The Best Virtual Dollar Cards in Nigeria

Using a Nigerian debit or credit card to make purchases online can be convenient, but, if your card is issued in naira, it can be difficult to use it for transactions with international service providers like Amazon, Google, Facebook, Netflix, or Spotify, either because these platforms won’t accept your card, or because your bank sets your limit for international transactions at $100 a month. 

That’s where virtual dollar cards come in. These cards only exist within an app, which means you can’t use them for in-person transactions, but they are well-suited to online purchases. Since they don’t have any physical counterpart, they’re also a lot easier to obtain than a physical dollar card, and you don’t have to wait for them to arrive by mail. They usually work as prepaid cards that have to be loaded from a naira account or card. You might have to pay a fee when topping them up, on top of a small monthly fee, but you’ll be spared foreign transaction charges that can go up to 15% depending on your naira card’s issuer.

We’ve rounded up what we think are the best virtual dollar cards for Nigerians looking to make online purchases with international services, as well as a few options for naira virtual cards, if you’re interested in the convenience of a virtual card for domestic transactions.

The Best Virtual Dollar Cards in Nigeria

1. Barter by Flutterwave Virtual Dollar Card

Barter is an app that allows you to send and receive money instantly, created by Nigerian payment startup Flutterwave. Barter allows you to send and receive money from abroad, but you can also use it as a digital wallet, by funding it with your bank account, bank card, or mobile money account. Once you have money in your account, you can create a virtual dollar card, which you can, in turn, use to make online payments on most websites –– with a few exceptions, like cryptocurrency purchases, online trading, betting websites, or money transfer services. Each virtual card costs $2, with a $1 monthly fee, and you need at least $5 on your account to create one. You can load it with up to $10,000.

2. ALAT Virtual Dollar Card

ALAT is a digital-only brand operated by Wema Bank, a commercial bank active in all of Nigeria. It offers a complete banking package, with a bank account, physical debit card, savings, loans, and, yes, one of the best virtual dollar cards in Nigeria. Once your account is set up and funded, you can load your card straight from your naira balance for up to $20,000 and change the dollars back into naira if needed. However, you can’t use it on money transfer websites, which is incompatible with 3D Secure.

3. Wallets Africa Virtual Dollar Card

Wallets Africa is a Nigerian startup that offers a digital wallet with both virtual and physical naira and dollar Visa cards issued by UBA, which means you are not restricted to online transactions in dollars, which makes it great for traveling! This does come with a price, as your card comes with a monthly $1 fee, a $0.75 fee on every foreign transaction, and a 2% fee to load it from an external account.

4. Eversend Virtual Dollar Card

Eversend is a Uganda-based startup that offers a multi-currency account in several African countries, including Nigeria. You can charge your account with a payment card and then open a virtual dollar debit card, allowing you to make payments everywhere online. The card costs $1 to create, with a $1 monthly fee, as well as a 2% currency conversion fee when you charge it.

5. Bitsika Virtual Visa Dollar Card

Bitsika is an app available in Nigeria and several French-speaking African countries that allows you to send and receive money in naira as well as in cedis, CFA francs, and several cryptocurrencies, including bitcoin. You can then spend it through a virtual Visa debit card, though it comes with a hefty 8% fee.

6. Fundall Virtual Dollar Card

Fundall is a Nigerian digital bank providing a wide array of financial services to private and business customers, from bank account and budget planning to saving pots and loans. They’ve recently launched a virtual dollar card to spend money online without barriers, offering the first card for free, with a minimum load of $5. 

7. Mintyn Virtual Dollar Card

Mintyn is a Nigerian digital bank offering many different banking services, including private bank accounts, corporate accounts, savings, and even services like instant loans and mutual funds. They also have an unlimited virtual dollar card for Tier 3 account holders that can be activated immediately.

What Is the Best Option for a Virtual Dollar Card in Nigeria?

The best option depends on various needs: are you looking for an independent card free of other account obligations? A full online banking package? Small fees? Combining these offerings may be necessary for you, but our research indicates that if you're looking for a simple service, Barter is your best option.

If you want a complete banking package, then ALAT provides the best offering for a virtual dollar card in Nigeria.