The best virtual debit cards in Singapore for 2024
Considering getting a virtual debit or credit card to allow you to make simple payments online and using just your phone? Several global providers offer virtual card services for Singapore customers, across both debit and credit cards, which means you’ve got a choice to make. This guide walks through all you need to know about virtual debit and credit cards, why they’re used and how to get one.
We’ll cover some cards from major Singapore banks and also a couple of non-bank alternative providers like the Wise virtual card which lets you hold and spend 40+ currencies, with mid-market exchange rate currency conversions and low fees. Let’s dive right in.
Table of content
- What is a virtual card?
- Virtual debit card comparison: At a glance
- How to use an international virtual card
- What are the transaction fees applies to an international virtual card
- Are virtual debit cards safe to use?
What is a virtual debit card?
A virtual debit or credit card works like your regular physical card, but instead of being a piece of plastic, it’s a digital card, available through your phone or smart device.
That has the advantage that you won’t need to carry a physical card around with you, but also the drawback that you can’t usually use a virtual card where a physical payment is required - so when you make an ATM withdrawal for example. Virtual cards come in handy for any contactless payments though - just tap your phone to pay instead of your physical card.
Virtual cards are available as both debit and credit cards, and can often be instantly generated once you’ve got an approved account with a bank or provider. In most cases you’ll need to add your virtual card to a wallet app like Apple Pay or Google Pay for easy spending.
Usually getting a virtual card is a free service, and because in many cases your virtual card won’t have the same card number as any physical card you hold, it can add a layer of security too. If you’re spending online with a new merchant, for example, you can often generate a virtual card, use it to pay, and then cancel it immediately, so you’ll know the details can’t be used again fraudulently.
Virtual debit card comparison: At a glance
Let’s take a look at some of the main providers of virtual debit and credit cards here in Singapore. We’ve featured a couple of digital providers, alongside a couple of major banks, so you can compare and decide which might suit you best.
| Provider | Card type | Wait time | Card fee | EIR | Benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Wise Card | Debit card | Instant once physical card is ordered | No fee | Not applicable | 40+ currencies, spend globally, get paid in foreign currencies |
| Virtual Revolut Card | Debit card | Once account is verified | 0 SGD - 19.99 SGD/month | Not applicable | 25+ currencies, with some weekday currency exchange with no additional fee available for all account holders |
| Virtual HSBC Card | Credit Card | Once account is verified | Varies* | Varies* | Virtual card linked to a credit card, and continue to benefit from points or rewards |
| Virtual DBS Card | Debit and Credit cards | Once account is verified | Varies* | Varies* | Available for a broad range of supported cards, all you need is the DBS banking app |
| Virtual Standard Chartered Card | Credit card | Once account is verified - card is only for use before physical card is activated | Varies* | From 27.9% | Lots of different cards available including some with no annual fee |
| Aspire | Debit card with optional credit line | Once account is verified | No fee | Variable - talk to Aspire sales to get a quote | For business use - issue unlimited virtual cards to your team members |
Wise
Open a Wise account online or in the Wise app, and get an instant virtual card you can use to spend in 150+ countries. Wise accounts can hold 40+ currencies, and there’s no fee to spend any currency you hold in your account. If you need to switch from dollars to another currency for spending, your card can do this automatically, with low fees from 0.31%. You have to order a physical Wise card to get a virtual Wise card, which means you have to pay the one time fee of 8.5 SGD for the physical card. As soon as your physical card order is processed you can spend on your virtual card, so there’s no need to wait - and you’ll 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.
Read a complete Wise review here
Revolut
Revolut has a selection of account types, from a standard plan with no monthly fees to the top tier Metal plan which costs 19.99 SGD a month. All accounts have the option of a virtual card - and you can even choose between permanent virtual cards and single-use virtual cards, which are used for online shopping only. Revolut accounts can hold and exchange 25+ currencies, and all account tiers have some weekday currency conversion which uses the Revolut exchange rate with no extra fee. Once you exhaust your plan’s no fee conversion limit, fair usage fees apply.
Read a complete Revolut review here
HSBC
HSBC has a selection of Singapore credit cards which come with virtual card details for contactless and online spending. You’ll simply need to apply for the credit card of your choice and have a look in the HSBC Singapore app to see your virtual card options. These cards are credit cards, so customers will need to be approved by the bank before the card account is opened. As with all credit cards, you’ll need to check the terms and conditions to see the interest and fees applied to the card you pick - but you could also stand to earn some rewards or cash back on spending.
DBS
DBS has instant virtual cards available with 9 different credit cards, and 3 debit cards. You’ll have to open your DBS account first, and set up your digibank online banking service. Once your account or credit card application has been approved you can then see your virtual card details in the DBS app, and add it to your preferred wallet for mobile spending. Some DBS credit cards have annual fees to pay, and of course you’ll need to make sure you clear your bill every month, or you’ll run into interest and penalty fees too.
Standard Chartered
Standard Chartered Singapore offers a virtual version of its credit cards which is intended to bridge the gap between ordering your physical card and receiving it in the mail. You’ll need to wait a week or so once your account is approved to get your physical credit card, but you can instantly activate your virtual card to start spending right away. Once your physical card arrives you need to activate it - and at this point the virtual card will cease to be available for use. You can still add your credit card to a wallet like Apple Pay, but the card details will be the same as your physical card.
Aspire
If you’re looking for a virtual credit card for business use, Aspire might be a good option for you. You can issue an unlimited number of virtual cards with an Aspire business account, allowing you to issue virtual cards to team members for business spending. Cards are debit cards but come with the option to apply for a credit line which creates an interesting mix, and which can mean it's easier to manage cash flow.
How do international virtual cards work?
Virtual cards are just like physical cards but in a digital format. Once you have your virtual card you can use it to pay online, transfer money, or link it to a wallet like Apple Pay or Google Pay. By adding your card to a wallet app you can make contactless payments in physical stores by holding your phone to the card reader.
How to request an international virtual card
The exact process to get your virtual card might vary depending on the provider. If you’re choosing a virtual card from a major bank you’ll need to have an account set up and verified, and get online banking services activated to get your virtual card. This might mean a visit to a branch.
Digital providers like Wise and Revolut have online onboarding processes for convenience. As an example, here’s how to request a virtual debit card with Wise:
Open a Wise account online or in the Wise app
Complete the verification step by uploading your documents
Log into your account in the Wise app and open a currency balance of your choice
Go to the Cards tab and tap the option to order a card
Verify your personal details
Pay the 8.5 SGD fee to order your card
Your Wise virtual card will be available instantly in the Wise app
How to use an international virtual card
Once you have a virtual debit or credit card set up you can use it to make purchases online or to add to a wallet for mobile payments. You can link your card to a wallet like Google Pay or Apple Pay easily - either by opening the provider’s app and tapping the option to add to a wallet, or by opening the wallet you prefer and linking from there.
Some banks and providers also offer temporary cards. These are virtual single-use cards to shop at any prepaid card-accepting online stores, and can be handy when you’re shopping with a new retailer and want to protect your regular card details as much as possible.
What are the transaction fees applied to an international virtual card
Virtual cards can be used to spend more or less anywhere that contactless payments and the card’s network is supported, globally. However, it’s important to note that foreign transaction fees or exchange rate markups might be applied when you spend in a foreign currency with your virtual card. That can push up the costs overall.
To build a picture let’s look at the foreign transaction fees applied by the cards we’ve profiled above.
| Provider | Foreign transaction fees |
|---|---|
| Wise | No fee to spend currencies in your account, currency conversion from 0.31% |
| Revolut | No fee to spend currencies in your account, some weekday currency conversion with the Revolut rate available for all accounts, with fair usage fees once account allowance is exhausted |
| HSBC | 3.25% |
| DBS | Up to 3.25% |
| Standard Chartered | 3.25% |
| Aspire | No fee to spend a balance in USD, SGD or IDR - other foreign transactions may incur fees |
Here’s a roundup of the fees you need to know about for these providers:
Wise: 8.5 SGD fee to get a physical card, no additional fee to get a virtual card, no foreign transaction fee and currency conversion from 0.31%
Revolut: 0 SGD - 19.99 SGD monthly account fees, no additional fee to get a virtual card, no foreign transaction fee and all accounts have some weekday currency conversion with the Revolut rate with fair usage fees after fee free allowance is exhausted
HSBC: Variable fees based on the specific card you select, 3.25% foreign transaction fees
DBS: Variable fees based on the specific card you select, up to 3.25% foreign transaction fees depending on the card you pick
Standard Chartered:Variable fees based on the specific card you select, 3.25% foreign transaction fees
Aspire: No ongoing account fees, no fee to issue virtual cards, no fee to spend a balance in USD, SGD or IDR - other foreign transactions may incur fees
Are virtual debit cards safe to use?
Virtual cards often have different card numbers compared to your physical debit or credit card, which can provide additional security. In this case, if a virtual credit card number is compromised, you can easily cancel the virtual number and keep your actual card number the same.
Conclusion: Are international virtual cards worth it?
Virtual credit and debit cards are useful as you won’t need to carry a physical card with you, but you can still make mobile payments, and shop online easily. They can also add extra security to your credit or debit card account, as you’ll easily be able to generate and cancel virtual cards, even for one time use only. Different cards have their own features and fees - and virtual cards can often be issued as both debit or credit cards depending on your preferences.
Use this guide to pick the right virtual card for you, and remember to check out options like the Wise virtual card if you like to travel or shop online with international retailers. Wise accounts let you hold 40+ currencies, with mid-market exchange rate currency conversions and low fees, which can mean your foreign currency purchases cost less, compared to using a card with a high foreign transaction fee.
FAQs - Best Virtual Cards in Singapore
PayPal does not have a virtual card option available in Singapore at the time of writing.
If you’re looking for a virtual card to link to your regular current account it’s worth checking if your bank offers this service. DBS has virtual cards for 3 different debit cards for example, and other banks like OCBC can also offer virtual card services for some cards.
With a virtual debit card you have instant access to spending power on your phone, with no need to carry your physical card with you. Virtual cards can also have different card numbers compared to your regular card which can increase security.
A virtual debit card may be linked to a bank account, or an ongoing account from a specialist provider. You can then add or withdraw funds, and make payments from your account. A virtual prepaid card on the other hand has to be topped up before you can use it, and can often come with a more limited range of services compared to a virtual debit card.
The main downside with a virtual card is that you can’t withdraw cash or make a payment where contactless isn’t supported. Also not all cards can be used with all wallets, so you’ll need to check that your preferred wallet is supported by the card you pick.