What is Privacy.com?

Privacy.com is a US service that issues virtual charge cards paid from a checking account you link, so merchants never see your bank card number. Every plan includes single-use and merchant-locked cards, starting with a free plan of 12 new cards a month; contactless cards, 1% cashback and no foreign transaction fee sit on Pro and Premium. Privacy.com is only available to US citizens and legal residents aged 18 or over with a checking account at a US bank or credit union.

Pros

  • Pros: Free plan with 12 new cards a month
  • Pros: Single-use and merchant-locked cards
  • Pros: Spend limits
  • Pros: Category-locked cards and API access
  • Pros: Contactless Everywhere Cards
  • Pros: 1% cashback, no foreign transaction fee
  • Pros: Rated 4.5/5 on Trustpilot

Cons

  • Cons: US citizens and legal residents only
  • Cons: Needs a linked US checking account
  • Cons: New accounts limited to $100 a purchase
  • Cons: No funding by credit card, stablecoins or crypto
  • Cons: 3% foreign transaction fee

How much does Privacy.com cost?

Personal
Free
Plus
$5/mo
Pro
$10/mo
Premium
$25/mo

What fees does Privacy.com charge?

Domestic purchases
No fee
Foreign transactions, Personal and Plus
3% (min $0.50)
Foreign transactions, Pro and Premium
No fee
Cashback, Pro and Premium
1%, up to $4,500 a month

Comparison reflects publicly available information as of October 2026. Competitor details subject to change.

Need a Privacy.com alternative? Try Halocard

A US-issued Visa credit card that works like a debit card, with a separate virtual card for each merchant you pay. You choose the cardholder name and billing address on each card, so a merchant only records the details you decide to give.

Do what you'd use Privacy.com for, without linking your checking account.

Get Your Halocard
Halocard on a phone, with Halocard metal cards fanned behind it

How does Halocard compare to Privacy.com?

Halocard is the best Privacy.com alternative for most people. It is a US-issued Visa credit card for customers in the US and 120+ countries, funded without linking a bank account.

Better choice
Halocard		Privacy.com
Card typeUS-issued Visa credit cardUS charge card
AvailabilityUS + 120+ countriesUS citizens and residents
FundingCard, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Bank Transfer, Stablecoins & CryptoLinked US checking account
Apple Pay and Google PayEvery planPro and Premium only
Bank account to linkNoneUS checking account
Customer supportChat, phone and emailSupport ticket only
View detailed comparison of Halocard vs Privacy.com

Why Halocard is the better Privacy.com alternative

Your bank account stays out of it

Privacy.com draws every purchase from a checking account linked through Plaid. Halocard runs on a balance you top up by debit/credit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, bank transfer, stablecoins, or crypto.

Plaid reported that they do not work with my credit union.Privacy.com user, Trustpilot

Keeps working if you leave the US

Privacy.com is for US citizens and residents only. Halocard serves the US and 120+ countries, with no SSN, US address or US bank account needed outside the US.

Moved from Texas to Sydney for work in January and realized I was about to lose access to privacy.com.Halocard user, Trustpilot

Apple Pay and Google Pay on every plan

Privacy.com keeps contactless to Pro and Premium, with up to three Everywhere Cards open. Every Halocard can go in Apple Pay or Google Pay, on every plan.

A real person when something goes wrong

Halocard answers by chat, phone and email on every plan. On Trustpilot, Halocard has replied to every negative review; Privacy.com hasn't replied to its negative reviews.

It was nice to know the support was actually someone on the other end.Halocard user, Trustpilot

Get a Halocard in under 5 minutes

Sign up from any web browser, with no app to install. Verify in about 3 minutes, add funds by debit/credit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, bank transfer, stablecoins, or crypto, and pay anywhere Visa is accepted.

No checking account to link, no credit check.

Get Your Halocard
Halocard on a phone, with Halocard metal cards fanned behind it

Privacy.com FAQ

What can I use if Privacy.com won't link my bank?
Use Halocard instead. Halocard is a US-issued Visa credit card for customers in the US and 120+ countries, with a separate card for each merchant, and you never link a bank account: you top up one balance by debit/credit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, bank transfer, stablecoins, or crypto. If Plaid doesn't support your bank or credit union, nothing about Halocard depends on it.
What should I do if a merchant declines my Privacy.com card?
Pay with a Halocard instead. Privacy.com limits new accounts to $100 per purchase and $500 per card. Halocard is a US-issued Visa credit card for customers in the US and 120+ countries, with a separate card for each merchant, and you can spend your balance up to $1M a day. Check the merchant in Halocard's acceptance guides, then make a card for it in minutes.
Can I use Privacy.com outside the US?
No. Privacy.com is only for US citizens and legal residents with a US checking account. Halocard is a US-issued Visa credit card for customers in the US and 120+ countries, with a separate card for each merchant. Outside the US? You don't need an SSN, a US address or a US bank account.
What happens to my Privacy.com cards if I move abroad?
Privacy.com is built around US residency and a US checking account, so moving abroad usually means finding another provider. Halocard keeps working wherever you live in its 120+ countries, with a separate card for each merchant, so you can move each subscription onto its own Halocard before you go.
Is there a Privacy.com alternative with Apple Pay on every plan?
Yes, Halocard. Halocard is a US-issued Visa credit card for customers in the US and 120+ countries, and every plan, including the cheapest, works with Apple Pay and Google Pay. Privacy.com keeps contactless payments to its Pro and Premium plans, with up to three Everywhere Cards open.
How do I move my subscriptions from Privacy.com to Halocard?
Sign up for Halocard, verify in about 3 minutes and add funds. Make one card per subscription, set its limit, and update the payment method at each merchant. Once a subscription bills to Halocard, pause or close its Privacy.com card.
Is Privacy.com legit?
Yes. Privacy.com is an established US virtual card service. It says it serves more than 600,000 customers and is rated 4.5/5 on Trustpilot from 3,354 reviews.
Which bank issues Privacy.com cards?
Patriot Bank, N.A., Member FDIC, issues Privacy.com cards under licences from Visa and Mastercard, so they work wherever Visa or Mastercard is accepted. Halocard is a US-issued Visa credit card for customers in the US and 120+ countries.
Is Privacy.com a credit card?
No. Privacy.com cards are charge cards: each purchase is collected from your linked checking account, with no credit line. Halocard is a US-issued Visa credit card for customers in the US and 120+ countries. Halocard works like a debit card: you spend the balance you load, with no credit line and no credit check.
What is the best Privacy.com alternative?
Halocard is the best Privacy.com alternative for most people: a US-issued Visa credit card for customers in the US and 120+ countries, with Apple Pay and Google Pay on every plan and no bank account to link.
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