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At Bankrate we strive to help you make smarter financial decisions. While we adhere to strict editorial integrity, this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here's an explanation for how we make money. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Bankrate logo The Bankrate promise
At Bankrate, we have a mission to demystify the credit cards industry — regardless or where you are in your journey — and make it one you can navigate with confidence. Our team is full of a diverse range of experts from credit card pros to data analysts and, most importantly, people who shop for credit cards just like you. With this combination of expertise and perspectives, we keep close tabs on the credit card industry year-round to: Meet you wherever you are in your credit card journey to guide your information search and help you understand your options. Consistently provide up-to-date, reliable market information so you're well-equipped to make confident decisions. Reduce industry jargon so you get the clearest form of information possible, so you can make the right decision for you. At Bankrate, we focus on the points consumers care about most: rewards, welcome offers and bonuses, APR, and overall customer experience. Any issuers discussed on our site are vetted based on the value they provide to consumers at each of these levels. At each step of the way, we fact-check ourselves to prioritize accuracy so we can continue to be here for your every next. Bankrate logo Editorial integrity
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You have money questions. Bankrate has answers. Our experts have been helping you master your money for over four decades. We continually strive to provide consumers with the expert advice and tools needed to succeed throughout life’s financial journey. Bankrate follows a strict , so you can trust that our content is honest and accurate. Our award-winning editors and reporters create honest and accurate content to help you make the right financial decisions. The content created by our editorial staff is objective, factual, and not influenced by our advertisers. We’re transparent about how we are able to bring quality content, competitive rates, and useful tools to you by explaining how we make money. Bankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported publisher and comparison service. We are compensated in exchange for placement of sponsored products and, services, or by you clicking on certain links posted on our site. Therefore, this compensation may impact how, where and in what order products appear within listing categories. Other factors, such as our own proprietary website rules and whether a product is offered in your area or at your self-selected credit score range can also impact how and where products appear on this site. While we strive to provide a wide range offers, Bankrate does not include information about every financial or credit product or service. Virtual credit cards let you shop for purchases without revealing your actual credit card account number. They can be either temporary or permanent. No surprise: They are intended mostly for online purchases. But should you worry about getting a virtual credit card to use when you shop online? That really depends on your goals. You should know virtual card numbers have some downsides. Keep reading to learn how virtual credit cards work, their pros and cons, and how you can get one. What is a virtual credit card
A virtual credit card number is essentially a credit card number that works for your account but is different from the number printed on your physical credit card. In some cases (like with Capital One’s Eno), this virtual number may be created by a third party on the spot and may be changed each time you make a purchase. Using a virtual credit card can keep your physical credit card’s information safe when shopping online or over the phone. There are several ways thieves try to , but this short-lived, randomized credit card number—referred to as a “token”—is a way to keep that information safe when making purchases from a distance. How do you use a virtual credit card
Virtual credit card numbers are linked to an existing credit card account and generated at random to prohibit your actual bank account information from being shared online. From a merchant’s point of view, these numbers appear as a regular credit card number. Depending on the issuer, cardholders may be able to request a virtual card number online through their credit card account. Once a virtual card number is generated, cardholders can access these numbers immediately and request spending caps, among other customizations. Why should consumers use a virtual card number
In terms of privacy, virtual credit cards minimize fraud risk by adding an extra layer of enhanced protection for consumers and businesses completing transactions online. For individual consumers, virtual card numbers not only provide more privacy but also protect private banking information and limit data tracking from advertisers. For businesses, virtual card numbers make it easier to manage cash flow while also improving fraud protection, controlling vendor payments and safely extending spending power to employees and contractors. Pros and cons of virtual credit cards
While can be convenient to use, there are some downsides to consider. Here are the major pros and cons to expect if you use a digital credit card: Pros of virtual credit cards
Your long-term payment and personal information is better protected. Even if a potential hacker were to obtain your data from a virtual credit card transaction, the account number won’t be linked to your identity and will likely expire before they can take advantage. Your account’s risk of being compromised is low. It’s unlikely your data will be stolen, meaning you won’t have to shut down your credit card account, get a new card or have to redo all your recurring payments. Your transactions are posted to your account. If your virtual card is linked to your physical credit card, transactions are traceable and will appear on your usual bank statement as normal purchases. Tokens can be temporary or permanent. Depending on your card provider, you may be able to customize the amount of time your token stays open or specify a spending limit. Both are useful features for any shared credit card accounts or if you elect to repeatedly use a token for a subscription, like Netflix or Audible. Your refunds won’t be affected. Even with a single-use token, refunds work as normal with a virtual credit card if it’s linked to your credit card account. Cons of virtual credit cards
Virtual cards are limited to online and phone transactions. For the time being, you can use virtual cards only when shopping on the internet or via phone. Problems arise if you don’t link your virtual card to your account. If your virtual account isn’t linked to your usual credit card account, you may run into obstacles when seeking a refund. Due to not having an account to credit back to, your options might be limited to an exchange or store credit. Reserving certain services may become more complicated. There are potential issues if you use a virtual card to make a reservation on things like flights, rental cars or hotels. Oftentimes, companies offering these services will request the card used to book the reservation, so it may take some extra effort at check-in, like a phone call to your bank. Who should get a virtual credit card
Virtual credit cards are a solid option for anyone who shops online and prefers a little bit of extra protection against the possibility of being hacked. Virtual credit cards are only available with an existing credit card so you don’t have to worry about an additional on your credit report or credit score requirements. How do virtual card numbers differ from mobile wallets and payment apps
The most notable difference between virtual credit cards and mobile wallets (like Google Pay and Apple Pay) is that mobile wallets are largely accepted at most locations—online or in person—while virtual wallets are only available for online purchases. Secondly, virtual card numbers mask your account information by generating a random number connected to your existing credit card account. Payment apps, or mobile wallets, are connected to whichever debit or credit card number you have linked to your mobile device, and the transactions are approved with a single-use verification token. This allows your information to stay private while approving your transaction. Both mobile wallets and virtual card numbers are secure, and there isn’t necessarily one that is better than the other. How to get a virtual credit card
With most major issuers, virtual card numbers are available for any credit card they offer, provided you take steps to initiate them on your account. So, it’s possible virtual card numbers may already be available for your existing credit cards, as well as for any new cards. Explore your online account or app, or , to see how to get access to a virtual number for your card. Best virtual credit cards
If you’re considering virtual credit card numbers to help keep your account safe, you should know which card issuers and credit cards offer this option. Consider how the following card issuers use virtual card numbers and make them available to customers. American Express Go: American Express offers a virtual card number program for businesses known as . Capital One’s Eno: Capital One offers virtual credit cards through an in-house browser extension, . Citi bank’s virtual credit card: Citi allows cardholders to enroll online and use its website to generate a unique token whenever necessary. J.P. Morgan virtual credit cards: Virtual credit card numbers are available to business owners with a commercial card. U.S. Bank virtual credit cards: Virtual credit card numbers are available to business owners with a . Brex Corporate Card: The is a MasterCard credit card for business owners that can generate unlimited . Divvy: The is available to business owners with a Divvy credit card. Frequently asked questions about virtual credit cards
Can you get instant approval for a virtual credit card number
Yes. As long as your existing credit card account offers a virtual card number option, you can request a virtual number and immediately use your new number for online purchases.
Are virtual card numbers secure
Yes. Credit card issuers that offer virtual credit card numbers ensure secure protection by assigning a 16-digit number associated with an existing account. Cardholders can even set a PIN (personal identification number). Most virtual card numbers are required to comply with (payment card industry data security standards), which ensures secure transactions between virtual card number owners, the credit card issuer and the merchant receiving payment.
Can virtual card numbers be issued for businesses
Yes. Virtual credit card numbers are available to businesses who hold existing corporate credit card accounts that offer virtual credit card numbers. Virtual credit card numbers may be issued individually or in multiples for single- or multi-use. The bottom line
Virtual credit cards can hide your real credit card number in order to protect the sensitive details of your account. Depending on your card issuer, your use of virtual card numbers could even be automatic, with no work required on your part. Keep in mind, however, that using a traditional credit card for purchases isn’t inherently risky, and that’s true whether you’re shopping in person or online. This is due to the fact for fraud, so you won’t be on the hook for purchases you didn’t make either way. SHARE: Holly Johnson writes expert content on personal finance, credit cards, loyalty and insurance topics. In addition to writing for Bankrate and CreditCards.com, Johnson does ongoing work for clients that include CNN, Forbes Advisor, LendingTree, Time Magazine and more. Cathleen's stories on design, travel and business have appeared in dozens of publications including the Washington Post, Town & Country, Wall Street Journal, Marie Claire, Fodor’s Travel, Departures and The Writer. Related Articles