1% and 0% respectively. The higher packages suit programs with larger spending needs or frequent foreign-currency transactions; Standard carries the highest FX fee. Cards work with Apple Wallet and Google Wallet for NFC payments, but not other digital wallets.
Online payments support 3-D Secure, and sensitive card changes require consent. Integration options include a GraphQL API, a ready-made web banking interface and an open-source frontend for customized web banking. API calls must come from the partner’s backend, a meaningful constraint for teams expecting direct frontend access. Swan says it is licensed by France’s ACPR as an electronic money institution. It says client funds are segregated with BNP Paribas, with FGDR protection up to €100,000 per client if that bank defaults.
Pricing
The Sandbox is free to explore and provides unlimited sandbox users, fake accounts, cards and payments, plus an API explorer and testing tools. It is useful for evaluating an integration, but its simulated accounts and transactions do not provide live banking services.
Swan on demand starts at €2,990/mo. It includes ready-made banking services, branded physical and virtual cards, and Apple Pay and Google Pay cards. This is the live-service entry point for teams wanting Swan’s packaged offering, but the starting monthly cost is substantial for a small product or an early experiment.
Swan Enterprise has custom pricing. It adds custom features and services, a dedicated implementation manager and interchange revenue sharing, which may suit businesses needing a tailored program and implementation support. Unlike the Sandbox, it is not a free route to live services; unlike Swan on demand, its price is not a fixed starting amount.
Platforms
Swan offers API and web access. The web banking interface gives partners a ready-made option, while the open-source frontend supports customization. Backend-only API calls mean teams must design their integration accordingly.
Who it's for
Swan fits European software companies that want to embed branded accounts and card services, need configurable card rules, and can support a backend-led integration and a meaningful monthly commitment. It is less suitable for teams seeking a low-cost live launch, frontend-originated API calls or support for wallets beyond Apple Wallet and Google Wallet.
Pros and cons
Pros: Accounts, cards, SEPA payments, KYC/AML tools and a ledger are brought together for embedded financial products.
Pros: Merchant, location, currency and amount-based card rules give partners fine-grained spending controls.
Pros: The free Sandbox includes unlimited users and testing tools, supporting evaluation before a live commitment.
Cons: Live services start at €2,990/mo, a significant entry cost for smaller teams.
Cons: API calls must originate from the partner’s backend, limiting integration patterns.
Cons: Apple Wallet and Google Wallet are supported, but other digital wallets are not.
Alternatives
Banking-as-a-Service Platforms is a useful place to compare this category. Consider Railsr if its free two-month Live Sandbox API and live API Launch plan better match your evaluation needs; its sandbox has real-money, account, value and transaction restrictions. Unit is another option; its actual card pricing, shipping and order minimums depend on program and design choices. Vodeno Cloud Platform is an alternative. Paynetics Card Issuing may suit a customizable physical or virtual Visa or Mastercard issuing program. Stripe Treasury offers a free Treasury plan with no minimums or monthly fees, which may appeal to teams focused on that lower-commitment pricing structure. Mbanq Cloud is another alternative. Modulr offers a Bronze plan at £30.00 per month with 80 payments included, extra payments at £0.80 each and unlimited card payments; it may suit a team whose payment volume fits those terms. Column is another alternative.
Verdict
Choose Swan if you are a European software company building branded banking into a product and value configurable card controls alongside accounts, payments and web banking options. Its strongest case is the breadth of embedded services and card customization; look elsewhere if the €2,990/mo live starting price or backend-only API requirement does not fit your team.
Verdict
Swan combines embedded accounts, card issuing, and payments with API and web interface options. Its backend-only API constraint and listed starting price are important considerations.
Where Specifiction places it
- Banking-as-a-Service Platforms#1 of 318.8
