Credit card fraud is on the rise, but your credit card may have a built-in tool to help protect you.
In 2022, 65% of Americans reported having fraudulent charges on their credit card or debit card at some point in their lives, according to the 2023 Credit Card Fraud Report from Security.org. That’s more than 150 million people and a 7% increase from 2021.
The best way to protect yourself from fraud is to practice good digital security habits, such as never entering personal information on unvetted websites, not making credit card transactions over unsecured public Wi-Fi and using strong, unique passwords for all of your accounts. But you can add an additional layer of protection when shopping online by using a virtual credit card.
A virtual credit card lets you generate a unique credit card number directly from your account — if your issuer offers this feature — or through an app or browser extension. This number is different from the one associated with your physical credit card, keeping your card’s information safe when you use it online. Virtual credit cards also let you use a newly opened account before the physical card arrives, allowing you to start earning rewards or making progress toward a welcome bonus immediately.
Several mainstream credit card issuers offer virtual credit card capabilities, and some newer cards are innovating with the technology too, making virtual cards more accessible and flexible. Here are some of our favorites.
Best virtual credit cards
Quick Look
- Intro Offer
-
60,000 points Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Annual fee
- $250
- APR
- See Pay Over Time APR
- Recommended Credit A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.
- 670 – 850
Good – Excellent
- Rewards rate
-
3x – 4x Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.; Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).; Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
The American Express® Gold Card is a solid choice for avid travelers and foodies who are willing to pay a high annual fee. With a $250 annual price tag, you earn 4x Membership Rewards points on restaurants, including takeout and delivery in the U.S., 4x points on groceries at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 in purchases per year, then 1x) and 3x points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com. You can shop securely online with an Amex virtual card number through Google Chrome or an Android mobile device by connecting an eligible Amex card. A virtual Amex card number replaces your actual card number, disguising your personal information from online merchants. You get a new four-digit CVV every time you shop online with a virtual card number.
See our full review of the American Express Gold Card for more details.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- See Pay Over Time APR
- Balance Transfer Fee
- N/A
4x
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
4x
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
3x
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more
The American Express® Gold Card is a solid choice for avid travelers and foodies who are willing to pay a high annual fee. With a $250 annual price tag, you earn 4x Membership Rewards points on restaurants, including takeout and delivery in the U.S., 4x points on groceries at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 in purchases per year, then 1x) and 3x points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com. You can shop securely online with an Amex virtual card number through Google Chrome or an Android mobile device by connecting an eligible Amex card. A virtual Amex card number replaces your actual card number, disguising your personal information from online merchants. You get a new four-digit CVV every time you shop online with a virtual card number.
See our full review of the American Express Gold Card for more details.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- See Pay Over Time APR
- Balance Transfer Fee
- N/A
4x
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
4x
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
3x
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more
Quick Look
- Intro Offer
-
$250 Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
- Annual fee
- $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
- APR
- 18.99% – 29.99% Variable
- Recommended Credit A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.
- 670 – 850
Good – Excellent
- Rewards rate
-
1% – 6% 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%); 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions; 3% Cash Back on transit including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more; 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations; 1% Cash Back on other purchases
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card From American Express is the best cash-back card on this list for groceries. Though it has a $95 annual fee ($0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95), you earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%), 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% cash back on transit and 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations. And unlike the Gold Card, the Blue Cash Preferred Card offers a 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from account opening (then 18.99% to 29.99% variable). And like any eligible Amex card, you can shop securely online with a virtual card number through Google Chrome on your desktop or an Android mobile device.
See our full review of the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express for more details.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% on balance transfers for 12 months
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% on purchases for 12 months
- Regular APR
- 18.99% – 29.99% Variable
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
6%
6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%)
6%
6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions
3%
3% Cash Back on transit including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more
3%
3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations
1%
1% Cash Back on other purchases
Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card From American Express is the best cash-back card on this list for groceries. Though it has a $95 annual fee ($0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95), you earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%), 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% cash back on transit and 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations. And unlike the Gold Card, the Blue Cash Preferred Card offers a 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from account opening (then 18.99% to 29.99% variable). And like any eligible Amex card, you can shop securely online with a virtual card number through Google Chrome on your desktop or an Android mobile device.
See our full review of the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express for more details.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% on balance transfers for 12 months
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% on purchases for 12 months
- Regular APR
- 18.99% – 29.99% Variable
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
6%
6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%)
6%
6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions
3%
3% Cash Back on transit including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more
3%
3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations
1%
1% Cash Back on other purchases
Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more
Quick Look
- Intro Offer
-
No current offer
- Annual fee
- $0
- APR
- 18.99% – 28.99% (Variable)
- Recommended Credit A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.
- 580 – 850
Fair – Excellent
- Rewards rate
-
2% Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.
The Citi® Double Cash Card offers virtual credit card access and also lets you maximize cash-back rewards while avoiding the hassle of decoding point systems. While its cash-back rate is generally competitive with the Apple Card, it’s less restrictive, allowing you to earn the 2% rate everywhere (1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases), and not just retailers accepting Apple Pay. To access virtual credit cards for the Citi Double Cash Card, you must select “Other Services” on your account homepage, then navigate to “Virtual Account Numbers.”
See our full review of the Citi Double Cash Card for more details.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% intro for 18 months on Balance Transfers
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 18.99% – 28.99% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. A balance transfer fee of 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum) applies if completed after 4 months of account opening.
2%
Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.
The Citi® Double Cash Card offers virtual credit card access and also lets you maximize cash-back rewards while avoiding the hassle of decoding point systems. While its cash-back rate is generally competitive with the Apple Card, it’s less restrictive, allowing you to earn the 2% rate everywhere (1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases), and not just retailers accepting Apple Pay. To access virtual credit cards for the Citi Double Cash Card, you must select “Other Services” on your account homepage, then navigate to “Virtual Account Numbers.”
See our full review of the Citi Double Cash Card for more details.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% intro for 18 months on Balance Transfers
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 18.99% – 28.99% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. A balance transfer fee of 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum) applies if completed after 4 months of account opening.
2%
Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.
Quick Look
- Intro Offer
-
Earn 80,000 points Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Annual fee
- $695
- APR
- See Pay Over Time APR
- Recommended Credit A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.
- 670 – 850
Good – Excellent
- Rewards rate
-
5x – 5x Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.; Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
With the highest annual fee on this list, The Platinum Card® from American Express is a premium travel card with an exceptional list of annual statement credits. To maximize your rewards with the Platinum Card from American Express, you must do more than rely on the rewards you earn from everyday spending. You can earn 80,000 points from the welcome bonus alone (you must spend $6,000 on purchases with your card in the first six months of card membership to be eligible), equivalent to up to $800 when redeemed through amextravel.com. If you can take advantage of its long list of benefits and credits, you can make up for its $695 annual price tag.
See our full review of the Platinum Card from American Express for more details.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- See Pay Over Time APR
- Balance Transfer Fee
- N/A
5x
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
5x
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more
With the highest annual fee on this list, The Platinum Card® from American Express is a premium travel card with an exceptional list of annual statement credits. To maximize your rewards with the Platinum Card from American Express, you must do more than rely on the rewards you earn from everyday spending. You can earn 80,000 points from the welcome bonus alone (you must spend $6,000 on purchases with your card in the first six months of card membership to be eligible), equivalent to up to $800 when redeemed through amextravel.com. If you can take advantage of its long list of benefits and credits, you can make up for its $695 annual price tag.
See our full review of the Platinum Card from American Express for more details.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- See Pay Over Time APR
- Balance Transfer Fee
- N/A
5x
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
5x
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more
Best card for immediate access upon approval
X1 Card
Quick Look
- Intro Offer
-
No current offer
- Annual fee
- None
- APR
- 15.50% – 27.75% Variable
- Recommended Credit A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.
- 670 – 850
Good – Excellent
- Rewards rate
-
2x – 10x 2X points on every purchase
regardless of category; 3X points every time you spend $1,000 in a month; 4X, 5X and even 10X points for every friend who gets a card; Up to 10X points at leading online stores such as Apple, Nike and Sephora when you shop in the X1 App
The X1 Card offers a unique setup with regard to virtual credit cards. Instead of just offering one-time-use virtual cards, like most of the other cards on this list, the X1 lets you generate multiple virtual cards for different uses and set your own auto-expiration dates. This can come in handy for automatically canceling free trials or for giving a card number to a trusted individual like a family member or caregiver for a set period of time. You’ll need to download an app for account management access through — you can’t log into your account via a web browser. We also like that the X1 card takes your income into consideration when approving your application, making it possible to secure a higher credit line than most traditional cards.
See our full review of the X1 Card for more details.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 15.50% – 27.75% Variable
- Balance Transfer Fee
- 2% of the amount of each transfer.
10x
Up to 10X points at leading online stores such as Apple, Nike and Sephora when you shop in the X1 App
4x
4X, 5X and even 10X points for every friend who gets a card
3x
3X points every time you spend $1,000 in a month
2x
2X points on every purchase
regardless of category
The X1 Card offers a unique setup with regard to virtual credit cards. Instead of just offering one-time-use virtual cards, like most of the other cards on this list, the X1 lets you generate multiple virtual cards for different uses and set your own auto-expiration dates. This can come in handy for automatically canceling free trials or for giving a card number to a trusted individual like a family member or caregiver for a set period of time. You’ll need to download an app for account management access through — you can’t log into your account via a web browser. We also like that the X1 card takes your income into consideration when approving your application, making it possible to secure a higher credit line than most traditional cards.
See our full review of the X1 Card for more details.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 15.50% – 27.75% Variable
- Balance Transfer Fee
- 2% of the amount of each transfer.
10x
Up to 10X points at leading online stores such as Apple, Nike and Sephora when you shop in the X1 App
4x
4X, 5X and even 10X points for every friend who gets a card
3x
3X points every time you spend $1,000 in a month
2x
2X points on every purchase
regardless of category
Quick Look
- Intro Offer
-
No current offer
- Annual fee
- $0
- APR
- 17.99% – 28.74% (Variable)
- Recommended Credit A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.
- 670 – 850
Good – Excellent
- Rewards rate
-
N/A This card doesn’t offer cash back, miles, or points
The Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card not only offers virtual account numbers on your account’s home page, but it also boasts a 0% introductory APR period. With account approval, you can take advantage of 12 months of 0% introductory APR on purchases from the date of the account opening and a whopping 21 months of 0% introductory APR on balance transfers (though a 5% or $5 balance transfer fee applies — whichever is greater). After the intro period, the APR is 17.99% to 28.74% variable. Balance transfers must be completed within four months of the account opening.
See our full review of the Citi Diamond Preferred Card for more details.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% for 21 months on Balance Transfers
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% for 12 months on Purchases
- Regular APR
- 17.99% – 28.74% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Balance transfer fee applies with this offer 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum.
The Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card not only offers virtual account numbers on your account’s home page, but it also boasts a 0% introductory APR period. With account approval, you can take advantage of 12 months of 0% introductory APR on purchases from the date of the account opening and a whopping 21 months of 0% introductory APR on balance transfers (though a 5% or $5 balance transfer fee applies — whichever is greater). After the intro period, the APR is 17.99% to 28.74% variable. Balance transfers must be completed within four months of the account opening.
See our full review of the Citi Diamond Preferred Card for more details.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% for 21 months on Balance Transfers
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% for 12 months on Purchases
- Regular APR
- 17.99% – 28.74% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Balance transfer fee applies with this offer 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum.
Quick Look
- Intro Offer
-
60,000 points Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.
- Annual fee
- $95
- APR
- 20.99% – 28.99% (Variable)
- Recommended Credit A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.
- 670 – 850
Good – Excellent
- Rewards rate
-
1x – 3x Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Other Hotels; Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets; Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
While the Citi Premier® Card has an annual fee of $95 — unlike our other picks, which have no annual fee — its rewards and perks make up for the extra cost. For example, the sign-on bonus of 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first three months after the account opens (an equivalent value of $600 in gift cards or travel rewards when redeemed at thankyou.com) is competitive, putting this card at the top of our picks for best welcome bonus credit cards. This card offers purchase protection, and you can access virtual account numbers right through your account home page.
For more details on all of this card’s benefits, check out our full review of the Citi Premier Card.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 20.99% – 28.99% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Balance transfer fee applies with this offer 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum.
3x
Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Other Hotels
3x
Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets
1x
Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
While the Citi Premier® Card has an annual fee of $95 — unlike our other picks, which have no annual fee — its rewards and perks make up for the extra cost. For example, the sign-on bonus of 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first three months after the account opens (an equivalent value of $600 in gift cards or travel rewards when redeemed at thankyou.com) is competitive, putting this card at the top of our picks for best welcome bonus credit cards. This card offers purchase protection, and you can access virtual account numbers right through your account home page.
For more details on all of this card’s benefits, check out our full review of the Citi Premier Card.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 20.99% – 28.99% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Balance transfer fee applies with this offer 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum.
3x
Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Other Hotels
3x
Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets
1x
Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Quick Look
- Intro Offer
-
No current offer
- Annual fee
- $0
- APR
- 15.99% to 26.99% Variable
- Recommended Credit A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.
- N/A
- Rewards rate
-
2% – 3% Apple Card gives you unlimited 3% Daily Cash back on everything you buy at Apple; With every purchase you make using your Apple Card with Apple Pay, you get 2% Daily Cash back
The Apple Card* is unique by design and how it operates within the Apple ecosystem. With the Apple Card, you technically have three credit card numbers built into one. One card number is for your Apple Wallet, one is for your physical card (if you request one) and another is considered your virtual credit card — which you can use for online or in-person transactions where Apple Pay isn’t accepted. And, if your virtual credit card number is ever compromised, you can request and receive a free replacement number instantly without interrupting the use of your account via Apple Wallet or the physical card.
For more details on this card’s benefits, check out our full review of the Apple Card.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 15.99% to 26.99% Variable
- Balance Transfer Fee
- N/A
3%
Apple Card gives you unlimited 3% Daily Cash back on everything you buy at Apple
2%
With every purchase you make using your Apple Card with Apple Pay, you get 2% Daily Cash back
The Apple Card* is unique by design and how it operates within the Apple ecosystem. With the Apple Card, you technically have three credit card numbers built into one. One card number is for your Apple Wallet, one is for your physical card (if you request one) and another is considered your virtual credit card — which you can use for online or in-person transactions where Apple Pay isn’t accepted. And, if your virtual credit card number is ever compromised, you can request and receive a free replacement number instantly without interrupting the use of your account via Apple Wallet or the physical card.
For more details on this card’s benefits, check out our full review of the Apple Card.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 15.99% to 26.99% Variable
- Balance Transfer Fee
- N/A
3%
Apple Card gives you unlimited 3% Daily Cash back on everything you buy at Apple
2%
With every purchase you make using your Apple Card with Apple Pay, you get 2% Daily Cash back
Quick Look
- Intro Offer
-
20,000 miles Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
- Annual fee
- $0
- APR
- 19.99% – 29.99% (Variable)
- Recommended Credit A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.
- 670 – 850
Good – Excellent
- Rewards rate
-
1.25x – 5x Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options; Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day.
You can get a virtual credit card number through Capital One’s web browser extension Eno. Eno masks your credit card number by generating a virtual card number for each merchant. But you can also generate a virtual credit card number directly from Capital One’s app (without using the browser extension). You can manage your virtual card numbers in the Capital One mobile app.
The no-annual-fee Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card* offers a simple rewards structure for travelers looking for a straightforward travel card. You earn 5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and unlimited 1.25x miles on everything else.
The Eno browser extension is available for certain Capital One customers. If you are not currently eligible to connect to Eno, there are plans to roll out access to additional customers over time, as stated on Capital One’s website.
See our full review of the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card for more information.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% intro on balance transfers for 15 months
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% intro on purchases for 15 months
- Regular APR
- 19.99% – 29.99% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- 3%
5x
Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options
1.25x
Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day.
You can get a virtual credit card number through Capital One’s web browser extension Eno. Eno masks your credit card number by generating a virtual card number for each merchant. But you can also generate a virtual credit card number directly from Capital One’s app (without using the browser extension). You can manage your virtual card numbers in the Capital One mobile app.
The no-annual-fee Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card* offers a simple rewards structure for travelers looking for a straightforward travel card. You earn 5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and unlimited 1.25x miles on everything else.
The Eno browser extension is available for certain Capital One customers. If you are not currently eligible to connect to Eno, there are plans to roll out access to additional customers over time, as stated on Capital One’s website.
See our full review of the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card for more information.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% intro on balance transfers for 15 months
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% intro on purchases for 15 months
- Regular APR
- 19.99% – 29.99% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- 3%
5x
Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options
1.25x
Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day.
What are virtual credit cards and how do they work?
A virtual credit card is a digital credit card that replaces the 16-digit code printed on the front of your physical credit card. It’s generally intended for one-time use — though some can be reused — and prevents a retailer from storing your credit card information. Virtual cards are meant to limit digital fraud by reducing the risk of your credit card information being stolen.
Virtual card numbers aren’t the same as digital wallets. Virtual card numbers protect your personal card information when shopping online, but digital wallets — like Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Wallet — store things like credit card data, boarding passes and concert tickets. However, virtual wallets can offer similar protections. For example, when you use the card stored in your phone’s digital wallet, a 16-digit number, also known as a token, replaces your credit card number so the receiving merchant can’t see your card’s information.
Even if your issuer doesn’t offer virtual credit cards, you may still be able to add your credit card to a digital wallet for an extra layer of security when shopping online or in person at participating retailers.
Pros and cons of using a virtual credit card
While virtual cards are a great tool to add an extra level of security while shopping online or over the phone, there could be a few disadvantages to consider.
Pros
-
Your personal information is protected
-
Easy to generate from your card issuer’s app or browser extension
-
May be more convenient when shopping online
Cons
-
Not all issuers offer virtual credit cards
-
Virtual credit card transactions are typically limited to online transactions (but you can use your digital wallet at participating merchants)
How to get a virtual credit card number from your issuer
Not every issuer offers virtual credit card numbers, but you might have access to a virtual credit card number with an existing credit card. The process varies from issuer to issuer, but here’s how to get a virtual card number with a few of the major issuers:
- Capital One: You can access a virtual number through the issuer’s Eno virtual assistant browser extension. Virtual numbers may not be available for all Capital One cards.
- Citi: You can find your virtual number on your account page after you enroll in the service. Virtual numbers may not be available for all Citi cards.
- American Express: You can use a virtual card number through Google Chrome by connecting an eligible Amex card. According to American Express, it’ll generate a new four-digit CVV needed at checkout.
- Chase: Chase does not currently offer virtual card numbers.
- Discover: Discover does not currently offer virtual card numbers.
How to use a virtual credit card
You use a virtual card as you would normally when shopping online or over the phone. Rather than using the 16-digit code on your physical card, you use the code generated by your card issuer. In some cases, you can use a virtual card at physical stores that accept digital wallets or contactless payments.
Virtual card numbers are a great tool to ensure your personal credit card information remains secure when shopping online. You’ll typically have the option to request a virtual credit card number for one-time use or multiple uses, providing an added layer of security to each online transaction. As long as your credit card issuer provides this feature, you don’t have to apply for a new credit card and accrue a hard inquiry on your credit report.
The bottom line
Virtual credit card numbers can provide an added layer of security at checkout while remaining convenient. By masking your actual card information when shopping online, you can do so without wondering if your information will ever be compromised. However, there are limitations to virtual credit cards that restrict how far the protection can stretch, because you can’t use virtual numbers during in-person transactions.
FAQs
For the sake of the simplicity, the best virtual credit cards let you generate a virtual card number directly from your online credit card account without downloading pesky extensions or additional apps. Those include the Apple Card, Citi Double Cash Card, Citi Premier Card, Citi Diamond Preferred Card, Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card and the X1 Card. Other credit card issuers may offer additional apps or browser extensions.
No, using a virtual credit card instead of a physical one won’t affect your credit score more than usual. If you use your virtual credit card responsibly and always pay off your balance on time and in full, your credit will be in good shape. Plus, to generate a virtual credit card, you’ll need to have the physical card. Applying for credit cards will result in a hard credit check, which may drop your credit score — temporarily — by a few points.
Several issuer apps and browser extensions enable virtual credit card generation for accounts without built-in features. They require an extra step (downloading the app or extension) to use initially, and restrict you to making purchases specifically on hardware you’ve installed the program on. For example, a Click to Pay account allows Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover cardholders to apply for a virtual credit card at checkout.
Our methodology
CNET reviews credit cards by exhaustively comparing them across set criteria developed for each major category, including cash back, welcome bonus, travel rewards and balance transfer. We take into consideration the typical spending behavior of a range of consumer profiles — with the understanding that everyone’s financial situation is different — and the designated function of a card.
For cash-back credit cards, for example, key factors include the annual fee, the “welcome bonus” and the cash-back rate (or rates, if they differ by spending category). For rewards and miles cards, we calculate and weigh the net monetary value of a card’s respective perks. And with balance transfer credit cards, we analyze specs such as the duration of the introductory 0% APR period and the balance transfer fee, while acknowledging secondary factors such as the standard APR and the length of time you have to make a balance transfer after you open the account.
For rates and fees of the American Express Gold Card, click here
For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express, click here
For rates and fees of The Platinum Card from American Express, click here
*All information about the Apple Card and the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by CNET and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
The editorial content on this page is based solely on objective, independent assessments by our writers and is not influenced by advertising or partnerships. It has not been provided or commissioned by any third party. However, we may receive compensation when you click on links to products or services offered by our partners.
Jaclyn is a CNET Money editor who relishes the sweet spot between numbers and words. With responsibility for overseeing CNET’s credit card coverage, she writes and edits news, reviews and advice. She has experience covering business, personal finance and economics, and previously managed contracts and investments as a real estate agent. Her tech interests include Tesla, SpaceX, The Boring Company and Neuralink.