Spend Instantly: The Best Virtual Credit Cards in 2025

Virtual credit cards are gaining traction as a secure and flexible payment option. The best virtual credit cards in 2025 offer benefits like enhanced security through temporary card numbers and increased control over spending. 

Virtual cards only disclose limited account information, which can help consumers protect themselves from fraud.

Like other credit cards, virtual cards are supervised by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. 

What Makes a Good Virtual Credit Card in 2025?

The best virtual credit cards in 2025 offer security features such as unique card numbers, expiration dates and security codes for each transaction to minimize the risk of fraud. 

The best virtual credit cards should also be easy to create and manage, compatible with platforms like Apple Pay or Google Pay, and widely accepted by a range of merchants and service providers. 

Budgeting tools that allow you to monitor expenses can help you stay financially disciplined. 

Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express

An American Express virtual card number is a fast and secure way to shop using your Google Chrome browser on desktop or Android mobile devices. 

By enrolling your American Express Blue Cash Preferred card, Amex will replace your physical card number with a digital version. Your physical card will never be shared with merchants, so you’ll have peace of mind when you shop online.

One drawback is that you can’t use your American Express virtual card number with Membership Rewards Pay with Points at checkout. You’ll have to use your physical American Express card number. 

When you sign up for the Blue Cash Preferred Card, you'll earn $300 cash back after you spend $3,000 in purchases within the first six months of opening your account. You’ll also get 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, plus an $84 Disney Bundle credit, and 3% cash back on purchases made at U.S. gas stations and in transit. 

Why We Picked It: If you do your grocery shopping online, your Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express will earn you 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases. Once you hit that limit, you’ll earn 1% cash back. 

Citi Double Cash Card

Using a randomly generated Citi card virtual account number when shopping online makes it impossible for fraudsters to steal from you. 

Purchases made with your temporary number will appear on your regular monthly statement, along with purchases made with your physical Citi Double Cash Card. 

The Citi Double Cash Card offers a 0% annual percentage rate (APR) for 18 months on balance transfers. After 18 months, the variable APR rises to between 18.24% and 28.25%, depending on your creditworthiness. 

The Citi Double Cash Card does not have an annual fee. It offers benefits such as earning 5% total cash back on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked on Citi Travel’s portal through Dec. 31, 2025. 

The card also offers complimentary Mastercard ID Theft Protection and you won’t be liable for unauthorized charges to your account. 

Why We Picked It: Through Citi’s unlimited cash-back program, you’ll receive unlimited 1% cash back at purchase and another 1% as you pay your bill. The benefit is good on all purchases, with no categories to track. You’ll also earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases within the first six months of opening your account. 

American Express Gold Card 

Shop securely and quickly online with an American Express virtual card number in Google Chrome on your desktop or Android device. 

When you enroll in your American Express Gold Card, a digital version replaces your physical card number, protecting your actual card details from merchants and giving you more peace of mind. 

However, note that you can’t use Membership Rewards Pay with Points at checkout with your virtual card. You’ll need your physical card number for that. 

The annual fee is steep at $325, but you’ll get 90,000 membership Rewards Points after you spend $6,000 on your card within the first six months of opening your account. You’ll also get 4X points on groceries for up to $25,000 in yearly purchases and 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. 

If you book at least two nights with The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com, you’ll get a $100 credit toward eligible charges. 

If you like aesthetics, you can apply for a card in gold or rose color. 

Why We Picked It: If you spend a lot of money dining out, this card is yours. You’ll earn 4X points on up to $50,000 in purchases at restaurants worldwide, plus a $120 dining credit ($10 statement credit per month) when you pay with the Gold Card at participating restaurants. You’ll also get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year if you use your American Express Gold Card to pay for meals at U.S. Resy restaurants. 

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Capital One offers virtual credit cards through its virtual assistant Eno, the Capital One Mobile app or Google Pay. The tools allow Capital One cardholders to make purchases even if their physical cards aren’t available. 

Virtual cards from Capital One provide security because the merchant can’t access your card number. Don’t worry – you’ll still get the same benefits, such as cash back or miles on qualifying purchases, every time you purchase using a Capital One virtual credit card. 

The cards are designed for use online, but if you want to use them at a merchant’s physical store, Capital One suggests adding them to a compatible digital wallet. 

You’ll have to pay a $395 annual fee, but you get plenty in return. Capital One Venture X offers 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of opening your account. You’ll get another 10,000 bonus miles every year, beginning on your anniversary. 

The card issuer also gives you a $300 annual credit for booking vacations through Capital One Travel and a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. 

In addition, you’ll earn 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel. All other purchases earn 2X miles every day. 

Why We Picked It: Venture X cardholders have complimentary access to participating airport lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge, Capital One Landing locations and the partner Lounge Network. Capital One Lounges offer a variety of amenities, including chef-inspired food, relaxation and fitness rooms, shower suites and workspaces. 

Discover it Secured Credit Card 

You can use your Discover it Secured Credit Card when checking out online from the Google Chrome browser or Android apps. 

You can set the card up the next time you’re checking out or get a virtual card number from your Google Wallet. After your card is saved to Google Wallet or Chrome, you’ll see the option to create a virtual card number that replaces your physical card number at checkout. 

Discover allows you to easily add, edit, or remove virtual credit cards from your Google Wallet anytime. 

For frequent online shoppers who are trying to build their credit, the virtual card can help. Just pay all your bills on time and in full each month. 

To get started, you’ll need to provide a minimum refundable security deposit of $200. After seven months, Discover will review your account monthly to determine whether you’re eligible to upgrade to an unsecured card. 

Meanwhile, you’ll earn 2% cash back on up to $1,000 spent at gas stations and restaurants each quarter, plus 1% cash back on all other purchases. 

Why We Picked It: With no annual fee, the Discover it Secured Credit Card can help you build your credit history as you shop online with a virtual card number. Discover will help you track your progress by showing you your FICO Credit Score for free. If you keep your balances low, you will improve your credit utilization ratio – credit bureaus consider using less of your available credit when evaluating your credit. 

Volopay

Volopay lets businesses equip their employees with as many virtual prepaid cards as they need. One of the best virtual credit cards for businesses, Volopay prepaid cards improve your team’s visibility and accountability while making payments easy. 

Volopay’s features include expense tracking through the issuer's card management system. The virtual prepaid cards you generate are linked to your account, so whenever a card is used, the expense is updated in real time. 

Volopay virtual credit cards automatically categorize your expenses, which makes tracking and accounting easier. When you use a Volopay virtual prepaid card, the system captures payment details, which makes tracking and accounting easier. The categories are reflected in your ledger, so you won’t have to worry about data entry. 

Volopay’s system integrates with several accounting systems, including Xero and Quickbooks. 

Why We Picked It: Volopay allows businesses to easily manage their cash flow, eliminate reimbursing employees for expenses and give their teams quick access to the funds they need to keep their businesses humming. 

Ramp

Ramp makes it easy to give your employees virtual business expense cards. All it takes is a few clicks for them to have access to funds so they can make the purchases they need to keep your business running smoothly. 

With the Ramp virtual credit card, you can manage spending limits, easily track expenses and ensure compliance. 

You can create custom cards and set permissions for individual teams or your entire company. Presetting controls on corporate virtual cards for specific vendors and categories can prevent spending that doesn’t adhere to company policies. 

Ramp is a good choice for businesses looking to save time and money.

Why We Picked It: The Ramp Corporate Card can help businesses save money on travel expenses. It offers discounts on flights, hotels and car rentals and provides benefits like extended warranty protection and purchase protection.

Airbase

Airbase virtual credit cards can be used for one-time or recurring purchases. You can set spending limits for your employees and restrict the number of transactions they are permitted to make. You can also implement expiration dates for the virtual cards. 

With the Airbase virtual card, all of your documents – approvals, payments and expense reporting – are visible through the same system, so you’ll never have to search through email or Slack channels to find the documents you need.

You can sync vendor-specific transactions directly to the general ledger to keep your books current and better understand your business at any time. 

Why We Picked It: You’ll save time using Airbase’s rule-based accounting automation, eliminating manual coding. You can record vendor-specific virtual card transactions to Oracle NetSuite, Sage InTacct, QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop or Xero.

How We Chose These Virtual Credit Cards

Benzinga’s virtual credit card recommendations are based on security levels and user-friendly features like spending controls and ease of use. The cards were evaluated based on cost, value and provider reputation. We also considered fees and rewards. Not all credit card issuers offer virtual card numbers, so if that’s important to you, check before applying. 

Frequently Asked Questions