Get a Virtual Prepaid Card Instantly (2026)
Disposable & Single-Use Cards Explained

Getsby Blog Team | January 28, 2026

You need a card number and CVV right now. No waiting for post. No linking your main bank account to an unfamiliar website. In 2026, the fastest way to get a virtual prepaid card number and CVV is through an app-based issuer that generates a virtual card instantly after identity verification. Disposable cards are best when you want the details to be useless after a single purchase. This guide explains exactly how to get one, what to watch out for, and when they work (and when they don’t).

Quick Answer for Users in 2026

If you need a card number and CVV now, you have three main paths. A disposable virtual card is designed for one-time online purchases. The card details aren’t meant to work again after you use them. A multi-use virtual card keeps the same number and works for subscriptions or services that need stable details. A virtual gift card can be a fallback, but these often have weaker refund support and limited acceptance.

‘Instant’ means your account is created, verification completes, and the card number (16 digits), expiry date, and CVV appear in the app straight away. No physical card arrives by post. When people say they want a ‘card number and CVV’, they mean those three pieces of data you type at checkout: the long number, the date, and the three-digit security code shown in-app.

For one-time online purchases, Getsby virtual cards are purpose-built. You can create a disposable card immediately after signup, load it with the exact amount you need, and use it once. If your goal is a one-time online purchase, choose a disposable virtual prepaid card so the details you type at checkout aren’t designed to work again. You still need to complete identity verification because EU/UK regulations require it, but the process is fast.

What you’ll need: valid photo ID (passport or driving licence), a EU/UK mobile number, a way to fund the card (debit card or bank transfer), and a smartphone. You can’t skip verification. Digital wallets are projected to be used by more than 5.3 billion people by 2026, so demand for instant cards is growing fast. Plan for two to five minutes if verification goes smoothly. If the system needs manual review, it can take a few hours.

What is a Virtual Prepaid Card and How Does it Differ from Debit or Credit

A virtual prepaid card is a digital payment card with its own card number and CVV that you fund in advance, so you can only spend the balance you’ve loaded. It’s not a credit line. It’s not a window into your bank account. You preload money, then spend only what’s there. That’s the defining feature.

Here’s where confusion starts. Virtual prepaid, virtual debit, and virtual credit all look similar at checkout because they all use the same 16-digit format. The differences matter for verification, acceptance, and what happens if something goes wrong.
 

 
Virtual prepaid cards are not ‘free money’ or credit. They’re a digital card that spends only the funds you’ve loaded. Many people search for ‘anonymous’ cards, but in Europe, legitimate providers must verify your identity due to anti-money laundering rules. You can’t get a fully anonymous card from a regulated issuer. That said, virtual cards still protect your privacy because merchants don’t see your main bank card details.

Why do fees exist? Merchant discount rates typically range from 1% to 3% per transaction. Card networks, payment processors, and issuers all take a cut. Some providers absorb these costs. Others pass them to users through top-up fees, foreign exchange spreads, or monthly charges. Nothing is truly free in payments. Someone always pays.

Most users choose a prepaid Mastercard because acceptance is wide and issuance can be instant. Visa virtual prepaid cards exist too, but availability depends on the provider. Focus on the controls and features rather than the logo. For more on how prepaid cards work, see our guide on prepaid cards explained.

How to Get a Virtual Prepaid Card Instantly in Europe

Before you start, gather these: photo ID (passport or driving licence), EU/UK mobile number, a debit card or bank account for funding, and a smartphone. If you’re missing any of these, you’ll hit a blocker.

Create account and complete verification: Download the app or visit the website. Enter your details. Most providers use automated KYC (know your customer) checks. You’ll upload a photo of your ID and sometimes a selfie. The system compares your face to the ID photo. This isn’t optional. Anti-money laundering rules require it. If the automated check fails, a human reviews it. That adds time.

Choose your card type: Disposable for one-time online purchases. Reloadable multi-use if you need it for subscriptions. Some providers let you create multiple cards. Check the monthly creation limit. Getsby, for instance, lets you create up to five multi-use cards every 30 days.

Fund your card or balance: Top-up methods vary. Common options include debit card, bank transfer, or (less common) credit card. Some providers charge a fee per top-up. Others let you load for free but apply a spread on currency exchange. Read the fee schedule before you commit. For accurate fee details, check the fees and limits page directly.

Retrieve your card details: Once funded, your card number, expiry date, and CVV appear in-app. Write them down or copy them. Go to the checkout, enter the details, and pay. Some sites require 3D Secure verification. You’ll get a push notification or SMS code. Approve it.

3D Secure is an extra authentication step used by card networks where you confirm a payment using biometrics or a one-time code, helping reduce fraud on online purchases. If the merchant doesn’t support it, your payment might fail. That’s rare now, but it happens.

After the purchase: If you used a disposable card, it’s already done. If it’s a reloadable card, freeze it or delete it if you don’t plan to use it again. Don’t leave card screenshots in your photo library. That’s a security risk. 2,116 data breaches involving digital wallets were reported in the US during the first three quarters of 2023. Keeping card details on your phone increases exposure if your device is compromised.
 

 
To get a virtual prepaid card instantly, you typically need to sign up, pass identity verification, and then your card number and CVV appear in-app immediately. For detailed steps on managing your card once it’s active, read our guide on how to activate and manage your card.

Fees, Limits, and Hidden Costs

Card payments have underlying costs. Merchants pay interchange fees to card networks. Payment processors take a cut. Merchant discount rates typically range from 1% to 3% of the transaction amount. Someone pays for this infrastructure. Providers either absorb it or pass it to users.

The merchant discount rate is the percentage fee a merchant pays to accept card payments, typically including interchange and network fees. You don’t see this charge directly, but it affects pricing decisions. Some virtual card providers charge users instead. Here’s what to look for.

Issuance fee: Does creating a card cost money? Some providers charge per card. Others let you create them for free but cap how many you can make per month.

Monthly fee: Does the account cost money just to keep open? Some prepaid cards charge €1-€5 per month for maintenance. If you only use it once, that’s an expensive one-time purchase.

Top-up fee: How much does it cost to add money? Bank transfers are often free but slow. Debit card top-ups might be instant but cost 1-3%. Credit card top-ups usually attract even higher fees.

Foreign exchange fee or spread: If you’re spending in a currency other than pounds, expect a markup. Some providers show a ‘no fee’ claim but apply a 2-3% spread above the interbank rate. That’s still a cost.

Per-card load limit: Can you load €1,000 on one card, or is there a cap? Disposable cards often have lower limits (€50-€500) because they’re meant for small purchases.

Monthly card creation cap: Can you create unlimited cards, or is there a monthly quota? Getsby allows up to five multi-use cards every 30 days, which is generous compared to some competitors.

Refund handling: If you return something, where does the money go? Back to the card? Into your account balance? Some providers don’t support refunds to expired or deleted cards.

Wallet support: Can you add the card to Apple Pay or Google Pay? Not all virtual cards support this. If you want tap-to-pay, check before you sign up.

If a provider won’t clearly disclose fees and limits, treat it as a risk. Hidden costs usually show up at top-up, foreign exchange, or refunds. Transparency is a trust signal.

 
Fees and limits are accurate as of the publication date. Always check the provider’s official comparison page before you commit. For Getsby’s latest fees, visit the fees and limits page.

Best Use Cases and Common Decline Scenarios

Disposable cards are perfect for small purchases from new shops. You don’t trust the site yet. You want to try it once. If it’s legit, great. If not, the card details are already useless. They’re also good for digital downloads, trial sign-ups you don’t plan to keep, and marketplaces with mixed sellers (like eBay or Etsy).

They’re not ideal for hotel or car hire deposits. These merchants place a hold for more than the final charge. Prepaid cards often decline because they can’t authorise the hold amount. They’re also poor for some subscriptions that require the same card number every month. If the details change or expire, the renewal fails.

Split-tender purchases (paying with multiple cards) can fail too. Some checkouts don’t support it. Refund-heavy scenarios are tricky because the card might be deleted or expired by the time the refund processes. For trials you actually want to keep, use a multi-use card instead. For more on using prepaid cards for trials, see our guide on prepaid card for free trials.

If your card declines, here’s what to check. One: is the balance high enough to cover the total, including any fees or holds? Two: does your billing address match what you entered at signup? Three: did you miss a 3D Secure prompt? Four: is the merchant in a restricted category (gambling, crypto exchanges)? Five: try a reloadable multi-use card instead if the merchant needs stable details.
 

 
A real example: a user wanted to buy a digital course from a site they’d never heard of. They created a Getsby disposable card, loaded € 79, entered the details at checkout, and completed the purchase. Immediately after, they opened the app and froze the card. The merchant never stored working details. If the site gets breached next week, that card number is worthless.

Disposable cards are best when you want to minimise re-use risk, but they can fail for deposits and some subscription verification flows. Know your use case before you choose the card type.

Should You Add a Disposable Card to Apple Pay or Google Pay

Wallets are great for multi-use cards. Disposable cards are usually for typing once online. That’s the simple rule. If you’re using a card purely for one-time online purchases, typing the disposable card details is usually the simplest approach. Wallets are more useful for multi-use cards.

Tokenisation offers security benefits for in-store payments. When you tap your phone, the terminal gets a token instead of your real card number. If the merchant’s system is breached, your actual card isn’t exposed. But tokenisation doesn’t help if your goal is a single online checkout. You’re just adding an extra step.

If you do add a virtual card to a wallet, set it up safely. Enable biometric authentication (Face ID or fingerprint). Remove old cards you no longer use. Keep your phone’s operating system updated. Don’t add cards to shared devices or anyone else’s phone. 80% of respondents reported using a smartphone or smartwatch to make their payments, so wallets are mainstream. Just use them for the right scenarios.

For step-by-step instructions, see how to add to Apple Pay or how to add to Google Pay. Both guides cover Getsby virtual cards specifically.

Provider Comparison for European Availability

Not all ‘virtual cards’ are prepaid, and not all are disposable. Some are debit cards linked to a bank account. Some are reloadable. Some are single-use but don’t rotate details automatically. Here’s how to evaluate providers.

Look for instant issuance. Can you get the card number and CVV immediately after signup, or do you wait? Check if disposable behaviour is built in or if you need to delete cards manually. Examine spend controls. Can you set limits per card or per merchant? Confirm wallet compatibility if you want tap-to-pay. Read the fee schedule. Hidden spreads on currency exchange are common. Verify European availability because some popular services (like Privacy.com) are US-only.

Getsby is the best match for disposable one-time online purchases. The Virtual Black Card is purpose-built for this. Create it, use it, and the details aren’t meant to work again. You can also create multi-use cards if you need stable details for subscriptions or Apple Pay. The fee structure is transparent, and users can sign up without restrictions.

App-based multi-use banks (like Revolut or Monzo) offer virtual cards, but these are usually tied to your main account balance. They’re reloadable and work well for ongoing use, but they’re not disposable by default. You have to delete them manually if you want the details to stop working. That’s less convenient for one-time purchases. For alternatives to Revolut, see our comparison of Revolut alternatives.

Virtual gift cards are simple but limited. You buy a fixed amount, use it until the balance runs out, and it expires. Refunds can be slow because the card might already be expired by the time the merchant processes the return. They’re good for gifts or rewards, but not ideal if you need flexibility.
 

 
For one-time online purchases, prioritise a provider that offers disposable cards, clear limits, and in-app controls to freeze or replace the card immediately. Always confirm availability and terms before relying on them. Some services look good but aren’t accessible from Europe.

Final Thoughts

Getting a virtual prepaid card instantly in 2026 is straightforward if you know what you need. A disposable virtual card is the best tool for one-time online purchases because the details aren’t designed to work again. You reduce exposure to merchant breaches and unwanted recurring charges. Multi-use cards are better for subscriptions and services that need stable payment details.

Verification is required in the Europe. You can’t skip it. Fees vary widely, so check the provider’s official fee schedule before you commit. Disposable cards can fail for deposits, split payments, and some subscription flows. Know your use case. Use the right card type. Monitor transactions. Delete or freeze cards you’re not using.

Getsby’s disposable cards are built specifically for this scenario. Create a card, load the exact amount, use it once, and you’re done. No surprise charges. No lingering card details on unfamiliar servers. Simple, fast, and transparent. Need a card number and CVV now for a one-time online purchase? Getsby virtual cards are the most direct path. Compare fees and limits before you start so you know exactly what you’re paying.