Best Virtual Credit Cards of December 2025
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Written by
Harlan Vaughn
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Edited by
Emily Gadd
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Reviewed by
Jasmin Baron
Virtual credit cards are a quick and helpful way to safeguard your account numbers — and luckily, there are several credit cards that offer virtual cards. That’s especially prudent if you shop online or want more control over which merchants have access to your card information.
There are plenty of use cases where you’d want this type of protection, so let’s look at the best virtual credit card for you.
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Quick Overview: Best Virtual Credit Cards
| Our Choice For | Credit Range | Annual Fee | Highlights | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premium Travel Rewards & Perks |
Excellent
720 – 850*
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$395 |
Very generous bonus and statement credit opportunities plus premium perks.
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| Elevated Travel Rewards |
Excellent, Good
670 – 850*
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$95 |
Earn a welcome bonus worth $750 and 2x – 5x rewards Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day.
Apply Now
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| $0 Annual Fee Travel Card |
Excellent, Good
670 – 850*
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$0 |
Earn a welcome bonus and 1.25X – 5X rewards Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day.
Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
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| Rewards on dining & entertainment |
Excellent, Good
670 – 850*
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$0 |
Up to 8% cash back plus a $300 bonus For a limited time, earn $300 in welcome bonuses. Enjoy a $100 credit to use towards flights, stays and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel during your first cardholder year. Plus, earn a $200 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening. Offer ends 12/8/25
Apply Now
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| 2% Cash Back |
Excellent/Good
670 – 850*
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$0 |
Extra long intro APR on balance transfers, generous welcome bonus, and 2% cash back Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel.
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| Premium Points |
Excellent/Good
670 – 850*
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$95 |
Earn up to 10x points per dollar plus a bonus worth 60,000 bonus ThankYou® PointsEarn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.
Apply Now
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| Customizable Rewards With No Annual Fee |
Excellent/Good
670 – 850*
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$0 |
Earn a generous welcome bonus and up to 5x Citi ThankYou® points in useful categories Earn 3 ThankYou® Points for each $1 spent in an eligible Self-Select Category of your choice (Fitness Clubs, Select Streaming Services, Live Entertainment, Cosmetic Stores/Barber Shops/Hair Salons, or Pet Supply Stores). Choose your eligible Self-Select Category on Citi Online or by calling customer service. The default Self-Select Category is Select Streaming Services. Earn 5 ThankYou® Points for each $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals and Attractions booked on Citi Travel® via cititravel.com; earn 3 ThankYou Points for each $1 spent at Supermarkets, on Select Transit purchases, and at Gas & EV Charging Stations. Earn 2 ThankYou® Points for each $1 spent at Restaurants; earn 1 ThankYou® Point for each $1 spent on All Other Purchases.
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More Details
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Premium Perks & Benefits |
Good – Excellent
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$895 |
Massive welcome offer opportunity plus several annual statement credits, lounge access and other premium benefits You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
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Cash Back Card |
Good – Excellent
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$0 |
Earn a welcome offer and 1% – 3% cash back Earn 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%.
Earn 3% cash back on U.S. online retail purchases, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%. Earn 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations, on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit and at Amazon.com checkout.
Apply Now
More Details
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Cash Back on Groceries |
Good – Excellent
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$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95. |
Earn a welcome offer and 1% – 6% cash back Earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%).
Earn 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions. Earn 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more). Earn 1% cash back on other purchases. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit and at Amazon.com checkout.
Apply Now
More Details
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Detailed Overview: Best Virtual Credit Cards
Top Feature
For a limited time, earn 100,000 bonus miles once you spend $10,000 on purchases in the first 6 months from account opening, equal to $1,000 in travel
Purchase & Balance Transfer APR
19.99% – 28.99% (Variable)
CardCritics™ Opinion
Recommended Credit Score
Annual Fee
Rewards
Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases.
Card Details From Issuer
- LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Earn 100,000 bonus miles once you spend $10,000 on purchases in the first 6 months from account opening – equal to $1,000 in travel
- Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options
- Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
- Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
- Enjoy access to 1,300+ lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
- Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
Top Feature
Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.
Purchase & Balance Transfer APR
19.99% – 28.99% (Variable)
CardCritics™ Opinion
Recommended Credit Score
Annual Fee
Rewards
Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day.
Card Details From Issuer
- Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Miles won’t expire for the life of the account and there’s no limit to how many you can earn
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
Top Feature
For a limited time, earn $300 in travel bonuses. Enjoy $100 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 20,000 bonus miles once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening – that’s equal to $300 in travel. Offer ends 12/8/25
Purchase & Balance Transfer APR
0% intro on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, then 18.99% – 28.99% (Variable)
CardCritics™ Opinion
Recommended Credit Score
Annual Fee
Rewards
Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
Card Details From Issuer
- LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Earn $300 in travel bonuses. Enjoy $100 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 20,000 bonus miles once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening – that’s equal to $300 in travel
- $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
- Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
- Miles won’t expire for the life of the account and there’s no limit to how many you can earn
- Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 18.99% – 28.99% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
Top Feature
For a limited time, earn $300 in welcome bonuses. Enjoy a $100 credit to use towards flights, stays and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel during your first cardholder year. Plus, earn a $200 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening. Offer ends 12/8/25
Purchase & Balance Transfer APR
0% intro on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months, then 18.99% – 28.99% (Variable)
CardCritics™ Opinion
Recommended Credit Score
Annual Fee
Rewards
Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
Earn unlimited 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services, plus 1% on all other purchases.
Card Details From Issuer
- LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Earn $300 in welcome bonuses. Enjoy a $100 credit to use towards flights, stays and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel during your first cardholder year. Plus, earn a $200 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
- $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
- Earn unlimited 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services, plus 1% on all other purchases
- Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus cash back won’t expire for the life of the account and there’s no limit to how much you can earn
- 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months; 18.99% – 28.99% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
Top Feature
Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
Purchase & Balance Transfer APR
0% Intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months, then 17.74% – 27.74% (Variable). A 17.74% – 27.74% (Variable) APR will apply for purchases.
CardCritics™ Opinion
Recommended Credit Score
Annual Fee
Cash Back
Card Details From Issuer
- Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
- Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel.
- Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 17.74% – 27.74%, based on your creditworthiness.
- Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
- If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
- There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
Top Feature
Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.
Purchase & Balance Transfer APR
19.74% – 27.74% (Variable)
CardCritics™ Opinion
Recommended Credit Score
Annual Fee
Rewards
Card Details From Issuer
- Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.
- Earn 10 Points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on CitiTravel.com.
- Earn 3 Points per $1 on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases, at Restaurants, Supermarkets, Gas and EV Charging Stations.
- Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- $100 Annual Hotel Benefit: Once per calendar year, enjoy $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) when booked through CitiTravel.com. Benefit applied instantly at time of booking.
- No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card
- No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases
Top Feature
For a limited time, earn 30,000 bonus Points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.
Purchase & Balance Transfer APR
0% intro APR for 15 months on Purchases and Balance Transfers, then 18.74% – 28.74% (Variable)
CardCritics™ Opinion
Recommended Credit Score
Annual Fee
Rewards
Card Details From Issuer
- For a limited time, earn 30,000 bonus Points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.
- 0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months; after that, the variable APR will be 18.74% – 28.74%, based on your creditworthiness. There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
- Earn 3 ThankYou® Points for each $1 spent in an eligible Self-Select Category of your choice (Fitness Clubs, Select Streaming Services, Live Entertainment, Cosmetic Stores/Barber Shops/Hair Salons, or Pet Supply Stores). Choose your eligible Self-Select Category on Citi Online or by calling customer service. The default Self-Select Category is Select Streaming Services.
- Earn 5 ThankYou® Points for each $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals and Attractions booked on Citi Travel® via cititravel.com; earn 3 ThankYou Points for each $1 spent at Supermarkets, on Select Transit purchases, and at Gas & EV Charging Stations.
- Earn 2 ThankYou® Points for each $1 spent at Restaurants; earn 1 ThankYou® Point for each $1 spent on All Other Purchases.
- No Annual Fee
Top Feature
You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
Purchase APR
See Pay Over Time APR
CardCritics™ Opinion
Recommended Credit Score
Annual Fee
Rewards
5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel®.
1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
Terms apply.
Card Details From Issuer
- You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
- More Value! With over 1,550 airport lounges – more than any other credit card company on the market* – enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection®, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club® visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations), Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges. * As of 07/2025.
- More Value! $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
- More Value! $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $25 in statement credits each month after you pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card® at participating partners. Enrollment required.
- More Value! $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel® using the Platinum Card®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- New! $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: When you use the Platinum Card® to pay at U.S. Resy restaurants and to make other eligible purchases through Resy, you can get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter with the $400 Resy Credit benefit. Plus, with Platinum Nights by Resy, you can get special access to reservations on select nights at participating in demand Resy restaurants with the Platinum Card®. Simply add your eligible Card to your Resy profile to book and discover Platinum Nights reservations near you, enrollment required.
- More Value! $209 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps get you to your gate faster by using unique facial attributes to verify you are you at 50+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR Plus Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR Plus with the Platinum Card®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card® Account*. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
- Start your vacation sooner, and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts® through American Express Travel®, enjoy noon check-in upon arrival, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out.
- New! $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That’s up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Receive a statement credit* for one monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) after you pay for Walmart+ each month with the Platinum Card®.*Up to $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups not eligible.
- $100 Saks Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue or saks.com on the Platinum Card®. That’s up to $50 in statement credits from January through June and up to $50 in statement credits from July through December. No minimum purchase required. Enrollment required.
- Whenever you need us, we’re here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- $895 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
Top Feature
Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
Purchase & Balance Transfer APR
0% intro APR on purchases and on balance transfers for 15 months from the date of account opening, then 19.74%-28.74% Variable APR
CardCritics™ Opinion
Recommended Credit Score
Annual Fee
Cash Back
Earn 3% cash back on U.S. online retail purchases, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%.
Earn 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations, on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%.
Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit and at Amazon.com checkout.
Card Details From Issuer
- Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
- No Annual Fee.
- Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from the date of account opening. After that, 19.74% to 28.74% variable APR.
- Plan It®: Buy now, pay later with Plan It. Split purchases of $100 or more into equal monthly installments with a fixed fee so you don’t have the pressure of paying all at once. Simply select the purchase in your online account or the American Express® App to see your plan options. Plus, you’ll still earn rewards on purchases the way you usually do.
- Earn 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, 3% cash back on U.S. online retail purchases, 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations, on eligible purchases for each category on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%). Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit and at Amazon.com checkout.
- Get up to a $7 monthly statement credit after using your enrolled Blue Cash Everyday® Card for a subscription purchase, including a bundle subscription purchase, at Disneyplus.com, Hulu.com, or Plus.espn.com U.S. websites. Subject to auto-renewal.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you’re approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you’re approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
Top Feature
Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
Purchase & Balance Transfer APR
0% intro APR on purchases and on balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening, then 19.74%-28.74% Variable APR
CardCritics™ Opinion
Recommended Credit Score
Annual Fee
Cash Back
Earn 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions.
Earn 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more).
Earn 1% cash back on other purchases.
Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit and at Amazon.com checkout.
Card Details From Issuer
- Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
- $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
- Low Intro APR: 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening. After that, your APR will be a variable APR of 19.74% – 28.74%.
- Plan It®: Buy now, pay later with Plan It. Split purchases of $100 or more into equal monthly installments with a fixed fee so you don’t have the pressure of paying all at once. Simply select the purchase in your online account or the American Express® App to see your plan options. Plus, you’ll still earn rewards on purchases the way you usually do.
- Earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in eligible purchases (then 1%), 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% cash back at eligible U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more) purchases and 1% cash back on other purchases. Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit and at Amazon.com checkout.
- Get up to a $10 monthly statement credit after using your enrolled Blue Cash Preferred® Card for a subscription purchase, including a bundle subscription purchase, at disneyplus.com, Hulu.com, or Plus.espn.com U.S. websites. Subject to auto-renewal.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you’re approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you’re approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
What Is a Virtual Credit Card?
There aren’t any virtual credit card companies — instead, the functionality is offered predominantly by certain issuers. The two main ones are Capital One and Citi. A virtual credit card is a randomly assigned card number that keeps your actual card information safe. You can usually assign a limit and lock it at any time. With some cards, you can set them to expire after a single use or only work with merchants you choose.
This keeps you secure because your actual card number is never passed along. If there’s ever a data breach, you’ll know your real card number wasn’t exposed. And if you can get a one-time use virtual card number, you won’t have to worry about recurring charges or accidentally being enrolled in a subscription. While your credit card is protected against fraud, a virtual credit card adds an extra layer against theft, hacking and other nefarious incidents.
For example, when I sign up for free trials of something I only want to use one time, I’ll use a virtual card number with my Citi Citi Double Cash® Card (an advertising partner), go through with the transaction and then delete the virtual card. That way, if I forget to cancel, there won’t be any rogue charges on my account. And while it’s gotten a lot easier to cancel services online, some websites make you go down a rabbit hole of clicks until you find the “cancel” button. Getting a one-time virtual card number is sometimes just faster.
Pros and Cons of Virtual Cards
Before you go and generate a bunch of new randomized numbers, here’s what to keep in mind.
Pros
- Virtual credit card numbers are free to generate and use
- You can pull as many additional card numbers as you want
- Certain issuers let you set charge limits, which gives you even more control
- You’ll still earn rewards for using your card
Cons
- Can generally only use them online or for purchases where you manually provide your card details, like over the phone
- Not all issuers offer virtual credit cards
- May not be helpful for situations where you’d want to keep a card “on file”
- If you can use your mobile wallet to pay, it’s just another added step
Why Get a Virtual Card?
Virtual card numbers are primarily for your protection. You keep your real card information hidden, and your transaction processes as usual. If you’re worried about certain merchants charging your card in the future — like if you have a trial period but have to enter a credit card, or you use a coupon code but don’t want to pay higher prices later — they can be incredibly helpful. In these cases, the transaction simply won’t go through. These are what I like to use virtual card numbers for.
If you do a lot of shopping online, taking extra steps to generate a new card number can give you peace of mind and added oversight, particularly if you’re shopping with a new merchant or have any other reason to take extra precautions. For example, if I’m booking travel with an unfamiliar merchant with my Capital One Venture X Card, I’ll grab a virtual card number and set a limit on it.
While we’re on this topic, it’s not necessary when using a mobile wallet like Apple Pay or Google Pay. That’s because these services spin up a brand new card number every time you use them. So it’s only worthwhile if you’re paying directly and typing in a card number or if you want the other benefits, like assigned spending limits or merchant restrictions. In that case, it would be better to use the virtual card number than a mobile wallet.
Also note that you can’t use a virtual credit card in person for things like checking in at a hotel, paying at a restaurant or shopping at a physical location. For these situations, you’ll still need your credit card with you. If available, paying with a mobile wallet will give you that extra layer of security, but you won’t be able to set limits or controls.
How To Apply for and Get a Virtual Credit Card
For now, the only issuers that freely offer virtual card numbers are Capital One and Citi. So, if this is an important feature or you’re already considering one of the best Capital One credit cards or best Citi credit cards, you get this as a built-in benefit.
For other cards that don’t have this functionality, there’s a workaround service called Click to Pay. It works with American Express, Discover, Mastercard and Visa cards, which is awesome. But it only works with certain retailers, which isn’t (unless a retailer you like supports it).
In the case of American Express cards, which don’t have built-in virtual card numbers, you’ll need to take extra steps:
- Check out via a Chrome browser
- Save your card information to your Google account
- Complete checkout using your computer or Android mobile device
It’s not a perfect solution, because it excludes those that don’t use (or want to use) Chrome as a browser, Google accounts or non-Android mobile devices. But, for now, it’s what Amex advises if you want extra security for online shopping.
Alternatives To Consider
If a Capital One or Citi credit card isn’t of interest to you, or you just want some other options, here are a few more ways to replicate virtual card numbers:
- Venmo Credit Card: Venmo is a popular payment service with a nifty credit card offering. You can earn 3% cash back in your top supported spending category, 2% back on the next and 1% back on all other purchases. Categories include popular choices like travel, dining, groceries and several more. There’s no annual fee, and you can use a virtual card number in the Venmo app to shop online.
- Apple Cash: If you use Apple Cash, which you can earn by using the Apple Card, you get a virtual card number that changes frequently with use and time to keep your purchases secure. If you want more Apple Cash, you can use a connected debit card. You can also choose to receive it from friends when you set it up.
- Gift cards: While not perfect by any means, you could always use your existing credit card to purchase a gift card from a retailer you trust. Then, use that gift card for the purchase you want to make. The effect is the same: Your real card details are shielded, you control the amount and, if you buy a Mastercard or Visa gift card, you can make a purchase nearly anywhere. The advantage is you can use them in person, online or over the phone and won’t have to worry about recurring charges because once the balance is used up, no other transactions will process. But you won’t get extras like purchase protection or extended warranty, and gift cards can be vulnerable to fraud.
** Information for the Venmo Credit Card and Apple Card was collected by CardCritics™ and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this product/card. Product details may vary. Please see issuer website for current information. CardCritics™ does not receive a commission for these products.
Frequently Asked Questions About Virtual Credit Cards
What credit card gives you a virtual card immediately?
No issuer provides true virtual card numbers upon approval. Some issuers provide approvals with instant use or the ability to add your new card to a mobile wallet, but these are often with your actual card number. Generating a virtual card number is something you do within your card account, and you’ll need to wait until your card arrives and is activated to get a virtual card number.
Do credit cards have virtual cards?
The two main issuers that provide virtual credit cards are Capital One and Citi. There’s a payment service called Click to Pay that provides a similar experience with certain retailers, but it has limited capability.
What banks offer a virtual card?
The two main issuers that provide virtual credit cards are Capital One and Citi.
Does Capital One have a virtual card?
Yes, most of Capital One’s credit card offerings allow you to generate a virtual credit card number on demand.
Does Chase issue virtual cards?
No, Chase does not allow you to generate virtual credit card numbers.
How Do Our Critics Evaluate the Cards?
All of the credit cards featured on CardCritics™ are assessed using the same criteria. Our critics evaluate fees, interest rates, balance transfer options, introductory bonuses, rewards, additional benefits and the average credit score required for approval.
Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer.
*CardCritics™ references a FICO® 8 score, which is one of many different types of credit scores. A financial institution may use a different score when evaluating your application.