The best virtual debit cards in Canada for 2026

Considering a virtual card for online shopping or payments using your phone? Canadian customers can choose from virtual debit, prepaid and credit cards, with different fees, features and eligibility requirements.

This guide explains how virtual cards work, compares popular options and walks through how to get one. Whether you want multi-currency spending, cashback or a card linked to your existing bank account, there are several options to consider.

Key points: Virtual cards in Canada

What is a virtual debit card?

A virtual debit card provides payment details you can access digitally and use to spend money from a linked account. You can typically use those details for online purchases and, where supported, add the card to a mobile wallet for contactless payments.

Virtual cards can also be prepaid cards, which spend funds you have loaded, or credit cards, which let you borrow against a credit limit. Check which type you are applying for, as the fees and requirements differ.

For in-store payments, your card must support a compatible wallet such as Apple Pay or Google Pay, and the merchant must accept that payment method. You do not generally need a mobile wallet to enter virtual card details at an online checkout.

A virtual card cannot replace a physical card in every situation. Some merchants require a physical card, and many ATMs do too. Contactless ATM withdrawals are possible with certain cards and compatible machines, but availability varies.

Some providers issue virtual cards soon after account approval. However, identity verification, card activation and funding can affect when you can start spending.

Virtual cards may have separate numbers from your physical card, allowing you to manage or replace them independently. This is not universal, and adding an existing card to a mobile wallet does not necessarily create a separate virtual card number you can use at any online checkout.

Security features also vary. Some providers let you freeze or replace virtual card details, but not every card offers disposable or single-use numbers. Replacing a card does not cancel a subscription or remove your obligation to pay a merchant.

Virtual debit cards in Canada comparison: At a glance

The providers below offer virtual debit or prepaid cards for Canadian customers. Compare the linked account’s costs and benefits as well as the card itself.

Interest is a feature of the underlying account or balance, rather than the virtual card. Rates are annual and may change. All prices below are in CAD.

KOHO’s international transfers support 190+ countries across Core, Extra and Everything. KOHO advertises competitive exchange rates, no hidden fees and transfers that can arrive within 30 minutes. Actual delivery times vary, and transfer pricing is separate from card foreign transaction fees.

Cashback eligibility, merchant offers and interest rates are subject to the applicable terms. Check the current fees and benefits before choosing an account.

You have to order a physical Wise card to get a virtual Wise card, but as soon as your physical card order is processed you can spend on your virtual card, so there’s no need to wait. You’ll also always have your physical card too for those times when you need to withdraw cash.

You can open up to 3 Wise virtual cards at a time.

Stack virtual card

STACK prepaid Mastercards were discontinued on September 11, 2023, and are no longer available.

KOHO virtual card

KOHO offers three account plans: Core, Extra and Everything. Each includes access to a virtual prepaid Mastercard, and you can request a physical card too.

Once your account is approved and funded, you can use your virtual card for online purchases or add it to a supported mobile wallet for contactless payments.

Core is KOHO’s free plan at $0/month. Extra costs $18/month or $144 annually, while Everything costs $22/month or $177 annually. All prices below are in CAD.

Core also offers up to 6.5% additional cashback at selected merchants. Merchant offers and qualifying purchase categories have their own conditions; the highest advertised rate does not apply to every purchase. Interest rates are variable.

International money transfers are available on all three plans, including free Core, to 190+ countries. KOHO advertises competitive exchange rates, no hidden fees and transfers that can arrive within 30 minutes. Actual delivery times vary, and access to transfers does not mean every transfer is free.

KOHO accounts hold CAD. Card foreign transaction fees and international transfer pricing are separate, so check the transfer quote before confirming a payment.

Wealthsimple virtual card

Wealthsimple offers a virtual prepaid card linked to its chequing account. Its current advertised product is the Visa Platinum prepaid card, although some existing customers may still have a prepaid Mastercard while transitioning.

The Visa Platinum prepaid card has no card fee, monthly account fee or foreign transaction fee. It supports online purchases and mobile-wallet payments using Apple Pay or Google Wallet.

The chequing account can earn interest, but rates and qualifying conditions can change. Check the current rate applicable to your account rather than relying on an older promotional rate.

The previous 1% cashback benefit on Wealthsimple’s prepaid Mastercard ended on September 30, 2025. Do not confuse the prepaid card’s benefits with those of Wealthsimple’s separate credit card.

RBC virtual card

RBC Virtual Visa Debit lets eligible customers make purchases using money from their linked RBC banking account. You can activate it through the RBC Mobile app and view its card details there.

It supports online purchases, eligible recurring card payments and mobile-wallet purchases. International contactless payments are available through supported wallets at participating merchants.

There is no additional fee for Virtual Visa Debit, but your account’s normal fees and transaction limits still apply. Foreign-currency transactions are converted to CAD at a rate that includes a 2.5% markup over RBC’s applicable benchmark rate.

How do virtual cards work?

A virtual card provides payment details you can use without a physical card. Depending on the provider, it may be a debit card, prepaid card or credit card.

Some virtual cards have a separate card number from the physical card. Adding an existing card to Apple Pay or Google Pay is slightly different: the wallet uses a digital payment credential, but this does not necessarily give you a separate card number you can enter at any online checkout.

Online payments: Enter your virtual card number, expiry date and security code at a compatible checkout, or use a supported wallet payment option.

Money transfers: Transfers are an account service, not an automatic feature of a virtual card. Some providers offer transfers through their app, while others may let you fund a transfer with an eligible card. Fees, limits and availability vary.

Link to digital wallets: Where supported, add your card to Apple Pay, Google Pay or another compatible wallet for contactless payments. Your device, card and the merchant’s terminal must support the payment method.

Recurring payments: You can use an eligible virtual card for subscriptions and other recurring card payments. To cancel a subscription, follow the merchant’s cancellation process. Freezing or replacing your card does not necessarily cancel your contract or stop every recurring charge.

International spending: A virtual card may support purchases in foreign currencies, but that does not mean its linked account holds those currencies. Check the exchange rate, conversion fees and foreign transaction fees before paying.

How to get a virtual card in Canada

The process varies by provider. You usually need to open an eligible account, complete identity verification and activate or request the card.

Digital providers such as Wise and KOHO offer online registration. Verification may take additional time, even when the card itself can be issued digitally.

To request a Wise digital card:

1. Open a Wise account online or in the app.
2. Complete any identity checks requested.
3. Open the Cards section.
4. Select the option to get a digital card and follow the prompts.
5. Once issued, view your card details for online purchases or add it to a supported mobile wallet.
6. Make sure your account has sufficient available funds before spending.

You do not need to wait for a physical card to arrive before using an issued digital card.

Learn more here: How to use Wise digital card

How to use a virtual card for international spending

For online purchases, enter your virtual card details at checkout. For in-store payments, add the card to a supported mobile wallet and use your device at a compatible contactless terminal.

When offered a choice of currencies abroad, paying in the local currency generally lets your card provider handle the conversion instead of accepting the merchant’s conversion rate.

Do not assume every virtual card is disposable or single-use. Some providers let you replace virtual card details, but this is different from automatically generating a new number after every purchase.

Wise: Spend online or through a supported mobile wallet. Your account can hold 40+ currencies. Spending a currency you already hold is free; when conversion is needed, Wise uses the mid-market rate and charges a separate conversion fee.

KOHO: Use your virtual prepaid Mastercard online or through a supported mobile wallet. Core charges a 1.5% foreign transaction fee, while Extra and Everything have no foreign transaction fees. International transfers are also available on all plans, including free Core, as a separate account service.

Wealthsimple: Its Visa Platinum prepaid card has no foreign transaction fee and supports mobile-wallet payments. Foreign-currency purchases use the applicable Visa exchange rate.

RBC: Virtual Visa Debit supports international online purchases and eligible mobile-wallet payments abroad. Its foreign-currency conversion includes a 2.5% markup. Spending limits and merchant acceptance still apply.

Transaction fees that apply to virtual cards

Virtual card costs depend on the underlying account and provider. A digital card may be free to issue while still carrying subscription charges, conversion fees or foreign transaction fees.

Here is how the featured providers compare:

Here are the other main costs to consider:

• Wise: Digital cards and standard physical card ordering are free in Canada. There is no subscription fee. Conversion and other transaction fees may apply.
• KOHO: Core is free. Extra costs $18/month or $144 annually, and Everything costs $22/month or $177 annually. International transfers are available on every plan, with pricing shown separately from card fees.
• Wealthsimple: The Visa Platinum prepaid card has no card fee or monthly account fee.
• RBC: There is no additional fee for Virtual Visa Debit, but the linked banking account’s fees and limits still apply.

Fees and rates may change. Check the provider’s current pricing before applying or making a transaction.

Instant virtual cards

Some providers issue a virtual card as soon as your account is approved and the required checks are complete. This can let you start spending before a physical card arrives.

However, “instant” card access does not guarantee instant account approval or immediate availability of deposited funds.

• Wise virtual card: Once your digital card is issued, you can use it online or add it to a supported mobile wallet.
• KOHO virtual card: KOHO provides a virtual prepaid Mastercard through its account setup process. Add funds before spending, and check your chosen plan’s cashback and foreign transaction fees.

How to get a virtual card instantly in Canada

1. Choose a provider: Check whether it offers a virtual card with visible card details, mobile-wallet access, or both.
2. Open and verify your account: Complete the provider’s identity checks. Credit card applications may also require a credit assessment.
3. Request or activate the virtual card: Follow the instructions in the app. Requirements differ, so do not assume you must order a physical card first.
4. Fund the account if needed: Debit and prepaid purchases require sufficient available funds.
5. Start spending: Use your card details online or add the card to a compatible wallet for supported in-store payments.

Online account with instant virtual card

Several providers offer digital access to a card before physical delivery. Compare approval requirements, wallet compatibility and fees as well as speed.

Wise: Offers digital cards linked to its multi-currency account. This can be useful for international shopping and managing spending across currencies.

KOHO: Provides a virtual prepaid Mastercard with Core, Extra and Everything. Cashback and interest depend on the plan, as shown above. Core is free and includes international transfers; Extra and Everything remove the card foreign transaction fee.

RBC: Eligible customers can activate Virtual Visa Debit through the RBC Mobile app. It draws on the linked banking account and supports online and eligible international mobile-wallet purchases.

EQ Bank Card: The personal EQ Bank Card supports mobile-wallet use, but this should not be presented as a guarantee of an instantly available, separate virtual card number when you open a Personal Account. Follow the card ordering and activation instructions. EQ Bank separately advertises immediate digital-wallet access for its Business Card.

Virtual credit cards in Canada

Virtual credit cards let you spend against a credit account. They differ from virtual debit and prepaid cards, which generally use your available account balance.

Adding a credit card to a mobile wallet also enables digital payments, but it does not necessarily create a separate virtual card number that you can manage independently.

• RBC virtual credit cards: RBC offers virtual credit cards through its Commercial credit card program for business payments, including supplier payments. This is separate from personal RBC Virtual Visa Debit.
• Scotiabank mobile-wallet cards: Eligible Scotiabank debit and credit cards can be added to supported mobile wallets. This enables contactless payments without presenting the physical card; available features and limits depend on the card and wallet.
• Neo virtual credit cards: Neo offers virtual cards after credit card approval, allowing eligible customers to spend before the physical card arrives. Fees, rewards and qualification requirements depend on the specific Neo credit card. Check its current terms rather than assuming every Neo card has the same cashback rates.

Are virtual debit cards safe to use?

Virtual cards can add useful security controls, but they do not eliminate the risk of fraud.

A separately numbered virtual card can help limit exposure of your physical card details. Some providers also let you freeze or replace the virtual card through their app. These features vary by provider.

Protect your device with a strong passcode, enable available account security features and review your transactions regularly. Report unfamiliar payments promptly.

If you replace a virtual card, check whether you need to update legitimate subscriptions. Replacing a card is not a substitute for cancelling a subscription with the merchant.

How to choose the best virtual card

• Availability: Check when the card becomes usable and whether account verification or funding may delay access.
• Payment options: Confirm whether you can view the card number for online purchases and add the card to your preferred mobile wallet.
• Security controls: Look for transaction alerts and the ability to freeze or replace the card. Do not assume disposable numbers are included.
• Total fees: Compare account subscriptions, currency conversion charges and foreign transaction fees.
• International use: Check destination restrictions, merchant acceptance and how foreign-currency purchases are converted.
• Cashback and interest: Compare eligible spending categories, reward caps and subscription costs. KOHO’s rates vary across Core, Extra and Everything.
• Account features: If you need international transfers, compare those separately from card spending. KOHO includes transfer access on its free Core plan as well as its paid plans.

Which Canadian banks give virtual debit cards instantly?

RBC offers app-based activation of Virtual Visa Debit for eligible customers. Approval, account eligibility and available funds still affect when you can start spending.

RBC Virtual Visa Debit: Look for the Virtual Visa Debit activation or viewing option in the RBC Mobile app. Once activated, you can access its payment details and use supported payment methods.

EQ Bank: Its personal prepaid card supports mobile-wallet payments, but mobile-wallet compatibility should not be confused with guaranteed instant virtual-card issuance. The Business Card has a separately advertised digital card feature available before physical delivery.

Financial technology providers such as KOHO and Wise also offer virtual cards, but they should not automatically be described as Canadian banks.

Conclusion: Are virtual cards worth it?

Virtual cards can make online shopping and supported mobile payments more convenient. They may also offer useful controls, such as freezing a card or replacing its details.

The right choice depends on the account behind the card. Compare fees, currencies, rewards and wallet compatibility, and check whether you need a debit, prepaid or credit product.

KOHO offers Core at $0/month, Extra at $18/month or $144 annually, and Everything at $22/month or $177 annually. International money transfers are available on all three plans, including free Core. Core has a 1.5% card foreign transaction fee, while Extra and Everything have none.

The Wise virtual card is another option for international shopping, with a multi-currency account, mid-market exchange rates and separately stated conversion fees.