Privacy.com

Overview

Privacy.com issues virtual payment cards that keep your actual payment information out of online transactions. It suits US adults who want to limit a card to one merchant, one purchase, or a set spending amount. Its free tier delivers the main controls; the key trade-offs are strict US eligibility and a foreign transaction fee on Personal.

Key features

A merchant-locked card works only with the first merchant where it is used, so compromised details cannot simply be reused elsewhere. Single-use cards close automatically after one transaction, making them a practical option for isolated purchases. You can set transaction, monthly, yearly, or total spending limits, with charges over the cap declined, and pause or close cards whenever needed. These controls reduce exposure and help contain spending, but they do not make transactions anonymous: customers must pass identity verification and provide some personal information.

Plus and higher plans include API access for creating and configuring cards, retrieving real-time payment data, and setting permissions and spending limits. That is a meaningful step beyond consumer card management for developers building card workflows; it is not included with Personal.

Privacy says it is PCI-DSS and ISO 27001 compliant and SOC 1 and SOC 2 Type 2 certified. It also says sensitive data is encrypted, web traffic uses TLS with HSTS, and inter-data-center communication uses IPsec with AES-256. The company says it does not sell customer data and earns transaction fees from merchants. Cards are issued by Patriot Bank, N.A., Member FDIC, under Mastercard and Visa licenses.

Pricing

Personal: free. It includes 12 new cards/month, merchant-locked and single-use cards, spend limits, and the ability to pause and close cards. This is enough for someone who wants the core protections without a subscription, but the 12-card monthly allowance and 3% foreign transaction fee (min. $0.50) matter for frequent card creation or overseas purchases.

Plus: $5 a month, billed monthly. Its 24 new cards/month double Personal's allowance and add category-locked cards, card sharing, card notes, and API access. Choose it if those controls or integrations justify a recurring fee; otherwise Personal retains the central card protections.

Pro: $10 a month, billed monthly. It raises the allowance to 36 new cards/month, adds Everywhere Cards (max 3 open), offers 1% cashback on eligible transactions up to $4,500/month, and removes foreign transaction fees. It is the more relevant upgrade for people making foreign transactions or who will use the cashback, while the three-open-card cap on Everywhere Cards is a specific constraint.

Premium: $25 a month, billed monthly. It provides 60 new cards/month and everything in Pro. The higher allowance is its stated distinction, so it makes sense only for users whose card volume outgrows Pro's 36-card limit. All paid plans recur monthly; recurring billing is enabled.

Platforms

Privacy is available on Android, iOS, the web, and through a browser extension; the site links extensions for Chrome, Safari, Edge, and Firefox. API access is included with Plus and higher plans. Support is provided through a help center covering setup, cards, funding sources, limits, disputes, fraud protections, and business use.

Who it's for

Privacy is limited to US citizens or legal residents aged 18 or older who have a checking account at a US bank or credit union. It is a good fit for eligible consumers who want to compartmentalize online purchases or impose firm card-level spending limits. It is not a fit for people seeking anonymous payments, and the eligibility rules rule out users outside that US audience.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Merchant locks, single-use cards, and multiple spending caps give users concrete ways to restrict where and how cards can be used.
• Pros: The free Personal plan includes those core controls, while paid plans add API access, higher card allowances, and, on Pro, no foreign transaction fees.
• Cons: Identity verification requires personal information, so Privacy cannot serve as an anonymous payment method.
• Cons: Personal charges a 3% foreign transaction fee (min. $0.50); avoiding it requires Pro at $10 a month.
• Cons: Eligibility requires US residence or citizenship, age 18 or older, and a US checking account.

Alternatives

For a broader comparison of payment tools, browse the Payment Processing Software category. Choose BitPay for a paid service with a free plan and support across desktop, mobile, web, and API platforms. Helcim is worth considering for payment processing with no account monthly fees and transaction rates that vary by volume. Choose Kill Bill if you want a self-hosted, open-source payment platform with control of infrastructure and data. Mollie offers pay-as-you-go processing with no contract or commitment. PayPal Invoicing is the alternative for creating and sending invoices without setup or subscription fees, with transaction fees when customers pay. Airwallex Payments offers online card and local payment acceptance on a free Explore tier, with processing fees. Checkout Page has a free plan capped at $3,000 in sales per 30 days and one team member. Checkout.com offers free payment processing for registered charities in countries where it operates.

Verdict

Privacy.com is a strong choice for eligible US adults who want virtual cards with merchant restrictions, single-use options, and spending caps, especially if the free Personal allowance is sufficient. Look elsewhere if you need service outside the US, anonymous payments, or want to avoid Personal's foreign transaction fee without taking on Pro's monthly cost.