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Capital One virtual credit card: How does it work?

A cool security feature for those who often shop online.

Kliment Dukovski
Kliment Dukovski

Updated

When you use your credit card online, you’re potentially exposing your card information to fraudsters or hackers. To avoid such risk, card providers like Capital One offer virtual credit card numbers to replace your real details. This way, if your virtual card numbers are compromised, your real credit card remains safe.

Does Capital One have a virtual credit card?

Yes. Capital One is a rare card provider that offers this feature to personal cardholders. To take advantage of it, you must use Capital One’s virtual assistant, Eno.

How to use a Capital One virtual credit card

You need a Capital One online account to sign up for a virtual card. Then create a virtual credit card in five steps:

  1. Add the Eno from Capital One extension to your Chrome, Microsoft Edge or Firefox browser.
  2. Click the extension and sign in with your Capital One online account details. You may need to verify your identity and account.
  3. Visit any shopping website, and add the items you wish to buy to your cart.
  4. Eno automatically pops up at checkout to create a virtual credit card number for order.
  5. Name your virtual card — such as “Amazon” or “Walmart” — for later use at the same retailer.

You can use the unique virtual card number that appears at checkout on future orders with the same online merchant.

Compare Capital One credit cards with a virtual credit card option

Name Product Filter values Rewards Purchase APR Annual fee
Capital One® Quicksilver® Cash Rewards Credit Card
Capital One® Quicksilver® Cash Rewards Credit Card
1.5% cash back on all purchases
0% intro for the first 15 months (then 15.49% to 25.49% variable)
$0
View details
This no-annual-fee 1.5% cashback card offers of intro APR on purchases. No foreign transaction fees set this card apart.
Capital One® VentureOne® Rewards Credit Card
Capital One® VentureOne® Rewards Credit Card
5x miles on Uber Eats and 1.25x miles on all purchases
0% intro for the first 12 months (then 15.49%, 21.49% or 25.49% variable)
$0
View details
Earn 20,000 bonus miles once you spend $1,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
Capital One® Secured Mastercard®
Capital One® Secured Mastercard®
N/A
26.99% variable
$0
View details
Get access to a higher credit line after making your first 5 monthly payments on time.
Capital One® SavorOne® Cash Rewards Credit Card
Capital One® SavorOne® Cash Rewards Credit Card
5% cash back on Uber Eats, 3% on dining and entertainment, 2% at grocery stores and 1% on all other purchases
0% intro for the first 15 months (then 15.49% or 25.49% variable)
$0
View details
A no-annual-fee card with up to 3% cash back for people who love going out. Extend the fun with 15 months intro APR on purchases.
CardMatch™ from creditcards.com
CardMatch™ from creditcards.com
See terms
See issuer's website
See terms
See offer
View details
Use the CardMatch tool to find cards you're likely to qualify for with your credit score, without a hard pull on your credit.
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Compare up to 4 providers

Benefits of a Capital One virtual credit card

Shopping with a Capital One virtual credit card keeps your personal and financial details safe:

  • Secure online shopping. If your card number is compromised, you can lock your virtual card with no effect on your physical credit card.
  • Create one virtual card per retailer. When you create a virtual credit card number with Eno, you can use that number for future orders at that vendor only. If a hacker steals your credit card info, they can’t use it anywhere else.
  • Lock your virtual cards. Capital One allows you to lock and unlock your virtual cards. If you don’t plan to use it soon, simply lock it for now and unlock it when you’re ready to shop.

What to watch out for

One drawback to consider when using a virtual credit card through your Capital One account is that getting money back on returned items might be more difficult.

Retailers typically reimburse money to the card number you originally used to make the purchase. If that card is no longer active, it may require a call or email to designate an alternate form of reimbursement.

When shouldn’t I use my virtual credit card?

Try not to use virtual card numbers for purchases where you may have to show your card for verification. For example, if you buy will-call tickets online with a credit card, you may be required to show your physical card at pick-up. In such an instance, it’s best not to use a virtual credit card.

Bottom line

Capital One is one of the rare card providers that offer virtual credit card numbers to keep your physical details secure while you shop online. You can create a virtual card for each online retailer you shop at through a browser extension.

If you aren’t a Capital One cardholder and aren’t interested in becoming one, compare other providers that offer virtual credit cards.

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