Here are the best virtual credit cards of May 2024

The Citi Premier is discontinued and no longer available for new applicants.

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

A virtual credit card is a randomly generated card number you can use when shopping online or over the phone. It's designed to protect your account information from being stolen in case of a data breach or an insecure internet connection. Typically, if you have a physical credit card, you can also request a virtual card number online — provided your issuer offers this feature.

CNBC Select analyzed over a dozen credit cards from major issuers that provide virtual card numbers and compiled a list of the best options for various needs. (See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best virtual cards.)

Who's this for? If groceries make up a large chunk of your family's budget, you can stretch your dollars with the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express thanks to its high cash-back rate on purchases at U.S. supermarkets.

Standout benefits: The Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express lets you sign up for virtual card numbers by adding it to your Google account. Then, when shopping online using Google Chrome, you'll be prompted to enroll for a virtual card number on the checkout page.

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Who's this for? The Citi Double Cash® Card is a good pick for anyone who likes simplicity. It offers an above-average return on everyday purchases without spending caps or activation requirements.

Standout benefits: Cardholders with eligible Citi cards, such as the Citi Double Cash® Card, can enroll in virtual card numbers online on the issuer's website.

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Who's this for? The American Express® Gold Card is the ultimate travel credit card for foodies. Besides high rewards rates on groceries and dining purchases, it offers generous statement credits that make this card almost pay for itself.

Standout benefits: In addition to instant access after approval, American Express cardholders can request virtual card numbers when shopping online through Google Chrome. To get started, you must add your Amex card to your Google account. Then, when shopping online, you'll be prompted to enroll for a virtual card number on the checkout page.

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Who's this for? The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (see rates and fees) is an excellent option if you travel frequently and are in the market for a premium credit card. It has a simple rewards system that can provide a lot of value, as well as luxury perks such as annual travel credits, airport lounge access and credits for expedited airport security.

Standout benefits: Capital One cardholders can request a virtual credit card number through Eno, the issuer's browser extension. Eno allows users to create merchant-specific virtual card numbers, as well as lock, unlock or delete them at any time.

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Who's this for? The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card* is geared toward those who like to have fun — whether that is by attending entertainment events, such as concerts and sports games, or by streaming a movie and ordering takeout.

Standout benefits: Like the Capital One Venture X, the Capital One Savor offers virtual card numbers through Eno. The tool also offers useful features like reminders before free trials end, so that you have the opportunity to cancel before you're charged.

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The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is a cash-back credit card that offers 6% cash back on grocery shopping and U.S. streaming subscriptions. This rate is hard to beat, even considering the card's modest annual fee. It also offers elevated returns on U.S. gas station and transit purchases.

Rewards

• 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%)
• 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions
• 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations
• 3% cash back on transit
• 1% cash back on other purchases

Welcome bonus

Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new card within the first six months.

Annual fee

$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 (see rates and fees).

Notable perks

The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express offers cardholders an up to $7 monthly statement credit after using their enrolled card to spend $9.99 or more per month on a subscription to the Disney Bundle. They can also enroll their card to pay for an auto-renewing subscription to Equinox+ and receive $10 in monthly statement credits (up to $120 back annually).

Other perks include purchase and return protection, a ShopRunner membership (after enrollment), extended warranty and car rental insurance, among other benefits.

Cardholders can also take advantage of a 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a 19.24% - 29.99% variable APR applies. Variable APRs will not exceed 29.99% (see rates and fees).

Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply.

Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.

Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

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The Citi Double Cash® Card is a cash-back card that earns an unlimited 2% back on all purchases. Double cash back can add up fast, especially when you consider the card has no annual fee.

Rewards

Earn 2% cash back: 1% when you make a purchase and 1% when you pay. For a limited time, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel^SM portal through 12/31/24.

Welcome bonus

Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.

Annual fee

$0

Notable perks

Cardholders receive 0% intro APR for the first 18 months on balance transfers (then a 19.24% - 29.24% variable APR) initiated within 4 months of opening an account.

Other perks include Mastercard ID Theft Protection and access to Citi® Identity Theft Solutions, a service that will help you if you're a victim of identity theft. Plus, cardholders can get special access to ticket sales through Citi Entertainment.

Cashback earned with this card can be redeemed for checks, direct deposits, statement credits, gift cards and more. You can also transfer rewards to three of Citi's travel partners: Wyndham, JetBlue and Choice Privileges.

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The American Express Gold Card stands out for its generous return on dining and U.S. supermarket purchases. While the annual fee can seem high, the card's rewards and various perks help make up for it.

Rewards

• 4X points per dollar spent at restaurants (plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.)
• 4X points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X)
• 3X points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com
• 1X point per dollar spent on all other purchases

Welcome bonus

Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new card within the first 6 months of card membership.

Annual fee

$250 (see rates and fees)

Notable perks

American Express Gold cardholders can receive up to $240 in annual statement credits: up to $120 on dining ($10 per month) for purchases made with Grubhub, Goldbelly and other eligible restaurants (enrollment required) and up to $120 in Uber Cash ($10 per month) for U.S. Uber Eats orders and U.S. Uber rides. Enrollment required. Terms apply.

The card also provides travel insurance, including a baggage insurance plan and car rental insurance. Plus, if you book a stay at one of the properties in The Hotel Collection with American Express Travel, you can get a $100 experience credit (a minimum two-night stay is required).

There are several options for redeeming Membership Rewards points, but you'll get the best value by transferring them to airline and hotel partners.

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The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a premium credit card that earns at least 2X miles on all purchases and offers many benefits that easily make its annual fee worth it.

Rewards

• 10X miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked via Capital One Travel portal
• 5X miles per dollar on flights booked via Capital One Travel portal
• 2X miles on all other eligible purchases

Welcome bonus

Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.

Annual fee

$395 (see rates and fees)

Notable perks

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card offers up to $300 back annually in statement credits for bookings made through Capital One Travel and a 10,000-mile bonus on each account anniversary (worth at least $100 for travel), making it easy to recoup the $395 the annual fee.

On top of that, cardholders receive an up to $100 statement credit for either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®, access to Capital One and partner airport lounges and Hertz President's Circle elite status (enrollment required)* through Dec. 31, 2024. Other perks include VIP benefits on hotel stays booked through the Premier Collection and Lifestyle Collection, cell phone insurance** and various travel insurance benefits, including trip cancellation and interruption insurance, trip delay coverage, lost luggage reimbursement and car rental insurance.

Plus, there are lots of ways to redeem the rewards you earn with the Venture X, such as offsetting eligible travel purchases made in the last 90 days, booking new trips through Capital One Travel, transferring miles to partner loyalty programs or redeeming for cash or gift cards.

*Upon enrollment, accessible through the Capital One website or mobile app, eligible cardholders will remain at upgraded status level through December 31, 2024. Please note, enrolling through the normal Hertz Gold Plus Rewards enrollment process (e.g. at Hertz.com) will not automatically detect a cardholder as being eligible for the program and cardholders will not be automatically upgraded to the applicable status tier. Additional terms apply.

**Terms, conditions and exclusions apply. Refer to your Guide to Benefits for more details.

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The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card* isn't just a great card for entertainment purchases — it can also be a cash-back alternative to the Amex Gold. With an unlimited 4% cash back on dining and 3% back at grocery stores, you can rack up plenty of rewards for a low annual fee.

Rewards

• 4% cash back on dining and entertainment
• 4% on eligible streaming services
• 3% at grocery stores
• 1% on all other purchases

Welcome bonus

Earn a one-time $300 cash bonus once you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.

Annual fee

$95

Notable perks

The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card* offers 10% cash back on purchases with Uber and Uber Eats and a complimentary Uber One membership through Nov. 14, 2024. Cardholders are also covered by travel and shopping benefits such as travel accident insurance, extended warranties and more. Plus, the card unlocks access to exclusive events and experiences, such as presale concert tickets, through Capital One Entertainment (where you'll also earn 8% back).

Rewards can be redeemed for cash back, or you can use them to make purchases online via Amazon or PayPal.

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Virtual credit card numbers can keep your sensitive financial information safe — and you can get one with many popular credit cards. With plenty of choices, make sure to compare all the benefits and rewards these cards offer to apply for one that fits your spending habits best.

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best virtual credit cards.

To determine which virtual credit cards are the best, CNBC Select analyzed over a dozen credit cards issued through FDIC-insured banks and NCUA-insured credit unions that are widely available in the U.S. and offer virtual numbers.

We compared each card on a range of features, including rewards (e.g., cash back, points and miles), annual fees, welcome bonuses, introductory and standard APR and balance transfer fees and foreign transaction fees. We also considered additional perks (e.g., ongoing travel or merchant statement credits), cardholder protections (e.g., purchase protection, $0 liability protection and travel insurance), the application process when available (e.g., is there a credit pull or required credit score) and how easy it is to redeem points (e.g., are rewards are tied to a specific brand; if transferable, to how many/which partners, can you redeem for straight cashback). 
 
We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools.  

For the cards that offered a rewards program, we considered consumer spending data forecasts from location intelligence firm Esri to determine where U.S. consumers are spending the most money, like on dining and travel. We used this to help determine what bonus categories are most useful for consumers. Since the value of a point or mile varies based on what they can be redeemed for, we also considered things like transferability and the ability to redeem for cash-back. 

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For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, click here.

For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, click here.

*Information about the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.