How to pay on the Internet without a bank card

The future of Numerama is coming soon ! But before that, our colleagues need you. You have 3 minutes ? Answer their investigation

How to pay online without a bank card ?

You do not wish to communicate your bank card number to a merchant site ? There are many alternatives to shop safely on the internet without getting it out.

The e-commerce sector is doing well and recorded in 2022 growth of 13.8 % according to Fevad. In total, the French carried out more than 2 billion online transactions, with an average basket of 65 euros, up almost 7 % compared to 2021.

If ordering on the Internet is as easy as it is fast, the bank card payment is just as. But opting for this online payment means is not always without risk. Between fraudulent and hacking sites, bank card numbers can be compromised. Fortunately, there are alternative solutions to pay online in a secure manner and without having to take out your bank card. We have listed them here.

The virtual bank card

Before wanting to do without your “real” bank card, you can explore the possibilities offered by your bank. Most banking establishments offer, in fact, Virtual bank cards. They are available in two forms:

• a physical card equipped with a liquid crystal screen which displays a temporary card number;
• A virtual card number that can be generated from the customer interface of his bank.

The blue e-card has the advantage of having a temporary single-use number. Once the online payment has been made, it then takes a new number. Thus, you never have to communicate the “real” number of your traditional bank card and do not risk seeing it reused improperly without your knowledge.

This option is accessible on request to your bank. Before subscribing, however, ask your advisor, as it can be billed in addition.

Paypal

The Paypal electronic portfolio is one of the most used in France and has already won over 7 million French people. This solution offers several notable advantages, including reinforced security of your banking data. At no time does the merchant site access your account number or bank card. These are informed when creating the Paypal account and when you pay for your purchases, you just have to indicate your PayPal identifier and password.

In addition, Paypal is one of the only platforms to offer a payment solution to users who are not equipped with a bank card. Indeed, it is possible to choose to be taken directly from your bank account rather than on your bank card.

Paypal also offers additional guarantees for purchases made on the internet and partially or in full reimburses you in the event of a dispute with the seller.

This is without counting that Paypal is completely free for individuals, which is why this service is so successful.

Google Wallet, Apple Pay and other virtual wallets

In line with Paypal, tech giants have developed fully free electronic portfolios in recent years to facilitate online and store regulations. As with Paypal, just create an account and enter your bank card number accompanied by its validity date, as well as the security code. And once on the site, you just have to enter your connection data.

More and more websites are therefore proposing to pay for your purchases via Google Pay or Apple Pay and thus preserve the confidentiality of your bank data.

Landscaper

On the sidelines of traditional means of payment, some banks offer prepaid and therefore blocked cards. These operate as conventional bank cards and can be used to pay for your online or store purchases.

On this principle, Paysafecard also issues prepaid bank cards, with a large ceiling of 1000 euros per transaction. What to do your shopping online in all serenity. This solution is free if you use the card credits quickly (within 1 month without registration and within 12 months with a landscaped account).

Viairements, checks: traditional means of payment

Although they are relatively rare, some online stores allow you to pay by bank transfer. But opt ​​for such an alternative involves accepting some compromises, especially on delivery times. The merchant generally validates the order only upon receipt of funds, which can take several days.

With the levy, the company can however immediately launch delivery, but this solution remains exceptional and more reserved for subscriptions than purchases of physical goods.

Finally, if you opt for a payment by check, you must show great patience. Between postal deadlines, the time it is processed by the company’s accounting department and is delivered, it can flow for weeks. Better not to be too in a hurry.

Each of these alternatives can cause additional costs levied by your bank according to the tariff conditions in force, or even by the seller. For all these reasons, they are only rarely favored to make online purchases.

Payment to delivery

A final solution is offered for furnishing products or large household appliances essentially: payment on delivery. This is the most secure alternative, since your banking data is not communicated by internet and you have already received your package. However, it remains quite rare and often causes additional costs.

There is therefore not an ideal payment method, but multiple alternatives from which choose according to the purchased product, the desired delivery time and your current bank conditions.

The future of Numerama is coming soon ! But before that, our colleagues need you. You have 3 minutes ? Answer their investigation

All about Google Pay

How to pay on the Internet without a bank card

You do not have a bank card and wish to validate a purchase on the Internet ? There are many solutions either to pay your purchases directly with another means of payment: gift cards, bitcoins, visa or prepaid mastercard… Read this tutorial to know how to do.

You do not have a visa or mastercard card to pay your purchases on the internet ? Banks sometimes offer more limited cards than international cards, for example Maestro cards. We can also be in a situation where you simply do not have a bank card. Which suddenly seems to cut any access to the large international supermarche.com. Whatever your problem, there are solutions to pay on the internet anyway.

• Pay on the Internet with Paypal
• Use gift cards to pay for your purchases
• Pay via the Internet or Mobile subscription
• Revolut allows you to obtain a virtual mastercard card in a few minutes
• Bitcoins, Ethereum. : Another way to pay without a bank card
• Subscribe a Visa or Mastercard prepaid card
• Viairements and checks
• Comments

Pay on the Internet with Paypal

The first solution is toOpen a PayPal account : registration, open to all, is done in a few minutes. And it is possible, in addition to the credit card (or in this specific case in alternative), to select your bank account as a source of supply. You can then very quickly pay on a large quantity of websites that offer Paypal as a means of payment.

Paypal advantages

• Pay your purchases for free with an address and password on many sites
• Secure transactions with the possibility of opening a dispute and being reimbursed in the event of a problem
• Obtain a payment method compatible with many sites in a few seconds

Disadvantages

• In some cases, you will have to check your bank account to make your first transaction (which can take a few days)

Examples of sites that accept Paypal

• Fnac
• Darty
• Cdiscount
• Rakuten
• Pixmania
• Shopping street
• Baker
• LDLC
• Conforama
• Netflix
• Etc…

Use gift cards to pay for your purchases

Many brands offer gift cards. To make a purchase, you can get one of these cards responsible for a sufficient balance and spend it on your purchases on the brand’s website. In some cases it is even possible to obtain online gift cards via another means of payment – but you can generally always buy them with liquid money directly in the stores that sell them.

Advantages of gift cards

• Controlled expenses which cannot exceed the amount loaded on the card
• Possibility of using it immediately as a payment method

Disadvantages

• These cards are generally compatible with one or a handful of brands
• They are sometimes limited to certain categories of items (you cannot necessarily buy everything with it)
• They are responsible in stages (for example € 15, € 30, € 50, € 100, € 150…)

Examples of brands that use gift cards

• Amazon
• Fnac / Darty
• Google Play Store
• App Store
• Netflix
• Etc.

Pay via the Internet or Mobile subscription

If you are at Orange, Bouygues, Free or SFR, on a fixed and/or mobile offer, then you can sometimes make purchases that will be found directly on your invoice at the end of the month. A service called Internet+.

Internet advantages+

• Possibility to pay immediately without a bank card
• Billing at the end of the month

Disadvantages

• To date we have found few sites really offering this means of payment
• Some sites abuse Internet+ to make unwanted micro-transactions

Revolut allows you to obtain a virtual mastercard card in a few minutes

Revolut is a neo-banque based in Britain. This is the only one to offer free from the opening of account of virtual bank card numbers that you can use wherever you want, such as a normal bank card (except that the code changes each transaction). In addition to Revolut, other neo-banks like N26 or Orange Bank will also allow you to obtain a prepaid mastercard card a few days after the (generally free) opening of the account.

Revolut advantages

• Possibility of immediately obtaining a virtual MasterCard card number
• Free account opening and standard account
• Real SEPA account with IBAN number
• Free money transfers in more than 25 currencies
• Free bank withdrawals up to € 200 per month
• Free card payment up to € 5,000 per month
• Application to better manage your expenses

Disadvantages

• The verification of your identity when opening the account can take more than 24 hours

Bitcoins, Ethereum…: another way to pay without a bank card

Bitcoins, Ethereum and other cryptocurrencies can be considered as real alternatives to traditional money. They nevertheless require beforehand to understand what it is to create your wallet and obtain bitcoins, ethereum or other cryptocurrency. Some sites directly accept these financial currency / instruments, but they can also be used to buy gift cards which makes it possible to extend their usefulness.

Advantages of Bitcoin and Ethereum

• No bank, completely decentralized system
• Strong user base
• Possibility to buy gift cards

Disadvantages

• Few sites still accept them directly
• Some knowledge of these financial currencies / instruments is an essential prerequisite
• Possibility to lose your money if the device on which the currencies are stored is damaged or destroyed
• Volatile and unstable course
• Risk of hacking

Examples of sites that accept bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies

• Ma-Cadeau.com
• bitit.gift
• depensobitcoins.com
• microbitcoin.Fr
• bitrefill.com

Subscribe a Visa or Mastercard prepaid card

If your bank refuses to provide you with a Visa or Mastercard prepaid card, or you do not want, for one reason or another, ask your establishment, it is still possible to obtain a prepaid visa or mastercard card that will work exactly like An international card – except that you will have to recharge it manually to be able to use it. Recharge can be done directly from your bank account.

You can get one of these cards in several ways: Travelex exchange agencies can allow you to obtain one immediately for € 10 but with less attractive conditions than neobanques. We recommend that you get closer to Revolut, N26, Boon or any Neobanque offering prepaid cards to quickly get one in the best possible terms.

Advantages of Visa and Mastercard prepaid cards

• Work exactly like those issued by your bank
• Accepted on the Internet and in merchants and distributors
• Open to all

Disadvantages

• In general, between the request and the reception of the card at your home 7 days minimum will flow
• Using it can cost money depending on the transmitter conditions
• Recharge is not immediate in all neo-banks

Viairements and checks

The last option remains the transfer and the check, two methods often accepted by small traders in France, and as an alternative to the credit card on sites like eBay.

Benefits

• Simple solution, no approach
• No additional cost

Disadvantages

• The order is generally validated only after receipt of the funds: may generate deadlines
• No additional insurance or protection in the event of a damaged or non -compliant product

You found this guide useful ? Do you know other methods to pay without bank card on the Internet ? Share your return to the comments.

• Share Share ->
• Tweeter
• Share
• Send to a friend