Virtual credit cards generate temporary or permanent card numbers for online purchases — protecting your real credit card details from data breaches, skimmers, and untrustworthy merchants. In Canada, virtual card options are growing: KOHO offers virtual Visa numbers, and some traditional banks now provide this feature through their apps. This guide covers all Canadian virtual card options in 2026, when to use them, and how they protect your finances.
KOHO Virtual Card — Free for All KOHO Members
Get a virtual card number instantly through the KOHO app. Perfect for online shopping security.
Get KOHO Free
Virtual Card Options in Canada
| Provider | Type | Cost | Lock/Freeze? | Merchant Specific? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KOHO | Virtual Visa (single number) | Free with any KOHO plan | Yes — instant freeze via app | No |
| TD Bank (select cards) | Virtual card via TD app | Free for eligible cards | Yes | No |
| RBC (digital wallet) | Tokenized card for digital wallets | Free | Via app | No |
| Privacy.com (US service) | Merchant-specific virtual cards | Not currently available in Canada | Yes — per-merchant | Yes — best feature |
| Wealthsimple Cash | Virtual card for Apple/Google Pay | Free | Via app | No |
KOHO Virtual Card — The Best Canadian Option
KOHO provides a virtual Visa card number through its app — accessible immediately upon account creation, no waitlist or premium plan required. The virtual number is tied to your KOHO account and works wherever Visa is accepted online. If a merchant is compromised or you want to cancel recurring charges, you can freeze or delete the virtual card instantly through the KOHO app, preventing any further charges while keeping your actual KOHO account active.
KOHO's virtual card is particularly useful for: free trial signups where you don't want to be charged after the trial, one-time purchases from unfamiliar merchants, international sites you're unsure about, and any situation where sharing your primary card number feels risky.
Privacy.com — Not Yet Available in Canada
Privacy.com is a US service offering merchant-locked virtual cards — you can create a virtual number that only works at one specific merchant (e.g., a Netflix-only card). This level of granular merchant control is extremely powerful for subscription management and security. Unfortunately, Privacy.com does not currently support Canadian users. This remains a gap in the Canadian virtual card ecosystem.
Tokenization — How Apple Pay and Google Pay Protect You
Apple Pay and Google Pay use a different approach: tokenization. Your actual card number is never transmitted to the merchant. Instead, a device-specific "token" number is used for the transaction. Even if the merchant's system is hacked, they only have the token — useless without the device's biometric or PIN confirmation. This makes mobile payments (Apple Pay, Google Pay) inherently more secure than physical card swipes.
When to Use a Virtual Card
- Free trials that require a card — use KOHO virtual and freeze immediately after signup if you don't want to be charged
- Any website you've never used before, especially international sites
- Online marketplaces where you're purchasing from individual sellers
- Subscriptions you want to be able to cancel without hassle (freeze the virtual card)
- Protecting against data breaches — most major card data breaches come from merchants, not banks
Virtual Cards vs Traditional Cards for Security
| Scenario | Traditional Card | Virtual Card |
|---|---|---|
| Merchant data breach | Compromised — requires full card replacement | Freeze virtual number — real card unaffected |
| Unauthorized recurring charge | Dispute process takes days/weeks | Freeze virtual number instantly |
| Free trial overstay | Manual cancellation required or charged | Pre-freeze virtual after signup |
| Unfamiliar international merchant | Real card number exposed | Virtual number exposed — real card safe |
Virtual Card Recommendations
- Best Canadian option: KOHO (free, instant, Visa accepted)
- For Apple/Google Pay tokenization: any major Canadian credit card loaded into mobile wallet
- Best for subscription management: KOHO virtual card (freeze to cancel any subscription instantly)
- Most secure for online shopping: KOHO virtual + Visa accepted at virtually all online merchants