Why Use a Virtual Credit Card for Online Shopping?

Virtual credit cards make online shopping safer and more controlled by hiding your main card number and limiting the damage if something goes wrong.

Instead of sharing the same card details with every website, a virtual card gives you digital card info (number, expiry, CVV) that you can use online—sometimes even one per merchant or per subscription.

How KOHO Essential Fits Into Safer Online Spending

If you like the idea of safer online shopping but don’t want to deal with traditional credit card debt, with KOHO Essential:

• It has a low monthly plan fee that can be waived when you set up direct deposit or add +$1,000.

• Use a prepaid Mastercard® for groceries, bills, subscriptions, and travel.

• Get your virtual card, it's instant approval, secure, and convenient.

• Grow your savings with a 2% interest savings rate on your entire balance.

• Earn 1% cash back on groceries, eating & drinking, and transportation.

• You can subscribe to Credit Building for $10/month, it's an affordable way to build your credit history.

• Enjoy unlimited transactions and free e-transfers (never worry about fees when sending money to someone again).

Benefits of Using a Virtual Credit Card Online

1. Better Protection for Your Main Card

Virtual cards keep your primary card number off most websites, so if one merchant is hacked, your main card is less exposed.

2. Extra Control Over Where and How You Spend

Some virtual card setups let you:

• Create cards for specific merchants or subscriptions

• Cancel or replace them without touching your main details

That can make managing subscriptions and trials much easier.

3. Peace of Mind for New or Unfamiliar Sites

If you’re shopping somewhere new, using a virtual or prepaid option can reduce the risk if the site isn’t as secure as it looks.

Pairing Virtual Cards With Good Habits

Even with a virtual card, you still want to:

• Shop on trusted sites

• Avoid entering card details over public Wi-Fi without protection

• Turn on transaction alerts in your app

• Regularly review your transactions and report anything suspicious quickly

Tools like virtual cards + prepaid accounts + good habits give you a much safer way to shop online than simply using one main credit card everywhere.