--- title: When ‎to use a Purchasing Card vs. Virtual Card url: https://www.medius.com/blog/when-to-use-a-purchasing-card-vs-virtual-card/ updated: 2025-08-28T23:29:36Z --- [Back to Blog](https://www.medius.com/blog/) Accounts Payable 10.21.2021 # When ‎to use a Purchasing Card vs. Virtual Card There are many types of [Commercial Credit](https://www.medius.com/solutions/medius-payments/ "Medius Payments") options available to businesses these days.  There are Travel and Entertainment Cards (T&E), Purchasing Cards, Fleet Cards, Prepaid Cards and more. Today, we want to focus our attention on differentiating Purchasing Cards (P-cards) from [Virtual Cards](https://www.onpaysolutions.com/payment-automation-virtual-card) (V-cards) to allow our readers to gain a better perspective on how and when to use each. ## Purchasing cards Purchasing Cards (p-cards) give employees streamlined purchasing power and allow management to know that purchase controls are in place. Purchasing card use has soared in the past years as companies and governments seek to reduce friction in making purchases. Purchasing cards are a form of company charge cards that allow goods and services to be procured without using a traditional purchasing process. The P-cards are issued to employees who are expected to follow the guidelines for use of the card and a variety of controls can be put on these cards: - Single-purchase dollar limits - Monthly purchase dollar limits - Restriction to purchasing goods or services in specific merchant category code (MCC) - Review and approval of each purchase or of purchases --at least monthly by an independent of the cardholder On the other hand, [Virtual Card](https://www.medius.com/blog/most-secure-payment-method/ "How to Find the Most Secure Payment Method in 2022") (v-card) payments streamline the accounts payable process by converting checks to a secure e-payment — eliminating costs associated with distributing paper checks, speeding up turnaround times for your vendors receiving payments, and reducing risks associated with lost and stolen paper checks. Another benefit is that it makes your [accounts payable](https://www.medius.com/solutions/medius-accounts-payable-automation/ "Medius Accounts Payable Automation") (AP) process substantially more efficient. ## Virtual cards Virtual Cards or single-issue cards (controlled payment numbers/one-time use credit cards) allow companies to issue credit payments electronically. Paying vendors through an existing payment card network, all while maintaining the highest security standards. Each virtual card is issued to a specific vendor for a specific dollar amount. The cards are processed by the vendor similarly to the traditional credit or pay card payments without a physical card or open line of credit being provided. ## **With Virtual cards, card numbers:** - Are unique for each transaction - Are activated and assigned to designated organizations - Carry a specific maximum dollar amount that will ever be authorized - May carry GL clearing information for ease of applying to overall systems - Are no longer valid once the maximum dollar value has been reached Let’s replace all that worry and wondering with calm and confidence. Medius links all of AP together — from invoice capture and processing all the way through payment. With one look [at a demo](https://www.medius.com/book-a-demo/ "Book a Demo"), you’ll see how Medius takes you beyond basic automation and minor improvements to let [Artificial Intelligence (AI)](https://www.medius.com/blog/does-ai-dream-of-electronic-invoices/ "Does AI dream of electronic invoices?") do most of the work for you, so you can get done, go home and rest easy. *Originally published October 2021. Updated for content and quality on October 5th, 2021.* #### Medius Financial Census 2026 87% of finance pros have ignored suspected fraud. That's just one finding. See what 2,386 finance leaders revealed about fraud, late payments, AI, and the profession's future. [Get the report](https://www.medius.com/resources/guides-reports/medius-financial-census-2026/ "Medius Financial Census 2026") #### Ardent Partners' State of AP in 2026 AI is changing what AP teams can do, and fast. Get leading analysts at Ardent Partners' take on where the industry is headed. [Get the report](https://www.medius.com/resources/guides-reports/ardent-partners-state-of-ap/ "Ardent Partners State of AP") #### Webinar: Preparing for agentic AI in AP In this webinar with SSON, see how leading finance teams are moving from automation to autonomous AP, with real governance built in. [Watch the webinar](https://www.medius.com/resources/events-and-webinars/through-trust-and-governance-sson/ "Through trust and governance SSON") #### Discover accounts payable benchmarks Learn the efficiency metrics that matter for AP teams and the benchmarks derived from thousands of Medius customers around the globe. [Get the report](https://www.medius.com/resources/guides-reports/ap-benchmark-report/ "AP Benchmark Report") #### Questions about AP automation? Let's talk through it. A 30-minute conversation with a Medius expert costs you nothing and might save you a lot. Book a consult ## Related Posts [8.26.2026 Accounts Payable Best AP automation software features](https://www.medius.com/blog/best-ap-automation-software-features/) [8.24.2026 AP Automation Why legacy AP systems hold back finance transformation](https://www.medius.com/blog/why-legacy-ap-systems-hold-back-finance-transformation/) [8.18.2026 AP Automation Best AP automation software for food and beverage](https://www.medius.com/blog/best-ap-automation-software-for-food-and-beverage/) [8.17.2026 Accounts Payable 5 AI-powered tactics for touchless accounts payable](https://www.medius.com/blog/five-tactics-for-peace-of-mind-touchless-accounts-payable/) [!\[focused business woman looking at computer\](https://www.medius.com/media/exkdu0tm/adobestock_126291778-red.jpg?width=340&height=245&v=1d99261d24b3f10) 8.13.2026 AP Automation The AP metrics CFOs review first when evaluating finance operations](https://www.medius.com/blog/the-ap-metrics-cfos-review-first-when-evaluating-finance-operations/) [8.12.2026 Integration Choosing the best AP automation platform for complex ERP environments](https://www.medius.com/blog/choosing-the-best-ap-automation-platform-for-complex-erp-environments/) Previous Next [View All Posts](https://www.medius.com/blog/) ## Ready to transform your AP? 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