Ways to Create a Virtual Card for Free Without a Bank Account
Virtual cards are increasingly becoming the go-to option for convenient online shopping. More and more consumers are using virtual credit and debit cards instead of their physical counterparts.
Have you been looking for the best providers of free virtual cards for making fast and secure payments to online and brick-and-mortar stores? Here is your final stop! In addition to showing them to you in this article, we will guide you on creating a virtual card without opening a bank account or switching banks.
Why Should You Get a Virtual Card?
What is the point of getting a virtual card when you can use a physical card for the same purpose? Traditional banks, neobanks, fintech companies, and various financial institutions issue virtual cards to their customers for various reasons, centred around their advantages and usefulness.
The following are the top reasons you may need a virtual debit or credit card:
- Fast card creation
Firstly, customers often demand speedy and simpler services. Hence, some card issuers provide virtual cards for afaster card creation experience. On your own, you can use the app or digital platform of your payment service provider to create a virtual card from the comfort of your home or office within a few minutes and start shopping online. Gamblers and online bettors, especially those that use any of the top casino e-wallets, also find speed an attractive feature of virtual cards.
- Convenience
Secondly, when you create one or more virtual cards, they can be instantly stored in your banking or payment app, such as an e-wallet or m-wallet, instead of your physical wallet. In that way, you enjoy a high level of convenience, as you do not need to worry about where to safely store your payment cards or feel the weight of moving about with them. Moreover, advertisers and affiliate marketers often need to create many virtual cards for Facebook and Google Ads to save themselves from blocked accounts and set multiple payment limits.
- Advanced security
Thirdly, virtual cards come with advanced security features that most physical cards lack, which range from encryption to anti-theft protection. They enable you to set spending limits to ensure that transactions exceeding a certain amount are declined, allowing you to track unauthorised outgoing payments. Also, whereas a pickpocket may easily steal your wallet from your bag or pocket and a physical card can easily slide out of your wallet or pocket, a virtual card is almost impossible to steal unless you share the number and other confidential details with someone.
- Environmental concern
Virtual cards are climate-friendly, as they help reduce environmental pollution that originates from the increasing production, use, disposal, and burning of plastic materials. They promote the sustainability of ecosystem services, such as freshwater and clean air, for all living things.
Now, there are metal payment cards, but most physical cards are in plastic form. For that reason, environmentally conscious consumers should go for virtual cards instead of physical cards.
A Step-by-step Guide to Creating a Free Virtual Card Without Having a Bank Account
You do not necessarily need to have a bank account before you can create a virtual card. The essential requirements to begin the process of using a free virtual card are a personal computer, smartphone, or tablet with a good connection to the internet. In addition, you will need a web browser, a valid phone number, and an active email address.
The step-by-step procedure for creating a virtual card varies, depending on your card provider. It could, however, be as follows:
- Go to the website of your virtual card company and create a wallet. Usually, you will need to enter your email address, phone number, or any other important personal detail for recognition and verification.
- Create a strong password. If you do not know what a strong password is or how to create one, see our post on how safe it is to use fintech applications or how to avoid wire fraud.
- After creating your password, use the online platform to log into your account or download the provider’s app from the relevant store (Google Play Store, App Store, or Samsung Galaxy Store), sign in, and navigate your account until you find where to create a card.
- Click on the relevant button or option to create a virtual card of your choice (if there are different options such as debit or credit to choose from).
- Check your phone or email for a verification code that may be needed to authorise the card-issuing process. Enter it in the space provided and submit it.
- You should receive a text message or email notification that your virtual card is ready to use.
Best Providers of Free Virtual Cards—No Bank Account Required
Below is our list of the best companies that provide virtual cards to their customers without the need for a bank account. We have also included their respective pros and cons, which will help you make the right choice of a virtual card.
1. Wise
Wise, formerly known as TransferWise, is a UK-based financial technology company that was founded in 2011 to offer easy, fast, fair, and cheap ways to send money domestically and internationally. It also provides a multicurrency account that can hold over 50 different currencies for free.
In terms of payments to merchants, Wise offers the Wise Card, which is a Visa debit card that allows its customers to make local and foreign transactions without hidden fees. It is available in physical and virtual forms, allowing you to keep the former in your wallet while the latter exists with different numbers on your laptop or smartphone. You can request the Wise digital card (or virtual card) using your Wise account on the website or in the app.
Get started: Ready to create a free Wise Virtual Card? Go to Wise.
2. NETELLER
NETELLER is a digital wallet and electronic money transfer service that has been in operation since 1999. It enables its users to manage money using an easy, quick, and secure payment system. Furthermore, NETELLER supports free transfers and allows users to make purchases at millions of online stores that accept Mastercard.
NETELLER provides a physical Mastercard prepaid card and a 16-digit virtual card, which are collectively called the "Net+ Cards." An application for a Net+ Card can be made in the NETELLER account.
Get started: To create a free NETELLER Virtual Card, go to NETELLER.
3. Skrill
Skrill has been an innovative brand in the e-wallet and cross-border payments markets since its launch in 2001. You can count on it whenever you want to make your money move quickly and safely. The service enables fast and secure online payments to merchants and money transfers to Skrill customers and bank accounts. In addition, it rewards customers through its VIP program.
Skrill offers a free Prepaid Mastercard Card for making online payments locally and internationally. The card is in both physical and virtual forms.
Get started: To create a free Skrill Virtual Card, go to Skrill.
4. Payoneer
Payoneer is a digital service for making and receiving international payments, as well as accessing capital. It has been a global go-to partner for the management of personal finance and digital commerce since 2005, when it was established.
Payoneer’s personal and business solutions range from a multi-currency account to commercial payment cards. Its users include freelancers, digital nomads, e-commerce merchants, online content creators, digital marketers, and travel agencies.
The Payoneer Commercial Mastercard cards are the company’s smart payment solutions for entrepreneurs and businesses with a global market. They include physical and virtual cards that support in-person and online spending with increased limits and no fees. The cards can be used at all stores that accept Mastercard.
Get started: To create a free Payoneer Virtual Card, go to Payoneer.
5. Choise.com
One of the safest and easiest ways to enjoy your crypto investment is to use Choise.com, which was formerly known as Crypterium. Many beginners in investing, crypto enthusiasts, and experienced long-term investors like to use this digital platform. One of the reasons they are attracted to it is its crypto savings account that offers up to 10.7% returns in interest.
Since its establishment in 2017, Choise.com has been making it very easy for people to buy, sell, exchange, predict, and earn a living off of cryptocurrencies. As of early 2023, Choise.com supports over 35 popular cryptocurrencies and emerging digital coins.
Every user of Choise.com can apply for a Visa plastic card or a virtual card (often called the Crypterium Card). The virtual card can be gotten for free in a few minutes, topped up with Bitcoin, Ether, Litecoin and many other coins, and used for making payments wherever it is supported.
Get started: To create a free Crypterium Virtual Card, go to Choise.com.
6. Wirex
Wirex is a digital service that allows its users to effortlessly exchange more than 15 different traditional currencies and cryptocurrencies at exclusive interbank and over-the-counter (OTC) rates. It has been operating since 2014.
Concerning payments, Wirex offers a crypto debit Mastercard card for online and in-store shopping. A virtual card is issued along with the physical card, giving you access to blockchain-powered near-instant crypto transactions.
Get started: To create a free Wirex Crypto Virtual Card, follow this link.
7. Crypto.com
Crypto.com was founded in 2016. The company provides a wide range of blockchain-based services. They include the buying and selling of cryptocurrencies, the issuance of payment cards, the provision of crypto loans, and a DeFi Wallet, to mention but a few. Crypto.com also has a marketplace that enables the buying and selling of digital art creations, which are non-fungible tokens (NFTs).
This fintech startup also has a payment card for its customers: the Crypto.com Visa Prepaid Debit Card.
Get started: Get your Crypto.com Virtual Card here.
FAQ
Yes, you can get a debit card without having a bank account. However, keep in mind that it will be a prepaid debit card. The reason is that a regular debit card will have to be linked to a savings or checking account with a bank to make payments. On the other hand, a prepaid card works on its own. You only need to load it with any amount of cash that is no more than its maximum holding limit.
If you do not have a bank account, there are some cards you can use instead of a debit card. They include virtual cards, prepaid cards, and credit cards. These cards do not require you to have a bank account before you can obtain any of them.
You can get free instant virtual cards from the following neobanks, electronic money transfer services, and payment systems: Capital One, Revolut, Wise, Choise.com, Skrill, NETELLER, Payoneer, Wirex, and Crypto.com.
To get a virtual prepaid Mastercard card, you need to create a digital account with a payment system that can issue it. Next, you will have to apply for the card using the app or website of the service. In that case, you may find out which one fits better to your needs on the Virtual Cards section of our website.
You can sell gift cards for up to 92 percent cash back with companies like Raise and CardCash. You may choose to use these websites to convert unused gift cards into cash, which you can then use to make whatever purchases you choose, though you are likely to get less than 100% of the card's value.
The Bottom Line
Your experience of making payments online gets better when you use a virtual card. It is a safe, secure, and environmentally friendly way to send and receive payments locally and internationally.
Therefore, we encourage you to go to any of the aforementioned best providers of free virtual cards without a bank account. They can help you get the most out of your payments in fiat money and cryptocurrencies.
Remember that you do not necessarily need a bank account to get a virtual credit card or virtual debit card from any of the payment systems we have discussed in this article. So, give Wise, NETELLER, Skrill, Payoneer, Choise.com, Wirex, or Crypto.com a try today.
