Visa Checkout: What is it and how does it work?

Make payments more conveniently at participating retailers.

Shopping online can be fun and easy, but the checkout process can put a damper on the experience. Entering your shipping and billing address, and having to dig out your credit card to enter payment details, can really slow things down. The friction might even be enough to make you cancel your transaction altogether.

If you’re sick of dealing with this annoying checkout ritual, Visa Checkout might help.

What is Visa Checkout?

Visa Checkout is a free payment option that lets you make purchases at certain retailers with just your email. To use it, create a Visa Checkout account beforehand with your email, credit card information and shipping details. You can use this account across all partner retailers.

Despite its name, this feature doesn’t work only with Visa cards. You can also add any major credit or debit card, such as Mastercard and American Express.

Why use Visa Checkout?

  • Convenience.
    When you’re checking out at an online retailer, it can be a hassle to pull out your credit card, type in your card information and enter your billing and shipping address. But with Visa Checkout, your card details and address will be automatically populated. All you need to do is confirm your purchase.
  • More secure.
    When you use Visa Checkout, your credit card details aren’t stored on a retailer’s website. That’s one fewer place where potential hackers might access your data. The service also helps you keep your information up to date. If you add a Visa card to your account and it’s reissued — perhaps due to fraud — Visa Checkout will update the card details for you.

What are the fees to use Visa Checkout?

There’s no cost to use Visa Checkout. You can sign up for free, and using it with online retailers comes with no fees.

How Visa Checkout works: Signing up and using

Using Visa Checkout is fairly straightforward. First, register an account at the Visa Checkout website. Then sign in to this account to pay for purchases at participating retailers.

How to register for Visa Checkout

  1. Visit the Visa Checkout website and click Enroll now.
    Visa Checkout screenshot, main page of website
  2. Complete the form with your first name, last name, email address and country. Then click Create account. You don’t need to create a password. Each time you log in to Visa Checkout — either through the Visa site or a retailer — you’ll receive a one-time password in your email.
    Visa Checkout screenshot, form to create an account
  3. Enter your credit card details and billing address. You’ll also need to enter your phone number, which is required.
    Visa Checkout screenshot, input billing information
  4. You’ll see the credit card you just added in the My Cards section of your Visa Checkout account.
    Visa Checkout screenshot, My Cards section of account

What sets Visa Checkout apart?

Visa Checkout is very similar to Mastercard Masterpass and Amex Express Checkout, two competing services. However, it’s currently accepting new signups, while Masterpass isn’t. And while anyone can sign up for Visa Checkout, you must be an Amex customer to use Amex Express Checkout.

How to use Visa Checkout

      1. Shop at a retailer partnered with Visa Checkout.
      2. When you’re ready to pay for your purchase, initiate checkout and click the Visa Checkout logo. At some retailers, you may need to click a dropdown menu to find other payment options.

Visa Checkout screenshot, logo visible at online retailer checkout

      1. A Visa Checkout popup will appear. Enter your email address.

Visa Checkout screenshot, popup asking for email address

      1. You’ll receive a one-time code in your email. When you receive it, enter it in the Visa Checkout popup.

Visa Checkout screenshot, enter one-time security code

      1. Review your payment and shipping details, then finalize your purchase.

Visa Checkout screenshot, payment and shipping details screen

Which stores accept Visa Checkout?

Here’s a partial list of merchants and retailers that accept Visa Checkout, according to Visa.ca.

  • Aldo
  • Gap
  • Banana Republic
  • Old Navy
  • Cineplex Entertainment
  • Clearly.ca
  • Grand & Toy
  • Indigo
  • Grand & Toy
  • Indigo
  • Kobo
  • Lowe’s Canada
  • London Drugs
  • United Airlines
  • Roots
  • Running Room
  • Staples Canada
  • Simons
  • Ticketmaster
  • Pizza Pizza
  • Heart and Stroke Foundation
  • World Vision

Compare credit cards to use with Visa Checkout

Though you might already have a credit card, you may want to compare cards from other providers to find the best one for you. Here are a few of our top picks.

1 - 10 of 13
Name Product CACCF Welcome Offer Rewards Purchase Interest Rate Annual Fee Min. Credit Score Description
RBC ION Visa
3,500 points
1.5 points per $1 spent
20.99%
$0
Min. recommended credit score: 660
Get 3,500 Avion points when you get approved for the card. Apply by January 15, 2025.
BMO eclipse rise Visa Card
25,000
Up to 5 points per $2 spent
20.99%
$0
Min. recommended credit score: 660
Earn up to 25,000 bonus points.
RBC Avion Visa Infinite
35,000 points
Up to 1 point per $1 spent
20.99%
$120
Min. recommended credit score: 650
Get 35,000 Welcome Points upon approval.
RBC ION+ Visa
7,000 points
3 points per $1 spent
20.99%
$48
Min. recommended credit score: 660
Get 3,500 Welcome Points on approval and earn 3,500 bonus points when you spend $500 in the first 3 months. Apply by January 15th, 2025.
BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege
120,000 points
5 points per $1 spent
20.99%
$499
Min. recommended credit score: 760
Get up to 120,000 welcome points.
Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card
35,000 points
Up to 3 points per $1 spent
20.99%
$0 annual fee for the first year ($150 thereafter)
Min. recommended credit score: 700
Earn up to 35,000 bonus Scene+ points and get the first year annual fee waived (that’s up to $1,100 in value in the first 12 months). Apply by January 2, 2025.
Scotiabank SCENE+ Visa Card
7,500 points
Up to 2 points per $1 spent
20.99%
$0
Min. recommended credit score: 660
Earn up to 7,500 Scene+ points in the first 3 months. Apply by March 2, 2025.
Scotiabank Value Visa Card
0% on balance transfers for 10 months
N/A
13.99%
$0 annual fee for the first year ($29 thereafter)
Min. recommended credit score: 670
Get a 0% introductory interest rate on balance transfers for the first 10 months. Plus, pay no annual fee in the first year. Apply by January 2, 2025.
Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite Card
10% cash back
Up to 4% cash back
20.99%
$0 annual fee for the first year ($120 thereafter)
Min. recommended credit score: 700
Earn 10% cash back on all purchases for the first 3 months. Plus, pay no annual fee in the first year. Apply by October 31, 2025.
BMO eclipse Visa Infinite
60,000 points
Up to 5 points per $1 spent
20.99%
$0 annual fee for the first year ($120 thereafter)
Min. recommended credit score: 760
Get up to 60,000 points, a $50 lifestyle credit and the $120 annual fee waived by your first anniversary.
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Bottom line

If you’re tired of entering your shipping, billing and payment details while paying for online purchases, Visa Checkout can help. After registering for an account, you can use it to pay at may popular retailers. You can add any major credit or debit card to your account.

Frequently asked questions

Kevin Joey Chen's headshot
Writer

Kevin Chen is a personal finance expert and a former writer at Finder. His expertise has been featured in CNN, U.S. News and World Report, Lifehacker and CreditCards.com, among other top media. See full bio

Stacie Hurst's headshot
Co-written by

Associate editor

Stacie Hurst is an editor at Finder, specializing in loans, banking, investing and money transfers. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Writing, and she has completed FP Canada Institute's Financial Management Course. Before working in the publishing industry, Stacie completed one year of law school in the United States. When not working, she can usually be found watching K-dramas or playing games with her friends and family. See full bio

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