PayPal Key vs X1 Card
Both PayPal Key and X1 Card clear the checkouts our readers ask about most. Here is where the two part ways on fees and verification.
Both issue on Visa; both ask for ID + proof; only PayPal Key takes crypto top-ups.
PayPal Key is the more cost-effective option for everyday spending and travel thanks to its free virtual cards, no monthly fee. X1 Card still clears the same checkouts in our tests, so match the table to the services you actually pay for.
Side by side
| Field | PayPal Key | X1 Card |
|---|---|---|
| Card network | Visa | Visa |
| Card type | Fintech Wallet | Fintech Wallet |
| KYC | ID + proof | ID + proof |
| Card issuance fee | Free | Free (metal card) |
| Monthly fee | Free | No annual fee |
| Top-up fee | — | — |
| FX fee | — | 0% |
| Crypto funding | Yes (PayPal supports crypto) | No |
| AI tool support | ChatGPT / Claude / Midjourney | — |
| Risk level | Low | Low |
| Our rating | 8.8 | 8.5 |
| User reviews | 322 | 77 |
| Best for | All-rounder · Ad spend | App Store / Play · Free issuance |
A green left edge marks the side that holds the advantage on that row, where the data gives one.
The short version of the matchup
- PayPal Key shows up in more of our test scenarios, so it is the safer pick when you juggle several subscriptions.
- Only PayPal Key takes crypto top-ups in our data — worth knowing before you decide.
- PayPal Key edged X1 Card on our composite rating across fees, risk and merchant tests.
What sets them apart
PayPal Key is the cheaper card to hold: free to create and no top-up fee, against free and no top-up fee at X1 Card. X1 Card earns its keep only if you need the rows where it leads in the table.
Questions people ask
That depends on what you spend on. PayPal Key scores 8.8/10 against X1 Card's 8.5/10 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.
PayPal Key is the cheaper card to run. Both PayPal Key and X1 Card issue virtual cards for free.
PayPal Key asks for ID + proof at signup; X1 Card asks for ID + proof. If a light sign-up is the priority, the one with the lower KYC label is the faster route.
Both show up in 4 of the same test scenarios, including Etsy, Sephora US, Uber. 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
PayPal Key and X1 Card both landed in our top picks for 4 checkouts. Grouped by category so you can jump straight to the one you actually pay for:
🛍️ Cross-border Shopping 2
🧳 Travel & Productivity 2
Their BIN ranges
Cards issued in 🇺🇸 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: