Apr 23, 2024
Fact checked
Written by John S Kiernan
WalletHub Managing Editor
Fact Checked by Alina Comoreanu
WalletHub Senior Researcher
What Is a Virtual Credit Card?
A virtual credit card is a temporary digital version of your physical credit card. It allows you to shop online safely by masking your card’s sensitive information with a uniquely generated card number, expiration date and security code. Using a virtual credit card is like paying for every online transaction with a new credit card each time, protecting your actual credit card from fraud.
Virtual credit cards are not an alternative to a traditional credit card account. Rather, they are connected to a traditional account as a free add-on for improved security.
Key Things to Know About Virtual Credit Cards
- They have a couple of aliases. People sometimes refer to virtual credit cards as temporary cards, burner cards or disposable credit cards. They all refer to the same thing, which is a one-time use card number attached to your real credit card.
- They keep you safe online. Virtual credit cards decrease the likelihood of credit card fraud because they generate a unique credit card number that’s different than your physical card’s information. The virtual card information is only good for a limited time and doesn’t show up anywhere permanent.
- You're protected, but not immune. While virtual cards make it safer to shop online, having one does not make any fraud impossible. It’s still a good idea to monitor your credit card transactions and credit reports for signs of suspicious activity.
- There is a safety net. You don’t need a virtual credit card to avoid losing money since all major credit cards give customers a $0 fraud liability guarantee, meaning you’re not responsible for unauthorized transactions.
- They are limited. Virtual credit cards are really only used for online purchases, and some over-the-phone purchases. They can’t be used in person, as there’s nothing to scan.
Opinions and ratings are our own. This content is not provided, commissioned or endorsed by any issuer. WalletHub independently collected information for some of the cards on this page.
Popular Virtual Credit Card Options
- Capital One’s ENO – Available to all Capital One cardholders.
- Citibank’s virtual credit card – Available to some Citibank cardholders.
- American Express Go – Available to Amex corporate cardholders.
- J.P. Morgan virtual cards - Available to business owners with a J.P. Morgan commercial card.
- U.S. Bank virtual cards – Available to business owners with a U.S. Bank corporate card.
- IronVest’s virtual cards - Available to people with all major credit cards who have a premium subscription to IronVest.
- Brex Corporate Card - A Mastercard credit card that allows business owners to generate unlimited virtual cards.
- Divvy - Available to business owners with a Divvy credit card.
- Click to Pay – Available for Visa, American Express, Mastercard and Discover cardholders.
- Bank of America’s Global Virtual Travel Card – Available to Bank of America corporate cardholders.
The banks currently offering virtual cards provide them as a free benefit. You won’t have to pay any additional fees.
Credit card issuers like Capital One and Citibank generate completely new virtual card numbers for you every time you request one. Other issuers like American Express and Chase provide separate numbers for each merchant. Those numbers will stay the same over time but are still different from your actual credit card information.
How to Get a Virtual Credit Card
- Get a credit card. Considering virtual credit card numbers are attached to existing credit card accounts, having a credit card is a prerequisite. Most major credit card issuers and card networks have them, including American Express, Mastercard and Visa. Discover used to have a virtual card number perk, but discontinued it in favor of $0 fraud liability and their “Freeze It®” security feature.
- Log into your online credit card account and go to your account settings. For issuers like Capital One and Citibank, there will be a “Virtual Card Numbers” option for you to select.
- Download the virtual card issuer’s app to access the card number, if need be. Some issuers, like Chase, will have a virtual card app totally separate from their online banking app (i.e. the Chase Pay app is for virtual card numbers). Other issuers will let you access the virtual card number through their existing banking app or their website.
- Accept the 16-digit virtual credit card number that’s generated for you. For issuers like American Express, you’ll get separate numbers for different merchants. For issuers like Capital One and Citibank, you’ll get a new number every time you request one, even if it’s for the same merchant.
- Choose how long you want the number to be valid. You can have it expire after the first use, or hold onto it for several months and use it for recurring expenses. For issuers that have separate numbers for different merchants, the expiration date may be chosen for you since it’ll only be used with that merchant.
- Get the expiration date and security code generated to go with the virtual card number. Then you can use the virtual card information the same way you’d use your physical credit card info when making purchases online.
The process of getting a virtual credit card may differ slightly depending on the issuer. Generally, though, getting a virtual credit card is pretty simple. Most major credit card issuers now have virtual credit card options that you can quickly and easily add on to your existing account.
If your bank doesn’t offer virtual credit cards, there are other providers that could work with your existing account. Click to Pay, for example, give all Mastercard, Visa, Discover, and American Express cardholders access to virtual card numbers, regardless of their card’s issuer.
Virtual Credit Cards vs. Payment Apps & Digital Wallets
One difference between virtual credit cards and payment apps (like Apple Pay and Google Pay) is that payment apps are still mostly used for brick-and-mortar purchases, while virtual credit cards are largely for online use. However, as more online stores have started letting you link your payment apps and use them at checkout, that difference is becoming less relevant.
Another difference is that virtual credit cards provide unique card numbers to mask your real account information, while payment apps complete transactions with a single-use verification token. That may sound confusing, but essentially it’s a way of keeping the information hidden while still allowing the transaction to go through. Regardless of the differences, both virtual credit cards and payment apps keep your information secure so it can’t be stolen and used by someone else.
Popular Payment Apps & Digital Wallets
- PayPal – Available to all Mastercard, Visa, American Express and Discover cardholders (credit, debit, and prepaid cards).
- Amazon Pay – Available to all Mastercard, Visa, American Express, Discover, Diner’s Club and JCB cardholders (credit and debit). You may be able to use the "Amazon Store Card with some merchants, too.
- Samsung Pay – Available to Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover cardholders.
- Apple Pay – Available to Mastercard, Visa, American Express, Discover, and Diner’s Club cardholders (credit, debit, and prepaid cards).
- Google Pay – Available to most Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover cardholders (credit, debit, and prepaid cards).
Should You Get a Virtual Credit Card?
A virtual credit card is valuable to anyone who shops online. Since virtual cards are only available with your existing credit card, there’s no application process or credit check you’ll have to go through. You can get as many virtual card numbers as you want, and they’re all stored for you so you don’t have to memorize the numbers. In some cases, you’ll also get to decide how long the virtual credit card number is valid for. If you don’t get to decide, the expiration date will be generated for you.
There’s really no downside to having a virtual card, but there’s infinite upside in protecting yourself against a future credit card hack. Even with $0 fraud liability for credit cards, the peace of mind that comes with virtual credit cards is worth it.
Virtual Credit Card FAQ(18 questions)
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Most Popular
4
Upvotes
What is the best virtual credit card?
Reply
4
WalletHub
@WalletHub
The best virtual credit card option is the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card because it's one of the best credit cards overall and Capital One makes it easy to create virtual card numbers. Capital One Venture offers 75,000 miles for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months, plus 2 - 5 miles per $1 spent on all purchases.
To get a virtual card number for Capital One Venture, add the Capital One Eno extension to your browser and log in to your Capital One account. Eno can then create a merchant-specific virtual card linked to your credit card account. Your virtual card will be saved for future use, and all the charges will be reflected in your account statement.
Below, you can check out the rest of the best credit card offers that also give you the option of using virtual card information for extra security.
Best Credit Cards with Virtual Card Numbers
- Capital One:Capital One Venture Rewards Credit CardCapital One Venture Rewards Credit CardLearn MoreLearn Moreon issuer's website
- Wells Fargo:Wells Fargo Active Cash® CardWells Fargo Active Cash® CardLearn MoreLearn Moreon issuer's website
- Travel Rewards:Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit CardCapital One Venture X Rewards Credit CardLearn MoreLearn Moreon issuer's website
- Citibank:Citi Strata Premier℠ CardCiti Strata Premier℠ CardLearn MoreLearn Moreon issuer's website
- Terms ApplyAmerican Express:Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American ExpressBlue Cash Preferred® Card from American ExpressLearn MoreLearn Moreon issuer's website
- Excellent Credit:X1 Credit CardX1 Credit CardLearn MoreLearn More
- Apple:Apple CardApple CardLearn MoreLearn More
It's best to get your virtual credit card information from your credit card issuer or card network. These virtual card numbers are easy to get, secure to use online, and free. Some of the most popular virtual credit card options areClick to PayandCapital One Eno. They work with more cards than just the handful mentioned above, too.
Best Virtual Credit Card Options
- Click to Pay American Express
- American Express Extend (for businesses)
- Capital One Eno
- Citibank Virtual Account Numbers
- Click to Pay Mastercard
- Wells Fargo Wallet
- Click to Pay Visa
Note: Citibank Virtual Account Numbers are only available for select Citibank credit cards. Click to Pay works with cards from all four major card networks.
That just goes to show how many card issuers and networks now offer virtual or "disposable" credit card numbers for cardholders to use while shopping online. This gives shopping online with a credit card an extra layer of security.
In addition to the virtual card numbers, you can get from your card issuer or network, you can also add your card to a number of popular "digital wallet" services. They provide an extra security layer similar to EMV or "contactless" credit card technology. Some popular digital wallets include Apple Pay,Samsung Wallet,G Pay(Google),PayPal, andGarmin Pay. This technology isn't limited to credit cards, either – you can add your debit card or prepaid card to many of these services.
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10
Upvotes
What's the best instant virtual credit card?
Reply
WalletHub
@WalletHub
Some of the best instant virtual credit cards are Masterpass by Mastercard and Visa Checkout, as they both support credit cards from any network. In other words, they function just like a virtual card from a credit card issuer, but anyone can sign up.
But a number of major credit card issuers offer the ability to instantly get a virtual credit card, including Capital One, Chase and Wells Fargo. Credit card issuers' virtual card programs,...
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7
View more answers
15
Upvotes
Does Chase give you a temporary credit card?
Reply
15
Chip Lupo, Credit Card Writer
@CLoop
No, Chase does not give temporary credit cards. But you can still use your credit card before it arrives with the “Spend Instantly” feature. This option allows you to add your card to a digital wallet right away. Some co-branded credit cards are not eligible.
A temporary credit card comes with a disposable card number, expiration date, and security code you can use in place of your actual credit card information. Because of that, temporary credit cards...
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14
Upvotes
Where can I use a virtual Visa credit card?
Reply
14
Cameron DiGiovanni, Writer
@cdigiovanni20
You can use a virtual Visa credit card through the free digital card service Click to Pay. This feature works with any online merchant that shows the EMVpayment icon at checkout. After selecting the icon, cardholders can choose a card to use and make their purchase without giving out their real card number. The EMV icon looks like a square with two arrows pointing to the right.
Here's how the Click to Pay...
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2
13
Upvotes
Can I get a credit card with no numbers on it?
Reply
Ryan P Page, Staff Writer
@ryan_page
Yes, you can get a credit card with no numbers on it if you get the Apple Card. Having a credit card without any numbers on the physical card is rare, although nothing actually requires a card to display a number.
While it will make shopping online a bit more difficult, a numberless card could have some potential upsides. For example, a card that is stolen with no numbers on it can't be used for...
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14
Upvotes
How can I get a free credit card online?
Reply
14
Ryan P Page, Staff Writer
@ryan_page
You can get a credit card for free online by going to a credit card comparison website or directly to an issuer's site and applying for a card without monthly, annual, or activation fees. You'll also need to pay your credit card bill in full each month when the regular APR is in effect to avoid interest charges.
How to Get a Credit Card Online for Free
- Research all the options you...
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14
Upvotes
How can I get a virtual credit card without an SSN?
Reply
14
Milvionne Chery Copeland, Writer
@milvionne_copeland
To get a virtual credit card without an SSN, you will first need to get one of the credit cards available to people without an SSN that also offers virtual cards. If you get approved for the credit card account, you'll be able to access the virtual card through the issuer's website or app.
Virtual credit cards need to be linked to a traditional credit card account, and while you won't ordinarily need an SSN to get the virtual card add-on, most credit...
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3
Upvotes
Do virtual credit cards send separate statements?
Reply
3
Evelyn Boros, Credit Cards Moderator
@evelyn_boros
No, virtual credit cards don't send separate monthly statements. They are only meant to mask your credit card's sensitive information when shopping online or over the phone. So using virtual credit cards is the same as using your actual credit card, only more secure. Every transaction made with them will appear on your monthly statement along with your regular credit card transactions.
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2
Upvotes
How can I buy gas with my virtual credit card?
Reply
2
Sydney Garth, Credit Cards Moderator
@sydneygarth
You cannot buy gas with your virtual credit card.
Virtual credit cards cannot be used for in-person purchases. They are just an option offered by several issuers for better protection against fraud when shopping online or over the phone.
If you want to buy gas, you must do it in person with an actual credit card instead of a virtual one.
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1
Upvotes
Can I get a virtual credit card without a credit card?
Reply
Theresa Chalfant, Writer
@theresa_chalfant
Yes, you can get a virtual credit card without a credit card, so long as it is tied to an existing bank account that already has funds in it. Some banks will create virtual cards for you, and you can add your debit card to a digital wallet or use one of several online services that create virtual cards.
A virtual card that is tied to a bank account will generate random information to...
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