If you run ads on multiple platforms like TikTok, Facebook Ads, or Google Ads, maybe it is time to consider getting a virtual card. We’ve all been there and know exactly how stressful it can be when launching a new campaign, and things can go very wrong if you don’t have an optimized payment solution.

But why virtual cards? Well, they allow you to be more in control of the situation. You can choose specific merchants that the cards work with, set spending limits, and the best thing is that most virtual cards can be integrated with an API, automating the process of ad spending, budget analysis, and even recording all of the transactions in the books.

Plus, virtual cards are much safer than traditional cards, and the payments are faster and smarter.

But if you are still not convinced, let’s dive deeper and analyze why so many media buying teams are switching to virtual cards.

Instant Issuance

Getting a traditional plastic card (or an aluminum one if your ad spend is huge) is a lengthy process that can take several business days to weeks. So, let’s say that your card is suddenly blocked by a platform like Facebook. You’ve done nothing shady, but mistakes can happen, and Facebook can restrict the use of a particular card (it happened to me).

This means that you need to wait for your new card for a couple of days, and during that time, all of your campaigns are put on hold.

With virtual cards, the process is much simpler. You just register on a platform like Genome and get your virtual cards for media buying instantly. All you need is to fill out a form, connect your card to your company or personal name, and the card is issued in seconds.

This is perfect for jumping on trending TikTok campaigns or a last-minute Google Ad push. It gives you more freedom, plus each card can be limited to a specific vendor, making it much easier to track every expense.

Fraud Protection

Paying online is a risky business, and even with big companies like Meta, we’ve seen some huge data leaks. On top of that, some media buyers are experimenting with third-party platforms without a big reputation just to get a word out for their brand or product.

This means that security and fraud protection are one of the most important things for media buyers. You wouldn’t want to get up in the morning and see that all of your money is gone from your account.

Fortunately, virtual cards take online security to the next level. Apart from having that same 16-digit code, expiration date, and security code, they are also packed with features that will ensure the safety of your information. You have two-factor authentication, merchant limits, spending limits, biometric authentication, and many other things.

Additionally, you can create single-use cards or lock them to a specific platform like Instagram, i which case your card will be useless for hackers.

Lastly, if things do go wrong, you can always freeze your card through the app and get a new one in minutes.

Budget Control

Media buying is a budget tightrope, and one overspend can tank your ROI. Virtual cards let you set hard limits, so you’re never blindsided. Need $5,000 for a YouTube campaign?

Issue a card capped at that amount, and it won’t spend a cent more. Platforms let you assign cards to specific platforms or campaigns, with one-click on/off switches to pause spending instantly.

Create a card for each campaign, set your limit, and you’re running budgets with the precision of a laser, keeping clients happy and profits intact.

Seamless Reconciliation

Reconciling ad spend used to mean drowning in receipts and spreadsheets, but virtual cards make it a breeze.

Each card comes with rich transaction data—vendor, amount, campaign ID—that syncs with accounting tools like Xero or QuickBooks.

Some platforms tag payments with metadata, making it easy to match transactions to client codes, streamlining billing for thousands of ad buys.

Issue a card for a Google Ads blitz, export the data to your ERP, and you’re closing the books with the ease of a Sunday morning coffee run, freeing your team for strategy, not number-crunching.

Team Collaboration

Media buying teams are often juggling multiple campaigns across global platforms, and virtual cards keep everyone in sync.

Some platforms offer role-based access, letting team leads assign cards, set budgets, and monitor spending from one dashboard.

Others even offer collaborative features that let managers create cards for specific projects, avoiding the mess of shared physical cards. Set up team accounts and you’re scaling campaigns like a global ad empire, no drama.

So, it seems like virtual cards can be a huge lifesaver for media buyers and big organizations with multiple teams running ads. It makes the process more autonomous, easier to track, and safer.