What's The Best Skrill Virtual Card Alternative?
Virtual cards are a convenient way to enjoy secure online shopping, make transactions, invest in cryptocurrency, and accept international payments. Skrill is one of the many virtual card providers, and it has a large European presence.
There’s no denying that the company’s virtual prepaid card offers a variety of benefits – but what if you’re looking for something different? Well, that’s what we’re here for. In this post, you’ll discover some fabulous Skrill alternatives.
The big question is, which will you choose?
The lowdown on Skrill Virtual Cards
Skrill Virtual Cards are digital prepaid cards connected to your Skrill account. You can make direct purchases using your Skrill balance, keeping your personal information secure. Skrill cards are popular throughout Europe, and you can use them anywhere that accepts Mastercard transactions.
While the cards have some limits, they’re ideal for secure spending, and you won’t need to worry about losing the card.
So, why would someone want to look for an alternative? Despite Skrill’s many benefits, it’s somewhat lacking in certain areas.
The disadvantages of Skrill Virtual Cards:
- Verification Problems: When setting up a virtual card or bank account, you’ll need to provide proof of identity. That’s just a fact. But, while some platforms ensure it’s a quick and hassle-free process, opening a Skrill account can be exasperating. Many users report issues when signing up and long wait times.
- Customer Service: All banks, payment platforms, and virtual card providers should offer customers seamless customer service. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case with Skrill. The company doesn’t offer live chat agents and instead asks users to communicate with a bot. As you can imagine, this often causes issues. Trying to speak to an actual person can feel like you’re on a never-ending obstacle course.
- No ATM Withdrawals: You won’t be able to make ATM withdrawals with a Skrill card, as it exists virtually only. Most terminals need a PIN to process withdrawals, but you can connect the card to Google Pay or Apple Pay. Some ATMs allow withdrawals through your digital wallet, but they might not be available in your location.
With Skrill’s Virtual Card, you get secure, flexible online payment options without exposing your financial details.
What are the best Skrill alternatives?
If you’re looking for a Skrill alternative, we have plenty of great options. Each offers unique benefits, including a full banking experience, convenience and extra features. Let’s get straight to it and reveal the best alternatives to the Skrill Virtual Prepaid Card.
1: Revolut
Revolut is a popular online platform that offers account holders a variety of banking features. Users can generate two types of virtual cards: a reloadable multi-use option and a disposable single-use card.
Both support online and in-store transactions by connecting to your digital wallet. Users can also take advantage of multi-currency support and enjoy banking tools.
Pros:
- Fee-free international spending (up to a certain limit)
- Monitor your spending with the app’s budgeting tools
- Choose between reloadable and disposable virtual cards
Cons:
- Fee-free transactions are limited outside of the European Economic Area (EEA)
- Advanced features and the lowest fees require a subscription
2: Getsby
If you want to simplify online and in-store purchases without worrying about security, Getsby could be your dream payment partner. Like Revolut, the platform offers two virtual cards.
The Getsby Virtual Green Card is reloadable and remains active for three years, while the Black Card is a single-load disposable option. You won’t need to change your bank account and can enjoy advanced security features that keep your transactions and card details safe and secure.
Pros:
- Shop in-store and online at merchants that accept Mastercard
- Choose between a reloaded virtual debit card and a single-use card
- Keep your current bank account and enjoy a simple sign-up process
Cons:
- Getsby is a virtual card provider only. The platform doesn’t offer banking options.
- ATM withdrawals are subject to small fees.
3: Neteller
Neteller is a solid choice if you’re looking for a close alternative to Skrill. It offers a range of banking services, including a physical card and a prepaid virtual card. Verified users can take advantage of high transaction limits and seamless transfers between Neteller accounts.
What really stands out about Neteller is its unique rewards programme. It’s only available to premium account holders, and it offers lower transaction and foreign exchange fees and extra bonuses from selected websites.
Pros:
- Great for high transactions
- VIP users receive cashback, rewards and other exclusive benefits
- Neteller’s app is easy to use
Cons:
- Basic account holders will pay higher than average fees for international transactions
- Neteller also has annual card management fees
4: Curve
Curve is a popular solution for people who want more control over their money. Instead of opening a new account, you can combine your current cards into one “smart wallet”, which makes it easier to monitor your budget and switch between cards.
Users can add physical and virtual debit cards to Curve without cancelling their bank account. Curve is an excellent platform if you struggle with money management or want to keep all your cards in one place.
Pros:
- Take advantage of competitive foreign exchange fees.
- Use the Go Back In Time feature to reverse purchases on a virtual or physical debit card and assign them to another card instead.
- Robust security measures that prevent others from accessing your personal information.
Cons:
- Some cards – including the American Express credit card – aren’t supported by Curve.
- Curve doesn’t offer virtual credit cards, but you can connect them.
5: Monese
Monese is a digital banking service that facilitates online payments and international transactions. It’s popular with frequent travellers due to its convenient exchange rates and virtual card compatibility with multiple currencies.
Users can access physical and virtual cards and make transactions anywhere that accepts Mastercard. Monese account holders can quickly generate virtual cards, making it a convenient platform for when you’re on the go.
Pros:
- Manage multiple currencies through one account.
- Enjoy low-cost transactions.
- The platform has a transparent pricing structure.
Cons:
- Monese often has high charges for ATM withdrawals.
- The customer service team can be unresponsive.
Is a general virtual card or a virtual prepaid card better?
You’ll notice we included both traditional virtual cards (which are linked to your bank account) and prepaid virtual cards (which aren’t linked to your account) in this post. Which is better depends on your preferences and needs.
While a general virtual card can be convenient, it also increases the risk of fraud as hackers can potentially access your payment information.
A virtual prepaid card requires preloading with funds before you can spend it, which increases security as it’s not linked to your bank account. These cards can also facilitate contactless payments, as you can add them to Google Pay and Apple Pay.
So, a virtual credit card offers more benefits if you’re looking for a secure way to make transactions. We recommend using your bank account for general expenses and virtual prepaid cards for travelling, subscription management and online trading – basically, anywhere your security is vital.
Order your Virtual Cards online
Apply for a digital prepaid card online and receive the activation code via email within 2 minutes.
