Virtual credit cards

A virtual credit card is a digital version of a credit card that you can use for the same kinds of payments as traditional, plastic cards. But the virtual card's details are stored online or in an app, which means you could use it even before a new plastic card arrives in the mail.

Compare virtual credit cards

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Name	Product	Purchase rate p.a.	Interest-free period	Balance transfer rate p.a.	Annual fee
Latitude 28° Global Platinum Mastercard		27.49%	Up to 55 days on purchases		$0	Save with 0% international transaction fees on purchases. Plus, complimentary Flight Delay Pass and global data roaming.	More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Bankwest Breeze Classic Mastercard		0% for 12 months, then 12.99%	Up to 55 days on purchases	0% for 12 months with 2% balance transfer fee, then 12.99%	$49	Save with 0% p.a. on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months (with a 2% BT fee).	More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Bankwest Breeze Platinum Mastercard		0% for 12 months, then 12.99%	Up to 55 days on purchases	0% for 12 months with 2% balance transfer fee, then 12.99%	$69	Get 0% p.a. interest on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months (with a 2% BT fee). Plus 0% foreign fees and complimentary overseas travel insurance.	More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
MONEYME Freestyle Virtual Card		23.74%	Up to 55 days on purchases		$0	A virtual, instant-use card that offers up to 55 days interest-free and the ability to transfer money to your bank account.	More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Westpac Flex Card		0%			$0	Offers a $1,000 credit limit, 0% foreign transaction fees and $0 monthly fee when you pay the previous month's balance in full.	More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Latitude GO Mastercard		27.49%	Up to 55 days on purchases		$119.40	Choose from 3 interest-free payment plans and and save with a $0 monthly fee when you carry a balance of less than $10.	More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Wizitcard		0%			$0	Offers an instant, virtual credit card with 0% interest on purchases and a monthly fee instead.	More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Bendigo Bank Qantas Platinum Credit Card		19.99%	Up to 55 days on purchases	19.99%	$149	Offers Qantas Points per $1 spent, 90 days of comprehensive travel insurance and extended warranty on purchases.	More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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Types of virtual credit cards

Any credit card that is stored virtually in an app or online account is technically a type of virtual credit card. This includes cards stored in Apple Pay, Google Pay and other mobile wallets.

But there are 3 main types of virtual credit cards you can get in Australia, each with different features, benefits and options.

1. Instant virtual credit cards for personal use

These are credit cards you can apply for and start using as soon as you're approved.

Usually, you'll get a digital copy of the card number, expiry date and CVV that you can use to pay online or over-the-phone. You can also shop in-person at any store that accepts contactless payments by adding the card to a mobile wallet.

Some accounts also come with a plastic credit card, but a few cards are totally digital.

What banks give you an instant virtual card in Australia?

Bankwest, Bendigo Bank and Westpac are among the banks that offer virtual credit cards you can start using once you're approved. Here are some more details on different instant, virtual credit cards you can get in Australia, including whether they are virtual-only or send you a physical card as well.

Most of these credit cards come with a virtual card that you can use before you get the physical card. But even the completely virtual cards can be used for most spending, as they are Mastercard or Visa cards.

2. Mobile wallet cards

When you add a card to Apple Pay, Google Pay or another mobile wallet, it creates a virtual "copy" of your credit card that you can use to make payments from the app.

Mobile or digital wallets typically create a virtual account number that's used for payments, instead of using the numbers printed on your plastic credit card. This feature – along with thumbprint or other ID authentication – helps keep the account safe.

Example: A virtual account number in Google Pay

In the Google Pay smartphone app, you'll see an image of your card without the numbers, along with some encrypted details of your virtual account number that's used when you tap to pay at the checkout.

3. Business and corporate virtual credit cards

The first virtual credit cards to be widely used in Australia were for business and corporate use. These accounts give businesses a way to manage finances without issuing lots of traditional credit cards to employees.

Some business virtual cards (including expense management cards) also let you generate virtual card and account details for payments, either for single-use or ongoing spending that could be restricted to certain types of transactions. These features mean virtual cards can give you more flexibility and a greater level of financial transparency compared to traditional business and corporate credit cards.

• Table: Business and corporate virtual cards

  Card	Features
  AirPlus Virtual Cards	Central company account with a monthly invoice for all transactions Customisable statements Generate instant, virtual Mastercard credit card numbers for payments Limit virtual card numbers for a specific purpose, currency, spending limit and time period
  American Express Go	Program administrators can issue virtual cards for employees directly through the American Express Go portal Spending is through an app, rather than with a traditional credit card Employees can start using virtual cards as soon as they are issued Customisable fields including cost centres and spending limits. Reports and reconciliation details through the portal
  CommBank virtual cards for businesses	Choice of virtual cards for travel or virtual cards for procurement Unique card numbers for different transactions, linked back to the central account Payment options: restrict to single-use, set date range, dollar value or individual merchant Integration with finance systems
  Weel	Unlimited virtual corporate cards linked to one account Cards can be issued instantly Customisable limits based on merchants and/or transaction values Real-time data feeds for transactions and budgets. Automatic recording of merchant data, GST and GL codes for each transaction
  HSBC Virtual Card	Generates unique account and card numbers for every transaction Real-time management of cards Customisation for cards, including transaction-level control Online management and reporting tools
  Volopay	Generates instant virtual cards for online spending, vendor payments and subscriptions Option of physical Visa cards for employees Domestic and international money transfers Instant transaction data for the person using the virtual card, the budget owner and the company administrator Budget and spending customisation Up to 2% cashback on foreign currency transactions Preload funds and allocate to different virtual cards or physical cards Apply for up to $100,000 credit
  Westpac Virtual Card	Virtual card with a 16-digit card number, expiry date and CVV (like a traditional card) Online processing No cash-out or cash transfer function Accounts can be set up by business or individual departments Range of reporting and integration options

  As well as banks and traditional credit card issuers, there are business and corporate virtual cards from a mix of other companies that specialise in business solutions. This gives you more options if you're looking for virtual cards for work.

Pros and cons

How can I get a virtual credit card?

It may be faster to start using a new virtual credit card than one you need to wait for in the mail, but you'll still need to apply and get approved first. This is basically the same as applying for any regular card.

Depending on the virtual credit card, you might notice a few differences to other applications, especially if it's an "instant" virtual credit card. This is because the card issuer needs enough details to verify that someone is eligible to be approved.

For example, with the MONEYME Freestyle Virtual Card, you'll need to upload bank statements as part of the application. And with the Westpac Flex Card, you need to log in to your bank account during the application.

Frequently asked questions

• Are virtual credit cards safe?

  Virtual cards are as secure as a traditional credit card – and sometimes could be even more secure because the virtual card numbers can be changed for each transaction. Every virtual card has different features, but some of the key security options include:

  • Unique card numbers. Some virtual cards let you generate a specific card number for each transaction, or for very specific types of transactions. This makes it very hard for a fraudster to use the card for unauthorised transactions.
  • Dynamic CVVs. Traditional credit cards come with a 3- or 4-digit CVV or CVC number that you need to make payments online or over the phone. While that number always stays the same on a physical card, virtual cards can offer CVVs that change regularly, or per transaction.
  • Encrypted details. Both online and contactless payments made from a virtual card use encrypted data so that the account details are protected.
  • Zero liability and fraud monitoring. Both traditional and virtual credit cards in Australia offer zero liability policies so you can get your money back from fraudulent transactions. Most also offer fraud-monitoring technology to flag any suspicious activity.

• Can I use a virtual credit card in the same way as a physical card?

  Most of the time, you can use a virtual credit card with any business that accepts traditional credit card payments. But there are a some situations when a virtual card may not be accepted, including:

  • When a payment terminal or system isn't set up for contactless payments
  • If a hotel booking requires a credit card and/or other ID when you check-in
  • If you need to present the card as proof of purchase

  In these situations, a virtual card either won't work when you try to pay or won't show the details that are needed by the business (such as a hotel). So it's a good idea to keep your plastic card handy – or to check if your virtual card will be accepted before you leave with only your phone.

• How many virtual credit cards are there in Australia?

  Finder maintains a database of every credit card we can find and as of 31 January 2024 we've found 6 providers that offer virtual credit cards for personal spending. These are: Bankwest, Bendigo Bank, Wizit, Latitude Financial, MONEYME and Westpac. Between them, there are over 20 virtual credit cards on offer.

• What are the disadvantages of a virtual credit card?

  A major disadvantage is that it relies on technology working. If your mobile phone loses power, you won't be able to pay with a virtual credit card, for example. A virtual credit card also isn't suitable if you need to present your card for proof of purchase or as security for hotels or car hire.

  In comparison, a traditional credit card can be used even if a payment machine's contactless reader isn't working, and is often preferred for car hire, hotel bookings and proof of purchase. So, it's ideal to have more than one payment option available.