Halocard is the better US Unlocked alternative for most people, and the only one of the two that US residents can use. Halocard is a US-issued Visa credit card for customers in the US and 120+ countries, with a separate card for each merchant, a billing address you choose on every card, and Apple Pay and Google Pay for paying in person. US Unlocked is a narrower fit: virtual Visa cards with a US billing address for people who live outside the US, with a fee on every load, a $3,000 balance cap and no physical card. It is rated 1.9/5 on Trustpilot, where recent reviewers report cards declined at the US stores they signed up for.
Five differences account for most of the gap: who can sign up, how each card is treated at checkout, how many cards you get, what it costs to move money on and off them, and whether you can pay in person. Halocard is a US-issued Visa credit card for customers in the US and 120+ countries; US Unlocked issues virtual cards for paying US websites from abroad.
| US residents | HalocardYes | US UnlockedNot supported |
|---|---|---|
| Customers outside the US | Halocard120+ countries | US UnlockedMost countries |
| Credit check | HalocardNone | US UnlockedNone |
| Identity check | HalocardPassport or national ID, under 3 minutes | US UnlockedPhoto ID, and proof of address if asked |
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. US Unlocked is exclusively for people who live outside the US: its FAQ says US residents can't use it. It relaunched in July 2025, by invitation at first, and has been open to new sign-ups since October 2025; which load methods you get depends on your country. See supported countries
| Card network | HalocardVisa | US UnlockedVisa |
|---|---|---|
| Cards per account | Halocard3 to 60, by plan | US Unlocked1 included, up to 10 |
| Merchants that refuse prepaid cards | HalocardNot affected | US UnlockedDeclines possible, by its terms |
| Merchants outside the US | HalocardWherever Visa is accepted | US UnlockedNot reliable, by its FAQ |
| 3D Secure codes | HalocardYes | US UnlockedYes |
US Unlocked's cards spend a balance you load in advance, and its own documents disagree on what they are: its cardholder agreement describes a credit card at 0% interest, its terms of service a prepaid or credit card, and its blog says they should not be described as a traditional credit card. Its terms add that it isn't responsible when a merchant that doesn't accept prepaid or virtual cards declines one. Halocard works like a debit card: you spend the balance you load, with no credit line and no credit check, but merchants see a Visa credit card, which clears the checks many SaaS platforms, AI services and ad accounts run against prepaid cards. Check merchant acceptance
| US billing address | HalocardYes | US UnlockedYes |
|---|---|---|
| Address outside the US | HalocardYes | US UnlockedNot supported |
| Custom cardholder name | HalocardYes | US UnlockedUnknown |
| VPN recommended by the provider | HalocardNo | US UnlockedYes |
Every Halocard can carry a billing address you nominate, in the US or anywhere in the world, and a cardholder name you choose, which is what US-only checkouts verify. Every US Unlocked card carries a US billing address: the one shown in your dashboard, or a US residential or freight forwarder address of your own. Its VPN page recommends connecting through a VPN whenever you pay on a US website. Set a card's name and address
| Bank transfer | HalocardUSD, CAD, EUR or GBP | US UnlockedSEPA or UK Faster Payments, 2% + $2 a load |
|---|---|---|
| Debit or credit card | HalocardVisa, Mastercard | US UnlockedYes, 5% + $1 a load |
| Digital wallets | HalocardApple Pay and Google Pay | US UnlockedApple Pay and Google Pay, 5% + $1 a load |
| Stablecoins | HalocardUSDC, USDT | US UnlockedYes, 2% a load |
| Crypto | HalocardBTC, ETH, SOL | US UnlockedYes, 2% a load |
| Balance limit | HalocardSpend up to $1M a day | US Unlocked$3,000 a load, and in total |
| Withdraw your balance | HalocardYes | US UnlockedOn request, for a $10 fee |
Halocard keeps one balance you top up by debit/credit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, bank transfer, stablecoins, or crypto. Halocard balances can be withdrawn to a supported withdrawal method. US Unlocked loads cost 2% by crypto or stablecoins, 2% + $2 by SEPA or UK Faster Payments, and 5% + $1 by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, so loading $100 by card costs $6.00. Which methods you can use depends on your country, a single load and your total balance are capped at $3,000, and its terms say load fees aren't refunded. See how to deposit
| Your own account and routing number | HalocardYes | US UnlockedNot supported |
|---|---|---|
| Receive ACH transfers | Halocard1 to 3 business days | US UnlockedNot supported |
| Receive same-day ACH | HalocardYes | US UnlockedNot supported |
| Receive domestic wires | HalocardThe same day | US UnlockedNot supported |
| Send ACH and wire transfers | HalocardYes | US UnlockedNot supported |
Halocard 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. US Unlocked is a card balance with no bank account behind it: it gives you no account or routing number, so nobody can pay you by ACH or wire. Send and receive USD payments
| Physical card | HalocardFree with any annual plan or $100 on a monthly plan | US UnlockedNot supported |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Pay and Google Pay | HalocardEvery card | US UnlockedYes, by its launch announcement |
| Merchants | Halocard175M+ wherever Visa is accepted | US UnlockedUS online merchants |
Every Halocard can go in Apple Pay and Google Pay for tap-to-pay anywhere Visa is accepted, and you can add a physical card, free with any annual plan or $100 on a monthly plan. US Unlocked's cards are virtual only. Its October 2025 launch announcement says they work with Apple Pay and Google Pay, while its FAQ says the cards are designed for US online shopping and aren't reliable on sites outside the US. Set up Apple Pay and Google Pay
| Per-card spending limits | HalocardDaily, weekly or monthly | US UnlockedPer charge, month or year |
|---|---|---|
| Lock or cancel a card | HalocardInstant | US UnlockedDeactivate and replace |
| Single-use cards | HalocardAnnual plans, from 2 a month | US Unlocked$2 each |
| Merchant-locked cards | HalocardNot supported | US UnlockedStore Locked Cards |
| A separate card per merchant | HalocardYes | US UnlockedUp to 10 cards |
US Unlocked covers the basics: you can set a spending limit on a card, lock a Store Locked Card to its first merchant, and buy a One-Time Use Card for $2. An account holds up to 10 cards, and each one after the first costs $1 a month. Halocard lets you set daily, weekly or monthly limits on each card, lock or cancel any card instantly, and choose the billing address and cardholder name on each card, with 3 to 60 cards included in your plan. See card spending limits
| Monthly fee | HalocardFrom $12 | US Unlocked$4.95 |
|---|---|---|
| Paid yearly | HalocardAdds disposable and physical cards | US Unlocked$39.95 a year |
| Cards included | Halocard3 to 60, by plan | US Unlocked1; extras $1 a month each |
| Load fees | HalocardListed on the pricing page | US Unlocked2% to 5% + $1 |
| Purchases in USD | HalocardNo fee | US UnlockedNo fee |
| Purchases in other currencies | Halocard1.5% + $0.30 | US Unlocked3% |
US Unlocked has the lower monthly fee, and for one small purchase a month it can work out cheaper. Its other charges change the picture: loading $100 by card costs $6.00 each time, every card after the first is $1 a month, purchases in other currencies cost 3%, and taking your balance back out costs $10. A lower price also doesn't help if the card is declined where you wanted to use it. Halocard plans are $12, $15 and $75 a month with no fee on US-dollar purchases, and Essential is free with 3 referrals. See all Halocard fees
| Chat | HalocardYes | US UnlockedNot supported |
|---|---|---|
| HalocardYes | US UnlockedYes, on weekdays | |
| Phone | HalocardYes | US UnlockedNot supported |
Halocard answers by chat, email, and phone on every plan. US Unlocked's FAQ lists email and a contact form, answered on weekdays from 9 AM to 6 PM Eastern, and recent reviewers describe messages that got no reply. Visit the help centre
| Company and country | HalocardHalocard LLC, USA | US UnlockedTern Commerce, Inc. (US Unlocked), USA |
|---|---|---|
| Registration or licence | HalocardFintech, not a bank. Registered MSB with FinCEN | US UnlockedNot disclosed |
| Card issuer | HalocardThird National | US UnlockedThird National |
| Account held at | HalocardSSB, Member FDIC | US UnlockedNot disclosed |
| Founders named | HalocardEdward Taylor | US UnlockedBrion Bonkowski, CEO of its parent |
| Founded | Halocard2024 | US Unlocked2010 |
| Trustpilot | Halocard4.2/5 (11 reviews) | US Unlocked1.9/5 (114 reviews) |
US Unlocked is run by Tern Commerce, Inc. and has operated since 2010, but its pages state no licence or registration, name its card issuer only as "Third National", and don't say where customer balances are held. Its 1.9/5 rating from 114 reviews is dominated by declined cards and unanswered support requests. Halocard names its company, card issuer, account bank and founder. About Halocard
The most consequential difference is what happens at checkout. US Unlocked's own terms say it isn't responsible when a merchant that doesn't accept prepaid or virtual cards declines one, and recent reviewers describe loading money and then finding no store that would take the card. Halocard is a US-issued Visa credit card, which clears a broader range of merchant and platform checks.
US Unlocked is exclusively for people who live outside the US. 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.
US Unlocked includes one card and charges $1 a month for each extra, up to 10. Halocard plans include 3 to 60 cards, each with its own limit and its own lock, so cancelling one subscription never touches the rest.
Every Halocard goes in Apple Pay and Google Pay, and you can add a physical card, free with any annual plan or $100 on a monthly plan. US Unlocked's cards are virtual only and, by its own FAQ, designed for US online shopping.
Reach a real person by chat, email, and phone on every plan. US Unlocked's FAQ lists email and a contact form, on weekdays.
Recent Trustpilot reviewers describe loading funds and then finding that no US store or streaming service would accept the card. US Unlocked's terms say such declines don't entitle you to a refund of subscription, load or card fees.
Every load costs 2% by crypto or stablecoins, 2% + $2 by SEPA or UK Faster Payments, and 5% + $1 by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, and its terms say load fees aren't refunded. Taking your balance back out costs $10.
US Unlocked's FAQ says it is exclusively for people who live outside the US, and the load methods on offer depend on your country.
A single load and your total balance are capped at $3,000, and an account holds up to 10 cards, with a $1 monthly fee for each one after the first.
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. It is built for online shopping, subscriptions, AI tools, advertising and everyday payments, and cards work at more than 175M merchants, online and in person through Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Create cards in seconds from a web browser, set daily, weekly or monthly limits on each card, lock or cancel any card instantly, and choose the billing address and cardholder name on each card. Fund your balance by debit/credit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, bank transfer, stablecoins, or crypto. Verification takes under 3 minutes with a passport or national ID. Outside the US? You don't need an SSN, a US address or a US bank account. Halocard cards are issued by Third National, a Non-Bank Principal Member of the Visa Network.
US Unlocked is a virtual card service for people who live outside the United States and want to pay US websites, app stores and streaming services that turn away foreign cards. It issues virtual Visa cards with a US billing address, which spend a US-dollar balance you load in advance. It is run by Tern Commerce, Inc., a US company that provides card-issuing technology, and says it was founded in 2010.
US Unlocked relaunched in July 2025 under a new cardholder agreement, by invitation at first, and announced its public launch in October 2025, when it said it had passed 250,000 users. An account costs $4.95 a month or $39.95 a year with one card included and up to 10 cards in total, and every load carries a fee. US Unlocked provides no US shipping address (it refers customers to freight forwarders), no physical card and no bank account, and its FAQ says US residents can't use it.
Based on public information as of October 2026 (see Sources above); US Unlocked's products, fees and terms may change, so check before you decide. Halocard publishes this page and makes one of the products compared, so verdicts and ticks are our opinion. US Unlocked and its product names and logos are trademarks of their owner, used only to identify its products; Halocard is not affiliated with or endorsed by US Unlocked. Not financial, legal or tax advice.
