[lobstersammich]

Does anyone have a good alternative to Privacy.com where your virtual credit card transaction data isn't sold to Wall Street? If you're unfamiliar with what a "virtual [credit] card" is here's the page from Privacy.com's website: https://privacy.com/virtual-card I use the Privacy app on my mobile phone to create virtual cards (primarily for work subscriptions). Pro-tip: since each Privacy card can have its own name put a tag such as `[WORK_RECURRING]` into the card name and then you can search your email inbox for `[WORK_RECURRING]`, quickly and easily finding all of the transactions / charges that you may want to submit to your workplace for reimbursement.

Privacy is owned / created by Lithic, but if you look at Lithic's investors you'll see that the plurality of the company's investors are in the private equity or VC space: Bessemer Ventures, Tusk Partner Ventures, Index Ventures, etc. You can see the Privacy.com / Privacy mobile app's funders here: https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/lithic-pay

Thus, I have no doubt that my transactions on cleverly-named Privacy app are being gifted or sold to Wall Street so that hedge funds can squeeze out a few addition drops of 'signal' from consumer purchase pattern data that would otherwise remain dark. (I'd imagine that many folks use the Privacy app to buy things that they'd rather not have show up on their regular credit card bills: 'adult websites', marijuana or tobacco products, etc.

So, two questions:

(1) Does anyone have a privacy-respecting alternative to Privacy.com's virtual credit cards?

(2) Does anyone know of a recent blog post where these virtual credit card services are compared / contrasted by

- the services that they offer, - the cost: free, paid, etc., - the terms of service: how your data is re-sold / who your data is transmitted to

[asciimike]

> (1) Does anyone have a privacy-respecting alternative to Privacy.com's virtual credit cards?

Capital One offers virtual cards through Eno (https://www.capitalone.com/digital/eno/virtual-card-numbers/) that are merchant locked. They make it somewhat cumbersome to use, but I've really enjoyed using them.

It doesn't block wall street knowing about what you're buying, but at least it's likely got one (or more) fewer middlemen looking at all your transactions.

[davchana]

Once I saved Capital One card in Google Chrome, Payment Methods in Chrome Settings offers a radio button Virtual Card On/Off. If switched on, Chrome directly generates a virtual card, removing the need of Eno extension.

[snazz]

I can confirm this works pretty well. The Capital One mobile app will also give you a single virtual card number (without the merchant lock or any other extra features) if you don’t want the browser extension or just need it once.

[gurchik]

Citi also offers unlimited virtual card numbers for credit cards, and it is a bit easier than Eno since you can manage directly from the website without needing to install anything.

[lxgr]

Capital One lets you manage them on their website as well. They just really seem to be pushing their extension and Chrome integration, which I both don't care too much about, but the functionality is there (albeit well-hidden).

[lxgr]

You can also just create new virtual numbers yourself in their online banking. The option is a bit hidden (in "digital wallets").

[ok_dad]

I would bet that all of your electronic transactions end up in some pool of data, no matter what you try. I believe only cash at a swap meet while wearing dark sunglasses and a hat is really private.