A virtual card can help you make online payments safely and even withdraw cash at contactless-enabled ATMs. Usually, they can also easily be added to services such as Apple Pay and Google Pay. Not to mention, virtual cards are also friendlier to the environment and using one means you have to carry fewer things around in your wallet.
The best free virtual credit cards and debit cards in 2024:
Revolut
N26
Coinbase Card
Wise
Openbank
A closer look at the best virtual credit cards and debit cards in 2024
To be sure, you shouldn't expect any mindblowing perks or sophisticated features from a virtual credit or debit card that you can get for free online. However, they can be a great option for online payments, and can ever offer some security features that can make them safer than physical cards. Let's take a closer look at our list of the best virtual credit cards and debit cards.
1. N26
N26 is a Germany-based neobank that provides a free virtual card to every user with a Standard account. The Standard account is free, although you do need to have a minimum balance of 10€ to activate the N26 virtual card.
The N26 virtual card uses the Mastercard network, and can be added to Apple Pay and Google Pay. In addition to making online purchases, you can also use the card to withdraw cash at ATM machines that are contactless-enabled.
N26 provides a very smooth experience whether you want to use it as a bank or just as a digital wallet for online purchases. However, it is only limited to the European market, so you’ll have to find another option if you live in the US or another market outside of Europe.
Get an N26 Virtual Card
2. Revolut
Revolut is a fintech company and neobank that provides an extensive suite of features for managing money, making online payments and investing. The Revolut platform offers free virtual debit cards that can be linked with Apple Pay and Google Pay and come in the form of either a disposable debit card or a multi-use debit card.
The disposable virtual debit card is a great option for one-time online purchases, as the card’s details change each time it’s used to make a payment. If you want to make contactless or recurring payments, the multi-use debit card is the more suitable option. You can make up to 4 multi-use virtual debit cards in a month, and you can have up to 20 of them in total.
Revolut virtual cards can either be issued on the Visa or Mastercard networks, depending on the customer’s location.
Get a Revolut Virtual Card
3. Coinbase Card
The Coinbase Card is a cryptocurrency debit card that works with the Visa network and comes in both virtual and physical forms. It lets Coinbase customers easily use their crypto holdings wherever Visa is accepted, without charging any fees for spending crypto. However, when buying or selling cryptocurrencies during a transaction, there's a difference in price known as the spread.
In the United States, Coinbase Card users can get crypto rewards for their purchases. The rewards offered by the Coinbase Card change regularly, meaning the types of cryptocurrencies you can earn as rewards vary over time.
There are several choices for the type of cryptocurrency you can earn rewards in, but the reward rates differ. For instance, Bitcoin offers a reward rate of 1%, but other cryptocurrencies might offer rates up to 4%.
Get a Coinbase Card
4. Wise
Wise is an online platform that allows users to manage their money online and supports more than 40 different currencies for international transfers.
Wise offers a card in both virtual and physical formats, which function like debit cards. The Wise virtual card can be used with a variety of mobile wallets, including Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, Fitbit Pay and Garmin Pay.
After using your virtual card, you can freeze it for additional security. When you want to use it again, you can unfreeze your virtual Wise card at any time.
To order a Wise card, you normally need to pay a small fee. However, if you already have a friend that uses Wise, you can receive a free card if they invite you to the service. Unfortunately, the Wise virtual card is currently not available to customers in the United States, but it can be used in most countries around the globe.
Get a Wise Virtual Card
5. Openbank
Openbank is an online bank owned by Spanish banking giant Santander. Openbank’s customers can access a free virtual debit card based on the Mastercard payments network.
The card can be used with all merchants that accept contactless payments, and can be added to Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, Fitbit Pay and Garmin Pay. The card can be used to withdraw or deposit cash using contactless Banco Santander ATMs in Spain.
Openbank only accepts customers in Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal and Argentina. If you’re in one of these countries, it can be a great option to get a free virtual debit card. Otherwise, consider options such as Wise and Revolut, which are available in a larger number of countries.
Get an Openbank Card
The bottom line
If you’re looking to get a free virtual card, your options are mostly limited to debit cards. Virtual cards are usually offered by neobanks or digital wallets, and they typically also have a physical counterpart that you can order if you wish.
If you’re looking to learn more about credit cards, take a look at our article exploring how to choose the best second credit card.
