We all live in an era of a fast and technological world. One such thing is cards that ease our necessities. Almost everyone owns a debit card and smart card.
Still many are confused between these two. With different functions and different advantages making transactions and storing data has become easier.
Key Takeaways
- Smart cards contain an embedded microprocessor for secure data storage and transactions, while debit cards store information on a magnetic stripe and require a linked bank account.
- Smart cards offer more secure transactions and better protection against fraud than debit cards.
- Debit cards are more widely used for everyday transactions, while smart cards are employed for various purposes, such as identification and access control.
Smart Card vs Debit Card
A smart card has an embedded microprocessor chip that stores and processes data securely, while a debit card only stores basic account information on a magnetic stripe. Smart cards offer enhanced security features during use. Debit cards are primarily used for cash payments or withdrawals.
The smart card is a physical card having an integrated chip. It can also act as a security permit. Comes in the size of other cards like driving licence, credit card, etc.
It contains more information. Smart cards are used for several applications. Although it is basically used as payment cards.
The Debit card is a payment card used for transactions. In this, the amount is deducted directly from the bank account. Also used as an ATM for withdrawing cash.
The purchases can be made with or without the PIN. They also come with a limited expenditure feature for a day.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Smart Card | Debit Card |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Smart cards are embedded with microprocessors having integrated circuit chips. | Debit cards are magnetic chip-embedded cards issued to customers from their bank. |
| Uses | Smart cards are extensively used in telecommunication industries. | A debit card is mostly used for ATM transactions. |
| Security | Smart cards offer high security than any other card. Sensitive and personal data can also be stored. | A debit card comes with less security than a smart card. |
| Perks | Smart cards are prepaid cards that can be used to the limit of recharge. | In Debit cards, every purchase amount is deducted from the bank account. |
| Links | Smart cards link directly to the internet. | A Debit card is linked to one’s checking account and can be used where applicable. |
What is Smart Card?
They look similar to credit cards and driving licences, made up of plastic or metal. They can be read in three ways, physical niches used for reading chips or by short-range WiFi or through NFC.
It is also used for identification purposes. Security tends to be much higher for smart cards. Almost everyone uses a smart card and the ones who don’t should know the benefits and avail themselves.
Like other cards, smart cards can’t be swiped and used.
All the encryptions have very tight safety. On completion of every transaction, there’s strong encryption. Nowadays no safety is enough, in the world of frauds and hacks it is very important to opt for powerful protection.
The smart card gives you all of these with extra security. Smart cards hold more information than Debit cards.
Smart cards are also used as debit or credit cards to pay for goods and services. Employees also used the smart card for their identification.
There is a lot of use of smart card applications in the retail industry for identifying purposes and user reward customers.
It benefits with the smart card applications where their life and business chores meet with payment processing technologies.
What is Debit Card?
A Debit card is made of plastic or metal that provides a choice for payment methods. It is also called an electronic check card or bank card. It allows instant withdrawal of cash from ATMs.
PIN makes the debit card secure which is a secret and most private part of the card. If the card gets stolen it could be a huge problem and unsafe as well. It’s fast and easy to use.
At some places where check processing is not allowed, a Debit card can be very helpful in such areas. With just the PIN you can make any transaction.
A debit card allows you to spend money as much as you have in an account with a certain limit per day.
Some merchants also give features of cashback and cash out installations to customers where a customer can withdraw cash along with their purchase.
It is helpful for people who don’t find credit cards handy to use. For heavy transactions, a check card can be used. In some countries, there is less security with debit cards.
However, they are more convenient than checks. They partner with some brands like visa, MasterCard and discover. Allows paying anywhere without the need for a check.
Main Differences Between Smart Card and Debit Card
- A smart card has an encryption cluster including key generation, hashing and digital signing, secure key storage while a debit card doesn’t show such features.
- A smart card has more privacy and security as compared to a debit card which has minimum security.
- Smart cards helps in identification, data storage and application processing are done with the while all kinds of transactions and purchases can be done with debit cards. You don’t get the facility of withdrawing cash by using smart card but debit card can be used to withdraw cash via ATM.
- Smart cards have ways of authentication to others who want to access the data. On the other hand, a debit card uses a unique four-digit number for this purpose.
- A smart card stores much more information than a debit card does.
- https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1207/S15327744JOCE1004_06
- https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/655280/
Last Updated : 14 July, 2023
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Chara Yadav holds MBA in Finance. Her goal is to simplify finance-related topics. She has worked in finance for about 25 years. She has held multiple finance and banking classes for business schools and communities. Read more at her bio page.
