US Unlocked review

US Unlocked is a long-running virtual card service for people outside the US who want to pay US websites, but it charges a fee on every load, and recent reviewers report cards declined at the stores they signed up for. Halocard is the better choice for most people, and the only one of the two that US residents can use. US Unlocked issues virtual Visa cards with a US billing address, which spend a balance you load in advance. It costs $4.95 a month or $39.95 a year with one card, plus 2% by crypto or stablecoins, 2% + $2 by SEPA or UK Faster Payments, and 5% + $1 by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. It relaunched in July 2025, and its balance is capped at $3,000. 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.

Pros

  • Pros: Low $4.95 monthly fee
  • Pros: A US billing address on every card
  • Pros: No credit check
  • Pros: Loads by crypto, stablecoins or card
  • Pros: Store Locked and One-Time Use cards
  • Pros: Works at some US stores and streaming services

Cons

  • Cons: Not open to US residents
  • Cons: Reviewers report declines at US merchants
  • Cons: A fee on every load, up to 5% + $1
  • Cons: Balance capped at $3,000
  • Cons: No physical card or bank account
  • Cons: Support by email and contact form only

How much does US Unlocked cost?

Monthly plan
$4.95
Annual plan
$39.95
Loading by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay
5% + $1
Loading by crypto or stablecoins
2%
Each card after the first
$1 a month

Is US Unlocked legit?

Company and country
Tern Commerce, Inc. (US Unlocked), USA
Registration or licence
Not disclosed
Card issuer
Third National
Trustpilot
1.9/5 (114 reviews)
Founded
2010

What US Unlocked reviewers report

Rated 1.9/5 on Trustpilot from 114 reviews. The most common complaints:

Cards declined at US merchants

Users report loading funds and then finding no US store or streaming service would take the card.

TERRIBLE

“I loaded some funds, they only let you do it in $50's, so I loaded $150, since I wanted to try it for a US site produce of $110. … I've tried since on 3 different US websites just to use the money I put there, and not 1 of them accepted the card.”

Trustpilot review, 18 September 2026

All set up paid does not work with…

“All set up paid does not work with peakcock tv which is what it was for and no help wast of money for streaming.”

Trustpilot review, 2 September 2026

Support that doesn't answer

Complaints about contact-form messages going unanswered, with no live chat to fall back on.

They have no ways of contacting and horrible UI

“They have no ways of contacting, you might think to say oh there is a contact form, they will not answer you, there is no live chat, no buttons, the website is completely dog to use, they need to take so much tips from WISE because this is so shocking, you cant change ur memberships, i closed all my cards to make new ones as it says CLOSED CARDS DO NOT COUNT TOWARDS THE LIST, guess what happens when i make a new card, you cannot go past 10 cards, it even tried to take $2 for each card, i accepted cuz i needed it, and it doesnt let me use it”

Trustpilot review, 2 September 2026

Terrible

“They took my subscription money then nothing worked. … No response when I tried to contact them.”

Trustpilot review, 22 August 2026

Want a card US stores accept? Try Halocard

A US-issued Visa credit card that works like a debit card, with a separate virtual card for each merchant you pay. Choose the billing address and cardholder name on each card, in the US or anywhere else.

Everything you'd use US Unlocked for, on a credit card.

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

How does Halocard compare to US Unlocked?

Halocard is the better choice than US Unlocked for most people: Halocard is a US-issued Visa credit card for customers in the US and 120+ countries, with 3 to 60 cards included by plan and a billing address you choose on each one.

Better choice
Halocard		US Unlocked
EligibilityAdvantage: US residents and residents of 120+ countriesPeople outside the US only
Card typeAdvantage: US-issued Visa credit cardVirtual Visa card you load in advance
Billing addressAdvantage: Any address you choose, on each cardA US address only
FundingAdvantage: Card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Bank Transfer, Stablecoins & CryptoCrypto, card or bank transfer, by country
USD bank accountAdvantage: Your own US account and routing numberNone
In-person paymentsAdvantage: Physical card, plus Apple Pay and Google PayNo physical card
PricingAdvantage: From $12 a month, with 3 cards$4.95 a month with 1 card, plus load fees
SupportAdvantage: Chat, email, and phone on every planEmail and a contact form
Trust and transparencyAdvantage: A regulated US company and card issuerA named US company; licence and bank not disclosed
See Halocard as a US Unlocked alternative

Get a Halocard in under 5 minutes

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

No VPN, no credit check, and open to US residents too.

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

US Unlocked FAQ

Is US Unlocked legit?
US Unlocked is a real service with a long history: it says it was founded in 2010, it is run by Tern Commerce, Inc., and it relaunched in July 2025. Its record with customers is weaker. It is rated 1.9/5 on Trustpilot from 114 reviews, and recent reviewers report cards declined at US merchants and support requests that went unanswered.
How much does US Unlocked cost?
$4.95 a month or $39.95 a year, with one card included. Each extra card is $1 a month and a One-Time Use Card is $2. Loading costs 2% by crypto or stablecoins, 2% + $2 by SEPA or UK Faster Payments, and 5% + $1 by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. Purchases in US dollars carry no fee, and its cardholder agreement lists 3% on purchases in other currencies.
Does US Unlocked charge a transaction fee?
Not on ordinary purchases: its pricing page says you only pay to load. Its cardholder agreement lists a $0.50 fee on $0.00 transactions, 3% on purchases in a currency other than US dollars, and $30 for a returned or reversed payment.
Do I need a referral code to join US Unlocked?
Not any more, as far as its sign-up page shows. After relaunching in July 2025, US Unlocked was invite-only, and it announced its public launch in October 2025. When we checked in October 2026, its sign-up form asked for an email address and no code, though its affiliate page still described the platform as invite-only.
Can US residents use US Unlocked?
No. Its FAQ says 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.
Which countries does US Unlocked work in?
Its site says it serves shoppers in over 150 countries, and the load methods on offer vary by country, so check its countries page for yours before you pay for a subscription. Halocard is a US-issued Visa credit card for customers in the US and 120+ countries.
Is US Unlocked a prepaid card or a credit card?
Its own documents disagree. The cardholder agreement that took effect in July 2025 describes a credit card with 0% interest, its terms of service refer to prepaid or credit cards, and its blog says the cards should not be described as a traditional credit card. In practice you spend a balance you load in advance. 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.
Does US Unlocked work with Amazon and US streaming services?
US Unlocked's FAQ says Amazon accepts its cards and that they work with app stores, streaming and software subscriptions. Results vary in practice: recent Trustpilot reviewers describe declines at US stores and streaming services, and its terms say it isn't responsible when a merchant that doesn't accept prepaid or virtual cards declines the card.
Why was my US Unlocked card declined?
US Unlocked's FAQ gives three common causes: insufficient funds, a merchant type the card doesn't support, or a 3D Secure problem. Its cards are designed for US online merchants and, by its FAQ, aren't reliable on sites outside the US. If a store keeps declining it, try a credit card: Halocard is a US-issued Visa credit card for customers in the US and 120+ countries, with a billing address you set on each card.
Does US Unlocked work with Apple Pay or Google Pay?
For loading, yes: Apple Pay and Google Pay loads cost 5% + $1. For spending, its October 2025 launch announcement says the cards are compatible with both wallets. Every Halocard can be added to Apple Pay and Google Pay, and both can fund your Halocard balance too.
Can I withdraw money from US Unlocked?
Yes, on request. Its terms say refunds and unloads carry a $10 fee, and that load fees and card creation fees aren't refunded. Halocard balances can be withdrawn to a supported withdrawal method.
How many cards can I have with US Unlocked?
One card is included and an account can hold up to 10. Each extra card costs $1 a month, and One-Time Use Cards are $2 each. Halocard plans include 3 to 60 cards.
Does US Unlocked give you a US shipping address?
No. Its cards come with a US billing address, but for a shipping address its FAQ says you must register with a US freight forwarder, and its site lists partner forwarders.
Do I need a VPN to use US Unlocked?
US Unlocked recommends one: its VPN page says to connect over a VPN whenever you pay on a US website with its cards. A card and a VPN solve different problems. The card passes the billing check at checkout, and a VPN gets past the location block some US platforms enforce separately. Halocard doesn't ask you to use one.
Is there a US Unlocked physical card?
No. Its FAQ says all cards are virtual. Halocard offers a physical card, free with any annual plan or $100 on a monthly plan.
Who owns US Unlocked?
Tern Commerce, Inc., a US company that provides card-issuing technology to other businesses, operates US Unlocked. Its CEO is Brion Bonkowski, who has said Tern acquired US Unlocked and rebuilt its platform.

Sources

  • US Unlocked, pricing: usunlocked.com/pricing
  • US Unlocked, FAQs: usunlocked.com/faqs
  • US Unlocked, cardholder agreement: usunlocked.com/card-terms
  • US Unlocked, terms of service: usunlocked.com/terms-of-service
  • US Unlocked, countries: usunlocked.com/countries
  • US Unlocked, about us: usunlocked.com/about-us
  • US Unlocked, VPN: usunlocked.com/vpn
  • US Unlocked, freight forwarding partners: usunlocked.com/partners
  • US Unlocked, merchant-specific or single-use cards: usunlocked.com/merchant-specific-or-single-use-which-card-to-use
  • US Unlocked, US Unlocked vs Wise: usunlocked.com/us-unlocked-vs-wise
  • PYMNTS, US Unlocked global public launch announcement: pymnts.com/newswire-announcements/us-unlocked-announces-global-public-launch-of-its-usdc-backed-virtual-credit-card-platform
  • The Paypers, interview with the CEO of Tern: thepaypers.com/fintech/interviews/making-every-company-a-fintech-company-interview-with-tern
  • Trustpilot, US Unlocked reviews: trustpilot.com/review/usunlocked.com

Disclaimer

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. Quoted reviews are verbatim Trustpilot excerpts of individual experiences, not verified by us. Not financial, legal or tax advice.

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