With banks doing extensive checks to approve people for conventional credit cards and the rise of e-commerce, there has been a notable increase in the popularity of virtual cards.
These prepaid debit cards can be used online, over the phone, or in person— whenever a physical card is not required or available.
However, like any other service, it’s essential to do your research before you choose a virtual card provider. In this guide, we’ll go over everything you need to know about virtual cards and mention the ten best international virtual card providers.
What Is a Virtual Card?
A virtual card is a digital representation of a physical credit or debit card that can be used for online shopping. Virtual cards are usually issued by banks or credit card companies and can be used just like a regular credit or debit card for online purchases.
They are a convenient and secure way to shop and can be used to make purchases anywhere that accepts credit or debit cards. But, perhaps the most notable benefit of virtual cards is the additional security.
Since they’re not ‘physical‘ cards, there’s no risk of them being lost or stolen.
Moreover, if a virtual card is ever compromised, it can be canceled and a new one issued. As a result, it makes them much safer to use than regular credit or debit cards.
Best International Virtual Card Providers
If you’re on the search for the best international virtual card providers, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve done the hard work for you and compiled a list of the best options out there.
1. Payoneer – Virtual Prepaid Mastercard
Anyone who has tried to send or receive money internationally knows it can be a real pain. Payoneer aims to make the process as easy as possible with their virtual card service.
If you already have a Payoneer account, it will take you no time to get your digital card. In addition, you can make business payments using your virtual card internationally since it’s accepted nearly everywhere.
Features
- Accepted anywhere where you can pay with Mastercard
- Allows payments for Google and social media marketing campaigns
- Multiple virtual cards
- Available in four currencies: USD, EUR, GBP, and CAD.
2. Divvy – Virtual Visa Card
Divvy is an up-and-coming name in the world of virtual cards. You can get free virtual cards instantly, saving you the hassle of waiting for one to arrive in the mail.
Since Divvy is also an expense management platform, you can keep track of all your business expenses in one place.
Features
- Get unlimited free virtual cards
- Unique cards for recurring payments
- Set expiration dates and maximum spends
3. Revolut – Virtual Mastercard
Revolut is a digital banking alternative that includes a prepaid debit card (just like a regular bank), a current account, and an app.
It’s been designed to help you manage your money better, giving you insights into your spending and saving habits and helping you budget and set aside money for specific targets.
You can get instant virtual cards from Revolut’s app in a matter of minutes. Besides a personal virtual card, you can also get a subscriptions virtual card to pay for things like your Netflix account or your Apple Music subscription.
Features
- Personal and subscription virtual cards
- 200 subscription virtual cards in the paid plan
- 20 personal virtual cards
4. Skrill – Virtual Visa and Mastercard
Skrill is a money transfer and payment processing company that serves businesses and consumers in more than 200 countries. With Skrill, you can make online payments and send money to friends and family with just a few clicks.
Besides, Skrill also offers a virtual prepaid Mastercard that allows you to make payments internationally. A significant benefit of this card is that it doesn’t only support payments in USD but also lets you pay in GBP, EUR, PLN, etc.
People with an existing Skrill account can expect to get their virtual card in minutes. Although there’s no annual fee, you have to pay a certain fee for every card after your first card, which you get for free.
Features
- Free first virtual card
- Accepted globally
- Allows payments in different currencies
5. US Unlocked – Virtual Prepaid Cards USA
US Unlocked is a program that allows you to shop for products from the US even if you don’t live there. It’s a great way to access items that may not be available in your country and save money on shipping.
US Unlocked works by giving you a US shipping address. When you shop online, you use this address, and your items are shipped to the US. From there, US Unlocked forwards them to you.
You can get two types of virtual cards from US Unlocked; one-time use and merchant specific. Both these cards let you shop from any store in the US, regardless of your current location.
The one-time use cards are incredibly secure as they close in just two minutes of use. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about them being used by anyone else.
Features
- Allows shopping from US stores
- Two types of virtual cards
- Merchant-specific cards for repeat purchases
6. States Card – US Virtual Prepaid Card
States Card lets you pay for US games, downloads, streaming services, and app store purchases from anywhere around the globe. The virtual prepaid card gives you a US billing address and works with every US service.
In addition, it’s straightforward to fund your virtual credit card as you can use PayPal or a credit card.
Some of the most popular services you can pay for using this virtual card include Amazon Prime, Sling, HBO, Hulu, and Google Play.
Features
- No credit check needed
- Simple and transparent pricing
- Allows payments for US services
7. EzzoCard – Prepaid Credit Visa and Mastercard
EzzoCard is a very interesting concept since it’s an international virtual prepaid card. The provider issues the card in USD and CAD (Canadian Dollar).
The most convenient part about using an EzzoCard is that you can pay for it through PerfectMoney, WebMoney, cryptocurrency, and other popular payment systems.
EzzoCard can be used to shop online on websites like Amazon and eBay. Since the provider offers various cards, you can choose one based on your needs.
For instance, the Black Card is Visa and is issued in USD. You do not need to register to get this card. It allows worldwide payments. Thus, you can pay in any currency worldwide. The card is valid for up to six months from the date of issue, and there’s no monthly fee.
You can get this card in denominations of $5 to $1000. On the other hand, the Red Card is available in denominations of $10 to $1,000 and is valid for 4 to 6 months.
Features
- Red Card – virtual prepaid Mastercard, USD
- Brown Card: virtual prepaid Mastercard or Visa, CAD
- Black Card: virtual prepaid Visa, USD
- Green Card: virtual prepaid Visa, USD
- Orange Card: virtual prepaid Visa, USD
- Walmart Card: virtual prepaid Visa, USD
- No verification checks
- Cards can be paid for through several methods
8. EcoPayz – Virtual Mastercard
EcoPayz is a payment system that’s very similar to PayPal. It allows you to send and receive money, shop online, and make withdrawals worldwide.
The company’s Eco Virtual Card offers one-time payment solutions. As soon as you’re done making the purchase, the card will no longer be active. As a result, you never have to worry about security.
Additionally, the card’s compatibility with multiple currencies, such as USD and GBP, allows you to make transactions without hassle.
Most importantly, the virtual card works wherever Mastercard is accepted.
Features
- Accepted almost everywhere
- Compatible with several currencies
- One-time payment solution
9. Wise – The Wise Digital Card
Previously TransferWise, Wise is a money transfer company that offers currency exchange and international money transfers at a fraction of the cost of traditional banks. The company uses the mid-market rate and charges a transparent fee, so you know exactly how much you’re paying.
Wise’s virtual card lets you spend online or in stores in over 30 countries without worrying about the foreign transaction fees traditional bank cards incur. Moreover, since the UK Financial Conduct Authority has authorized the card, you can rest easy knowing there’s no concern about security or compliance.
You can hold more than 50 currencies simultaneously and convert them through the Wise app while on vacation or business trips.
Features
- Allows real-time in-app currency exchange
- Available in 30+ countries
- Up to three virtual cards at once
- Free for customers with business or personal Wise accounts (except in Japan and US)
- Add to Apple Pay
- Add to Google Pay
10. iCard – Virtual Visa and Mastercard
iCard is a digital wallet that gives you a European IBAN to receive money, shop online, and make ATM withdrawals worldwide. It just takes a few minutes to set up your account.
Once you’ve got an account, you can shop using virtual cards, pay using your phone, make bank transfers, and enjoy holding different currencies.
Currently, iCard is available in over 30 EU countries. The iCard virtual card lets you shop online, and in stores anywhere Mastercard is accepted.
Features
- No monthly fees
- Real-time transactions
- One free virtual Visa and Mastercard per user
Final Words
Virtual cards are a reliable alternative to physical cards that come with many advantages, including lower costs, increased security, and greater flexibility.
So whether you’re a frequent traveler or simply want to be safe when shopping online, a virtual card can be a valuable addition to your wallet.
When choosing the best virtual card for your needs, you should consider the denominations, currency options, validity, and fees. You should also check the reviews of other users to get an idea of which cards are the best.