Virtual credit cards

Apply, get approved and start shopping on the same day with a virtual credit card – compare your options and see how they work.

Compare virtual credit cards Australia

Product Purchase rate p.a. Interest-free days Balance transfer rate p.a. Annual fee
Westpac Altitude Velocity Platinum image
20.99%
Up to 45 days on purchases
$250
Get 75,000 bonus Velocity Points when you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases in the first 90 days.
NAB Rewards Platinum Card image
20.99%
Up to 44 days on purchases
0% for 12 months with 3% balance transfer fee, then 21.74%
$195
Get up to 100,000 bonus NAB Rewards Points (worth $480 in eGift cards): 80,000 points when you spend $1,000 in the first 60 days and 20,000 after 12 months.
Westpac Low Rate Card image
13.74%
Up to 55 days on purchases
0% for 24 months with 2% balance transfer fee, then 21.99%
$59
Save with a 0% p.a. interest rate on balance transfers for 24 months (with a 2% BT fee). Plus, a low 13.74% p.a. purchase interest rate.
Westpac Altitude Velocity Black image
20.99%
Up to 45 days on purchases
$370
Up to 120,000 bonus Velocity Points (90,000 points in year 1 when you spend $6,000 in the first 120 days & 30,000 after the first eligible spend in year 2).
Westpac Altitude Qantas Black image
20.99%
Up to 45 days on purchases
$370
Up to 120,000 bonus Qantas Points (90,000 points in year 1 when you spend $6,000 in the first 120 days & 30,000 points after the first spend in year 2).
St.George Vertigo Card - Cashback Offer image
13.99%
Up to 55 days on purchases
6.99% for 12 months, then 21.99%
$55
Get up to $500 cashback at eligible supermarkets and petrol stations in the first 180 days. Plus, a low interest rate for purchases.
NAB Rewards Platinum Card – Velocity Points image
20.99%
Up to 44 days on purchases
0% for 12 months with 3% balance transfer fee, then 21.74%
$95
first year ($195 after)
Get up to 80,000 bonus Velocity Points: 60,000 points when you spend $1,000 in the first 60 days and 20,000 after 12 months. Ends 31 July 2025.
Bankwest Breeze Platinum Mastercard image
12.99%
Up to 55 days on purchases
0% for 24 months with 3% balance transfer fee, then 12.99%
$59
Get 0% p.a. interest on balance transfers for 24 months (with a 3% BT fee). Plus 0% foreign fees and complimentary overseas travel insurance.
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Key takeaways

  • Virtual credit cards are digital-only alternatives to a physical card
  • All Mastercard and Visa cards in Australia are issued as both physical and digital cards, but you can also get a virtual-only card if you like
  • Virtual credit cards can be issued and used immediately after being approved, but they're not accepted everywhere

Are virtual credit cards available in Australia?

Yes you can get a virtual credit in Australia. Any credit card that is stored virtually in an app or online account, like a Visa or Mastercard, is technically a type of virtual credit card, including cards stored in Apple Pay, Google Pay and other mobile wallets. But you can apply for a specific virtual credit card only, if you wish.

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
  2. Instant business and corporate virtual credit cards, for business use
  3. Mobile wallet cards – an existing Visa, Amex or Mastercard, added to your smartphone wallet

How do you get a virtual credit card?

Applying for a virtual credit card 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 very quickly (almost instantly) 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 Volopay, you need to log in to your bank account during the application. Once you've been approved for a virtual card, you can usually start spending right away.

Or, you might be applying for a standard credit card that happens to offer mobile wallet functionality. All the Big 4 banks and many smaller banks offer the ability to add your credit card to your smartphone wallet.

Can I use a virtual credit card immediately after approval?

When you're approved for a virtual credit card, you can start using them 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.

💡 Tip: Mobile payments made up 39% of debit card transactions in December 2024, and around 33% of credit and charge card transactions. So if you want to make virtual payments most of the time, it's worth comparing app store reviews as well as credit card features, rates and fees to help you can choose a card.

What are 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.

Ellis Connolly, RBA head of payments policy's headshot

"Over the past 15 years, there has been a striking shift from paying by cash to cards... These days, transactions mainly just involve tapping a card or a mobile device that securely stores card details."

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.

What's a virtual account number?

💡 Tip (for Apple Pay): If you need to replace a credit card that's been added to Apple Pay, the app will automatically update the details. This can happen before the physical credit card arrives in the mail, although you would still need to activate the card to start using it.

What about 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.

Pros and cons of virtual credit cards in Australia

Pros

  • Instant access. Some virtual cards can be used as soon as your application is approved, or when you're waiting for a new plastic card in the mail.
  • Data encryption. All virtual card apps and digital wallets encrypt your personal and financial data to help keep it safe.
  • Mobile payments. With a virtual credit card, you can leave your house with nothing more than your smartphone or device. And you can shop online in just a few taps.
  • Plastic-free. A totally virtual credit card means you'll save on plastic (and credit card plastic is hard to recycle in Australia).

Cons

  • Relies on technology working. You won't be able to use your virtual card if your phone battery goes flat or if you don't have an internet connection.
  • May not be accepted when you're travelling. Hotel bookings that require a credit card at check-in won't typically accept a virtual card. And if you're travelling to places where contactless payments aren't available, or don't have mobile roaming, you won't be able to use the card.
  • Potential debt. Getting a virtual card more quickly than a plastic credit card could mean you spend less time thinking about how you'll manage your money and repayments.

Frequently asked questions

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Amy is an experienced journalist with over 16 years of experience, contributing to major publications like Money Magazine, The Sydney Morning Herald, and ABC News Australia. Specialising in personal finance, she frequently appeared in media outlets and on radio. Amy holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Drama from Griffith University and earned RG146 certifications in Tier 1 Generic Knowledge and Tier 2 General Advice Deposit Products, ensuring her expertise is grounded in current financial regulations. Amy was Finder's Senior Writer for Credit Cards from 2016 to 2024. See full bio

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