Figo vs Privacy.com
Both Figo and Privacy.com clear the checkouts our readers ask about most. Here is where the two part ways on fees and verification.
Figo issues on Visa (US BIN) and Privacy.com on Visa · Mastercard; verification is ID + proof at Figo versus ID only at Privacy.com; only Figo takes crypto top-ups.
Privacy.com is the more cost-effective option for everyday spending and travel thanks to its free virtual cards, no monthly fee. Figo is the better fit for power users who need crypto funding.
What sets them apart
| Field | Figo | Privacy.com |
|---|---|---|
| Card network | Visa (US BIN) | Visa, Mastercard |
| Card type | Crypto Card | Fintech Wallet |
| KYC | ID + proof | ID only |
| Card issuance fee | $2 (limited-time free) | Free |
| Monthly fee | Free | Free (Personal free; Plus $5 / Pro $10 / Premium $25 per mo) |
| Top-up fee | — | — |
| FX fee | 2% + $0.6 intl | 3% foreign (min $0.50); $0 on Pro/Premium |
| Crypto funding | Yes (USDC/USDT/PYUSD) | No |
| AI tool support | — | ChatGPT / Claude / Midjourney |
| Risk level | Medium | Low |
| Our rating | 8.2 | 9.2 |
| User reviews | 851 | 74 |
| Best for | Ad spend · Streaming | All-rounder · Ad spend |
A green left edge marks the side that holds the advantage on that row, where the data gives one.
The two, compared
- Privacy.com costs less to keep open, so it is the one to reach for if you are watching your budget.
- Multi-task users get more from Privacy.com — it clears more of the checkouts we run through our test suite.
- Privacy.com asks for less verification up front, which matters if you want a card live the same day.
- Figo can sit on a crypto balance; Privacy.com cannot, so the call depends on how you fund it.
- Privacy.com edged Figo on our composite rating across fees, risk and merchant tests.
- Privacy.com carries the lower risk flag in our file, which some users prefer for a primary card.
The head to head
Run the numbers against your own usage. Privacy.com runs free to create plus no top-up fee per top-up; Figo runs about $2 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. Figo scores 8.2/10 against Privacy.com's 9.2/10 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.
Privacy.com works out cheaper: no virtual card issuance fee, free account maintenance. Figo adds about $2 per virtual card, a 2% FX fee.
Figo asks for ID + proof at signup; Privacy.com asks for ID only. If a light sign-up is the priority, the one with the lower KYC label is the faster route.
Both show up in 3 of the same test scenarios, including Snapchat Ads, Taboola, Outbrain. 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
Figo and Privacy.com both landed in our top picks for 3 checkouts. Grouped by category so you can jump straight to the one you actually pay for:
📈 Ad Platforms 3
Their BIN ranges
Cards issued in 🇦🇺 Australia · 🇺🇸 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: