Blackcatcard vs Novo
Torn between Blackcatcard and Novo? The comparison below is built from the same test data we use across the rest of the site.
Both issue on Mastercard; verification is ID + proof at Blackcatcard versus Business KYC at Novo; only Blackcatcard takes crypto top-ups.
Novo is the more cost-effective option for everyday spending and travel thanks to its free virtual cards, no monthly fee. Blackcatcard is the better fit for power users who need crypto funding.
The head to head
| Field | Blackcatcard | Novo |
|---|---|---|
| Card network | Mastercard | Mastercard |
| Card type | Crypto Card | Digital Bank / Neobank |
| KYC | ID + proof | Business KYC |
| Card issuance fee | Free | Free |
| Monthly fee | Free (1 card); €2/mo (2+ cards) | Free ($0 monthly, no minimum balance) |
| Top-up fee | — | — |
| FX fee | — | — |
| Crypto funding | Yes (BTC/ETH/USDT) | No |
| AI tool support | — | — |
| Risk level | Low-Medium | Low |
| Our rating | 8.2 | 8.3 |
| User reviews | 270 | 926 |
| Best for | App Store / Play · Free issuance | App Store / Play · Free issuance |
A green left edge marks the side that holds the advantage on that row, where the data gives one.
Side by side
- Budget-led users will lean to Novo: the running cost is the lower of the two.
- Only Blackcatcard takes crypto top-ups in our data — worth knowing before you decide.
- If risk rating weights your choice, Novo is the calmer of the two.
Where they split
Run the numbers against your own usage. Novo runs free to create plus no top-up fee per top-up; Blackcatcard runs free plus no top-up fee. For one or two subscriptions the first column wins; for crypto funding, the second does.
Questions people ask
That depends on what you spend on. Blackcatcard scores 8.2/10 against Novo's 8.3/10 in our tests, but the two split on fees, KYC and crypto funding. Read the table above, then match it to the checkouts you actually run.
Novo works out cheaper: no virtual card issuance fee, free account maintenance. Blackcatcard adds $1.09 a month.
Blackcatcard asks for ID + proof at signup; Novo asks for Business KYC. If a light sign-up is the priority, the one with the lower KYC label is the faster route.
Both show up in 1 of the same test scenarios, including PlayStation Network. They overlap on a good share of checkouts, so the choice between them matters most on those pages. Where one is accepted and the other is not usually comes down to the billing country and 3-D Secure handling.
Where both show up
Blackcatcard and Novo both landed in our top picks for 1 checkouts. Grouped by category so you can jump straight to the one you actually pay for:
🎮 Gaming 1
Their BIN ranges
Cards issued in 🇪🇺 Europe (EEA) · 🇺🇸 US — the country guides group every range we track from there.
What our charge log shows
Every count here is a real charge attempt we placed on that range, renewals included, with the gateway response recorded. Weeks tracked is how long the range has been in the programme: