【2023.2 Update】Google Chrome now also offers a way to automatically generate a virtual credit card, which you can use directly for online payments. According to reports online, some AMEX cards and Capital One cards are eligible. You can follow the instructions below to see whether your card can generate one.

However, when I followed the steps myself, I found that none of my cards worked. You can give it a try. If your card is eligible, you should see the words “Manage virtual card” in the interface.

What Is a Virtual Credit Card?

A virtual credit card is a service provided by a bank that allows online shoppers to generate a virtual card number (Virtual Account Number), expiration date, and security code based on an existing credit card. A virtual credit card is generally linked to your original credit card, and using it online is no different from using a normal credit card. Virtual credit cards can reduce the risk of credit card fraud and personal information leaks, because they can often be set for one-time use or given a spending limit. Some cards also let you enter any cardholder name and billing address you want, helping prevent your real personal information from being recorded by third-party websites or stolen.

Of course, some banks also issue cards that do not have a physical version at all and can only be used for online purchases or phone orders. Those can also be considered simply another online payment method.

How to Get a Virtual Credit Card

Privacy.com

We’ve introduced this service before. They are a specialized provider focused specifically on virtual credit cards. After signing up for Privacy.com, you can generate a virtual card in your account. This virtual card will have its own card number, expiration date, and CVV, while the billing address and cardholder name can be filled in however you like. You can set the card for one-time use so that it is automatically destroyed after the charge goes through. You can also set daily, monthly, or yearly limits to reduce the risk of large fraudulent charges.

You only need an account with a major bank to use their service to generate virtual cards, and the personal version is completely free.

Apple Card

Apple Card provides a virtual card number, and you can replace this virtual card number at any time. For details, please see our site’s introduction to Apple Card:

The biggest downside of Apple Card and its virtual card number is that larger transactions (roughly over $2,000 and requiring verification) may trigger fraud alerts, which makes it less convenient to use.

Citi

Citi credit cards support generating one or more virtual credit cards online, linked to your Citi card. You can find it under Credit Card Services->Virtual Account Number.

There are two ways to generate a virtual card number. You can directly generate a virtual card for purchases, or add the payment information and download it for use through auto fill. You can choose the spending limit and expiration date for the virtual card.

After generating it, you can see the virtual card number, expiration date, and CVV. These three pieces of information are enough for online purchases. However, for Citi virtual cards, the billing address still needs to be your real address, so some address information is still exposed to the merchant.

Capital One

Capital One offers a service called Eno that can generate virtual card numbers.

Once you go in, you’ll find that it is actually a Chrome extension. After installing it and signing in to your Capital One account, you can generate virtual card numbers. According to the extension’s description, when you make a payment, you can use the extension to view and copy your card number, expiration date, and other details. You can also pause the virtual card directly in the extension.

NetSpend

NetSpend also offers virtual credit cards and allows you to generate up to 6 virtual card numbers. The website even mentions using them for trial subscriptions: after the first payment, you can delete the card directly to avoid future charges...

Visa/Master Gift Cards

Strictly speaking, common Visa gift cards and Master gift cards (Mastercard gift cards) are real physical cards. However, these Visa gift cards can usually be registered online with your own chosen name and address. You do not have to use your real personal information when registering the name and address. In addition, Virtual VGC and Virtual MGC have appeared recently. If you are worried about your credit card being compromised, you can buy these virtual VGC/MGC products and use them after registering them online.

PayPal Key

PayPal launched a virtual credit card product that can turn all payment methods linked to PayPal into a virtual credit card, which is pretty powerful. For more details, see KUKU’s summary article:

Other Sources for Virtual Credit Cards

Because many people in the US cannot open a bank account or find it difficult to do so, some paid virtual credit card services have emerged. Naturally, there are also some apps that provide free service. Two more well-known names in recent years are Sable and the European virtual credit card provider Revolut (now available in the US). KUKU plans to introduce them in dedicated articles in the future.

Sable

No SSN required. Registration requires scanning a valid US visa (including B1/B2) and a US billing address, and the whole process takes only 5 minutes. It provides a debit card, a virtual card (with credit-building), and a Checking account, with no fees.

  • Signup link
  • After signing up, you may receive an email offer for $60 if you direct deposit $300/month for three consecutive months. Note that this requires real Payroll deposits; ACH does not count, and they enforce this policy strictly.
  • Suitable for people without an SSN, those newly arriving in the US, or those remotely helping family members in China open a Checking account (which can be used for credit card payments, receiving PayPal transfers, earning TCB cashback, etc.)

Revolut

A classic European virtual credit card provider, Revolut offers Checking, debit cards, and virtual credit cards. Its features are very powerful, including support for multiple transfer methods and free ATM withdrawals worldwide, and it has just entered the US market. It allows registration without an SSN, requires scanning a valid US visa (including B1/B2), offers both free and paid versions, and registration also takes only 5 minutes.

  • Signup link (KUKU’s refer; there is currently no signup bonus, though one may be available in the future)
  • Its features are expected to become even stronger in the future

Curve

The UK virtual credit card favorite Curve is coming to the US. Hopefully it will remain a great card after launch:

What Are Some Good Uses?

  • Subscription deals: Some websites offer extra rewards for subscriptions, such as certain offers on Swagbucks, but some sites make cancellation especially difficult. You can use a virtual credit card for these, then delete it after the charge goes through so you do not have to worry about canceling.
  • Placing multiple orders: Some websites limit the number of orders during promotions and often verify based on the Billing Address or similar information. A virtual card may help you get around billing checks.
  • Purchases on small websites: Sometimes you have to buy something from a smaller website. Using a virtual card can reduce the risk of your credit card being compromised and your personal information being exposed.
  • Cross-region payments: Some virtual credit cards allow any address, which can be used to register a local PayPal account in region-locked markets and buy things there, such as on the Japanese Switch or PS4 stores, letting you access Japanese-version games earlier.

Things to Keep in Mind

  • The spending limit of a virtual credit card is generally the same as the original credit card, so you still cannot spend beyond your available credit limit
  • Refunds to a virtual credit card will go back to the original credit card account
  • Do not use a virtual credit card in situations where you may need to present the physical card, such as hotel bookings, car rentals, or airline tickets. You may be asked to show the physical card at check-in, which would be awkward if you used a virtual card