To pay with a virtual card on your phone, add it to your mobile wallet (Apple Pay, Google Wallet, or Samsung Pay) to tap-to-pay in stores. For online shopping, select the virtual card at checkout or use autofill in browsers like Chrome. The virtual card generates a unique card number, CVV, and expiration date.
Turn on a virtual card in Google Chrome
Activate your virtual debit and credit card in our app to pay online, in-store, in-app or with Scan to Pay. It's free and secure. Your virtual card is the ultimate in digital convenience, and it's waiting for you on our app. It's specially designed for safer online shopping and scan to pay purchases.
To use a virtual card in a store, first add it to your digital wallet (Apple Pay, Google Pay) by entering the details, then use your phone's tap-to-pay (NFC) at checkout; alternatively, some merchants allow manually typing the virtual card number and security code into the POS terminal. The most common method is linking to a digital wallet for secure tap-to-pay at modern terminals that support it, providing enhanced security over traditional cards.
Yes, you can tap with a virtual card by adding it to a mobile wallet like Apple Pay or Google Pay, then using your phone to tap the contactless reader at checkout, which uses the card's details securely without needing the physical card. Alternatively, some virtual cards allow manual entry of the card number, expiration, and CVV directly at the terminal.
Yes, you can use a virtual card in stores, primarily by adding it to a digital wallet like Apple Pay or Google Pay for contactless tap-to-pay, or sometimes by manually entering the card number at the reader if the retailer supports it, though they're generally designed for online use and may not work for swiping or inserting like physical cards.
You have 2 ways to tap to pay in a store:
A virtual card is a unique 16-digit card number with a CVV code and expiration date that can be generated instantly and used to make purchases online or over the phone. Think of it as a normal credit or debit card, but without the physical plastic card.
Some merchants where the card is accepted include:
Using Your Digital Wallet
Look for a symbol at the checkout counter that indicates your digital wallet is accepted. Then, open your digital wallet app, select the card you want to use, and hold your phone near the payment terminal. You'll either need to enter your PIN or use your fingerprint to confirm the payment.
Your virtual card may decline if you don't have enough balance, the merchant doesn't accept your card, your card is inactive, or you are using the wrong billing address.
To use a virtual card in a store, first add it to your digital wallet (Apple Pay, Google Pay) by entering the details, then use your phone's tap-to-pay (NFC) at checkout; alternatively, some merchants allow manually typing the virtual card number and security code into the POS terminal. The most common method is linking to a digital wallet for secure tap-to-pay at modern terminals that support it, providing enhanced security over traditional cards.
Quick Steps
Virtual credit cards can be used for online, in-app, over-the-phone, or in-person transactions. For in-person payments, you can either key in the virtual card details at checkout or, if your issuer supports it, add the virtual card to your digital wallet, such as Apple Pay or Google Pay.
The 15/3 credit card payment method is a strategy to potentially boost your credit score by making two payments per billing cycle: one about 15 days before your statement closes (to lower reported utilization) and another around 3 days before the payment due date (to cover the rest and avoid late fees), though its actual impact on credit scoring is debated. It works by keeping your reported balance lower when the card issuer reports to bureaus, but experts note the specific timing isn't magical, and focusing on the reporting date is key.
Virtual cards don't have a PIN code.
To use a virtual card at checkout, especially online, select it as the payment method and let your browser autofill the details, or manually enter the unique card number, expiration, and CVV generated by your bank; for in-store use, you typically add it to a digital wallet (like Apple Pay/Google Pay) and tap to pay at the contactless reader, if supported.
No, virtual cards do not require activation. You can use your virtual card instantly for online spending after topping up via the Crypto.com App. Card activation is only required for physical cards upon arrival.
How To Pay Online Without A Credit Card
Yes, tapping your card is generally considered safer than inserting it because it uses tokenization and encrypted one-time codes, preventing your actual card details from being exposed to the terminal and reducing the risk of skimming, keeping your card in your possession at all times, and often requiring biometric authentication with mobile wallets, though both methods are secure due to EMV technology. While both tap and insert (chip) use strong EMV security, tapping avoids physical contact with potentially compromised readers and keeps your data encrypted for each transaction, making it a superior choice for security and hygiene.
You can pay with Google Wallet wherever you find the contactless or Google Pay symbols on the payment terminal screen or cash register.
You can check for NFC settings on your Samsung Android device by looking in the settings app > connections > tap NFC and contactless payments. If you see an option for NFC there, your device is enabled to make NFC payments.