Virtual cards

Virtual cards work exactly like your physical bank card — they just live in your digital wallet on your phone instead of your physical wallet. Secured by encryption, they offer a safe and convenient way to pay online and in-store.
Open bank account

The difference between virtual, digital and disposable cards

A virtual card is stored on your phone and can be used to pay in stores or online. It has its own unique card number, expiry date, and CVC. A digital card is a copy of your physical bank card that’s stored on your phone. Digital cards have the same card number, expiry date, and CVC as your physical bank card. Both can be added to your digital wallet and can be used with Apple Pay or Google Pay. A disposable card is a virtual card that can only be used once.
A person using the N26 virtual card to make a payment, with a close-up image of the virtual card in the foreground.

Link them to a Space for ultimate clarity

Other premium customers can link up to 6 virtual cards to any of their Spaces. This way you can pay directly from sub-accounts with dedicated spending categories. Groceries? There's a cookie card for that. Travel — have you seen the suitcase? Budget, spend, and save with visibility, flexibility, and your own personal flair. 

The benefits of virtual cards

Leave your wallet at home

Virtual debit and credit cards are secure, simple to use, and save you the inconvenience of having to carry your wallet around.

Stay in control

You can instantly lock and unlock your virtual card from your phone at any time, without losing access to your physical bank card.

Manage subscriptions

Use a dedicated virtual card for all your subscriptions to easily keep track of your recurring payments.

Instant activation

You don’t have to wait for your card to arrive in the mail — start using it from the moment it’s created.

How N26's virtual cards help with budgeting

With N26, you’re in the driver’s seat when it comes to your money. Our virtual cards work together with our smart bank account features — so you get more control and visibility over your money.
  • Spaces: Create up to 10 sub-accounts for different savings goals or cost categories. Link your virtual cards to certain Spaces, and add individual IBANs to your Spaces for easy transfers or payments.
  • Rules: Set up automatic recurring transfers between your main account and Spaces for consistent saving and budgeting.
  • Income Sorter: Automatically transfer a portion of your income to designated Spaces.
  • Automatic spending categories: Filter your transactions by category and get insights into your spending patterns.
  • Real-time push notifications: Receive instant alerts whenever money enters or leaves your account.
  • Insights: Track expenses against your three-month average and set monthly budget targets.
  • Shared Spaces: Collaborate on budgeting and saving with up to 10 other N26 customers.
  • Spending limits: Set customizable limits on your virtual cards so that you don’t accidentally go over budget.
  • Digital wallets: Add your virtual cards to Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Wallet or Garmin Pay for secure in-store or online payments.

Pay securely — online and in-store

Pay with your N26 virtual card using Apple Pay and Google Pay, anywhere contactless payments are accepted. It's easy to use, secure, and effortlessly mobile. All N26 physical and virtual cards are tokenized before they’re added to Apple Pay or Google Pay, which simply means that your sensitive card information is always stored securely.
A person using the N26 virtual card to make a payment, with a close-up image of the virtual card in the foreground.

Security you can count on

Instant push notifications

Pair your N26 account to your smartphone and get real-time alerts on all account activity, ensuring that only you have access to your money.

Your money, your settings

Instantly turn on or turn off online payments, ATM withdrawals, payments abroad, and more in your N26 app.

Advanced 3D Secure

Benefit from extra security against fraud, thanks to a two-factor authentication step that protects your online purchases.

Protected up to €100,000

Thanks to our full banking license, the funds in your N26 account are protected up to €100,000 by the German Deposit Protection Scheme.

Get a virtual card‌ — ‌for free

All N26 Standard customers get one free virtual card with its own card number, while premium users get up to six cards for free, and can choose from all six designs. Shopping online? Enjoy extra peace of mind by not having to share your main card’s details. Paying in-store? Tap and go by adding your virtual cards to Apple Pay or Google Pay.
A person packing a suitcase for their holidays, with a close-up of the suitcase featuring the N26 logo in the foreground.

Find a plan for you

N26 Standard

The free* online bank account

The N26 virtual card.
Virtual Card

€0.00/month

  • A virtual debit card

  • Free payments worldwide

  • Deposit protection

Open free bank account

N26 Smart

The bank account that gives you more control

N26 You card, Teal.
N26 You card, Ash.
N26 You card, Wheat.
N26 You card, Petrol.
N26 You card, Rhubarb.

€4.90/month

  • Free Virtual Card

  • Up to 10 Spaces sub-accounts

  • Support Center phone number

  • Round-ups

Open N26 Smart account
POPULAR

N26 You

The debit card for everyday and travel

N26 You card, Rhubarb.
N26 You card, Petrol.
N26 You card, Wheat.
N26 You card, Ash.
N26 You card, Teal.

€9.90/month

  • Up to 5 free withdrawals in the Eurozone

  • Flight and luggage delay cover

  • Medical emergency cover

  • Winter activities insurance

  • Pandemic coverage

Open N26 You account

N26 Metal

The premium account with a metal card

N26 Metal - Slate Grey.
N26 Metal - Charcoal Black.
Quartz Rose - N26 Metal Card.

€16.90/month

  • An 18-gram metal card

  • Up to 8 free withdrawals in the Eurozone

  • Purchase protection

  • Phone insurance

  • Dedicated N26 Metal line

Open N26 Metal account

FAQs

    A virtual debit card is exactly like a physical debit card, just in digital form. You can use it for online purchases or add it to Apple Pay or Google Pay for secure, contactless in-store purchases.

    A virtual debit card can be used just like you would use a physical bank card. In addition to online purchases, you can use a virtual card for contactless payments in stores by adding it to Apple Pay or Google Pay. You can also use it to withdraw cash at cash machines equipped with contactless NFC technology.

    All virtual debit cards are electronically encrypted to protect you from banking fraud. With N26, all our cards are enabled with Mastercard 3D Secure, which verifies your identity with two-factor authentication when making online payments.

    All N26 Standard and N26 Business customers can add one additional virtual card to their N26 account for free, while N26 premium customers get up to six cards for free and can choose from all six card designs. Just head to the ‘Cards’ tab in your N26 app and tap 'Get an additional card'. Select 'Virtual' and tap 'Choose', then agree to the terms and conditions and tap 'Generate virtual card'.

    A prepaid debit card is not linked to a bank account. Once you run out of money on the card, you need to top it up with additional funds. In contrast, a virtual card is linked to your bank account and can be used just like a normal debit card. N26 offers virtual cards, but not prepaid debit cards.

    When a virtual card has the same number as your physical bank card, it’s often referred to as a digital card—because it’s a digital version of your physical card. Virtual card usually refers to a card that only exists in digital form and is not linked to any physical card.

    All N26 premium accounts let you add a digital version of your physical N26 debit Mastercard to your digital wallet. All N26 Business and N26 Standard customers can add one virtual card to their accounts with no extra cost, while premium customers can add up to six virtual cards to their accounts. Every virtual card has its own card number and can be locked without affecting your main card.

Related posts

Green background with a virtual card on mobile phone.
Want to go 100% digital? Say hello to N26 StandardThe free N26 Standard bank account now offers a 100% digital banking experience.
Google Pay with N26 Standard Card.
Here’s how to pay with Google PayGoing contactless? Our guide will show you how to pay with Google Pay.
An iPhone X with the Apple Pay screen open on it.
Here’s how to use Apple Pay with N26Add your N26 card to Apple Pay, and ditch the cash. Here’s how.