Contents

What is a Revolut virtual card?

A Revolut virtual card is a bank card that exists only in digital form. It has its own:

  • Card number (16 digits, different from your physical card)
  • Expiry date (independent of your physical card)
  • CVV (3-digit security code)

These three elements are all the data needed to make an online payment. The virtual card provides them independently of your physical card, creating total isolation between your different payment methods.

If a virtual card number is compromised (data breach at an online retailer, phishing, etc.), your physical card, and therefore access to your main account, remains intact. You delete the compromised virtual card and create a new one in 30 seconds.

Types of virtual card

Revolut offers two types of virtual card, with distinct uses:

Permanent virtual card

A card with a fixed number, reusable as many times as you like. Ideal for:

  • Recurring subscriptions (Netflix, Spotify, etc.)
  • A specific online retailer you use regularly (Amazon, Fnac, etc.)
  • A spending category (online shopping, video games, etc.)

The number stays the same until you delete it or regenerate it manually.

Disposable virtual card (single use)

The number changes automatically after each transaction. Once a payment goes through, the card is "burned" and a new number is generated for the next use. Ideal for:

  • One-off purchases on little-known or unreliable sites
  • Signing up for a free trial (the charge cannot be repeated)
  • Transactions on sites whose security you doubt

This is the maximum level of protection: even if the details are stolen immediately after the purchase, they are already unusable.

How to create a Revolut virtual card

Creating one takes less than a minute from the app:

Open the app → Cards

From the home screen, tap the "Cards" tab in the bottom navigation bar.

Tap "+" or "New card"

The add button is usually at the top right of the card list or below your existing cards.

Select "Virtual"

Choose between a permanent virtual card and a disposable card depending on your intended use.

Name your card

Give it a descriptive name: "Netflix", "Amazon", "Dodgy sites", "Thailand trip 2026". This name appears in your card list and in your transaction history.

Set a spending limit (optional but recommended)

For a subscription, set a monthly limit matching the exact subscription amount. For a one-off purchase, set a limit equal to the expected amount.

The card is available immediately. You can copy the number, expiry date and CVV straight from the app and use them on any online shopping site.

The best ways to use virtual cards

Here are 6 concrete use cases that maximise the value of virtual cards:

1. One card per online subscription

Create a dedicated card for each subscription: Netflix, Spotify, Amazon Prime, Disney+, etc. Each card bears the name of the service and has a monthly limit matching the exact subscription amount.

Benefit: if Netflix raises its price and tries to charge more, your limit blocks the payment. You are alerted and you stay in control of the decision. And if you would rather "forget" to cancel a subscription at the end of a trial period... simply delete the card.

2. Purchases on little-known or unreliable sites

Buying from a site whose reputation or security practices you are not sure about? Create a permanent virtual card with a limit just high enough for the amount of your purchase. In the worst case, only that card is compromised.

3. Free trials with no nasty surprises

Free trials that require a bank card are fertile ground for forgotten charges. Use a disposable card: the service cannot bill you after the trial because the card number will have changed. You keep total control.

4. Amazon and the big marketplaces

Register a permanent virtual card dedicated to Amazon. Set a reasonable monthly limit. You can use Amazon as normal but with a safety net: one-click purchases and budget slips are automatically capped.

5. Travel budget with a precise limit

Create a "Travel" virtual card before you leave, loaded with a precise budget for online purchases during the trip (last-minute hotels, excursions, etc.). Your physical card stays intact for in-store purchases.

6. Delegating a payment to someone close to you

Want to let an adult child, a parent or a friend make an online purchase on your behalf? Create a virtual card with a limit equal to the exact expected amount, share the details with them, then delete the card after use.

Disposable virtual card: the ultimate level of security

The disposable card is technically the most advanced security tool available in Revolut for online payments. How it works:

  1. You start a transaction on a website
  2. Revolut generates a unique card number for that transaction
  3. The transaction is authorised with that number
  4. The number is immediately "burned": any later attempt to use it will fail
  5. For your next purchase, a new number is generated

When to use the disposable card:

  • Online retailers you use only once
  • Sites whose security you cannot assess
  • Transactions in countries with high fraud rates
  • Any situation where you want a transaction to be strictly non-repeatable

Limitation: sites that store your card for future purchases (Amazon "1-Click", subscriptions) are not suited to the disposable card. For those uses, the permanent card is more appropriate.

Limits and points to watch

Revolut virtual cards are powerful but come with constraints you should know about:

Some sites reject virtual or prepaid cards

A few categories of service systematically refuse cards identified as prepaid or virtual:

  • Some car rental companies (which require a genuine credit card with a credit limit)
  • Some hotels for deposits
  • A few streaming platforms that have put restrictions in place
  • Some online government services

In those cases, use your physical Revolut card or another bank card.

Refunds can take longer

If you return an item and the retailer refunds your virtual card, the standard timeframe applies (3 to 10 working days). If you have deleted the virtual card in the meantime, the refund will be redirected to your main account, but this can take longer and may require contacting support.

Do not delete a card before you have received your refunds

Practical rule: wait for confirmation of a refund before deleting the virtual card used for that purchase. If in doubt, keep the card until all disputes are resolved.