It is convenient and enjoyable to purchase online. Over decades, the bank card has become one of the more popular methods, but it isn’t a concern if you’re not using a bank card. A credit card is no longer our only choice in the 21st century.
How to Buy Things Online Without a Credit Card?
You can use virtual cards, e-wallet payment methods, checking accounts, gift cards, store credits, or cryptocurrencies to buy things without a credit card. The best way to shop online without a credit card is by using well-known e-wallets such as PayPal, Google Pay, Amazon Pay, Skrill, etc. Usually, websites offer several payment options.
Below, you can see ideas on what you can use to pay online instead of using credit cards:
- E-Wallets:
- PayPal: Create a PayPal account, add money from your bank account or another source, and then use that balance to make online purchases.
- Google Pay: Set it up using a debit card, bank account, or other source. Then, use Google Pay for online transactions.
- Amazon Pay: You can add money to your Amazon Pay account and use it to make purchases on Amazon and other participating websites.
- Skrill: Similar to PayPal, add money to Skrill from your bank or another source and use it for online purchases.
- Apple Pay: Apple users can use this to make online purchases if the website supports it.
- Virtual Cards:
- Some banks and fintech companies offer virtual cards like regular debit cards without a physical presence. You can load money onto these virtual cards and use them for online purchases.
- Checking Accounts:
- Some online retailers let you make purchases directly from your checking account. To do so, you’ll need to provide your account number and bank routing number.
- Gift Cards and Store Credits:
- Many online stores sell gift cards that can be redeemed for merchandise.
- In addition, if you have store credits from returns or gift cards, you can use these for purchases.
- Some websites even accept third-party gift cards.
- Cryptocurrencies:
- If the website accepts cryptocurrencies, you can make purchases using Bitcoin, Ethereum, etc. Of course, you’ll need a crypto wallet with the necessary amount of cryptocurrency for the purchase.
- Debit Cards:
- If you have a bank account, you likely have a debit card that can be used anywhere credit cards are accepted, including online.
- Buy Now Pay Later Services:
- Some websites offer services like Klarna, Afterpay, Affirm, etc., where you can purchase and pay for an item in installments.
- Cash on Delivery (COD):
- Some online retailers offer COD as a payment option, where you pay for the item in cash when delivered. This is more common in certain regions.
- Money Orders and Prepaid Cards:
- These can be purchased at many grocery stores or post offices and used for online purchases.
- Bank Transfers or Wire Transfers:
- Some websites accept bank or wire transfer payments, but you must check with the retailer.
Remember, no matter your chosen method, ensure that the website you’re buying from is secure and reputable to avoid fraud or scams. For example, look for HTTPS in the website URL and check online reviews or the Better Business Bureau for credibility.
Using E-Wallets instead of credit cards
Electronic wallets, often shortened to e-wallets, have revolutionized how we transact online. They enable us to make purchases without needing physical credit or debit cards. E-wallets are digital versions of physical wallets, where users can store money, cards, and other valuable information electronically. They can be used to pay for goods and services online on e-commerce websites, pay bills, or even send money to others.
The main advantage of using e-wallets is convenience. With an e-wallet, users do not need to input their card details each time they purchase. Instead, the e-wallet stores these details securely and uses them to complete transactions swiftly. The user must select their e-wallet as their payment option, log in, and confirm the payment. This makes checkouts quicker and significantly reduces the risk of incorrectly entering card details.
E-wallets also enhance security. Since users don’t have to input card details for each transaction, there’s a reduced risk of these details being intercepted by malicious third parties. Many e-wallets also use advanced encryption technologies and two-factor authentication (2FA), further bolstering their security.
Many different e-wallets are available today, each with unique features. Some of the most popular include PayPal, Google Pay, Amazon Pay, Apple Pay, and Skrill.
List of most famous E-payment methods:
- PayPal – https://www.paypal.com/
- Skrill – https://www.skrill.com/
- Venmo – https://venmo.com/
- Stripe – https://stripe.com/
- Google Pay – https://pay.google.com/
- Apple Pay – https://www.apple.com/apple-pay/
- Amazon Pay – https://pay.amazon.com/
- Payoneer – https://www.payoneer.com/
- Neteller – https://www.neteller.com/
- Payza – https://www.payza.com/
- 2Checkout – https://www.2checkout.com/
- Square – https://squareup.com/
- Alipay – https://intl.alipay.com/
- WeChat Pay – https://pay.weixin.qq.com/
- Paytm – https://paytm.com/
- QuickPay – https://quickpay.net/
- Authorize.Net – https://www.authorize.net/
- Payza – https://www.payza.eu/
- Dwolla – https://www.dwolla.com/
- TransferWise – https://wise.com/
Many e-commerce websites accept multiple e-wallets as payment options, giving customers the freedom to choose the one they prefer or the one they find most convenient. However, some e-wallets charge fees for certain transactions, so checking the terms and conditions before using a new e-wallet is necessary.
Where can I shop online without a billing address?
You can shop online without a billing address on large websites (Amazon, Etsy, Target, Walmart, Overstock, etc.). However, the largest online shops in the U.S. and worldwide, such as Google Store, Amazon, Apple Pay, etc., require a U.S. billing address as a verification step and important prevention from credit card fraud.
Please read our article Where Can I Shop Online Without Billing Address?
Checks or checking accounts can be used for payment instead of cards.
Checks are accepted for payment. Certain online businesses allow you to still use checks to make purchases, although it may be pretty tough to do so. Online shops like eBay and Etsy are more inclined to embrace organic than smaller ones. You submit the cheque and wait for it to clear the banks using these procedures. Next, your products will be sent out for delivery. Unfortunately, this approach is much slower than other techniques. For the business to open, it must wait for the contract to be valid.
As a result, you’ll also have to wait for the things you ordered.
They are having a buddy purchase it for you. So many individuals across this approach, whether they have a buddy or somebody they know, will get what they want from their favorite businesses.
Some online shops allow payment by check as well as credit cards. A check was written to both the online market space and any order, which will be fulfilled once the internet store has confirmed that it has received all of the appropriate check criteria. People avoid this approach owing to the difficulty and untimely order delivery. These are fantastic choices for those who enjoy shopping online without a payment method. Despite the changing costs, I recommend utilizing Bitcoin. Buying things with crypto is possible using several excellent services, making the process incredibly easy and convenient.
Cryptocurrency as a form of payment without credit cards
Cryptocurrency can be used as a form of payment without credit cards or traditional banking systems. Cryptocurrencies are digital assets that use cryptographic technology to secure transactions and control the creation of new units. They operate on decentralized networks called blockchains, which record all transactions transparently and securely.
Here’s how cryptocurrency can be used for payments without credit cards:
- Peer-to-peer Transactions: Cryptocurrencies enable direct transactions without intermediaries like banks or credit card companies. The buyer and the seller can have digital wallets and transfer funds directly.
- Q.R. Code Payments: Many cryptocurrency wallets support Q.R. codes, which can be scanned to initiate transactions. The payer scans the recipient’s Q.R. code or enters their wallet address to send the desired amount of cryptocurrency.
- Merchant Integration: Numerous online and offline merchants accept cryptocurrency payments. They often give customers a payment address or Q.R. code to send the necessary funds. The payment is considered complete once the transaction is confirmed on the blockchain.
- Payment Gateways: Payment gateways, similar to those used for credit cards, exist in cryptocurrency. They allow merchants to instantly accept multiple cryptocurrencies and convert them into their desired fiat currency or hold them if preferred.
- Mobile Apps and Wallets: Mobile apps and wallets make sending and receiving cryptocurrency payments convenient. Users can securely store their cryptocurrency, manage transactions, and initiate smartphone payments.
- Smart Contracts: Cryptocurrencies like Ethereum enable intelligent contracts and self-executing agreements with predefined rules. These contracts can automate payment processes and conditions, allowing for secure and transparent transactions.
At the very minimum, I wish that more e-commerce businesses offered crypto. I believe Bitcoin will soon become popular. Most crypto purchases appear to be cell phone top-ups, YouTube, Soundcloud, and gaming at the Bitcoin. Isn’t it unique that you can pay for anything using Bitcoin? And it won’t be long until we also get access to them. So appreciate your internet purchases with these tips, so don’t miss out on deals.
Student loans plan activities for fraud detection, which is one of the enormous benefits of using them for online transactions. Dispute any unauthorized charges on your checking account; your bank account provider may remove them. As a result, you are not accountable for significant charges you did not make.
Under the Federal Communications Commission, an illegal debit card movement may cost you upwards of $500, depending on where you identify the mistake. The possibility of data breaches has been one of the disadvantages of utilizing payment cards to make transactions on the Internet.
Shop at several locations and submit your payment details at each site to raise your identity theft risk. Reduce the risk of account info being stolen by using an electronic payment provider that discloses your card details to shops. As a bonus, using an Internet banking provider eliminates the need to input your credit card numbers on every page you visit.
After leaving Wells Fargo Bank in 2014, Daniel began a career as a finance consultant, advising companies and individuals on economic policy, labor relations, and financial management.
At Promtfinance.com, Daniel writes about personal finance topics, value estimation, budgeting strategies, retirement planning, and portfolio diversification.
Read more on Daniel Smith's biography page.
Contact Daniel: daniel@promtfinance.com