Best virtual cards in Nigeria & Morocco
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This guide compares virtual card options across Africa on fees, funding methods, and features, alongside WorldFirst’s World Card for cross-border business payments.
Key takeaways
- A virtual card is a digital payment card used for online purchases, subscriptions, and other internet-based payments without a physical card
- Virtual cards can be funded through bank accounts, digital wallets, currency balances, or prepaid top-ups, depending on the provider
- The World Card by WorldFirst is linked to a multi-currency account and offers up to 20 virtual cards at no cost for business spending
- ALAT, Eversend, Chipper Cash, Stanbic IBTC, and Moniebee focus primarily on virtual Dollar cards for international online spending
- Geegpay and Grey offer multi-currency cards
- Some virtual cards support direct USD spending, while others require Naira-to-Dollar conversion before use
Paying for Meta ads, SaaS tools, subscriptions, and international online purchases can be challenging across Africa due to banking restrictions, currency conversion costs, funding restrictions, and varying card limits. Virtual cards help bridge that gap by providing a way to spend online globally.
We review the top virtual cards in Africa, covering Dollar, Naira, and multi-currency options, along with their fees, funding methods, spending limits, and business features.
1. World Card by World First
The World Card is a Mastercard-powered business payment card designed for international spending. It is linked to the World Account, a multi-currency account that supports more than 15 local currency balances, including USD, GBP, EUR, AUD, and NZD.
Businesses can make payments in over 150 currencies and spend directly from available balances. When a payment is made in a currency already held in the account, there are no fees because no conversion is required. If a payment currency is not available, funds can be converted from another balance before the transaction is completed.
The card can be used for Meta and Google advertising, SaaS subscriptions, supplier payments, and other cross-border business expenses. Businesses can issue up to 20 virtual cards at no additional cost and assign separate spending controls to different team members or departments.
Pricing: Opening a World Account costs zero. Businesses can issue up to 20 World Cards at no cost. Fees apply for currency conversion and outbound payments
2. ALAT by Wema Bank
ALAT is a digital banking platform by Wema Bank, that offers a virtual Dollar card for users in Nigeria.1 The card is created directly within the ALAT mobile app and funded by converting Naira to USD at the bank’s prevailing exchange rate plus an additional FX markup.1,3
The card supports a maximum balance of up to US$20,000 and can be deleted and reissued through the app when required.1,2 It is valid for 3 years and can be used for international online payments and subscriptions.3,5 The card is powered by Mastercard and VISA.4
Pricing: Card issuance costs ₦1,075 and a quarterly maintenance fee of ₦50 applies6
3. Eversend
Eversend provides a virtual prepaid Dollar card for users in Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya, issued through the Eversend app and can be funded using USD balances or local currencies converted within the platform.7,8
The card can be used for international online purchases, subscriptions, software payments, and digital services wherever VISA is accepted.8 The Eversend wallet balance and USD virtual card balance are separate.10 Funds held in the wallet are not automatically available for card payments, so users have to first transfer money from your wallet to the virtual card before using it online.10 Users can create and start using the card directly from the app without requiring a physical card.7
Pricing: Card issuance fee is zero. Users may pay either a US$1 monthly maintenance fee or a one-time US$3 card fee.9Non-USD transactions may attract FX charges of approximately 3.5% plus US$0.5011,12
4. Chipper Cash
Chipper Cash offers a USD virtual cards in Nigeria and Ghana.13,14,15 The card is funded through the user’s Chipper wallet and can be used for online spending at merchants that accept VISA.16,17
Chipper card supports international subscriptions, software payments, advertising spend, and other online purchases.16 Spending controls are managed through wallet funding, with a maximum spend of US$5,000 per transaction, a monthly spending limit of US$20,000, and a minimum funding requirement of US$5.19
Pricing18: Card issuance costs US$5 and maintenance costs US$1 per month. Transaction fees apply, including US$0.90 per transaction in Nigeria and US$1.10 per transaction in Ghana
→ Read more in our Chipper Cash review
5. Stanbic IBTC Virtual Dollar Mastercard
Stanbic IBTC offers a virtual Dollar Mastercard for customers in Nigeria.20 The card is linked to a USD account and can be used for international online payments wherever Mastercard is accepted.20
Users can request either a single-use card or a reusable card with a validity period of up to 3 years, after which a new card must be requested.20 The card supports international online spending and comes with a maximum online transaction limit of up to US$3,500.20
Pricing: Card issuance costs ₦537.5020
6. GoMoney Virtual Card
GoMoney offers virtual Mastercard cards for users in Nigeria through its mobile banking app.21Cards can be requested digitally without visiting a branch and are designed for international online payments, subscriptions, digital services, and e-commerce purchases.22 Card PIN resets are not currently supported on GoMoney.22 If users suspect their card details have been compromised, they may need to block the existing card and request a replacement instead.22
Users can set daily and monthly spending limits, pause transactions, and monitor spending in real time.22 The card can be used for services such as Netflix, Spotify, Meta advertising, Google services, ride-hailing apps, and other online merchants that accept Mastercard.22
Pricing: The first virtual card is issued at no cost, while each additional virtual card costs ₦85022
7. Geegpay (by Raenest) Virtual Card
Geegpay by Raenest offers virtual USD Visa cards for freelancers, remote workers, and businesses across several African markets, including Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya.23The cards can be funded using USD, GBP, EUR, NGN, USDT, or USDC balances at a fee of US$0.50.23,25
The cards are accepted at merchants worldwide where VISA is supported and can be used for SaaS subscriptions, cloud services, CRM platforms, advertising spend, travel bookings, and general business payments, but each card transaction costs US$0.50.23,24,25 Businesses can create multiple cards, assign spending limits, freeze cards when required, and track expenses in real time.24
Pricing: Card issuance costs a one-time fee of US$3 and there is no monthly maintenance fee25
8. GTBank Virtual Naira Mastercard
GTBank offers a Naira virtual card powered by Mastercard for customers in Nigeria through its internet banking platform.26The prepaid card is issued instantly and funded through a separate virtual card account rather than the customer’s primary bank account, requiring users to load funds before spending.26
The GTB virtual card setup also requires access to GTBank internet banking and a hardware token for verification.26
The card can be used at merchants that accept Mastercard and only remains valid for 3 years.26The card has a daily loading limit of ₦100,000, a maximum balance of ₦500,000, and supports local web transactions of up to ₦500,000 daily.26
Pricing: Card issuance costs nothing26
9. FirstBank Virtual Card
FirstBank provides a virtual debit card for customers in Nigeria through the FirstMobile and Firstmonie Wallet apps.27The card is linked to a customer’s bank account or wallet and can be used for online transactions, although only 1 virtual card can be issued per account.27
Cards issued through FirstMobile support both local and international online payments, while Firstmonie Wallet cards are limited to local transactions.27 The card can be blocked or unblocked through the app but only remains valid for 3 years.27 Web transactions also come with a limit of 20 daily, with international spending on FirstMobile capped at US$100 per day.27
Pricing: Card issuance costs ₦200 and a quarterly maintenance fee of ₦50 applies27
10. Grey Virtual Card
Grey offers virtual VISA cards to users in Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana and Morocco.28 The card is linked directly to Grey balances, allowing users to spend from USD, EUR, GBP, or supported local currency wallets without manually funding the card.29
Users can create multiple virtual cards for online payments for subscriptions, travel, advertising, and business expenses.29 The card supports Apple Pay and Google Pay, includes 3D Secure authentication, and can be used at merchants worldwide wherever VISA is accepted.29
Pricing30: Card creation costs US$4. There is no maintenance fee, although cross-border fees of up to 2% plus US$0.50 may apply on certain non-US transactions
11. Moniebee Virtual Dollar Card
tools, e-commerce purchases, streaming services, and other USD transactions except some platforms like crypto, gambling and more.31
Users can fund the card through local currency wallets or bank transfers and manage spending through the app.31 To help maintain successful transactions, users need sufficient funds in their account, as repeated failed payments may lead to the card being temporarily blocked or terminated.31
Pricing: Not specified31
Choose the card that matches how you spend internationally
The right virtual card depends on what you’re paying for and how often you make international transactions. If you mainly need subscriptions and occasional online purchases, a simple prepaid virtual card may be sufficient. Businesses running ad campaigns, paying suppliers, or managing team spending should pay closer attention to currency support, FX costs, spending controls, transaction fees, and card issuance limits. Comparing these factors upfront can help reduce payment failures, avoid unnecessary conversion costs, and make international spending more predictable as your needs grow.
FAQ
How can I get a virtual Dollar card in Nigeria?
You can get a virtual Dollar card in Nigeria through fintech providers such as WorldFirst. Most providers require account registration, identity verification, and card funding before the card can be used.
Can I use a virtual card to pay for Meta or Google ads?
Yes. Many virtual cards support payments for Meta Ads, Google Ads, SaaS subscriptions, and other digital services. Providers such as WorldFirst specifically support online business spending.
What is the difference between a virtual Dollar card and a virtual Naira card?
A virtual Dollar card is funded and settles transactions in USD, making it suitable for international payments. A virtual Naira card is funded in NGN and may be subject to currency conversion, FX markups, or international transaction restrictions depending on the issuer.
Are virtual cards safe to use for online subscriptions?
Yes. Most virtual cards include security features such as spending limits, card freezing, card termination, and instant reissuance. These controls help users manage recurring subscription payments and reduce the risk of unauthorized transactions if card details are exposed or compromised.
Which virtual card is suitable for businesses with multi-currency needs?
Businesses that receive and spend in multiple currencies can consider the World Card from WorldFirst because the card is linked to a multi-currency account that supports multiple currency balances, reducing the need for repeated currency conversions while enabling team-based spending controls.
How to create a virtual debit card?
offers virtual cards, complete any required identity verification, and fund your account. Once approved, you can generate a virtual card instantly (in most cases) through the provider’s app or online platform and start using it for online payments.
Sources:
- https://purpleconnect.wemabank.com/support/solutions/articles/67000524985-what-is-the-virtual-dollar-card-
- https://purpleconnect.wemabank.com/support/solutions/articles/67000524987-what-is-the-maximum-amount-i-can-have-in-my-dollar-account-
- https://purpleconnect.wemabank.com/support/solutions/articles/67000689466-prepaid-cards-faq
- https://purpleconnect.wemabank.com/support/solutions/articles/67000524931-what-is-the-difference-between-mastercard-visa-card-and-verve-card-
- https://purpleconnect.wemabank.com/support/solutions/articles/67000524986-can-i-use-my-virtual-dollar-card-for-a-money-transfer-
- https://purpleconnect.wemabank.com/support/solutions/articles/67000524976-how-much-does-a-wema-prepaid-card-cost-
- https://help.eversend.co/en/articles/9220938-how-to-fund-add-money-to-the-eversend-usd-virtual-card
- https://help.eversend.co/en/articles/4418882-where-does-the-eversend-virtual-card-work
- https://help.eversend.co/en/articles/8185032-eversend-virtual-card-fees
- https://help.eversend.co/en/articles/9388305-is-my-eversend-wallet-balance-connected-to-my-usd-virtual-card
- https://help.eversend.co/en/articles/10203368-what-are-the-international-payment-fees-on-eversend-virtual-cards
- https://help.eversend.co/en/articles/10203352-why-does-eversend-charge-penalties-for-failed-transactions-over-insufficient-funds-on-eversend-virtual-card
- https://www.chippercash.com/chipper-card
- https://support.chippercash.com/en/articles/7918118-ghana-how-to-claim-your-ghana-chipper-usd-card
- https://support.chippercash.com/en/articles/6019377-nigeria-what-is-a-chipper-ng-usd-card
- https://support.chippercash.com/en/articles/11066766-common-sites-where-chipper-virtual-card-can-be-used
- https://support.chippercash.com/en/articles/8231871-fund-your-chipper-cards-directly-from-your-chipper-usd-balance-or-wallet
- https://support.chippercash.com/en/articles/5194944-how-to-claim-your-chipper-card
- https://support.chippercash.com/en/articles/6424409-chipper-card-funding-spending-and-withdrawal-limits
- https://www.stanbicibtcbank.com/nigeriabank/personal/products-and-services/bank-with-us/debit-cards/see-all-cards/virtual-dollar-debit-mastercard
- https://gomoney.global/faqs
- https://gomoney.global/product/card/
- https://www.raenest.com/cards
- https://www.raenest.com/business/cards
- https://help.raenest.com/en/articles/9520580-raenest-dollar-card-faq
- https://www.gtbank.com/personal-banking/cards/prepaid-cards/prepaid-virtual-naira-mastercard
- https://www.firstbanknigeria.com/personal/cards/debit-cards/virtual-card/
- https://support.grey.co/en/articles/13404475-why-can-t-i-create-a-visa-card
- https://grey.co/cards
- https://support.grey.co/en/articles/13310983-faqs-on-mastercards
- https://moniebee.com/virtual-dollar-card
This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or professional advice. This article should not be regarded as constituting an offer or a solicitation to buy or sell any regulated or financial products or services. WorldFirst makes no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or applicability of the content, and readers are encouraged to consult with legal professionals or other professionals for advice tailored to their specific situation. WorldFirst does not guarantee the accuracy and completeness of this article and expressly disclaims any and all liability to any person in respect of the consequences of anything done or omitted to be done wholly or partly in reliance on this article.
Hu Wenzhan is the Emerging Markets Country Manager at WorldFirst. He brings expertise across Fintech, Payments, Banking, New Markets Growth to help clients grow their global business.
Hu Wenzhan
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