Recently, many friends around me have been asking me: how can we activate ChatGPT Plus in China? Although the regular ChatGPT is usable, sometimes the speed is too slow, and there’s no way to experience GPT-4. Especially for those involved in advertising, coding, or research, almost everyone wants a Plus membership.
But the problem is that domestic bank cards are almost unusable. Many people have tried using WeChat Pay, Alipay, or UnionPay credit cards, but all have been rejected. I actually fell into this trap at first, but later I slowly figured out a more stable method, which is through virtual credit cards + USDT recharge.
Today, I will share my entire process, hoping to help friends who are struggling with how to activate Plus.
Why do domestic users need to use virtual credit cards?#
Actually, I initially approached this with a try-it-out mindset because most foreign subscription websites only accept Visa or MasterCard. Domestic bank cards either do not support it at all or fail to make payments. So what to do?
But after reading a few introductory articles on GitBook, I gained a new understanding of it.
Virtual credit cards became the best choice. They are similar to the physical credit cards we usually use, but they are actually just an online card number that can be specifically used to subscribe to services like ChatGPT Plus.
I chose the platform EasyPay for a simple reason:
- It supports email registration and TG account registration, which can be completed in a few minutes without real-name KYC.
- The recharge method is very user-friendly; you can recharge directly using USDT (trc20), and the deposit speed is particularly fast.
- The cost of opening a card is very low, opening fee: $3, no monthly fee, and you can use it long-term after opening once.
Compared to platforms that charge dozens or hundreds for card opening fees, this one is indeed cost-effective.
They also specifically created an introduction forum to explain the card usage in detail for some novice customers.
How did I activate it?#
To be honest, the whole process was actually smoother than I expected. It can be roughly divided into several small steps.
1. Register on the platform first#
I used the email registration method, which was very simple; just fill in an email verification code to log into the backend. You can also directly bind your TG account to save the hassle.
2. Apply for a virtual card#
In the backend, just click “Apply for Card,” and I chose a USD Visa card. Since the subscription for ChatGPT Plus is charged in USD, choosing a USD card is the most suitable.
The system prompted that I needed to pay a $3 opening fee, with no monthly fee, so I opened it directly. A few seconds later, the system provided me with the complete card number, expiration date, and CVV.
3. Recharge the virtual card#
I used USDT (trc20) for the recharge. I transferred a bit of U from the exchange to the platform wallet, and it arrived almost instantly. Then I exchanged it for a USD balance in the backend.
This step is crucial; it’s best to prepare around $25, because ChatGPT Plus costs $20 per month, and with taxes and pre-authorization, you need some extra balance on the card.
4. Go to the ChatGPT official website to upgrade#
After getting the virtual card, it was time to bind it. I opened https://chat.openai.com with a US node, logged in, and in the lower left corner, there’s a “My Plan” option; I clicked in to choose to upgrade to Plus.
Then I entered the information for the virtual card I just applied for:
- Card number: Fill in the virtual Visa card number provided by EasyPay
- Name: The name provided by EasyPay in the backend, no real-name required
- Address: An independent address generated for each user in the EasyPay backend card management section
After clicking submit, the system first deducted a little over $1 as a pre-authorization, which was refunded a few minutes later. Then it prompted that the subscription was successful, displaying “Your Plan: ChatGPT Plus.”
At that moment, I really breathed a sigh of relief.
User Experience#
After activation, the difference is quite significant:
- Faster speed: The regular account often lags during peak times, while Plus has almost no delay.
- GPT-4: This is the most attractive aspect for me; the logic in responses is clearer, and the writing is more complete.
- Plugin features: You can directly call third-party tools and even search online.
- Custom GPTs: This is very useful for someone like me who wants to create small tools.
Overall, spending $20 a month is still very worthwhile.
Common Issues and Pitfalls I Encountered#
There are still some details to pay attention to during the activation process, or it can easily get stuck.
-
Insufficient balance
The first time I only recharged $20, resulting in a binding failure. Later I learned that I needed to recharge a bit more for pre-authorization; it’s best to prepare $25. -
Unsupported payment method
Most of this is an IP issue. Using a domestic node definitely won’t work; it’s recommended to use US, Japan, or Hong Kong nodes. -
Billing address mismatch
Do not casually fill in a domestic address; just use a US address generator. -
Not receiving verification codes
Domestic phone numbers are basically unusable; it’s recommended to use Google Voice or a code receiving platform. -
Payment successful but account not upgraded
I encountered this situation once; waiting a few minutes and refreshing the page solved it. If it still doesn’t work, you can directly ask EasyPay customer service.
If you need to know more about EasyPay inquiries, you can visit their official Notion channel, where detailed shares are posted daily.
A few tips for friends preparing to activate#
- If you only occasionally use ChatGPT, there’s actually no need to activate Plus. The regular version is sufficient.
- But if you are involved in content creation, advertising, research, or coding, Plus is almost a necessity.
- Be sure to prepare a stable tool for scientific internet access; otherwise, even if you activate the membership, it won’t help if you can’t connect.
- It’s advisable to use a USD card with sufficient balance for the virtual card; otherwise, payments may easily fail.
Real Case Sharing#
I have a few friends who also followed me to use virtual credit cards to activate Plus.
- Xiao Wang (advertising): He used to complain that he couldn’t write viral ad copy; now he uses GPT-4 to write ads every day, and his efficiency has doubled.
- Xiao Li (international student): He needs to write papers and often looks for English reference materials. After activating Plus, he uses GPT-4 to assist in writing, saving a lot of time on research.
- Old Zhang (programmer): He initially used the regular version of GPT, often struggling with code prompts. After upgrading to Plus, the code suggestions from GPT-4 are more reliable, and he can use plugins for debugging.
Their feedback is basically unanimous: as long as the activation is successful, they feel that $20 a month is particularly cost-effective.
Conclusion#
In fact, activating ChatGPT Plus is not as difficult as everyone imagines. Although domestic bank cards don’t work, virtual credit cards + USDT recharge can completely solve the problem.
The experience with EasyPay that I used was very smooth:
- Easy registration, no real-name KYC required
- Opening a card only costs $3, no monthly fee
- Recharge using USDT (trc20), fast arrival
- Binding ChatGPT Plus is stable and successful
If you’re stuck at the payment step, you might as well try this method. Following the steps I mentioned, it generally takes just a few minutes to complete. If you encounter any issues, you can also directly check their technical documentation on HashNode, which can basically solve most problems.
One last thing: don’t let the payment method become a barrier between you and GPT-4. It’s completely possible to activate ChatGPT Plus stably in China, and it’s not complicated at all.
The inspiration for this article comes from a series of introductory articles on Mirror. If you need suggestions, feel free to bookmark it, and if you have any questions, you can directly contact EasyPay's official support.