US Unlocked
US Unlocked (Tern Commerce, Inc.) is a New York-based fintech that issues US Visa virtual payment cards with US billing addresses to international consumers, enabling cross-border shopping at US e-commerce sites, streaming platforms, and merchants that reject foreign cards, monetized via subscriptions and transaction-based load fees.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What US Unlocked does
US Unlocked, operated by Tern Commerce, Inc., is a New York-based fintech that issues US Visa-branded virtual payment cards with US billing addresses to non-US residents who cannot transact at US online merchants, streaming services, or digital platforms using foreign-issued cards. The platform issues multiple card variants — standard Virtual Payment Cards, Merchant-Specific Cards (locked to first merchant for subscription management), One-Time Use Cards (auto-closing 2 minutes after first charge), Store Locked Cards, and Open-to-Buy Cards — under a Visa license through Third National as issuing bank, with a $3,000 maximum account balance and per-load cap. Funding rails span credit/debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, UK Faster Payments, Dutch iDEAL, SEPA, and cryptocurrency (USDC, Bitcoin) across Ethereum, Polygon, Optimism, and Arbitrum blockchains. The business operates a self-serve, product-led go-to-market with no sales involvement: monthly subscriptions at $4.95/month or annual at $39.95/year (10 cards included), plus $1/month per additional card, load fees of 2% (crypto) or $1+5% (cards), $2 one-time use cards, a $10 unload fee, 3% FX fee, and a $30 returned-payment fee. The company targets international consumer segments in the UK, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, LATAM, and Asia-Pacific, and is geographically restricted from 28 high-risk jurisdictions including Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, Turkey, and others. Distribution relies on SEO-driven content marketing, a referral program offering up to $5 in credit per signup, and an ecosystem of freight forwarders (Ship7, Vyking Ship, Planet Express, OPAS, TransExpress, Shipito, Aramex Shop & Ship) and VPN providers (CyberGhost, StrongVPN, ExpressVPN) that complete the cross-border shopping stack.
US Unlocked firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- US Unlocked
- Legal name
- Tern Commerce, Inc.
- Website
- https://usunlocked.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- US Unlocked (Tern Commerce, Inc.) is a New York-based fintech that issues US Visa virtual payment cards with US billing addresses to international consumers, enabling cross-border shopping at US e-commerce sites, streaming platforms, and merchants that reject foreign cards, monetized via subscriptions and transaction-based load fees.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
US Unlocked industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cross-Border Virtual Payment Cards
- NAICS
- Credit Card Issuing (522210), Credit Card Issuing (52221), Sales Financing (52222)
- SIC
- Personal Credit Institutions (6141)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Virtual Prepaid & Single-Use / Tokenized Cards (FSAMANAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Virtual Card Issuance & Tokenized Corporate Cards (THACAJAA), Virtual / Digital-First Credit Cards (FSAKABAK), Virtual Card & Tokenization Schemes (FSAMAAAG)
Keywords
Where US Unlocked is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
US Unlocked business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Subscription Fees: Monthly or annual subscription fees for access to the platform, virtual cards, and US billing addresses. Monthly subscription is $4.95/month; annual subscription is $39.95/year (save 33%).
- Card Load Fees: Fees charged when loading funds onto virtual cards. Credit/debit card loads cost $1 + 5% of the load amount. Cryptocurrency loads cost 2% of the load amount. Apple Pay/Google Pay loads cost $1 + 5%.
- Additional Card Fees: Monthly fees for additional virtual cards beyond the included cards in subscription. Additional cards cost $1 per month; one-time use cards cost $2 each.
- Unload and Transaction Fees: Fees for unloading funds ($10), foreign currency transactions (3% when merchant doesn't accept USD), returned payments ($30), and zero-value transactions ($0.50).
- Referral Program: Referral bonuses of up to $5 in account credit for each successful referral who registers and makes a qualifying transaction. Referred customers may also receive bonuses.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Monthly Subscription - $4.95/month |
| Subscription | Annual | Annual Subscription - $39.95/year (33% savings) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | One-Time Use Cards |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Card Load Fees - Credit/Debit |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Card Load Fees - Cryptocurrency |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Foreign Currency Transaction Fee |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Unload Fee |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
US Unlocked product offering
Product offeringCore offering
US Unlocked provides U.S.-issued virtual payment cards with U.S. billing addresses that enable international consumers to shop at U.S. websites, digital services, streaming platforms, and online merchants that reject foreign-issued cards. The platform supports funding via credit/debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, UK Faster Payments, SEPA, iDEAL, and cryptocurrencies (USDC, Bitcoin) across multiple blockchains (Ethereum, Polygon, Optimism, Arbitrum). Customers register online, verify identity, fund accounts, and generate virtual cards through a self-serve digital experience.
Product overview
US Unlocked is a virtual credit card platform that provides US-issued virtual payment cards with US billing addresses, enabling international shoppers to access US online retailers, streaming services, and digital platforms. The core offering consists of multiple virtual card types: the standard US Unlocked Virtual Payment Card as the primary product, supplemented by Merchant-Specific Cards for subscription management and recurring payments, One-Time Use Cards for single transactions, Store Locked Cards, and Open-to-Buy Cards for general merchant use. The platform integrates with major payment networks (Visa, Mastercard), digital wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay), and cryptocurrency networks (Bitcoin, Ethereum, Polygon, Optimism, Arbitrum) for account funding. Additional services include US address access via freight forwarding partners and VPN recommendations for location-based access. The subscription model offers monthly ($4.95/month) and annual ($39.95/year) plans, with the annual plan including 10 virtual cards.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- US Unlocked Virtual Payment Card US-issued virtual payment cards with US billing addresses for international users to shop at US websites, digital services, streaming platforms, apps, and online merchants that do not accept foreign-issued cards. Includes 10 virtual cards per subscription.
- Merchant-Specific Card Virtual card locked to a single merchant after first use, ideal for managing recurring subscriptions. Allows multiple uses with the same merchant and configurable spending limits per charge, month, or year. Prevents cross-merchant fraud by automatically locking to the first approved merchant.
- One-Time Use Card Virtual card that generates a unique card number for a single transaction and automatically closes 2 minutes after the first charge completes. Best for quick one-time purchases at unique merchants. Available at $2 per card.
- Open-to-Buy Card General-purpose virtual card that works at most US merchants without merchant-specific restrictions, providing flexible spending at any US online retailer that accepts Visa or Mastercard.
Quantifiable outcome
- Users can access US merchants requiring US-issued cards with US billing addresses
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use US Unlocked
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
US Unlocked technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration13 records
Feature5 records
US Unlocked partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- TechTypicalminorRecommended VPN provider partner listed on US Unlocked's VPN page. TechTypical offers VPN services recommended for use with US Unlocked virtual cards to access US websites from international locations.
- CyberGhostminorRecommended VPN provider partner. CyberGhost offers VPN services for masking user location to appear as US-based when accessing US websites with US Unlocked cards.
- StrongVPNminorRecommended VPN partner with servers in 46 cities and 24 countries. StrongVPN offers no-logging policy, P2P support, and includes free StrongDNS package. Promoted on US Unlocked's partner page.
- ExpressVPNminorRecommended VPN partner with 30-day money-back guarantee, 24/7 support, and best-in-class encryption. Accepts Bitcoin and credit card payments. Available on Mac, Windows, iOS, Android and more.
- Ship7coreFreight forwarding partner accepted to ship purchases made with US Unlocked. Ship7 provides US shipping addresses for receiving orders and international forwarding.
- Vyking ShipcoreFreight forwarding partner providing US shipping address services for international forwarding of US purchases made with US Unlocked cards.
- Planet ExpresscoreFreight forwarding partner with US address services for receiving and forwarding US purchases internationally.
- OPAScoreStrategic partner since 2013, OPAS offers white-glove repackaging and shipping service with significant presence in Japan, Australia, Far East, UK, and Middle East. Ships to 220+ countries. Oregon location provides 0% sales tax guarantee. 26 years in operation, 25,000 sq ft facility, 35 employees.
- TransExpresscoreHousehold name in LATAM, TransExpress has strategically located shipping facility in Miami. TSA approved freight forwarder with state-of-the-art facility and tracking system. 30+ years in business, 400k subscribers, 1k+ employees.
- ShipitocoreStrategic partner since 2014, Shipito offers multiple shipping address options in the US and serves customers globally. Provides up to 90 days free storage, up to 80% shipping savings, 3 US addresses, and 12 carrier options.
- Aramex Shop & ShipcorePartnership since 2012 with Aramex Shop & Ship. Combined offering has helped tens of thousands of consumers in the Middle East access goods. Shop & Ship has 15 addresses, $100 free insurance per package, $1B+ yearly revenue, ranked #1 shipper in Middle East.
- Third NationalcoreCard issuer for US Unlocked card program. Cards are issued by Third National under license from Visa. Third National sets spending limits and manages the card program funding.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
US Unlocked competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Revolut: Global neobank offering multi-currency accounts and virtual disposable cards that can be used at US merchants. Broader incumbent with a much wider product surface, but directly substitutes for US Unlocked's core use case for international shoppers.
- Wise: Multi-currency account provider with a debit card that handles cross-border spending and USD transactions at low FX cost. A scale incumbent competing for the same international-shopper cohort with cheaper FX and no subscription fee.
Direct peers
- Skrill: Digital wallet and prepaid card issuer under Paysafe, providing international consumers with virtual and physical prepaid cards for online spending. Directly comparable prepaid cross-border card product.
- AstroPay: Prepaid virtual card and voucher provider focused on enabling consumers in emerging markets (LATAM, Africa, Asia) to transact with global online merchants. Highly comparable cross-border prepaid card model with similar emerging-market user base.
- Paysafecard: Prepaid voucher and virtual card provider under the Paysafe group, enabling online purchases without a bank account. Comparable prepaid model serving users who cannot or prefer not to use traditional bank cards online.
- Payoneer: Cross-border payments platform that issues virtual and physical payment cards to international freelancers and businesses to spend USD balances at US merchants. Direct functional overlap with US Unlocked's value proposition.
- Privacy.com: US-based virtual card issuer providing merchant-locked and single-use virtual card numbers to mask real payment details. Closest direct comparable on the merchant-locked and one-time-use card mechanics that define US Unlocked's product.
- Neteller: Prepaid card and e-wallet service under Paysafe, offering virtual prepaid cards used by international consumers for online and cross-border commerce. Long-standing direct peer in the prepaid cross-border card category.
- EcoPayz: Prepaid virtual card and e-wallet provider for international online spending. Comparable product structure (prefunded virtual cards, network-branded) serving users outside traditional banking rails.
Emerging players
- IronVest: Parent of Privacy.com, offering virtual cards alongside privacy and identity-protection features. Comparable merchant-locked virtual card mechanics with an emerging focus on identity security for online shopping.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
US Unlocked social profiles
Digital presenceUS Unlocked financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
US Unlocked leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
US Unlocked funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
US Unlocked M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about US Unlocked
What does US Unlocked do?
US Unlocked provides U.S.-issued virtual payment cards with U.S. billing addresses that enable international consumers to shop at U.S. websites, digital services, streaming platforms, and online merchants that reject foreign-issued cards. The platform supports funding via credit/debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, UK Faster Payments, SEPA, iDEAL, and cryptocurrencies (USDC, Bitcoin) across multiple blockchains (Ethereum, Polygon, Optimism, Arbitrum). Customers register online, verify identity, fund accounts, and generate virtual cards through a self-serve digital experience.
Is US Unlocked a public or private company?
US Unlocked is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was US Unlocked founded?
US Unlocked was founded in 2010. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is US Unlocked based?
US Unlocked is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does US Unlocked make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Subscription Fees are the primary driver. The others are card Load Fees, additional Card Fees, unload and Transaction Fees and referral Program.
Who are US Unlocked's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Revolut and Wise. Direct peers are Skrill, AstroPay, Paysafecard, Payoneer, Privacy.com, Neteller and EcoPayz. IronVest is listed as an emerging player.
Does US Unlocked have an API?
No public API is recorded for US Unlocked.
What industry is US Unlocked in?
US Unlocked's product category is Cross-Border Virtual Payment Cards. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAMANAJ, Virtual Prepaid & Single-Use / Tokenized Cards, with a secondary code of THACAJAA, Virtual Card Issuance & Tokenized Corporate Cards. Its NAICS code is 522210 and its SIC code is 6141.