How to get a virtual card: a complete guide

Every time you buy something online, sign up for a subscription, or book a trip, you're asked to enter your card details. It's easy — but it may also put your account at risk. To protect your main account from data breaches, it's a good idea to create a virtual card.

A virtual card is a powerful digital payment tool that lets you shop online without giving out your physical card details. It’s an additional layer of security that puts you in control of where and how your money's spent. Let’s go through how to create one with Revolut and why it’s a smart choice for online safety.

Ready to boost your online security? Read on to explore the benefits and features of our virtual cards.

Terms and Conditions apply.

The information provided is accurate as of January 14, 2026.

The content of this page is for general information purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. If you have any questions about your personal circumstances, please seek professional and independent advice. Revolut is not a financial advisor.

How to get a virtual card: quick set-up with Revolut

To get a virtual card with us, follow these simple steps:

1. Log in to your account. If you don't have one yet, download our app and sign up.
2. Go to the Cards section: Tap the card symbol in the top-right or on your Home screen.
3. Select Add new.
4. Then choose the Virtual card option. You can select single-use Single-use virtual card for a disposable version.

Your new virtual card will be active and ready to use online right away.

How virtual cards work

A virtual card is a unique, digital-only payment method created in-app. It works just like a traditional card — it has its own unique 16-digit card number, expiration date, and CVV — but it only exists online. Since it isn't a physical card, it can't be lost, stolen from your wallet, or skimmed at an ATM.

It works by drawing money from your Revolut account, and acts as a protected front-end for your money. Think of it like a firewall between your sensitive, main account details and the outside world. When you use one for online purchases, any compromise of your data will only affect the virtual card. Your regular physical card details won't be impacted.

Virtual card features for digital security

A virtual debit card is designed to give you safety and control. Its key features include:

• Direct availability: Create a virtual card in seconds in-app — there's no waiting for one to arrive in the mail
• Single-use option: This type of card has a number that's automatically destroyed and regenerated after one transaction
• Isolation: The card is linked to your main account but uses a different number than your main card, isolating your financial data from merchant records
• App control: You have the power to freeze, unfreeze, or delete the virtual card at any time in-app

Create a virtual card quickly

Getting a virtual card with us is a fast, straightforward process. It's available to all eligible customers in the USA, making it easier than ever to protect your online spending. Here’s how to create one in our app:

Step 1: navigate to the Cards section

Open the app and log in. Tap Cards (the card symbol in the top-right corner or on the Home screen). Once you're there, you'll see your current cards. Tap Add new.

Step 2: choose your card type

Choose the type of card you want to add and select Virtual. You'll then choose between 2 powerful options:

• Standard virtual card: This has a fixed number and is good for online shops you trust or for ongoing monthly subscriptions like streaming services and gym memberships.
• Single-use virtual card: This provides a higher level of online protection. It generates a new card number after every single transaction, meaning the old number can never be used again.

Give your new card a name (like "Online shopping" or "Monthly bills") to help you track its purpose.

Your virtual card's now ready for online payments.

How much does it cost to create a virtual card?

It costs nothing to create a virtual card on any of our plans, including the Standard plan. We believe security should be accessible to everyone.

How many virtual cards can I create?

Revolut customers can hold up to 20 active virtual cards at any time, with only one single-use card among those. Users can only create a maximum of 5 new virtual cards every 30 days, not including single-use cards.

Spending limits on virtual cards

While your virtual card draws from your overall balance, with us you can set your own limits on how much can be spent with it. This helps you manage your budget and reduce fraud risk:

• Custom limits: Set maximum spending limits on a per-card basis, whether daily, weekly, or monthly. For instance, if you create a virtual card just for streaming services, you could cap ‌monthly spend at $50. Once that limit's reached, the card'll be declined.
• Maximum transaction limits: We set general limits on all card transactions. These are high, and set at a global level to protect everyone, but your custom limits always take precedence. You can always check your limits in-app.
• Automatic guardrail: These controls help prevent large fraudulent transactions if your details are compromised.

Benefits of using virtual cards for online shopping

A virtual card lets you tailor your payment method to the risk level of the transaction.

Increased protection with single-use virtual cards

A single-use virtual debit card may be used when trust is low or when you're making a single purchase:

• New or unfamiliar websites: When ordering from a retailer for the first time.
• Time-limited trials: For signing up for a trial where you might worry about being charged later.
• High-risk transactions: when you're particularly sensitive about a merchant storing your data.

By using a single-use card, you ensure that even if a merchant’s system is hacked later, the card number they hold is useless.

Using standard virtual cards for reliable payments

Standard virtual cards are good for reliability and organization:

• Subscriptions: Use one for services like Netflix or Amazon Prime. The monthly payment will go through smoothly without you needing to update details every month.
• Organized spending: Personalize and name your cards (e.g. "Groceries"). This helps you quickly identify which card is linked to which category, improving how you track activity.

If you lose your physical card, you can cancel it and order a replacement without disrupting your monthly subscriptions.

Differences between virtual cards and mobile wallets

The key difference lies in what's stored and how it's used.

The 2 aren't mutually exclusive. The best strategy's to link your virtual card to your mobile wallet. This combines the safety of a hidden card number with the token-based security of a mobile wallet for in-store payments.

Using virtual cards for international travel

You can use your virtual prepaid card for international transactions just like your physical card. It's perfect for travel-related online bookings:

• Booking flights and hotels: Use your virtual card to book services in advance to protect your main card while you're away.
• International online shops: If you buy from a foreign ecommerce site, your virtual card works perfectly. When you spend in a foreign currency, you benefit from our competitive exchange rates. Fair usage limits and weekend fees may apply, depending on your plan.

While a physical card is necessary for withdrawing cash from an ATM abroad, your virtual card's the perfect companion for pre-travel planning.

If your card's compromised or your phone's lost

The advantage of a virtual card is the speed of response. Since it's controlled in-app, you can react immediately without waiting for a replacement physical card in the mail.

Reporting fraud or disputed transactions

If you notice an unauthorized transaction or need to dispute a charge, our process is quick:

1. In our app, go to the Cards section.
2. Tap the specific virtual card used for the suspicious transaction.
3. Select Freeze or Report as fraud. Freezing immediately stops all future transactions on that number.
4. To dispute a transaction, go to the Transactions list, select the payment, and follow the steps to report it.

Mobile wallet functionality after a card compromise

If a virtual card number's compromised and we issue a replacement, your mobile wallet (Apple Pay or Google Pay) will typically continue to work. Mobile wallets use a unique token number, which we can automatically update with the new details. You won't have to readd the card yourself.

Subscriptions and physical card cancellations

If your physical card's lost or canceled due to fraud, any subscriptions tied to that old number will fail.

However, if your subscriptions are tied to a standard virtual card, they'll remain active even if your physical card is canceled. This saves you the hassle of updating every streaming service and monthly bill.

Get your virtual card today

A virtual card's the fastest and easiest way to take control of your spending and upgrade your financial defense.

If you're new to our app, getting started is simple:

1. Download the app from the App Store or Google Play and sign up in a matter of minutes
2. Once your account's active, go to the Cards section and follow the steps above. You'll have a fully functional virtual debit card right away.