Virtual credit cards explained
A safer way to spend online – protect your card and control your cash.
Every time you type your card number online, you’re trusting that site to keep it safe – yet hacks and sneaky auto-renewals are rife. Virtual credit cards are like your card’s stunt double: they take the hit, while your real details stay hidden. Quick to set up, easy to bin, and a good option for keeping control of your spending.
What is a virtual credit card?
A virtual debit or credit card is like a digital mask for your real one. Instead of typing in your main card number, you generate a fresh, randomised 16-digit number to use online or in your mobile wallet.
Different from a “digital copy” of your card – this is a new number altogether.
Can be single-use (great for trials) or multi-use (handy for regular shopping).
Linked back to your main credit account, so rewards and protections still apply.
How do they work?
The beauty is how quick and flexible they are.
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Log into your banking app and create a new virtual card.
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Some apps will allow you to save it to Apple Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Pay if you want to tap-and-go.
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Use it for online checkouts, subscriptions, or even in shops if contactless is accepted.
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When you’re done you can freeze it, delete it or generate a new one.
Why bother – what’s the upside?
If you shop online often, a virtual card can save you stress and give you control.
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Security first: fraudsters only ever see the disposable number, not your main card.
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Trial safety net: set a £5 cap for that “free” subscription and avoid being stung by auto-renewals.
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Instant control: freeze, cancel or regenerate in seconds if something looks dodgy.
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Rewards intact: cashback, loyalty points and Section 75 protection (on credit cards) still apply.
The catches to watch for
No card is perfect, and there are a few niggles.
Not everywhere accepts them: some online checkouts reject virtual cards, and they won't work for things like car rentals.
Not all banks offer them: they’re more common with newer, digital banks such as Monzo and Revolut - less so with major highstreet banks.
You’ll need a smartphone: they’re designed to work via apps and wallets.
Card type | What it is | Best for | Key drawback |
|---|---|---|---|
Virtual card | Randomised 16-digit digital-only card | Online payments, secure transactions | Not all retailers accept |
Digital card | An online copy of your physical card | Mobile wallet payments | Same risks as physical card |
Physical card | Standard plastic Visa/Mastercard/Amex | Being widely accepted | Exposes card details when used |
Picking the right virtual card
If you’re keen to try one, here’s what to check:
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Does your bank even offer them? (Some, like Revolut or Monzo, do. Big high street names, less so.)
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Do you want disposable one-offs or a multi-use card you can keep? Single-use virtual cards are great for using on so-called 'free trials', where you might forget to cancel before the subscription begins. Multi-use cards can be handy for budgeting, separating your spending into different virtual cards and making it easier to track.
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Will it slot into your Apple/Google/Samsung Pay? Some banks do not allow virtual cards to be held in your mobile wallet
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Are there fees? Some banking apps hide them behind premium accounts.
FAQs
Yes — most appear in your app within seconds.
Sometimes, via mobile wallets – but not all retailers accept them (for example, where a hold needs to be placed on the card like for a car rental).
Usually yes, as the spend is tied to your main account.
Typically, yes. Freezing the card is a common feature within most banking apps where virtual cards are offered - one tap in your app and it’s locked.
Do they work instantly?
Can I use them in shops?
Will I still get cashback or points?
Can I freeze it?
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