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What a virtual card is
A virtual card is a Visa card that exists only as a number. You create it online and use it the same way you would type a plastic card into a checkout: a 16-digit number, an expiry date, and a security code.
There is no plastic to wait for. The card is ready in your dashboard, and you can add it to a mobile wallet where available.
It is funded from a wallet you load, so spending draws from money you have set aside.
How a virtual card works
The flow is short:
- You load a wallet by ACH or wire.
- You create a card and set its spending limit.
- You use the number online, or add it to a mobile wallet to tap in person where available.
- Every charge appears in your dashboard, where you can adjust the limit or cancel the card.
Virtual card vs a plastic card
A virtual card is the number; a physical card is the plastic version mailed to you. Both are Visa cards from the same wallet. For a full breakdown, see virtual card vs physical card.
What you can control on a virtual card
Each card carries its own rules:
- Spending limit. A charge over your cap can be blocked based on your controls.
- Merchant restriction. Restrict the card to the intended merchant based on supported controls.
- Time window. Set when the card is active.
- Cancel. Cancel from your dashboard and future charges stop clearing.
What a virtual card is good for
- Paying for anything online, from supplies to ads.
- Subscriptions, with one card per vendor capped at the plan price.
- Paying a one-off vendor without sharing your main card number.
- Giving remote staff a card without waiting for the mail.
- Separating spend by project, so each card tells its own story.
Is a virtual card safe to use?
Yes. Because you can cap, restrict, and cancel each card, a leaked number is far less useful to anyone else, and there is nothing physical to lose. More detail in are virtual cards safe?
People also ask
What is a virtual card in simple terms?
A Visa card that exists as a number you create online, with no plastic. You set a limit, use it at checkout, and cancel it whenever you want.
How do I get a virtual card?
Create an account, fund a wallet, then create a card and set its limit. The card is ready to use from your dashboard.
Does a virtual card have a card number?
Yes. It has its own 16-digit number, expiry date, and security code, so it works in standard online checkout.
Can I use a virtual card anywhere?
It works wherever Visa is accepted online, and in person through a mobile wallet where available.
Is a virtual card a real Visa card?
Yes. It is a virtual Visa card funded from your wallet and accepted the same as any Visa card by merchants.
Can I cancel a virtual card?
Yes. Cancel it from your dashboard and future charges stop clearing, without affecting your other cards.