The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →If you want a temporary card number for an online purchase, four consumer-facing options documented by their providers offer different kinds of virtual-card protection—but they are not five equivalent disposable credit cards. Privacy.com is funded by a linked checking account, Revolut’s U.S. option is prepaid debit, and Capital One and American Express offer virtual numbers to eligible credit-card customers. Some numbers are single-use; others are reusable or tied to a merchant. Choose based on how the payment is funded and whether it needs to recur.
What counts as a disposable credit card number?
A virtual card number is a payment credential that can stand in for your physical card number in supported transactions. “Disposable” is often used loosely: it may mean a number that closes or refreshes after one purchase, a reusable number restricted to one merchant, or a virtual credential used through a particular browser or platform. A virtual number does not make a payment anonymous, guarantee acceptance, or prevent every form of fraud.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Visa Virtual eGift Card | $206.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Visa Virtual eGift Card | $105.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Visa Virtual eGift Card | $28.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Visa Virtual eGift Card | $54.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Visa Virtual eGift Card | $206.95 | Buy on Amazon |
Funding is an important distinction. Of the four consumer options below, Capital One and Amex connect virtual numbers to eligible credit-card accounts. Privacy.com draws from a linked checking account, while Revolut’s U.S. page describes prepaid debit cards. Citi’s documented virtual-card-account material concerns organizational purchasing and does not establish a comparable, generally available consumer service.
Compare the four consumer options
| Service | Funding and audience | How the number works | Main constraint |
|---|---|---|---|
| Privacy.com | Linked U.S. checking account; eligible U.S. residents | Single-use, merchant-locked, and category-locked cards | Debit-funded; U.S. eligibility and identity verification apply |
| Capital One virtual cards | Eligible Capital One credit-card accounts | General or merchant-specific numbers; product materials also describe a one-time option | Eligibility varies by card and account; some merchants may not accept virtual cards |
| American Express Virtual Card Number | Eligible U.S. Amex credit cards | Virtual credential with a dynamic security code | Chrome or Android and Google enrollment conditions apply |
| Revolut U.S. disposable virtual debit card | Revolut prepaid debit account | Single-use details refresh after payment; a multi-use option is also described | In-app use; account and regional terms apply |
Which service fits your payment?
Privacy.com: one-off purchases and spending controls
Privacy describes single-use cards that close after payment, as well as merchant-locked and category-locked cards. Its support article says each card has a distinct number, CVV, and expiration date; purchases debit the linked bank account as they occur. The service also describes pause and spending-limit controls. This is a bank-funded service, not a credit line.
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- Visa Virtual eGift Cards are designed for online use only. Gift Cards are subject to Terms and Conditions: a.co/5bw3qXJ
- When you access your Visa Virtual eGift Card for the first time, you’ll need to register your name, address, phone number, and email address via activationspot.com. These details should also be used as your billing address for online purchases, as many merchants require address verification for purchase authorization.
- This Visa Virtual eGift Card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Visa Virtual eGift Cards are emailed active.
- Funds do not expire but your Visa Virtual eGift Card has a ‘valid thru’ date (9 years from date of purchase). If funds remain after this date has passed, please call the Toll Free number found on your Visa Virtual eGift Card for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout.
- This item is not eligible for refund, resale, or return. Available for sale within the United States only. Not available to residents of Puerto Rico, Hawaii, New Mexico, South Dakota, West Virginia and the US Virgin Islands.
Privacy’s product page says the service is for U.S. citizens or legal residents age 18 or older with a checking account at a U.S. bank or credit union. It describes the Personal plan as having no fee on domestic purchases; check current plan pricing and cardholder terms before signing up. Privacy says signup involves identity verification, so its cards should not be treated as anonymous.
See Privacy single-use cards and Privacy Support’s “How does Privacy work?” article, updated July 5, 2024.
Rank #2
- Visa Virtual eGift Cards are designed for online use only. Gift Cards are subject to Terms and Conditions: a.co/5bw3qXJ
- When you access your Visa Virtual eGift Card for the first time, you’ll need to register your name, address, phone number, and email address via activationspot.com. These details should also be used as your billing address for online purchases, as many merchants require address verification for purchase authorization.
- This Visa Virtual eGift Card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Visa Virtual eGift Cards are emailed active.
- Funds do not expire but your Visa Virtual eGift Card has a ‘valid thru’ date (9 years from date of purchase). If funds remain after this date has passed, please call the Toll Free number found on your Visa Virtual eGift Card for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout.
- This item is not eligible for refund, resale, or return. Available for sale within the United States only. Not available to residents of Puerto Rico, Hawaii, New Mexico, South Dakota, West Virginia and the US Virgin Islands.
Capital One: virtual numbers for eligible credit-card customers
Capital One describes virtual card numbers linked to an eligible underlying credit-card account, including general and merchant-specific numbers. Its product material also describes a one-time option, while account controls allow users to lock or delete virtual numbers. The company says virtual cards work with most, but not all, online merchants.
Not every Capital One card or account user can create a virtual number. Check availability in your own account rather than assuming that an eligible-looking card qualifies. Capital One also distinguishes account virtual numbers from use through Google Pay autofill; the feature and checkout experience can differ.
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Rank #3
- Visa Virtual eGift Cards are designed for online use only. Gift Cards are subject to Terms and Conditions: a.co/5bw3qXJ
- When you access your Visa Virtual eGift Card for the first time, you’ll need to register your name, address, phone number, and email address via activationspot.com. These details should also be used as your billing address for online purchases, as many merchants require address verification for purchase authorization.
- This Visa Virtual eGift Card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Visa Virtual eGift Cards are emailed active.
- Funds do not expire but your Visa Virtual eGift Card has a ‘valid thru’ date (9 years from date of purchase). If funds remain after this date has passed, please call the Toll Free number found on your Visa Virtual eGift Card for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout.
- This item is not eligible for refund, resale, or return. Available for sale within the United States only. Not available to residents of Puerto Rico, Hawaii, New Mexico, South Dakota, West Virginia and the US Virgin Islands.
See Capital One virtual cards for eligible cardholders and its virtual card number help page.
Amex Virtual Card Number: a platform-linked credit-card credential
American Express describes Virtual Card Number for eligible U.S. credit cards when used with Google Chrome on desktop or Android mobile devices, and in supported Android apps. At checkout, the merchant receives the virtual number rather than the physical card number, and Amex supplies a dynamic security code. This is not an unrestricted burner number for every checkout or device.
Rank #4
- Visa Virtual eGift Cards are designed for online use only. Gift Cards are subject to Terms and Conditions: a.co/5bw3qXJ
- When you access your Visa Virtual eGift Card for the first time, you’ll need to register your name, address, phone number, and email address via activationspot.com. These details should also be used as your billing address for online purchases, as many merchants require address verification for purchase authorization.
- This Visa Virtual eGift Card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Visa Virtual eGift Cards are emailed active.
- Funds do not expire but your Visa Virtual eGift Card has a ‘valid thru’ date (9 years from date of purchase). If funds remain after this date has passed, please call the Toll Free number found on your Visa Virtual eGift Card for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout.
- This item is not eligible for refund, resale, or return. Available for sale within the United States only. Not available to residents of Puerto Rico, Hawaii, New Mexico, South Dakota, West Virginia and the US Virgin Islands.
Enrollment connects the feature with Google, and Amex says card information and recent purchase information are shared with Google. The FAQ also lists exclusions, so check the current terms and supported checkout conditions before relying on the feature.
Revolut U.S.: single-use or reusable prepaid debit
Revolut’s U.S. page describes virtual prepaid debit cards held in the app. Its single-use option refreshes the card details after payment, so a vendor cannot use those same details to charge again. The page also describes a multi-use card for recurring payments. This is prepaid debit, not credit; confirm availability and account terms in the app.
Best Value
- Visa Virtual eGift Cards are designed for online use only. Gift Cards are subject to Terms and Conditions: a.co/5bw3qXJ
- When you access your Visa Virtual eGift Card for the first time, you’ll need to register your name, address, phone number, and email address via activationspot.com. These details should also be used as your billing address for online purchases, as many merchants require address verification for purchase authorization.
- This Visa Virtual eGift Card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Visa Virtual eGift Cards are emailed active.
- Funds do not expire but your Visa Virtual eGift Card has a ‘valid thru’ date (9 years from date of purchase). If funds remain after this date has passed, please call the Toll Free number found on your Visa Virtual eGift Card for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout.
- This item is not eligible for refund, resale, or return. Available for sale within the United States only. Not available to residents of Puerto Rico, Hawaii, New Mexico, South Dakota, West Virginia and the US Virgin Islands.
See Revolut single-use virtual debit card.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Choose the right virtual card for subscriptions and free trials
For a one-time purchase, a single-use number can limit the usefulness of the details after the transaction. A subscription or other recurring charge usually needs a credential that remains usable by the merchant. A merchant-specific or multi-use number may fit better, especially if you can pause, lock, or close it later. Before starting a trial, check when billing begins and how to cancel with the merchant; a virtual number does not cancel the subscription itself.
- One-off online purchase: Look for a genuine single-use option, and make sure the service’s funding method suits you.
- Subscription or recurring bill: Choose a reusable number and verify that the merchant can continue charging it.
- Payment tied to a platform: Check browser, device, account, and merchant restrictions before checkout.
- Concern about anonymity: Do not assume a virtual number hides your identity; these are account-based payment services, and Privacy states that it verifies identity.
Why Citi is not a fifth equivalent consumer option
Citi’s documented Virtual Card Accounts are for organizational purchasing and include unique numbers and transaction controls. That business context does not establish that Citi currently offers a generally available consumer disposable-card service, so it is not a like-for-like choice in this consumer comparison. See Citi Virtual Card Accounts.
Check before you sign up
Provider pages describe features, not a guarantee that every payment will work or that a virtual number will prevent all fraud, failed payments, or merchant refusal. Eligibility, supported devices, fees, and regional availability can change. Confirm the current terms with the provider and the card or account you intend to use.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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