What a virtual credit card is and how it works
A virtual credit card is a temporary card number generated by your credit card issuer or a third-party service. It links to your real account but shows a different number, expiration date, and sometimes a different CVV. When you use it to pay online, the merchant sees only the virtual number, not your actual card details.
The virtual number routes the charge back to your real account, so the payment still comes from your bank or credit card company. You receive the same statement, rewards, and billing cycle as you would with your physical card. The difference is that the temporary number expires after one use, on a set date, or after a certain spending limit — depending on how your issuer set it up.
Virtual cards reduce the risk that a merchant's data breach will expose your real card number. If a retailer is hacked and the virtual number is stolen, that number is already dead or has a spending cap, so the thief cannot use it elsewhere.
Key Takeaways
- Virtual card numbers are generated by your issuer or a third-party app and link to your real account without exposing your actual card details to merchants.
- Most virtual cards expire after a single transaction, on a set date, or when a spending limit is reached, making stolen numbers useless to fraudsters.
- You access virtual cards through your issuer's app or website, or through a separate service like Privacy, Blur, or your bank's built-in tool.
- Virtual cards work for online purchases, subscriptions, and recurring payments, but not for in-person transactions or ATM withdrawals.
- Rewards, fraud protection, and billing all flow through your real account, so using a virtual number does not change how you earn points or dispute charges.
Where to get a virtual card number
Many major credit card issuers now offer virtual card generation directly in their mobile app or online account dashboard. Chase, American Express, Citi, and Capital One all provide this feature to cardholders at no extra cost. Log into your account, look for a section labeled "Virtual Card," "Card Controls," or "find Shopping," and generate a new number when you need one.
If your issuer does not offer virtual cards, you can use a standalone app. Privacy, Blur, and Masked are popular third-party services that generate virtual numbers tied to your real card. These apps typically charge a monthly subscription (usually $5 to $10) or offer a free tier with limited features. You link your credit card to the app, and it creates temporary numbers on demand.
Some banks bundle virtual card features into their checking or savings accounts. Discover, for example, offers virtual card numbers to all cardholders. Check your issuer's website or call customer service to see whether the feature is already included with your account.
How to generate and use a virtual number for a purchase
The process differs slightly depending on whether you use your issuer's tool or a third-party app, but the basic steps are the same. Open your card issuer's app or the virtual card service you use. Look for a button or menu option to generate a new card number. Some services let you customize the virtual number — for example, setting a spending limit or an expiration date before you create it.
Once the number is generated, you will see a 16-digit card number, expiration date, and CVV displayed on screen. Copy these details (or take a screenshot if the app allows it). Go to the merchant's checkout page, paste or type the virtual number into the card field, and complete the purchase as you normally would. The charge will post to your real account, and your statement will show the merchant's name, not the virtual number.
After the transaction, the virtual number typically expires automatically. If it does not, you can delete it manually from the app. Some services let you reuse a virtual number for the same merchant if you choose, while others generate a fresh number each time. Check your app's settings to see what rules explore.
Using virtual cards for subscriptions and recurring payments
Virtual cards work for subscriptions and monthly recurring charges, but you need to set them up differently than one-time purchases. When you sign up for a subscription, use a virtual number just as you would for a regular purchase. The key difference is that the merchant will attempt to charge that same number each month.
If your virtual card is set to expire after one use, the second charge will fail. To avoid this, generate a virtual number specifically for subscriptions and set it to expire on a date after your subscription ends, or set it to never expire. Some apps let you create a virtual number with a spending limit instead — for example, a limit of $15 per month for a streaming service. The merchant can charge up to that limit each billing cycle, but cannot exceed it.
When you want to cancel a subscription, you can either cancel through the merchant's website (the normal way) or straightforward delete the virtual number from your app. Deleting the number will cause the next charge to fail, which effectively stops the subscription. However, it is cleaner to cancel directly with the merchant so you do not rack up failed payment attempts on your account.
Virtual cards and fraud protection
Virtual cards reduce your fraud risk by keeping your real card number out of merchants' databases. If a retailer is breached, hackers see only the temporary number you used, which is already expired or has a spending cap. They cannot use that number to make purchases elsewhere or sell it on the dark web for much value.
Virtual cards do not replace your credit card's built-in fraud protection. Your issuer still monitors for suspicious activity, and you still have the right to dispute unauthorized charges. If a merchant charges your virtual card without permission, report it to your issuer the same way you would report fraud on your physical card. The dispute process is identical.
Virtual cards are most useful for shopping at retailers you do not fully trust, making purchases on unfamiliar websites, or signing up for services that require a credit card but you plan to cancel soon. For established merchants with strong security records, the fraud protection benefit is smaller, though the privacy benefit remains — the merchant straightforward does not see your real number.
Limitations and situations where virtual cards do not work
Virtual card numbers work only for online and phone purchases. You cannot use them at a physical store, gas pump, or ATM. If you need to pay in person, you must use your physical card or a digital wallet like Apple Pay or Google Pay (which also masks your real number but works differently).
Some merchants reject virtual card numbers or flag them as suspicious. This happens most often with high-risk merchants like casinos, adult websites, or international retailers. If a virtual number is declined, try using your physical card instead. A few merchants also require a billing address that matches the cardholder's name on file, and virtual cards sometimes cause address verification to fail — again, your physical card is the backup.
Virtual cards also do not work for certain transactions that require identity verification, such as opening a bank account, explore for insurance, or renting a car. These transactions need your real card number and your real identity linked together. Virtual numbers are for commerce, not for identity confirmation.
Comparing virtual card services and features
| Service | Cost | How to Access | Expiration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chase (cardholders) | Free | Chase app or website | Per transaction or custom |
| American Express (cardholders) | Free | Amex app or website | Per transaction or custom |
| Citi (cardholders) | Free | Citi app or website | Per transaction or custom |
| Privacy | Free tier or $10/month | Privacy app (works with any card) | Per transaction or custom |
| Blur | Free tier or $5/month | Blur app (works with any card) | Per transaction or custom |
| Discover (cardholders) | Free | Discover app or website | Per transaction or custom |
If your credit card issuer offers virtual cards, use that service first — it is free and integrated into your existing account. Third-party apps are useful if your issuer does not offer the feature or if you want to use virtual numbers with multiple cards. Free tiers of Privacy and Blur have limits on how many numbers you can generate per month, so paid plans are worth considering if you shop online frequently.
The choice between issuer-provided and third-party services depends on your shopping habits and which cards you use. Issuer tools are simpler because they live in the same app where you check your balance and statements. Third-party apps give you more control over customization and work across multiple cards, but they add another account to manage and may cost money if you need the full feature set.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I earn rewards on purchases made with a virtual card number?
Yes. The charge posts to your real account, so you earn the same cash back, points, or miles as you would with your physical card. Your rewards rate and terms do not change when you use a virtual number.
What happens if a merchant charges my virtual card more than once by mistake?
If the virtual number is set to expire after one use, the second charge will fail and you will not be charged. If the number is set to never expire or has a spending limit, the merchant can charge it again. Dispute any unauthorized charges with your issuer, just as you would with your physical card.
Can I use a virtual card number to withdraw cash from an ATM?
No. Virtual card numbers work only for online and phone purchases. ATMs and in-person transactions require your physical card or a digital wallet like Apple Pay.
If I delete a virtual card number, does that cancel my subscription?
Deleting the number will cause the next charge to fail, which stops the subscription from charging. However, the merchant may still consider your subscription active and send you cancellation notices. It is better to cancel the subscription directly through the merchant's website to avoid confusion.
Are virtual card numbers safe if I use them on an unsecured website?
Virtual numbers reduce risk because the merchant does not see your real card number. However, if the website itself is a scam or phishing site, using a virtual number does not protect you from losing money to fraud. Only shop on websites you trust, whether you use a virtual or physical card.