Virtual Credit Cards: How They Work and How to Get Them

When you use your credit card to make online purchases, your information can potentially be exposed to fraudsters and hackers. Using a virtual credit card, however, will keep your information safe. It also helps ensure you won’t get locked into certain hard-to-cancel online subscriptions.

What is a virtual credit card and how does it work?

A virtual credit card is a security feature offered by some card providers that masks your real credit card numbers when shopping online.

It works like this: you get a virtual credit card generator from your provider. This allows you to generate random credit card numbers that are connected with your real credit card. You can set dollar limits, expiry date or even make one virtual card usable only at one merchant online. So when you buy online, you use your virtual card number, while keeping your real credit card number safe. This is one of the latest credit card security techniques meant to fight identity theft and fraud.

Our pick for a virtual credit card number

Citi® Double Cash Card

• 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.
• Balance Transfer Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 13.99% – 23.99%, based on your creditworthiness.
• Balance Transfers do not earn cash back.
• 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 a balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
• The standard variable APR for Citi Flex Plan is 13.99% – 23.99% based on your creditworthiness. Citi Flex Plan offers are made available at Citi's discretion.

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Which credit card issuers offer virtual credit cards?

As of this writing, Citi virtual cards and Capital One virtual cards are your only options — Capital One for all of its cards and Citi on eligible credit cards.

Card issuer	Offers virtual card
Apple
American Express
Bank of America
Barclaycard
Brex
Capital One
Chase
Citi
HSBC
Discover
Luxury card
PenFed
TD Bank
U.S. Bank
USAA
Wells Fargo

Does American Express have a virtual credit card?

American Express doesn’t have a virtual credit card for consumer use, but it does have it for corporate use with Amex Go. The latter lets mid-size and large companies issue virtual credit cards to their employees for company spending.

Does Chase have a virtual credit card?

Unfortunately, Chase doesn’t offer virtual credit card numbers for online purchases.

Does Discover have a virtual credit card?

As of 2014, Discover has discontinued offering virtual credit card numbers to cardholders. Instead, Discover is focused on supporting digital wallets, such as Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay.

Does USAA have a virtual credit card?

No, USAA doesn’t offer virtual credit card numbers to its cardholders. Instead, USAA supports mobile digital wallets, such as Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay, which serve a similar purpose. The only downside is that digital wallets aren’t accepted everywhere, unlike virtual credit cards.

Does Mastercard have a virtual credit card?

Mastercard doesn’t have its own proprietary virtual credit card feature. Instead, you can use virtual credit card numbers for your Mastercard issued by Citi or Capital One, the only providers that offer this perk.

Does Mastercard have a virtual credit card alternative?

Mastercard has an alternative to a virtual credit card as it offers its own digital wallet called Masterpass. Similar to virtual credit cards, Masterpass helps you hide your credit card information from online merchants. But unlike virtual credit cards that have wide online acceptance, you can only use Masterpass at participating retailers.

Compare virtual card options

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Name	Product	Filter values	Rewards	Purchase APR	Annual fee
Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card			N/A	0% intro for the first 18 months (then 14.74% to 24.74% variable)	$0	Apply now View details	An impressive 18 months intro APR on balance transfers and purchases, as well as no annual fee make this one of the top 0% APR cards available.	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Citi® Double Cash Card			Up to 2% cash back on purchases (1% when you buy plus 1% as you pay)	13.99% to 23.99% variable	$0	Apply now View details	Earn up to 2% on every purchase with no annual fee. This is the highest flat-rate cashback card on the market.	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi			4% at gas stations on up to $7,000 annually (then 1%), 3% at restaurants and on travel, 2% at Costco and 1% on all other purchases	15.24% variable	$0	Apply now View details	An impressive cashback card that offers up to 4% back on everyday purchases like gas, travel and dining all for the cost of a Costco membership.	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Citi Rewards+℠ Card			Earn 2x points at supermarkets and gas stations on up to $6,000 annually, then 1x points after that and on all other purchases	0% intro for the first 15 months (then 13.49% to 23.49% variable)	$0	Apply now View details	Get 2x points on restaurants and gas with this unique no-annual-fee card. Your rewards round up to the nearest 10 points for each purchase!	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Brex for Startups			7x points on rideshares, 4x on Brex Travel, 3x at restaurants, 2x on software subscriptions and 1x points on all other purchases	N/A	$0	Apply now View details	The first corporate card for startups. No personal liability or security deposit needed, meaning your personal credit score won't be affected.	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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Pros and Cons of virtual credit cards

Bottom line

Virtual credit cards are an awesome security feature if you often make purchases online. This helps you keep your real credit card information safe while exposing random credit card numbers that you create. Unfortunately, just a few issuers offer this feature at this time.

If you’re looking for a similar level of digital credit card security, take a look at digital wallets. Most credit cards support this feature, meaning you have your pick of all credit card options.

Frequently asked questions

• Is there an alternative to virtual credit cards?

  Yes, digital wallets such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, Chase Pay and Samsung Pay can be used as an alternative if you don’t want to reveal your credit card information to merchants. The only downside is that not all merchants accept digital wallets.

• What happens to my virtual credit card if I report my real card as lost or stolen?

  In most cases, your virtual card numbers will become useless.

• Does Visa offer virtual credit cards?

  No, Visa doesn’t offer its own virtual credit card feature. However, you can get Visa virtual credit cards if you apply for an eligible Citi or Capital One credit card.

• Does American Express offer virtual credit cards?

  American Express doesn’t offer virtual credit cards to individuals, but it does offer the option to mid-size and large companies to issue virtual credit cards to employees for company spending.

• Why most card providers don’t offer virtual credit cards?

  Most card providers claim they have increased credit card security with features like zero liability, card freeze/unfreeze, fraud alerts and more. Also, they support digital wallets, such as Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay, which serve a similar role to hide real credit card numbers from merchants.