Recently, many friends around me have been asking me: how can one 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. In fact, I also 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 it with a trial mindset because most foreign subscription websites only accept Visa or MasterCard. Domestic bank cards either don't support it at all or result in payment failures. 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 for subscribing to services like ChatGPT Plus.
I chose the platform EasyPay for a simple reason:
- Supports email registration and TG account registration, which can be completed in a few minutes without real-name KYC.
- The recharge method is very friendly; you can recharge directly with USDT (trc20), and the arrival 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 cost-performance ratio is indeed high.
They also specifically created an introduction forum to explain the card usage in detail to some novice customers.
How did I activate it?#
To be honest, the whole process was actually smoother than I imagined. It can be roughly divided into a few 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 trouble.
2. Apply for a virtual card#
In the backend, just click "Apply for Card," and I chose a dollar Visa card. Since subscribing to ChatGPT Plus is charged in dollars, the dollar card is the most suitable.
The system prompted that a $3 opening fee is required, 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 dollar 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 into my account, and in the lower left corner, there was a "My Plan" option, where I clicked to choose to upgrade to Plus.
Then I entered the virtual card information 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 $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: Regular accounts often lag during peak times, while Plus has almost no delay.
- GPT-4: This is the most attractive aspect for me; the logic of responses is clearer, and the writing is more complete.
- Plugin features: You can directly call third-party tools and even search online.
- Custom GPTs: 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
I only recharged $20 the first time, 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. -
Payment method not supported
This is mostly an IP issue. Using domestic nodes definitely won't work; it's recommended to use US, Japan, or Hong Kong nodes. -
Billing address mismatch
Don't fill in domestic addresses casually; 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 resolved it. If it still doesn't work, you can directly ask EasyPay customer service.
If you need to know more about EasyPay consultation, you can visit their official Notion channel, where detailed shares are available every day.
A Few Tips for Friends Preparing to Activate#
- If you only play with ChatGPT occasionally, 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 dollar card with sufficient balance for the virtual card; otherwise, payment 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 (in advertising): He used to complain about not being able to write explosive ad copy; now he uses GPT-4 daily to write slogans, doubling his efficiency.
- Xiao Li (a student abroad): 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.
- Lao Zhang (a programmer): Initially used the regular version of GPT, often unable to run 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, $20 a month feels 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 without real-name KYC
- Opening a card only costs $3, with no monthly fee
- Recharge with USDT (trc20), fast arrival
- Stable success in binding ChatGPT Plus
If you are stuck at the payment step, you might as well try this method. Following the steps I provided, it generally takes just a few minutes to complete. If you encounter any problems, you can also directly check their technical documentation on HashNode, which can basically resolve most issues.
One last thing: don’t let the payment method become a barrier between you and GPT-4. It is entirely 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.