Most places let you add a copy of your card to a digital wallet, and some also offer temporary virtual cards, virtual cards for employees or separate virtual cards for each of your subaccounts. Learn how virtual cards work and see top places to get them.
What is a virtual debit or credit card?
A virtual debit or credit card can only be used for digital payments. As the name suggests, virtual cards aren’t physical — you can’t hold a virtual card in your hand, but you can use them for online or tap-to-pay/contactless transactions.
Virtual cards will have the same amount of information as traditional, physical cards, including the cardholder’s name, a unique card number, expiration date and a card verification value (CVV) number. To use a virtual card, you can add it to digital wallets, like Apple Wallet on an iPhone, or Google Pay for online transactions.
Three common types of virtual debit and credit cards include:
(Most common) A virtual copy of your physical card that you can add to a digital wallet. These are popular for regular purchases, like tap-to-pay, paying bills or online shopping. While the details are the same as your physical card, the card’s details are encrypted in a digital wallet for secure transactions.
A separate virtual card that’s tied to your account but has different details from your physical debit or credit card. These are popular for budgeting, automatic payments, or for business accounts needing to give multiple employees access to a business account.
A temporary/disposable virtual card with unique and randomly generated card details that are different from your physical debit or credit card. With temporary cards, they are ‘destroyed’ after a set period of time or after so many transactions. Disposable virtual cards are popular for things like free trials, travel or making purchases at unfamiliar places.
8 top places to get instant virtual debit or credit cards
Earn up to 4.00% APY on savings and $50 or $300 with direct deposit. Open a new SoFi Checking and Savings account by 31 December 2026, set up eligible direct deposit within 60 days, and maintain direct deposit for six months. T&Cs apply.
While SoFi doesn't offer extra virtual cards like Revolut, if you just need debit cards compatible with digital wallets, SoFi is worth checking out. It's hybrid checking and savings account has no monthly fees and high APYs. The checking account's debit cards are compatible with Apple and Google digital wallets, letting you add your SoFi debit card to your wallet for contactless payments. You can also add the SoFi credit card to your digital wallet instantly after approval. Both checking and savings earn APY, up to 3.30% APY on savings by meeting deposit requirements or being a Plus member. SoFi accepts cash deposits at Green Dot retail locations, costing up to $4.95 fee per deposit, but as an online bank it doesn't have physical branches.
APY
Up to
3.30%
Fee
$0 per month
While SoFi doesn't offer extra virtual cards like Revolut, if you just need debit cards compatible with digital wallets, SoFi is worth checking out. It's hybrid checking and savings account has no monthly fees and high APYs. The checking account's debit cards are compatible with Apple and Google digital wallets, letting you add your SoFi debit card to your wallet for contactless payments. You can also add the SoFi credit card to your digital wallet instantly after approval. Both checking and savings earn APY, up to 3.30% APY on savings by meeting deposit requirements or being a Plus member. SoFi accepts cash deposits at Green Dot retail locations, costing up to $4.95 fee per deposit, but as an online bank it doesn't have physical branches.
Pros
No monthly fees
Up to 3.30% APY on savings
0.50% APY on checking
Cards compatible with digital wallets
Cons
$4.95 cash deposit fee
No physical branches
Deposit or subscription fee for best savings APY
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
Up to 3.30%
Intro or bonus offer
Earn up to 4.00% APY on savings and $50 or $300 with direct deposit. Open a new SoFi Checking and Savings account by 31 December 2026, set up eligible direct deposit within 60 days, and maintain direct deposit for six months.
Rewards
Earn $50 or $300 when you sign up and set up eligible direct deposit. Terms apply. These offers are available until January 31, 2026.
Fee
$0 per month
ATM transaction fee
$0
Overdraft fee
$0
Foreign transaction fee
0%
New and existing Checking and Savings members who have not previously enrolled in Direct Deposit with SoFi are eligible to earn a cash bonus of either $50 (with at least $1,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period) OR $300 (with at least $5,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period). Cash bonus will be based on the total amount of Eligible Direct Deposit. If you have satisfied the Eligible Direct Deposit requirements but have not receiveda cash bonus in your Checking account, please contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 12/7/2023 and will be available through 12/31/2026. Full terms at sofi.com/banking. SoFi Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC.
SoFi members with Eligible Direct Deposit can earn 3.30% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults)and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the 3.30% APY for savings (including Vaults). Members without Eligible Direct Deposit will earn 1.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 12/23/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.
Annual percentage yield (APY) is variable and subject to change at any time. Rates are current as of 12/23/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional rates and information can be found at https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet
We do not charge any account, service or maintenance fees for SoFi Checking and Savings. We do charge a transaction fee to process each outgoing wire transfer. SoFi does not charge a fee for incoming wire transfers, however the sending bank may charge a fee. Our fee policy is subject to change at any time. See the SoFi Bank Fee Sheet for details at sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/.
SoFi Bank is a member FDIC and does not provide more than $250,000 of FDIC insurance per depositor per legal category of account ownership, as described in the FDIC’s regulations. Any additional FDIC insurance is provided by the SoFi Insured Deposit Program. Deposits may be insured up to $3M through participation in the program. See full terms at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms. See list of participating banks at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks.
We’ve partnered with Allpoint to provide you with ATM access at any of the 55,000+ ATMs within the Allpoint network. You will not be charged a fee when using an in-network ATM, however, third-party fees may be incurred when using out-of-network ATMs. SoFi’s ATM policies are subject to change at our discretion at any time.
Early access to direct deposit funds is based on the timing in which we receive notice of impending payment from the Federal Reserve, which is typically up to two days before the scheduled payment date, but may vary.
Overdraft Coverage is a feature automatically offered to SoFi Checking and Savings account holders who receive at least $1,000 or more in Eligible Direct Deposits within a rolling 31 calendar day period on a recurring basis. Eligible Direct Deposit is defined on the SoFi Bank Rate Sheet, available at https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet. Members enrolled in Overdraft Coverage may be covered for up to $50 in negative balances on SoFi Bank debit card purchases only. Overdraft Coverage does not apply to P2P transfers, bill payments, checks, or other non-debit card transactions. Members with a prior history of unpaid negative balances are not eligible for Overdraft Coverage. Eligibility for Overdraft Coverage is determined by SoFi Bank in its sole discretion. Members can check their enrollment status, if eligible, at any time by logging into their account through the SoFi app or on the SoFi website.
Earn up to 4.00% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on SoFi Savings with a 0.70% APY Boost (added to the 3.30% APY as of 12/23/25) for up to 6 months. Open a new SoFi Checking and Savings account and pay the $10 SoFi Plus subscription every 30 days OR receive eligible direct deposits OR qualifying deposits of $5,000 every 31 days by 3/30/2026. Rates variable, subject to change. Terms apply at sofi.com/banking#2. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.
Chime is a fintech company with bank partners. It doesn’t review your ChexSystems report when you apply for an account, which is helpful if you have a less-than-ideal banking history. Chime’s Checking Account offers a physical and virtual debit card, Chime Visa® Debit Card. The virtual debit card is available for immediate use after account approval and you don’t have to wait for your physical card to arrive before you can spend. The virtual card’s details are also different from your physical debit card, but are still linked to your Chime account. On top of all that, Chime’s checking account has no monthly or inactivity fees. Chime offers tons of other services, too, such as the overdraft service Chime SpotMe®, cash advance alternative MyPay® and Chime Card™. But like other fintechs with banking services, you’ll have no access to physical branches, and Chime doesn’t offer joint accounts.
Finder Reward
Get $300 from Finder Become a Finder member, open a Chime® Checking Account and receive a first payroll deposit of $200 or more. Offer ends March 31, 2026.
Chime is a fintech company with bank partners. It doesn’t review your ChexSystems report when you apply for an account, which is helpful if you have a less-than-ideal banking history. Chime’s Checking Account offers a physical and virtual debit card, Chime Visa® Debit Card. The virtual debit card is available for immediate use after account approval and you don’t have to wait for your physical card to arrive before you can spend. The virtual card’s details are also different from your physical debit card, but are still linked to your Chime account. On top of all that, Chime’s checking account has no monthly or inactivity fees. Chime offers tons of other services, too, such as the overdraft service Chime SpotMe®, cash advance alternative MyPay® and Chime Card™. But like other fintechs with banking services, you’ll have no access to physical branches, and Chime doesn’t offer joint accounts.
Pros
No monthly fees
Instant virtual debit card
No ChexSystems review
Various products and services
Cons
No joint accounts
Direct deposit requirements for some perks
No physical branches
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
N/A
Rewards
Cash back offers on everyday purchases through the app
Fee
$0 per month
Nonsufficient funds fee
$0
ATM transaction fee
$0
Overdraft fee
$0
Foreign transaction fee
0%
Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services and debit card provided by The Bancorp Bank N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC. ATMs: Out-of-network ATM withdrawal fees may apply except at MoneyPass ATMs in a 7-Eleven, or any Allpoint or Visa Plus Alliance ATM. Deposit: Once the retailer accepts your cash, the funds will be transferred to your Chime account. Cash deposit fees may apply if using a retailer other than Walgreens and Duane Reade. Mobile Deposit: Mobile Check Deposit eligibility is determined by Chime in its sole discretion and may be granted based on various factors including, but not limited to, a member's direct deposit enrollment status. Chime Savings Account: Chime Checking Account is required to be eligible for a Savings Account. APY: The Annual Percentage Yield (“APY”) is variable and may change at any time. The disclosed APY is accurate as of date of publication. No minimum balance required. Must have $0.01 in savings to earn interest. Get Paid Early: Early access to direct deposit funds depends on the timing of the submission of the payment file from the payer. We generally make these funds available on the day the payment file is received, which may be up to 2 days earlier than the scheduled payment date. Chime Card:: To apply for a Chime Card, Chime® Checking Account is required to apply. SpotMe: SpotMe® on Credit is an optional, no interest / no fee overdraft line of credit tied to the Secured Deposit Account available to qualifying members with an active Chime Card Account. To qualify for the SpotMe on Chime Card service, you must receive $200 or more in qualifying direct deposits to your Chime® Checking Account each month and have activated your physical secured Chime Visa® Credit Card or Chime Visa® Debit Card.
Qualifying members will be allowed to overdraw their Secured Deposit Account up to $20, but may later be eligible for a higher limit of up to $200 or more based on Chime account history, direct deposit frequency and amount, spending activity and other risk-based factors. The SpotMe on Chime Card Limit will be displayed within the Chime mobile app and is subject to change at any time, at Chime’s or its banking partners’ discretion. Although Chime does not charge any overdraft fees for SpotMe on Chime Card, there may be out-of-network or third-party fees associated with ATM transactions and fees associated with OTC cash withdrawals. SpotMe on Chime Card won’t cover non-card transactions. SpotMe on Chime Card Terms and Conditions. Federal Tax Return Direct Deposit: Chime members may choose to direct deposit their state and/or federal tax refunds with Chime. They may choose to direct deposit no matter what tax preparer they choose. They do not need to file through Chime in order to direct deposit their refund. If a member does direct deposit their federal refund they may receive the refund up to 6 days early. This only applies to federal refunds, not state. When marketing the speed of the tax refund it must always include the following elements: federal tax refund, up to 6 days early, with direct deposit. MyPay®: MyPay® is only offered in select states. To be eligible for MyPay, you must receive Qualifying MyPay Direct Deposits to your Chime Checking Account as set forth in the MyPay Agreement. A Qualifying MyPay Direct Deposit is a deposit from an employer, payroll provider, gig economy payer, government benefits payer, or other permitted source of income by Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) or Original Credit Transaction (“OCT”). Your MyPay Credit Limit and Available Advance Amount may change at any time. MyPay is a line of credit and available limits are based on estimated income and risk-based criteria. Eligible members may be offered a $20 - $500 Credit Limit per pay period. Your Credit Limit and Maximum Available Advance will be displayed to you within the Chime app. MyPay is currently only available to eligible Chime members in certain states. Other restrictions may apply. See Bancorp MyPay Agreement or Stride MyPay Agreement for details. To be eligible for MyPay, you must receive Qualifying MyPay Direct Deposits to your Chime Checking Account as set forth in the MyPay Agreement. A Qualifying MyPay Direct Deposit is a deposit from an employer, payroll provider, gig economy payer, government benefits payer, or other permitted source of income by Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) or Original Credit Transaction (“OCT”). Your MyPay Credit Limit and Available Advance Amount may change at any time. MyPay is a line of credit and available limits are based on estimated income and risk-based criteria. Eligible members may be offered a $20 - $500 Credit Limit per pay period. Your Credit Limit and Maximum Available Advance will be displayed to you within the Chime app. MyPay is currently only available to eligible Chime members in certain states. Other restrictions may apply. See Bancorp MyPay Agreement or https://www.chime.com/policies/stride/mypay/ for details.
The personal Revolut Account lets you create unlimited disposable virtual prepaid debit cards and multi-use virtual cards right in the Revolut app. The disposable virtual cards refresh their details every time you use them. The multi-use virtual cards keep the same details, so they're useful for paying recurring bills and adding to digital wallets. And since you can create unlimited virtual cards, you can make different ones for different expenses to track your spending and budget. On top of all that, Revolut is a borderless account, letting you exchange over 25 currencies in the app, spend in over 150 currencies and make overseas purchases with your cards. But, as an online banking option, Revolut doesn't accept cash or check deposits, and there are no physical branches.
APY
Up to
5.50%
Fee
From $0 per month
The personal Revolut Account lets you create unlimited disposable virtual prepaid debit cards and multi-use virtual cards right in the Revolut app. The disposable virtual cards refresh their details every time you use them. The multi-use virtual cards keep the same details, so they're useful for paying recurring bills and adding to digital wallets. And since you can create unlimited virtual cards, you can make different ones for different expenses to track your spending and budget. On top of all that, Revolut is a borderless account, letting you exchange over 25 currencies in the app, spend in over 150 currencies and make overseas purchases with your cards. But, as an online banking option, Revolut doesn't accept cash or check deposits, and there are no physical branches.
Pros
$0 Standard plan
Unlimited disposable and multi-use virtual cards
Spend in over 150 currencies
Exchange over 25 currencies in app
$1,000 monthly allowance for free currency exchange with Standard plan
Cons
No physical branches
Doesn't support cash or check deposits
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
5.50% on balances of $0+ 4.50% on balances of $0+ 4.00% on balances of $0+
Intro or bonus offer
Join Revolut and get $20. Make your first virtual or physical Revolut card payment to receive $20 credited to your Revolut account.
Fee
From $0 per month
ATM transaction fee
$0
Overdraft fee
$0
Foreign transaction fee
0.5%
Revolut is not a bank. Fees may apply. Banking services are provided by Lead Bank, Member FDIC. The Revolut USA Prepaid Visa and Prepaid Mastercard are issued by Lead Bank pursuant to licensing by Visa® U.S.A. Inc. and Mastercard International for Mastercard cards. Your funds are FDIC insured up to $250,000 through Lead Bank, Member FDIC, in the event Lead Bank fails. See revolut.com/en-US/ for more details.
The Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is a variable rate and may change at any time. APYs are accurate as of 29 September 2025. APYs vary by plan and account type. The rates are as follows: Standard Plan: 4.00% APY for balances in a High Yield Account; 3.25% APY for balances in other Savings Accounts. Premium Plan: 4.50% APY for balances in a High Yield Account; 3.35% APY for balances in other Savings Accounts. Metal Plan: 5.50% APY for balances in a High Yield Account; 3.75% APY for balances in other Savings Accounts. Plan fees and cancellation fees apply for Premium and Metal plans. T&Cs apply. No min balance to open; $0.01 min. to earn APY. Only 1 High Yield Account is permitted and is limited to $10,000 USD in user initiated deposits. The max combined balance of all Savings Accounts is $250,000 per user. Savings Account services provided by Cross River Bank, Member FDIC, insured up to $250,000.
Get a $100 referral bonus by inviting your friends to join Current. Once the person receives the invite link, applies your unique referral code, and makes qualifying Eligible Payroll Deposits of at least $200 within 45 days of opening the account, you and the referred friend each earn $100. T&Cs apply.
Current is a fintech with a bank partner. It offers a Current Account and a teen account, both of which offer virtual debit cards that you can use immediately before the physical debit card arrives. Just like the physical debit cards, the virtual cards can be paused anytime, added to virtual wallets like Apple Pay or Google Pay, and used for in-store or online purchases. Also, Current doesn't charge any monthly maintenance or overdraft fees on its main account or the teen account. With the regular Current Account, you can create savings pods and earn up to 4% savings bonus on up to $2,000 per pod, and the teen account has strong parental controls and allowance features. However, Current's virtual cards can't be used to withdraw cash from ATMs, and Current doesn't offer joint accounts.
APY
4.00%
Fee
$0 per month
Current is a fintech with a bank partner. It offers a Current Account and a teen account, both of which offer virtual debit cards that you can use immediately before the physical debit card arrives. Just like the physical debit cards, the virtual cards can be paused anytime, added to virtual wallets like Apple Pay or Google Pay, and used for in-store or online purchases. Also, Current doesn't charge any monthly maintenance or overdraft fees on its main account or the teen account. With the regular Current Account, you can create savings pods and earn up to 4% savings bonus on up to $2,000 per pod, and the teen account has strong parental controls and allowance features. However, Current's virtual cards can't be used to withdraw cash from ATMs, and Current doesn't offer joint accounts.
Pros
No monthly or overdraft fees
Teen banking option
Instant virtual debit card
Saving bonus on pods
Parental controls and allowance features on teen account
Cons
No joint accounts
No physical branches
Virtual cards can't be used at ATMs
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
4.00% on balances of $0.01 to $2,000
Intro or bonus offer
Get a $100 referral bonus by inviting your friends to join Current. Once the person receives the invite link, applies your unique referral code, and makes qualifying Eligible Payroll Deposits of at least $200 within 45 days of opening the account, you and the referred friend each earn $100.
Rewards
Earn up to 15x the points when you use your debit card at one of 14,000+ participating merchants
Earn unlimited 1% cash back on online and signature-based purchases with your free physical Visa debit card or instant-issue virtual cards. T&Cs apply.
Grasshopper is a digital bank offering high-yield business checking and savings accounts. It offers virtual and instant-issue debit cards with the Innovator Business Checking Account. You can issue unlimited virtual cards, and have up to five active at one time. The account also has no monthly fees, 1% unlimited cash back and up to 1.8% APY based on your balance. The virtual and physical cards both earn the cashback rate. On top of all that, the account is fully loaded with features like digital invoicing, automated bookkeeping, cash flow tools, software syncing and unlimited transactions. However, Grasshopper is an online bank and doesn’t accept cash deposits, and you’ll need a $100 opening deposit.
APY
Up to
1.80%
Fee
$0 per month
Grasshopper is a digital bank offering high-yield business checking and savings accounts. It offers virtual and instant-issue debit cards with the Innovator Business Checking Account. You can issue unlimited virtual cards, and have up to five active at one time. The account also has no monthly fees, 1% unlimited cash back and up to 1.8% APY based on your balance. The virtual and physical cards both earn the cashback rate. On top of all that, the account is fully loaded with features like digital invoicing, automated bookkeeping, cash flow tools, software syncing and unlimited transactions. However, Grasshopper is an online bank and doesn’t accept cash deposits, and you’ll need a $100 opening deposit.
Pros
Unlimited virtual card issuing
Up to 5 active virtual cards
No monthly fees
Earn APY and cashback rewards
Cons
No cash deposits
Online only
$100 opening deposit requirement
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
1.80% on balances of $25,000 to $250,000 1.00% on balances of $0.01 to $24,999.99 1.00% on balances of $250,000.01+
Intro or bonus offer
Earn unlimited 1% cash back on online and signature-based purchases with your free physical Visa debit card or instant-issue virtual cards.
Privacy Cards are virtual cards with strong controls that mask your debit and credit card details. With the $0 Personal Privacy plan, you can create Single-Use cards and Merchant Cards, totaling up to 12 new cards each month. Each virtual card gets unique numbers, and you can set nicknames and logos for tracking. The Single-Use cards expire after one use and are designed for merchants you don't plan on shopping with again. Merchant Cards can only be used at the first merchant they're used with and are automatically declined anywhere else. With paid plans, you can create other cards, such as Category Cards and Shared Cards, and get the ability to create more virtual cards per month. With all the plans, you can set spending limits for each card, track spending in the app and cancel a virtual card if you no longer need it. There are no fees on domestic transactions, but you need to be a US citizen, have a US bank account and be at least 18 years of age.
Fee
From $0 per month
Privacy Cards are virtual cards with strong controls that mask your debit and credit card details. With the $0 Personal Privacy plan, you can create Single-Use cards and Merchant Cards, totaling up to 12 new cards each month. Each virtual card gets unique numbers, and you can set nicknames and logos for tracking. The Single-Use cards expire after one use and are designed for merchants you don't plan on shopping with again. Merchant Cards can only be used at the first merchant they're used with and are automatically declined anywhere else. With paid plans, you can create other cards, such as Category Cards and Shared Cards, and get the ability to create more virtual cards per month. With all the plans, you can set spending limits for each card, track spending in the app and cancel a virtual card if you no longer need it. There are no fees on domestic transactions, but you need to be a US citizen, have a US bank account and be at least 18 years of age.
Pros
$0 Privacy Personal
Create multiple virtual cards
Strong controls and custom spending limits
Nickname cards for tracking
Cons
3% fee on foreign transactions with Personal Privacy plan
While it's not a true virtual debit card, it kind of works like one. The Credi.ai Unicorn Card is a secured credit card backed and repaid with a linked bank account. It has no hard credit check, no annual fees and no opening deposit requirement, and there's no APR if you set up automatic payments. But the real draw of the Unicorn Card is its extra perks and security features, such as the virtual Stealth Cards. Stealth cards are temporary virtual cards that expire, which are useful for shopping at unfamiliar sites or signing up for free trials. On top of that, you can pair Stealth Cards and your physical Unicorn Card with High Security Mode, which lets you create self-expiring authorization windows that lock the card once time runs out. Just know that as a secured credit card backed by a bank account, it has a low credit limit of $500 and without autopay, interest charges can apply if you don't repay your balance by the end of the billing cycle.
Fee
$0 per year
While it's not a true virtual debit card, it kind of works like one. The Credi.ai Unicorn Card is a secured credit card backed and repaid with a linked bank account. It has no hard credit check, no annual fees and no opening deposit requirement, and there's no APR if you set up automatic payments. But the real draw of the Unicorn Card is its extra perks and security features, such as the virtual Stealth Cards. Stealth cards are temporary virtual cards that expire, which are useful for shopping at unfamiliar sites or signing up for free trials. On top of that, you can pair Stealth Cards and your physical Unicorn Card with High Security Mode, which lets you create self-expiring authorization windows that lock the card once time runs out. Just know that as a secured credit card backed by a bank account, it has a low credit limit of $500 and without autopay, interest charges can apply if you don't repay your balance by the end of the billing cycle.
Pros
Create temporary virtual cards
High Security Mode for expiring authorization windows
No APR with autopay
No annual fees or deposit requirements
Cons
Low $500 credit limit
Requires US bank account or Credi.ai deposit account
Skrill offers an instant prepaid virtual card, simply called the Skrill Visa Prepaid Card. There's no application fee for your first virtual card if you have a verified Skrill account, have used the Skrill app and have deposited at least once into your Skrill account. The prepaid cards also have no activation period, overdraft fees, inactivity fees, foreign exchange fees or cash reload fees. You can manage your Skrill card with the Skrill app to check balances, deposit money or view transactions. Plus, you can add the virtual and physical prepaid cards to mobile wallets for contactless purchases. If you want an additional virtual prepaid card, there is a $2.50 subsequent application fee. If you want a physical Skrill prepaid card or haven't met the requirements, there's a $10 application fee.
Fee
$0. per month
Skrill offers an instant prepaid virtual card, simply called the Skrill Visa Prepaid Card. There's no application fee for your first virtual card if you have a verified Skrill account, have used the Skrill app and have deposited at least once into your Skrill account. The prepaid cards also have no activation period, overdraft fees, inactivity fees, foreign exchange fees or cash reload fees. You can manage your Skrill card with the Skrill app to check balances, deposit money or view transactions. Plus, you can add the virtual and physical prepaid cards to mobile wallets for contactless purchases. If you want an additional virtual prepaid card, there is a $2.50 subsequent application fee. If you want a physical Skrill prepaid card or haven't met the requirements, there's a $10 application fee.
Pros
Free virtual card if you're an active Skrill user
No reload, inactivity, overdraft or foreign exchange fees
Compatible with digital wallets
Cons
$10 application fee for non-Skrill users and physical cards
$2.50 application fee for additional virtual cards
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
N/A
Fee
$0. per month
Fee
$0. per month
How to get a virtual debit card
If you want to add your physical debit card to a digital wallet, learn more about digital wallets here. In most cases, you simply need to open your device’s digital wallet, take a picture of your card or manually enter the card’s details, and verify the card’s addition.
To get virtual cards that are separate from your physical debit card, follow these steps:
Sign up for the account or service. Once you’ve chosen where you’ll get your virtual cards from, sign up for the service. In most cases, you’ll need a bank account to fund the virtual card.
Activate the card. After signing up for the service, you can create a virtual card and activate it.
Fund the card. If your virtual debit card will be funded by your linked checking account, this step is easy enough. If you’re using a prepaid virtual card, you’ll need to load the card, which may involve a cash reload fee, depending on the method.
Add the card to your preferred digital wallet. Once the card is activated and funded, you can add it to your preferred digital wallet and it’s ready to use. There are multiple wallets available, such as Apple Wallet, Google Wallet or Paypal.
Pros of virtual debit cards
Using a virtual debit card has several advantages, including:
Security. Using a virtual debit card that generates a random card number will help keep your funds secure when shopping online. On top of that, most digital wallets are encrypted and assign your card with different details than your actual debit card.
Convenience. You won’t need to bring a physical debit card to complete transactions in-store because you can pay with your digital wallet on your phone.
Speed. You won’t need to wait for a card to be delivered when you sign up for a new account or if your card expires. With the new digital banks, you may be able to use your virtual card as soon as your account is active.
Card options. There are single- and multi-use virtual debit cards available to suit your online payment needs, and you can use a prepaid card or link it to your bank account or credit provider.
Currency options. Some providers also offer multi-currency prepaid debit cards, such as Revolut, allowing you to save on currency conversion fees when buying from overseas retailers.
Cons of virtual debit cards
Keep in mind virtual debit cards may not suit everyone.
May not work in person. Some physical stores don’t accept contactless payments yet, so there may be restrictions on where you can use a virtual debit card.
Prepaid card limits. Financial institutions commonly set limits for how much you can load onto a prepaid card, such as $500 per day.
Bottom line
One of the biggest draws of virtual debit cards is their potential security benefits — especially with randomly generated virtual cards. Using a virtual card that’s tied to your checking account or credit card but has entirely different details means you’re not sharing your card details with unfamiliar people or merchants, giving an extra layer of security.
But for most virtual debit cards, you’ll need a US bank account because they’ll need to be funded. If your checking account isn’t compatible with popular digital wallets, or you just want a better debit card, compare the best checking accounts.
Frequently asked questions
Are virtual debit cards free?
In many cases, virtual debit cards are free or low-cost. With Revolut and Privacy, there are no-fee account options available that allow you to create multiple virtual cards.
Are there any virtual prepaid debit cards?
Yes, Skrill is a popular prepaid card option that offers virtual options. It doesn’t have any cash reload, inactivity or monthly fees. But to waive the $10 application fee, you’ll need to download the Skrill app and deposit some money into the Skrill account.
Can I use a virtual debit card at an ATM?
Some ATMs allow for contactless ATM withdrawals, often just called cardless or contactless ATMs. Just like with contactless registers and POS systems, you’ll see the same contactless symbol on ATMs that allow for cardless transactions.
Bethany Hickey is the banking editor and personal finance expert at Finder, specializing in banking, lending, insurance, and crypto.
Bethany’s expertise in personal finance has garnered recognition from esteemed media outlets, such as Nasdaq, MSN, Yahoo Finance, GOBankingRates, SuperMoney, AOL and Newsweek. Her articles offer practical financial strategies to Americans, empowering them to make decisions that meet their financial goals. Her past work includes articles on generational spending and saving habits, lending, budgeting and managing debt.
Before joining Finder, she was a content manager where she wrote hundreds of articles and news pieces on auto financing and credit repair for CarsDirect, Auto Credit Express and The Car Connection, among others.
Bethany holds a BA in English from the University of Michigan-Flint, and was poetry editor for the university’s Qua Literary and Fine Arts Magazine.
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Teach your kids money skills with BofA Advantage SafeBalance Banking. This account offers no overdraft fees, parental controls and a $0 monthly fee until age 25.
Compare the best, free online checking accounts with low fees, high APYs and great perks.
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