Spend up to $1M a day from day one
Spend your balance up to $1M a day across your cards, with no starter caps. Privacy.com limits new accounts to $100 per purchase and $500 per card.
HalocardvsPrivacy.com
A US-issued Visa credit card for customers in the US and 120+ countries
Virtual charge cards for US residents, paid from a linked bank account
Halocard vs. Privacy.com: Comparison at a glance
Halocard is the better choice for most people deciding between Halocard and Privacy.com. It is a US-issued Visa credit card for customers in the US and 120+ countries, it never connects to your bank account, and every plan includes Apple Pay and Google Pay. Privacy.com is a narrower fit: virtual charge cards for US citizens and residents who are happy to link a checking account and want a free plan.
Halocard pros and cons
- Pros: A US-issued Visa credit card that works like a debit card
- Pros: A separate card for each merchant, with limits you control
- Pros: No bank account to link
- Pros: Apple Pay and Google Pay on every plan
- Pros: For customers in the US and 120+ countries
- Cons: No free plan; plans start at $12 a month
- Cons: A minimum first deposit to activate your account
Privacy.com pros and cons
- Pros: Free plan with 12 new cards a month
- Pros: Single-use and merchant-locked cards on every plan
- Pros: 1% cashback on Pro and Premium
- Cons: US citizens and legal residents only
- Cons: Needs a linked US checking account
- Cons: New accounts limited to $100 a purchase
- Cons: 3% foreign transaction fee on Personal and Plus
About Halocard
Halocard is a US-issued Visa credit card for customers in the US and 120+ countries, with a separate virtual card for each merchant you pay. Halocard works like a debit card: you spend the balance you load, with no credit line and no credit check.
Create cards in seconds from a web browser, set daily, weekly or monthly limits, lock or cancel any card instantly, and choose the billing address and cardholder name on each one. Fund your balance by debit/credit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, bank transfer, stablecoins, or crypto. Outside the US? You don't need an SSN, a US address or a US bank account.
About Privacy.com
Privacy.com is a US virtual card provider focused on online shopping privacy and consumer protection. It issues virtual charge cards paid from your checking account, so merchants see a card number Privacy.com generated instead of your bank card.
Privacy.com is available only to US citizens and legal residents aged 18 or over with a checking account at a US bank or credit union, which it connects to through Plaid. Cards are issued by Patriot Bank, N.A., Member FDIC, and Privacy.com says it serves more than 600,000 customers.
Halocard vs Privacy.com compared
Halocard is built for global users, subscriptions, advertising payments and everyday online payments, with US-issued Visa credit cards, a US bank account, stablecoin funding, custom billing profiles and customers in the US and 120+ countries. Privacy.com is built for US consumers who need disposable cards for online shopping.
Eligibility
HalocardAdvantage: Sign up from the US and 120+ countriesPrivacy.comUS residents with a checking account only
Customers outside the USHalocard120+ countriesPrivacy.comNot supported
US checking accountHalocardNot neededPrivacy.comRequired
Halocard is a US-issued Visa credit card for customers in the US and 120+ countries. Outside the US? You don't need an SSN, a US address or a US bank account. Privacy.com only serves US citizens and legal residents with a US checking account, so people outside the US can't sign up or fund an account from an overseas bank. See supported countries
Cards
HalocardAdvantage: US-issued Visa credit cardPrivacy.comUS charge card
What you spendHalocardThe balance you loadPrivacy.comYour checking account balance
Credit lineHalocardNonePrivacy.comNone
Credit checkHalocardNonePrivacy.comNone
Card networkHalocardVisaPrivacy.comVisa or Mastercard
Halocard works like a debit card: you spend the balance you load, with no credit line and no credit check, and you can add a physical card too. Privacy.com issues virtual charge cards, paid from the checking account you link. Check merchant acceptance
Funding
HalocardAdvantage: Card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Bank Transfer, Stablecoins & CryptoPrivacy.comLinked US checking account only, via a third-party integration with Plaid
Bank transferHalocardUSD, CAD, EUR or GBPPrivacy.comNot supported
Debit or credit cardHalocardVisa, MastercardPrivacy.comNot supported
Digital walletsHalocardApple Pay and Google PayPrivacy.comNot supported
StablecoinsHalocardUSDC, USDTPrivacy.comNot supported
CryptoHalocardBTC, ETH, SOL and morePrivacy.comNot supported
Halocard keeps one balance you top up by debit/credit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, bank transfer, stablecoins, or crypto. Privacy.com draws every purchase from a US checking account you link through Plaid, and that is its only funding method. See how to deposit
Bank account
HalocardAdvantage: US account and routing number on every planPrivacy.comNo bank account
Plans that include itHalocardEvery planPrivacy.comNot supported
Your own account and routing numberHalocardYesPrivacy.comNot supported
Receive ACH transfersHalocard1 to 3 business daysPrivacy.comNot supported
Receive same-day ACHHalocardYesPrivacy.comNot supported
Receive domestic wiresHalocardSame dayPrivacy.comNot supported
Send ACH and wire transfersHalocardYesPrivacy.comNot supported
Every Halocard plan includes a US bank account with its own account and routing numbers, so you can receive salary, transfers from friends and family, and any other payment you'd send to a US checking account. ACH transfers arrive in 1 to 3 business days and domestic wires the same day, straight into your Halocard balance and ready to spend. Privacy.com doesn't offer a bank account: every purchase is collected from a checking account you hold elsewhere. Send and receive USD payments
Controls
HalocardAdvantage: Per-card limits, custom name and billing addressPrivacy.comSingle-use cards, merchant and category locks
Single-use cardsHalocardWith annual plansPrivacy.comEvery plan
Lock or pause a cardHalocardInstantPrivacy.comEvery plan
Custom billing addressHalocardYesPrivacy.comYes
Custom cardholder nameHalocardYesPrivacy.comUnknown
Merchant-locked cardsHalocardNot supportedPrivacy.comEvery plan
Category-locked cardsHalocardNot supportedPrivacy.comPlus and above
3D Secure codesHalocardYesPrivacy.comUnknown
Account spending limitHalocardYour balance, up to $1M a dayPrivacy.com$100 a purchase and $500 a card for new accounts
Halocard lets you set daily, weekly or monthly limits on each card, choose the billing address and cardholder name on every card, and issues 3D Secure codes for checkouts that ask for them. Privacy.com adds single-use cards on every plan and can lock a card to one merchant or category automatically. See card spending limits
In-person payments
HalocardAdvantage: Physical card, plus Apple Pay and Google Pay on every planPrivacy.comNo physical card; contactless on Pro and Premium only
Physical cardHalocardYesPrivacy.comNot supported
Physical card on annual plansHalocardFreePrivacy.comNot supported
Your name embossedHalocardYesPrivacy.comNot supported
Same limits and billing address as virtual cardsHalocardYesPrivacy.comNot supported
Apple Pay and Google PayHalocardEvery planPrivacy.comPro and Premium
Cards in your walletHalocardEvery cardPrivacy.comUp to 3 Everywhere Cards
Top up with a walletHalocardYesPrivacy.comNot supported
Halocard offers a physical card, free with any annual plan, with your name embossed on it and the same spending limits and billing address as your virtual cards. Every plan also includes Apple Pay and Google Pay, and either wallet can top up your balance. Privacy.com has no physical card and limits contactless payments to its Pro and Premium plans, through up to three Everywhere Cards at a time. Set up Apple Pay
Pricing
HalocardAdvantage: From $12 a monthPrivacy.comFree plan; paid plans from $5 a month
Lowest paid planHalocard$12/mo, 3 cardsPrivacy.com$5/mo, 24 new cards a month
Largest personal planHalocard$75/mo, 60 cardsPrivacy.com$25/mo, 60 new cards a month
Annual billingHalocardTen months for twelvePrivacy.comSame monthly rate
Halocard plans start at $12 a month, count the cards you hold and include Apple Pay and Google Pay on every plan. Privacy.com has a free plan for basic domestic purchases, with contactless cards, lower foreign transaction fees and cashback on its paid plans; its plans count the new cards you create each month. Compare Halocard plans
Fees
HalocardAdvantage: No fee in USD; 1.5% + $0.30 abroadPrivacy.com3% abroad on Personal and Plus
Foreign transactions, top plansHalocard1.5% + $0.30Privacy.comNo fee
Purchases in USDHalocardNo feePrivacy.comUnknown
Per-transaction or decline feesHalocardNonePrivacy.comUnknown
First dispute in 12 monthsHalocardFreePrivacy.comUnknown
Halocard charges nothing on US-dollar purchases, and on purchases over $20 in other currencies its 1.5% + $0.30 costs less than the 3% on Privacy.com's Personal and Plus plans. Privacy.com's Pro and Premium plans charge no foreign transaction fee. See all Halocard fees
Support
HalocardAdvantage: Chat, phone and email on every planPrivacy.comSupport ticket only
EmailHalocardYesPrivacy.comUnknown
PhoneHalocardYesPrivacy.comUnknown
Replies to negative reviewsHalocardEvery one, on TrustpilotPrivacy.comNone, per Trustpilot
Halocard answers by chat, phone and email on every plan, and has replied to every negative review on Trustpilot. Privacy.com offers support by ticket only. Visit the help centre
Comparison reflects publicly available information as of October 2026. Competitor details subject to change.
Why people choose Halocard over Privacy.com
A card for every vendor or subscription
Give each subscription or vendor its own card and limit, and lock or cancel any card in a click.
No outside bank account to link
Fund with debit/credit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, bank transfer, stablecoins, or crypto. Halocard never sells your data to third parties.
A US bank account built in
Get your own US account and routing numbers on every plan, and receive salary, ACH and wire transfers straight into your Halocard balance. Privacy.com doesn't offer a bank account.
People answer when a payment fails
Chat with real humans, email or phone on every plan, and Halocard has replied to every negative review on Trustpilot.
Key drawbacks of Privacy.com
Available to US residents only
Privacy.com is only available to US citizens and legal residents with a US checking account, so people outside the US can't sign up, and reviewers who move abroad lose access.
Moved from Texas to Sydney for work in January and realized I was about to lose access to privacy.com.
Trustpilot
Requires a linked US checking account
Every purchase is drawn from a checking account linked through Plaid, and reviewers report Plaid not supporting their bank or credit union.
Plaid reported that they do not work with my credit union and was unable to set up my account.
Trustpilot
No physical card
Privacy.com cards are virtual only, so there is no card for in-person spending outside Apple Pay and Google Pay on Pro and Premium.
Slow verification and account support
Reviewers describe long identity checks at sign-up and slow replies when an account problem needs fixing.
Getting through their maze of invasive questions took forever.
Trustpilot
Halocard vs Privacy.com FAQ
Is Halocard better than Privacy.com for international users?
Yes. Halocard is for customers in the US and 120+ countries, while Privacy.com is available only to US citizens and legal residents with a US checking account. Outside the US? You don't need an SSN, a US address or a US bank account.
Does Privacy.com require a US bank account?
Yes. Privacy.com funds every purchase from a checking account at a US bank or credit union, linked through Plaid. Halocard never connects to your bank account.
Can Halocard be used for Google Ads and Meta Ads?
Yes. Halocard is accepted at Google Ads, Facebook Ads, TikTok Ads and X Ads, and you can give each ad account its own card with its own limit.
Does Halocard require a credit check?
No. Halocard never runs a soft or hard credit pull. Halocard never reports to credit bureaus. Halocard works like a debit card: you spend the balance you load, with no credit line and no credit check.
Is it safe to give Privacy.com my SSN?
Privacy.com asks for your SSN as part of the identity checks a US card provider must run. Halocard may ask US residents for an SSN or ITIN for the same reason; outside the US, you don't need one.
Which is better for subscription management?
Halocard, for most people: a separate Visa credit card for each subscription, daily, weekly or monthly limits, and instant lock or cancel. Privacy.com suits US residents managing a handful of domestic subscriptions on its free plan.
Does Privacy.com support stablecoin funding?
No. Privacy.com funds purchases only from a linked US checking account. Halocard accepts debit/credit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, bank transfer, stablecoins, or crypto.
Which has lower foreign transaction fees?
It depends on the Privacy.com plan. Halocard charges 1.5% + $0.30 on non-USD purchases on every plan. Privacy.com charges 3% on Personal and Plus and nothing on Pro and Premium.
How much does Privacy.com cost per month?
Personal is free, Plus is $5, Pro is $10 and Premium is $25 a month. Halocard plans are $12, $15 and $75 a month.
Can non-US residents use Halocard?
Yes. Halocard is for customers in the US and 120+ countries. Outside the US? You don't need an SSN, a US address or a US bank account.
Sources
- Privacy.com, card type: https://support.privacy.com/hc/en-us/articles/4414533181847-The-Terms-and-Conditions-reference-charge-card-What-does-that-mean
- Privacy.com, card issuer: https://support.privacy.com/hc/en-us/articles/4414521453847-The-Terms-and-Conditions-reference-Patriot-Bank-What-is-Patriot-Bank
- Privacy.com, plans and pricing: https://support.privacy.com/hc/en-us/categories/11900409113367-Paid-Plans
- Privacy.com, virtual cards: https://www.privacy.com/virtual-card
- Trustpilot, Privacy.com reviews: https://www.trustpilot.com/review/privacy.com
- Trustpilot, Halocard reviews: https://www.trustpilot.com/review/halocard.co
- Apple App Store, Privacy.com: Virtual Cards: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/privacy-com-virtual-cards/id1040298266
- Reddit, r/degoogle thread on Privacy.com: https://www.reddit.com/r/degoogle/comments/1cwmmas/has_anyone_used_privacycom/
- Halocard, plans and fees: halocard.co/subscription
- Halocard, US bank account and USD payments: halocard.co/usd-payments
Comparison reflects publicly available information as of October 2026. Competitor details subject to change.