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The best virtual card providers offer super secure and easy-to-use virtual cards, which are mostly either merchant-specific or for one-time use only, minimizing any chances of fraud or services trying to overcharge you with hidden fees. They also come with additional perks like cashback and points on flights, hotel, and restaurant bookings.
With that said, the market is flooded with virtual card providers, making it difficult to zero in on an ideal one for your needs. We’ve done the hard yards for you by comparing dozens of companies while preparing this guide of the ten best virtual card providers. We took into account factors like subscription costs, the number of virtual cards offered, and rewards. Keep reading to learn why Revolut Business and Wallester Business are at the top of our list.
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- 1. Revolut Business – The Best Virtual Card Provider Overall
- 2. Wallester Business – Best Virtual Card Provider for Businesses of All Sizes
- 3. Wise – Super Secure Virtual Debit Card Provider
- 4. American Express – Secure and Rewards-Heavy Virtual Credit Card Provider
- 5. US Unlocked – Superb for Shopping with US Retailers
- 6. Monese — Offers Virtual Travel Cards for Discounts and Easy Payments on the Go
- 7. Monzo — Create Virtual Pots for Expenses to Better Manage Your Finances
- 8. Starling — Highly Flexible Virtual Cards with an Off Switch
- 9. iCard — Secures Your Virtual Cards with 3D Secure Technology
- 10. Skrill — Rewarding Loyalty Program with a Range of Rewards
- Show Full Guide
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- 1. Revolut Business – The Best Virtual Card Provider Overall
- 2. Wallester Business – Best Virtual Card Provider for Businesses of All Sizes
- 3. Wise – Super Secure Virtual Debit Card Provider
- 4. American Express – Secure and Rewards-Heavy Virtual Credit Card Provider
- 5. US Unlocked – Superb for Shopping with US Retailers
- 6. Monese — Offers Virtual Travel Cards for Discounts and Easy Payments on the Go
- 7. Monzo — Create Virtual Pots for Expenses to Better Manage Your Finances
- 8. Starling — Highly Flexible Virtual Cards with an Off Switch
- 9. iCard — Secures Your Virtual Cards with 3D Secure Technology
- 10. Skrill — Rewarding Loyalty Program with a Range of Rewards
The Top 10 Virtual Card Services Ranked
All ten virtual card providers hand-picked by us are quite different from each other and offer something unique. Our quick round-up below aims to highlight their unique selling points before we dive deeper into their services a little later on:
- Revolut Business – Overall, the best virtual card provider, offering disposable virtual cards for class-leading security. It also lets you invest in crypto and commodities with a low exchange rate and offers commission-free stock trades every month.
- Wallester Business – The best virtual card provider for businesses, with up to 3,000 virtual cards on its most basic paid plan. You can give every employee a card and use its built-in fraud monitoring and expense tracking for proper management.
- Wise – A super secure and FCA-regulated virtual debit card provider with no load, reload, or service fees. Extra security is available in the form of an option to freeze your virtual card after every transaction with just a single click.
- American Express – Highly secure virtual card numbers for a worry-free online shopping experience. It also offers credits on hotel and travel bookings, and you can get up to 5X Rewards points on flight bookings.
- US Unlocked – A must-have for shopping enthusiasts who want access to US-based businesses, retailers, and streaming services. It’s present in 165+ countries and offers merchant-specific and one-use virtual cards.
- Monese — Offers travel-oriented virtual cards to make payments easy on the go. Plus, you can benefit from its interest-free loans, which will help you boost your credit score.
- Monzo — A popular virtual card provider that lets you create pots for different expenses. Having the option to auto-delete your card after a certain period is an added advantage.
- Starling — You can use the Bill Manager tool to automate payments through dedicated Savings Spaces, as well as holding money on your account.
- iCard — Recommended if you want Mastercard and Visa virtual cards, which are protected by 3D Secure technology. Plus, you get 1% cashback on all purchases with the Metal Plan.
- Skrill — A great loyalty program with one point for each £1 spent. It’s also fantastic for travellers, as you can send money to 185 countries in 40 different currencies with better exchange rates than most other platforms.
How Do Virtual Cards Work?
To use a virtual card, you’ll need to first get your hands on the card details, including the card number, expiration date, and security code, which you can access via a mobile app or website.
It’s worth noting that these details are often temporary, given that many providers offer single-use virtual cards. The last step is to enter the virtual card information instead of your actual card details when making online purchases or payments.
Virtual cards offer enhanced security as they’re often disposable or can be locked or deleted after use, reducing the risk of fraud or unauthorized charges on your primary accounts.
They’re widely used for online shopping, subscription services, and other digital transactions, providing convenience and added protection for your financial transactions.
Virtual Card vs. Physical Card: The Key Differences
While both serve the purpose of carrying out transactions, they differ significantly in several aspects. Here’s a concise outline of the main differences, along with the pros and cons of each option.
Virtual Cards
Let’s first look at the upsides and downsides of virtual cards:
Pros
- Virtual cards offer superior security as they’re often disposable, reducing the risk of fraud or unauthorized transactions
- You won’t have to physically carry virtual cards, reducing the risk of loss or theft and simplifying your wallet
- They’re easily accessible via the provider’s mobile app, browser extension, or web interface, making them ideal for mobile transactions
- Ideal for online transactions, one-off subscriptions, and digital services, offering convenience and protection against hidden charges
- Virtual cards protect your privacy as they use an alias or a randomly generated card number, shielding your actual financial information during online transactions
Cons
- Some merchants may not accept virtual cards, particularly for in-person transactions
- Relies on an internet connection for generating and managing virtual cards
- Virtual cards are often tied to regular credit cards, and a lot of companies don’t issue virtual cards unless you have a credit card with them
Physical Cards
Onto the benefits and drawbacks of physical cards now:
Pros
- Physical cards are universally accepted, making them suitable for all online and offline transactions
- You can use physical cards without internet access for transactions
- Having physical cards is often a matter of pride for holders, as these providers have stringent acceptance criteria
- Many physical credit and debit cards offer fantastic rewards programs, cashback, and travel benefits, providing incentives for cardholders
Cons
- Physical cards can be lost, stolen, or cloned, putting your finances at risk
- Carrying multiple physical cards can be inconvenient and create clutter
- You have limited control over physical cards, and they can’t be easily disposed of or locked/unlocked like virtual cards
The Market’s Top Virtual Card Services Compared
Here’s a table highlighting the main differences between the best virtual card providers so that you can single out the best one for your needs in a matter of minutes:
| Virtual Card Provider | Best For | Fees | Free Plan | Top Feature | Physical Card Needed for a Virtual Card? |
| Revolut Business | Best overall | Free Plan / £19/month | Yes | Travel insurance and commission-free investing | No |
| Wallester Business | Businesses | Free Plan / £169.95/month | Yes, with 300 virtual cards | Expense tracking | No |
| Wise | Virtual debit cards | Physical debit card costs £7, which is necessary to get a free virtual card | Digital cards are free | Freeze your virtual card after each transaction | Yes |
| American Express | Shopping from multiple merchants with the same virtual card number | £160/year for American Express Gold Card | Gold Card is free for first year | Faster checkouts | Yes |
| US Unlocked | Shopping from US merchants | £2.89/month maintenance fee, £0.41 transaction fee | Virtual cards are free once you have funds in your account | Access geo-restricted retailers and streaming services | No |
| Monese | Dedicated travel card | Free Plan/ £5.95/month | Yes | No-interest credit builder | No |
| Monzo | Auto card deletion | Free Plan/ £5/month | Yes | Connect cards to managed money pots | No |
| Starling | Automated payments | No monthly charge for current account | Yes | Dedicated savings spaces | No |
| iCard | Access benefits of Visa and Mastercard | Free Plan/ £8.65/month | Yes | 1% cash back on all payments | No |
| Skrill | Loyalty program | £0.72 /month (annual) | No | Great exchange rates | No |
The 10 Best Virtual Card Providers Reviewed
Let’s now dig deep and discuss each of the ten best virtual card companies in detail, including their best features, pricing, pros, and cons. Ready?
1. Revolut Business – The Best Virtual Card Provider Overall
Revolut Business, a UK-based fintech company, offers class-leading security thanks to its disposable virtual cards. While your actual virtual card details can be used repeatedly, you can generate a disposable virtual card that’ll bear a different card number than your actual virtual card.
Once you use it for a transaction, it’ll have served its purpose, following which you can generate a new disposable card for another one-off purchase.
It’s worth noting that while Revolut Business allows you to have 20 virtual cards at a time, you can only have one active disposable card linked to your account – but given that a fresh one can be generated within seconds, that shouldn’t be a concern in the slightest.
| Best For | Fees | Free Plan | Top Feature | Physical Card Needed for a Virtual Card? |
| Best Overall | Free Plan / £19/month | Yes | Travel insurance and commission-free investing | No |
Revolut Business virtual cards are tailor-made for people who want to grow their money. On the Plus plan, you get three commission-free stock trades a month, and you can start investing in globally renowned companies like Apple and Amazon for as little as £1 or 0.25% fees.
You can also invest in crypto and commodities with low exchange fees of just 0.99% and 1.49%, respectively, for Metal and Premium accounts. Another superb offering is the Spare Change round-ups.
Let’s say you spend £13.60 on a dress. Revolut Business will round it up and add an extra 40 pence to a Pocket (Revolut’s way of simplifying expenses for you) of your choice. You can also make money off your savings, thanks to its 4.75% annual interest rate paid daily.
Cashback options are great, too. For instance, depending on your plan, you can expect cashback on hotel bookings of 3% to 10%, which is comparable to Amex’s offering.
However, an unmissable offer from Revolut Business is its travel insurance. Starting with the Premium plan, you can opt for:
- Lost or damaged baggage protection
- Dental and medical coverage, and
- Protection against trip cancellation and delays
This will allow you to explore the world and have a worry-free experience. If you need more options, there’s even a Revolut Business credit card you can apply for.
Beyond this, Revolut Business also offers a dedicated service for teenagers. With this, you can teach your kids healthy financial habits, like how to save money and track their expenses, on the Revolut Business app. Each Revolut Business plan comes with up to five under-18 accounts.
Pros
- Easily one of the very best virtual credit card providers
- Disposable virtual cards for extra security
- Commission-free investing in stocks and crypto
- Separate features for teenagers
- Up to 4% annual interest paid daily on savings
Cons
- Limited cashback options
2. Wallester Business – Best Virtual Card Provider for Businesses of All Sizes
Wallester Business is the ideal virtual card provider for businesses looking for an easier way to spend and track payments, as it offers 300 virtual cards and an unlimited number of physical cards, even on its free plan – so it’s a great pick to get a virtual card free.
What’s more, the cards are created in collaboration with VISA, so security and reliability remain rock-solid. Once your account is funded and ready, your employees can make purchases for the company using their Wallester Business virtual card.
All their transactions will automatically be tracked and recorded on your Wallester Business account, where you can easily approve transactions, monitor expenses, and generate reports using Wallester Business’s easy-to-use mobile app.
| Best For | Fees | Free Plan | Top Feature | Physical Card Needed for a Virtual Card? |
| Businesses | Free Plan / £169.95/month | Yes, with 300 virtual cards | Expense tracking | No |
Plus, you’ll get a real-time notification after every transaction is processed. This way, you’ll know where your money’s going and who’s spending it so that you don’t have to worry about your employees misusing company funds.
As an extra layer of protection, you can set spending limits on individual cards. After all, a new employee won’t need the same spending limit as a senior executive who frequently travels for work.
These virtual cards can even be used to pay short-term employees. So, instead of sending an invoice to your finance team, you can create a virtual card, load it up with the required amount of money, and hand it over to the concerned employee.
What’s more, unlike Revolut Business, Wallester Business allows you to make ATM cash withdrawals using your virtual card, which makes them even more handy and on par with a physical card. Better still, payments are secure with Wallester’s built-in fraud detection tool.
This system analyzes your regular spending habits and then looks out for anomalies. If it finds an anomaly, the payment is blocked until it’s verified – a pretty solid feature if you’re planning to hand over some financial control to your team.
Pros
- 300 free virtual cards and unlimited free physical cards
- Built-in fraud monitoring
- You can set individual card limits on employee cards
- ATM cash withdrawal with virtual cards
- Expense tracking is on par with the best expense management tools
Cons
- While ideal for businesses, it’s not so good for personal use
3. Wise – Super Secure Virtual Debit Card Provider
Wise virtual cards ensure top-of-the-line security when shopping online. After each purchase, you’ll have the option to freeze your virtual card, and then you can unfreeze it just as easily the next time you make a purchase.
Doing so reduces the chances of fraudulent transactions and protects you from being overcharged by an online e-commerce business. A notable point about Wise virtual cards is that they’re debit (prepaid) cards.
This is very different from other providers that offer digital cards that either work like a credit card or are linked to an already-issued credit card.
| Best For | Fees | Free Plan | Top Feature | Physical Card Needed for a Virtual Card? |
| Virtual debit cards | Physical debit card costs £7, which is necessary to get a free virtual card | Digital cards are free | Freeze your virtual card after each transaction | Yes |
Also, while regular prepaid virtual cards come with different types of fees, such as reload fees, initial load fees, and service and inactivity fees, the Wise virtual debit card comes with no such charges.
Wise is able to hold funds in your virtual debit cards as it’s an FCA-regulated and authorized Electronic Money Institution, so it’s legally required to keep customers’ money dage by keeping it in extremely safe financial institutions like Barclays and Deutsche Bank.
Wise allows you to have three virtual cards at a time, which is admittedly less than some of the big names on our list. However, the silver lining is that you’re not mandated to use one virtual card with only a single merchant, so it offers maximum flexibility.
Pros
- Compatible with Google Pay, Apple Pay, and Garmin Pay
- Among the best virtual debit card providers
- You can freeze your digital cards after every online purchase
- It’s FCA-regulated, which ensures top-notch security
- A virtual card isn’t limited to a single merchant
Cons
- 40 available currencies are quite a low number
4. American Express – Secure and Rewards-Heavy Virtual Credit Card Provider
American Express virtual cards aren’t standalone payment cards. Instead, they work like an extension of your physical Amex card – you can enrol your physical card to apply for a virtual card number.
This way, you won’t have to share your actual credit card details with every merchant you shop from. That said, the biggest benefit of using an American Express virtual card is speedy checkouts.
On the payment portal, when you enter your Amex virtual card number, the company will automatically fill in the 4-digit code, allowing you to securely complete the transaction.
| Best For | Fees | Free Plan | Top Feature | Physical Card Needed for a Virtual Card? |
| Shopping from multiple merchants with the same virtual card number | £160/year for American Express Gold Card | Gold Card is free for first year | Faster checkouts | Yes |
It’s worth noting that while you can use an American Express virtual card to earn Membership Rewards Points, you’ll only be able to benefit from those Points when you use your credit card, but American Express isn’t short of rewards.
You’ll be able to sign up for free with the Gold Card. Despite being free for the first year, you can earn 3x points on American Express Travel, 2x points on direct spend with airlines, and 20,000 bonus points for £3,000 spend in the first three months.
The best bang for your buck, though, is available with the Platinum Card that gives you 30,000 Membership Rewards points if you make £4,000 in purchases in the first three months of the membership. What’s more, you’ll also earn 12,000 points if you refer a friend.
This means that for every pound you spend on airline bookings, you’ll earn five reward points. All in all, American Express virtual cards are the go-to choice if you don’t want to use your actual credit card details for every purchase you make.
Plus, Amex allows you to use the same virtual card number for multiple merchants, making it a simpler and one-stop solution for those who like to keep things simple.
Pros
- Tons of Membership Rewards points and perks
- Use the same virtual card number with various merchants
- Secure and reliable handling
Cons
- Other cards have better benefits
5. US Unlocked – Superb for Shopping with US Retailers
US Unlocked virtual cards are tailor-made for non-US citizens who want to shop from US retailers. Shopping from a foreign country is difficult – for example, let’s say you’re from India, you’ll find that certain products or stores aren’t available in your location.
That’s because they don’t trust foreign credit and are afraid of fraud. To overcome that, you can use a US Unlocked virtual prepaid card (it’s prepaid, just like how Wise works) that’ll give you access to thousands of US retailers instantly.
Its retail partners include Walmart, Walgreens, Pandora, Gap, and LG, amongst many others — all popular brands so that you can shop your heart out. Not just that, you can also subscribe to foreign streaming services.
| Best For | Fees | Free Plan | Top Feature | Physical Card Needed for a Virtual Card? |
| Shopping from US merchants | £2.89/month maintenance fee, £0.41 transaction fee | Virtual cards are free once you have funds in your account | Access retailers and streaming services that are unavailable in your region | No |
Since the billing address will be a US address, you’ll be able to access your favourite movies and TV shows — without needing to subscribe to one of the best VPNs — even if they’re not available in your geographic location.
You won’t just gain access. You’ll also get all the exclusive deals and discounts that are reserved for US citizens only. Even if the merchant denies shipping, US Unlocked has its own freight forward partners to take care of that.
What’s more, its services are available in 165+ countries, which is one of the largest geographical ranges compared to all other options on this list. If you’re someone who travels around the world a lot, US Unlocked is certainly a go-to choice.
Unlike other providers that offer either merchant-specific virtual cards or one-time-use virtual cards, US Unlocked offers both. Plus, it’s also one of the cheapest services on our list, with a monthly maintenance fee of just £2.89 – nothing extra for the cards.
Pros
- Super affordable
- Available in 165+ countries
- Offers both merchant-specific and one-time-use virtual cards
- Access to thousands of US retailers, brands, and streaming platforms
Cons
- Too centred around online shopping
6. Monese — Offers Virtual Travel Cards for Discounts and Easy Payments on the Go
Monese’s virtual cards are available in two formats – a regular debit virtual card and a virtual card. The virtual version of your debit card is ideal for online shopping and transactions, while the virtual card can handle multiple currencies during trips.
It’s great to have two separate cards for regular payments and vacation spending – you can take a closer look at your spending on each.
Monese lets you link your virtual card with your PayPal Wallet, which will make your checkouts faster and easier if you use the service. For even faster checkouts, you can make Monese your primary card. All of this pits Monese favourably against the likes of Wallester Business and Wise.
| Best For | Fees | Free Plan | Top Feature | Physical Card Needed for a Virtual Card? |
| Dedicated travel card | Free Plan/ £5.95/month | Yes | No-interest credit builder | No |
The best feature of Monese’s virtual card is its auto-renewal function. When your physical card expires, so does your virtual card. When you activate the plan again, your old virtual card is automatically replaced with a new one, even if it was connected to Google Pay or Apple Pay.
Monese’s virtual cards can help you with a lot more than just regular day-to-day transactions, as well. You can use your Moneses account to get a personal loan, and the service will connect you with the best personal loan providers in the industry.
The platform can also help you build your credit score. All you have to do is choose an amount you’re willing to pay for the next 12 months, and Monese will create an interest-free loan for that amount, reporting your monthly payments to credit reference agencies so you can benefit from credit score boosts.
Pros
- Helps you keep your travel money safe
- Auto-renewals for all virtual cards
- Helps you increase your credit score
- Multilingual customer support
Cons
- Doesn’t have a banking license yet
7. Monzo — Create Virtual Pots for Expenses to Better Manage Your Finances
Monzo is a fully regulated UK bank, so if you’re looking for a more formally accredited option, there are few better for a mobile bank with a virtual debit card than Monzo.
Its virtual cards are a fairly new addition to the Business plan. Currently, every Monzo user can create and manage up to five virtual cards at once. If you have multiple business members, each member will get five cards each, making it ideal for large businesses.
| Best For | Fees | Free Plan | Top Feature | Physical Cards Needed for a Virtual Card? |
| Auto card deletion | Free Plan/ £5/month | Yes | Connect cards to managed money pots | No |
To make payments easier for you, Monzo lets you link each card with a virtual money pot – a sub-account within the main account, which lets you set aside money.
You can, for example, create a pot and fund it with money for new tools and software for your business. You can then connect it with a virtual card so that every time a payment is made, the card will only draw funds from the designated pot.
This makes budgeting simple and prevents you from overspending. You can also create a Tax Pot, where a certain percentage of funds will be set aside from each transaction you complete.
Auto-deletion is a particularly useful feature. With this, you can set a date when you want the card to automatically expire. If you’re creating a virtual card for a free software trial, you can set an auto-deletion date so it disappears before the company can start charging your card, for example.
One thing you need to keep in mind is that you only see the cards you create – so if you want to keep an eye on your team’s spending, you’ll have to create their cards yourself. If you want more comprehensive expense management, consider a service like Revolut Business.
Pros
- Free Xero Account for six months on the paid plan
- Dedicated pots for different expenses
- Up to five virtual cards for every user
- Automatically deletes cards with a set date
Cons
- You can only view cards you create
8. Starling — Highly Flexible Virtual Cards with an Off Switch
Starling is a digital bank based in the UK, and its virtual cards work a lot like Monzo. You get to create dedicated Savings Spaces for different types of expenses, and then you can connect your virtual cards to them.
Starling lets you lock and unlock your card at will, much like Wise. Once you’re done paying for a service, you can lock your virtual card and only unlock it when you have to make a new payment. This ensures no one can steal funds from your card while it’s sitting idle.
| Best For | Fees | Free Plan | Top Feature | Physical Cards Needed for a Virtual Card? |
| Automated payments | No monthly charge for current account | Yes | Dedicated Savings Spaces | No |
You can also set automated payments with your Starling virtual card using the Bill Manager tool. Just create a dedicated Savings space, connect your card, and set the date and amount. Starling will automatically take out the money and pay your bills on time.
You don’t need a physical card to get a virtual card from Starling, either – though you don’t even need one, given that these virtual cards can be used for in-person shopping as well.
For over-the-phone and in-person transactions, you just have to add your card to your mobile wallet. It’s no different than paying through mobile payment apps like Apple Pay.
The icing on the cake is the fact that your savings are protected by the FSCS up to £85,000 with a Starling account.
Pros
- Can be used for in-person shopping
- Supports joint accounts
- Great Bill Manager tool
- Totally free to create, and you don’t even need to have a physical card
Cons
- £500 daily limit on individual transactions
9. iCard — Secures Your Virtual Cards with 3D Secure Technology
iCard, unlike other service providers on this list, doesn’t have its own virtual card program, like Revolut Business, Wallester Business, and Wise. Instead, it provides Mastercard and Visa virtual cards.
You could sign up with Visa or Mastercard and get virtual cards directly from them – but the benefit of using iCard is you can access both cards with a single account.
iCard takes security very seriously and has some interesting features. For example, every time you make a payment with your iCard virtual or physical card, you’ll have to confirm the transaction with your iCard app.
| Best For | Fees | Free Plan | Top Feature | Physical Cards Needed for a Virtual Card? |
| Accessing benefits of Visa and Mastercard | Free Plan/ £8.65/month | Yes | 1% cash back on all payments | No |
Your cards are protected by 3D Secure technology, under which iCard analyzes over 100 data points about your transaction before it allows it to pass. In some cases, it also checks contextual data from merchants to understand the purpose of payments and minimize fraud.
It’s also quite reasonably priced, making it perfect for people on a budget. The first two virtual cards are available for free. If you need more, you can order up to 20 for just £0.85 each. Besides that, there are no hidden annual or monthly fees on the free plan.
There are also some additional perks to using iCard’s virtual cards. If you choose the Metal plan, you’ll get 1% cashback on all your payments.
The Metal and the Infinite plan also offer Concierge Services. And if you use Group Plus, Union Ivkoni, or Etap Address for bus bookings, you’ll get a 10% discount on your final bill regardless of the plan you pick.
Pros
- Offers two free virtual cards
- Preferential offers from Visa
- 1% cash back on all payments
- 10% discount on bus bookings
Cons
- Free plan is limited compared to the Infinite and Metal plan
10. Skrill — Rewarding Loyalty Program with a Range of Rewards
Skrill has one virtual card product – the prepaid Mastercard virtual card. As you might guess from the name, any online service that accepts Mastercard will accept this virtual prepaid card. The application process is pretty simple, and you’ll get your virtual card almost instantly.
Our favourite thing about Skrill is its Skrill Knect loyalty program, which awards you points for every transaction you make through Skrill, so the more you use Skrill, the more you earn.
| Best For | Fees | Free Plan | Top Feature | Physical Cards Needed for a Virtual Card? |
| Loyalty program | £0.72 /month (annual) | No | Great exchange rates | No |
For every £1 you spend, you get 1 point. Once you accumulate enough points, you can exchange them for rewards, including cash, gift cards, and discounts on future transactions.
If you’re looking for the best rates for currency exchange, Skrill is the right place. It offers much better exchange rates than most banks and also has a team of money transfer specialists who ensure that exchanges go smoothly.
You can send money to 185 countries in 40 different currencies – among the most we’ve seen – and transactions are highly transparent. Before the money is sent, you get a preview of exactly how much the recipient is receiving in their currency.
Skrill also provides excellent support. They have a dedicated phone line available 24/7 for you to report lost and stolen cards. They’ll immediately disable the compromised card, covering both the physical and virtual versions, and issue you with a new one so you can keep making payments.
If there’s one drawback, it’s that verification can take some time.
Pros
- Dedicated 24/7 customer support
- Competitive exchange rates
- Great loyalty program
- Accepted everywhere Mastercard works
Cons
- Verification can take time
Can I Gеt a Frее Virtual Card?
However, that’s still quite indirect, and there are obvious benefits to be had from the physical card you purchase, too. Most offer free credit cards, which essentially makes their virtual cards free as well.
However, the most value-packed credit cards of the providers above may cost you anywhere between £95 to £1,500 per year, but the virtual cards generated therein are still free. As far as free plans go, Revolut Business and Wallester Business are at the top of our list.
Revolut Business, for example, offers a free forever plan that comes with a virtual card and a lot of benefits, including disposable, one-time virtual cards for extra protection, 5-10% cashback on hotel bookings, fee-free investing and trading, and under-18 accounts for your children.
Arе Virtual Crеdit Cards Safе?
Yes, virtual credit cards are very safe for online transactions, provided that you choose reputable providers, like the ones on our list, practice healthy cybersecurity and financial security habits, and are vigilant in monitoring your card activity.
Here are some key features digital credit cards offer to secure your payments:
- Most instant virtual card providers use robust encryption to protect your card details when transmitted online. These services employ SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) or TLS (Transport Layer Security) protocols to ensure secure data transmission.
- Virtual cards often have limited validity or usage (such as merchant-specific or one-time use cards), adding an extra security layer. Once used or expired, the card can’t be used for further transactions, reducing the risk of unauthorized charges.
- They can’t be lost or stolen since virtual cards exist only in digital form, which eliminates the risk associated with physical card theft.
- Some virtual card providers offer 2FA (Two-Factor Authentication) for added security. This requires you to provide a second authentication factor, like a one-time code sent to your mobile device, before completing a transaction.
- Almost every virtual card service has built-in fraud detection that monitors transactions for suspicious activity. They flag or block unusual or inconsistent transactions, depending on your spending patterns.
- Some providers offer transaction alerts via email or mobile notifications, allowing you to monitor your card activity closely and detect any unauthorized charges. This is particularly helpful for businesses that offer employees virtual cards.
- Virtual cards can be loaded with a specific amount of funds, reducing the potential financial impact in case of unauthorized use, which will most likely be prevented in the first place.
How We Ranked the Best Virtual Card Services
Here are the key features we considered when ranking the best virtual card services, and which you should consider, whether you’re looking at a Capital One virtual card, an Eno virtual card, or an instant virtual credit card:
- The safety of your financial information is paramount. We evaluated services with robust security measures, including SSL/TLS encryption, 2FA, and proactive fraud detection systems, to ensure that your transactions are always secure.
- We understand that ease of use is essential, so we prioritized services with intuitive interfaces, browser extensions, expert help, and mobile apps, making it simple for you to generate virtual cards, manage them, and access transaction histories.
- Users often worry about hidden fees. We carefully examined each service’s cost structure, looking for transparency, competitive pricing, and options for free virtual cards or cost-effective plans to alleviate cost-related concerns.
- To eliminate doubts about accessibility, we considered services available in almost every geographical location and their compatibility with hundreds of different currencies.
- We sought to add value by considering extra features. Services that offer value-added benefits like real-time transaction alerts and rewards and perks, including cash back, points on flights, and fee-free investing (Revolut Business), were preferred.
- Trust is paramount in financial services. We considered the reputation of top virtual card services and only included those that offer maximum reliability. User experiences and other expert opinions played a significant role in our rankings.
- Support is another factor we took into account to ensure that any issues you have are resolved. We assessed the responsiveness of each one, and those with helpful support channels, including live chat and phone support, were favoured.
How to Use a Virtual Card – A Quick Guide
Using a virtual card is straightforward, and it offers added security and flexibility for online transactions. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to use a Revolut Business virtual card:
Step 1. Download and Install the Revolut Business App
If you don’t already have the Revolut Business app, download it from your device’s app store and complete the registration process to create a Revolut Business account.
Step 2. Fund Your Revolut Business Account
Ensure that your Revolut Business account has sufficient funds. You can top up your account using various methods, including bank transfers, debit cards, or credit cards.
Step 3. Apply for a Virtual Credit Card
Орen the Revolut Business app and navigate to the “Cards” section. Then, select “Add New Card” to create a virtual card online. Simply follow the prompts to set card limits, assign a name (e.g., “Online Shopping Card”), and choose the currency (if applicable).
Step 4. Retrieve Card Details
Once your virtual card is created, you’ll receive the card number, expiration date, and security code within the app. You can also view these details by tapping on the virtual card.
Step 5. Use the Virtual Card for Online Transactions
When making online purchases or payments, enter the virtual card details, just like you would with a physical card. Ensure the transaction amount is within the card’s limits.
Step 6. Monitor Transactions
Stay informed about your virtual card transactions by checking the Revolut Business app. You’ll receive real-time notifications for each transaction, including the merchant’s name and the amount spent.
Conclusion – What is the Best Virtual Card Provider to Use in 2023?
Our guide contains virtual card providers of various kinds, including those that offer dedicated virtual card services for businesses, those that provide merchant-specific virtual credit card numbers, and even those that offer one-use virtual cards.
Whatever your requirements are, you’ll certainly find one that’s ideal for you. That said, Revolut Business is the pick of the lot and the #1 virtual card provider, thanks to disposable virtual cards that negate any chances of a fraudulent transaction. Nevertheless, it might be the easiest virtual credit card to get.
Plus, you can have as many as 20 virtual cards at a time, and besides handsome cashback of 5% to 10%, Revolut Business also offers commission-free investing in stocks and cryptocurrency, and its dedicated account for teenagers is another huge plus. Try its free plan today.
