Privacy.com

Overview

Privacy.com provides a service for generating virtual payment cards, addressing common challenges related to online transaction security and financial control. The platform allows users to create unique card numbers for individual merchants or subscriptions, detaching the payment details from their primary debit or credit cards. This approach limits exposure of actual bank information, reducing the risk of fraud in the event of a merchant data breach.

The service is designed for both individuals and businesses. Individual users can benefit from enhanced security when shopping online and greater control over recurring subscriptions. For instance, a dedicated virtual card with a spending limit can be assigned to a streaming service, preventing unexpected charges or making it easier to cancel (Privacy.com's API documentation outlines how cards can be created and managed programmatically, including setting limits or pausing cards). Businesses, particularly those managing numerous subscriptions or making frequent online purchases, can integrate the Privacy.com API to automate virtual card creation and management, streamlining expense tracking and mitigating risks associated with sharing corporate card details across multiple vendors.

Privacy.com integrates with users' existing bank accounts, functioning as an intermediary layer. When a virtual card is used, the transaction is routed through Privacy.com, which then debits the linked bank account. This process maintains privacy by ensuring that the merchant only receives the virtual card number. The platform's features, such as transaction blocking, card pausing, and single-use cards, offer a granular level of control that traditional payment methods typically lack.

The platform differentiates itself in the fintech landscape by focusing primarily on privacy and control in online transactions, which aligns with growing consumer and business concerns about data security. While other providers like Stripe Issuing offer virtual card capabilities for businesses, Privacy.com's core value proposition is rooted in its direct consumer focus on safeguarding financial data and simplifying subscription management through virtual card control. The service aims to empower users to manage their digital payment footprint more effectively, offering a tangible solution to common online security vulnerabilities.

Key features

• Virtual Card Generation: Create unique virtual card numbers for individual merchants or one-time use, masking your real financial details.
• Spending Limits: Set custom spending limits on each virtual card to prevent overspending or unauthorized charges.
• Card Pausing & Closing: Instantly pause or close virtual cards at any time, providing control over subscriptions and preventing future transactions.
• Merchant-Locked Cards: Assign a specific card to a single merchant, ensuring it cannot be used elsewhere.
• Privacy Browser Extension: A browser extension simplifies the creation and management of virtual cards during online checkout.
• API for Programmatic Control: Developers can integrate with the Privacy.com API to automate virtual card creation, management, and transaction monitoring, suitable for financial management tools or expense systems (Privacy.com API documentation).
• Transaction Monitoring: Real-time alerts and detailed transaction history for each virtual card.
• SOC 2 Type II Compliance: Indicates adherence to industry standards for security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy of customer data.

Pricing

Privacy.com offers a tiered pricing model that includes a free personal plan and paid options for advanced features and higher limits. Pricing is current as of May 2026.

For detailed and up-to-date pricing information, refer to the official Privacy.com pricing page.

Common integrations

Privacy.com's API allows integration into various financial and business applications. Common integration scenarios include:

• Expense Management Systems: Automate virtual card issuance for employees and tie transactions directly to expense categories within platforms.
• Subscription Management Tools: Integrate to programmatically create and manage virtual cards for recurring services, simplifying subscription tracking and cancellation.
• eCommerce Platforms: Use the API to generate secure payment methods for vendor payments or internal purchasing processes.
• Personal Finance Dashboards: Incorporate virtual card activity and balance data into aggregated financial views.
• Vendor Payment Automation: Streamline B2B payments by generating single-use or merchant-locked cards for specific vendors.

Detailed integration guides and API references are available in the Privacy.com API documentation.

Alternatives

• Blur (Abine): Offers privacy features including masked email, masked phone, and masked credit cards for online privacy.
• Stripe Issuing: Provides APIs for creating and managing virtual and physical cards, primarily for businesses to issue their own cards (Stripe Issuing documentation).
• Revolut: A digital bank offering virtual cards alongside a suite of financial services, including currency exchange and budgeting tools.

Getting started

To get started with the Privacy.com API, you'll need an API key. The following example demonstrates how to create a virtual card using a hypothetical privacy-node-sdk. This example assumes you have authenticated and configured your SDK.

const Privacy = require('privacy-node-sdk'); // Replace with actual SDK import

const privacyClient = new Privacy({
  apiKey: 'YOUR_API_KEY_HERE'
});

async function createVirtualCard() {
  try {
    const cardDetails = await privacyClient.cards.create({
      type: 'MERCHANT_LOCKED', // Or 'SINGLE_USE'
      merchant_id: 'merchant_example_id', // Required for MERCHANT_LOCKED
      spend_limit: 5000, // In cents ($50.00)
      spend_limit_duration: 'MONTHLY', // Or 'TRANSACTION', 'ANNUALLY'
      memo: 'Subscription for Streaming Service X'
    });
    console.log('Virtual Card Created:', cardDetails);
    return cardDetails;
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Error creating virtual card:', error);
    throw error;
  }
}

createVirtualCard();

This JavaScript example illustrates an API call to create a merchant-locked virtual card with a monthly spend limit. The merchant_id would correspond to a specific merchant where the card is intended for use. Replace 'YOUR_API_KEY_HERE' with your actual API key obtained from your Privacy.com account settings. For detailed API endpoints and request/response structures, refer to the Privacy.com API documentation.