Limits, not a loaded balance
Set daily, weekly or monthly limits on every card and change them any time, with no $1,000 ceiling.
What is Ivy by IronVest?
Halocard is the better Ivy by IronVest alternative when the card is what you need: reusable cards with your own limits, usable in any browser, in stores and outside the US. Ivy is IronVest's Chrome security extension: an AI security assistant, phishing warnings, masked email and phone numbers, and masked debit Mastercards issued by Emprise Bank, Member FDIC. Ivy's masked cards are debit Mastercards for US residents, loaded one card at a time and capped at whatever you load, up to $1,000 a card. Ivy has a free plan, Pro costs $10.99 a month or $99 a year, and it is too new to have a review record. Halocard has no free plan, but Essential is free with 3 referrals, and every friend you refer earns you $5 or more a month.
Pros
- Pros: A free plan
- Pros: Masked email, phone numbers and phishing warnings
- Pros: IronVest, Inc. on your bank statement
- Pros: Free ACH funding once approved
- Pros: SOC 2 Type II audit
Cons
- Cons: US residents only, for cards
- Cons: Loaded balance is the limit, up to $1,000
- Cons: No in-store use
- Cons: Idle cards may be cancelled after 90 days
- Cons: Chromium browsers only
How much does Ivy cost?
- Free
- Free
- Pro, monthly
- $10.99/mo
- Pro, annual
- $99/yr
- Active cards
- 3 on Free, 12 on Pro
What fees does Ivy charge?
- Load by debit or credit card
- 2.9% + $0.30
- Load by ACH
- Free, once approved
- Refund to a card
- 2.9% + $0.30
- Returned payment
- $25
How does Halocard compare to Ivy by IronVest?
Halocard is the best Ivy alternative when the card is what you need. It is a US-issued Visa credit card for customers in the US and 120+ countries, with limits you set on each card.
Better choice | Ivy by IronVest | |
|---|---|---|
| Eligibility | Advantage: US residents and residents of 120+ countries | US residents with a US address |
| Card type | Advantage: US-issued Visa credit card | US debit Mastercard, loaded per card |
| Funding | Advantage: Card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Bank Transfer, Stablecoins & Crypto | Card, or ACH once approved |
| Spending limits | Advantage: Daily, weekly or monthly limits you set, up to $1M a day | The loaded balance, $10 to $1,000 |
| USD bank account | Advantage: Your own US account and routing number | None |
| In-person payments | Advantage: Physical card, plus Apple Pay and Google Pay | No: online, phone and mail only |
| Cards | Advantage: 3 to 60 cards, by plan | 3 on Free, 12 on Pro |
| Pricing | Advantage: From $12 a month, or free with 3 referrals | Free plan; Pro $10.99 a month or $99 a year |
| Support | Advantage: Chat, email, and phone on every plan | Email and chat |
| Trust and transparency | Advantage: A regulated US company and card issuer | A US security company and an FDIC bank |
Why Halocard is the better Ivy alternative
Built for renewals
Cards stay open between charges and draw on one balance, so an annual renewal doesn't depend on reloading a card.
Beyond the US and Chrome
Halocard is a US-issued Visa credit card for customers in the US and 120+ countries, used from any browser.
Works in stores
Apple Pay and Google Pay on every card, and a physical card, free with any annual plan or $100 on a monthly plan.
Ivy by IronVest FAQ
Does Ivy by IronVest offer virtual cards?
Yes. Ivy issues masked virtual debit Mastercards through Emprise Bank, Member FDIC. You load each card with between $10 and $1,000, freeze or close it whenever you like, and use it for online, phone or mail order purchases. Free accounts can hold 3 active cards and Pro accounts 12. Cards are limited to US residents.
How much does Ivy by IronVest cost?
Ivy Free costs nothing. Ivy Pro costs $10.99 a month or $99 a year. Funding a card by credit or debit card costs 2.9% + $0.30, ACH is free once your account passes an eligibility review, and refunding a card-funded balance back to a card costs the same fee again.
Is Ivy by IronVest legit?
Yes. Ivy is made by IronVest, Inc., its cards are issued by Emprise Bank, Member FDIC under a Mastercard licence, and it holds a SOC 2 Type II audit. It is new, so there is little user feedback yet, but it is a real product from an established security company.
What should I do if a merchant declines my Ivy card?
Pay with a Halocard instead. Ivy's cards are capped at what you load, and some merchants handle low-balance debit cards more strictly on recurring billing and free trials. Halocard is a US-issued Visa credit card for customers in the US and 120+ countries, with a separate card for each merchant and a billing address you choose.
What happened to IronVest's masked cards?
IronVest paused its masked cards on January 20, 2024 to move them to a new financial partner, closing open cards and refunding their balances to the funding source. It expected them back by the end of March 2024, but the date slipped, and the IronVest app listing still called them temporarily unavailable in August 2026. Masked cards are now sold in Ivy, a separate app with its own account, issued by Emprise Bank, and IronVest accounts and data don't carry over.
What happens to an Ivy card I don't use?
Ivy's masked card terms allow a card that goes 90 days without use to be cancelled for security reasons without notice. Halocard cards stay open until you lock or cancel them.
What are the best alternatives to Ivy by IronVest for virtual cards?
Halocard is the leading option for anyone who wants limits on each card, cards that suit subscriptions, or availability outside the US: Halocard is a US-issued Visa credit card for customers in the US and 120+ countries. Privacy.com is a free choice for US residents with a US bank account, Cloaked suits people who mainly want email and phone masking, and Capital One cardholders already have free virtual numbers.Read the best virtual card providers
Disclaimer
Based on public information as of October 2026 (see Sources on our Halocard vs IronVest comparison); IronVest'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. IronVest and its product names are trademarks of their owner, used only to identify its products; Halocard is not affiliated with or endorsed by IronVest. Not financial, legal or tax advice.