✅OpenAI API complete tutorial for adding payment methods + activating payment, suitable for users who use virtual cards or foreign credit cards, including a guide to the entire process from registering an account → adding a payment method → turning on billing → calling the API.
🧾 1. OpenAI API payment basics
Project
Description
Support card types
Visa/MasterCard/Amex (USD-supported cards recommended)
Payment model
Prepaid (Pay-as-you-go), pay as you go
Minimum recharge
By default, billing is based on usage. There is no minimum requirement. In some cases, credit can be given as a gift in advance.
✅ 2. Preparation work
Tools
Description
1. OpenAI account
Register using Gmail or Outlook email
2. Virtual card or credit card
Recommended virtual card platform that supports API billing (see below)
3. Science Network
Registration and payment pages require a global VPN, and it is recommended to use US nodes
4. Phone verification
When registering for the API, a US/foreign mobile phone verification is required. You can use the code receiving platform or GV number.
💳 3. Recommended virtual card platform that supports OpenAI API
## ✅ Virtual card application
1. Log in to the official website > https://bpay.net to register an account, password, email address and mobile phone number.
2. Wallet>USDT (TRC20/BSC) recharge, apply for card opening on the homepage>card opening successfully>convert USDT balance into US dollars (USD) and enter the virtual card to recharge. (It is recommended to deposit 20USDT for the first time)
3. Click the CVV security code of the virtual card to obtain: bill, name, address, state, card number, date, CVV/CVC security code
4. Enter the payment page and fill in the corresponding information to complete the payment.
👉GPT open AI detailed tutorial: https://bpay.net/ask/d/10
If you don’t understand, you can enter the official tutorial of Coinepay virtual credit card platform: https://bpay.net/ask/
💡Recommended to use: US/EU card segment, highest success rate.
🧭 4. OpenAI API adding payment method + activation steps
Step ①: Register an OpenAI API account
Visit https://platform.openai.com
Click [Sign up] to register an account (using Gmail/Outlook)
Complete email verification + mobile phone verification (requires foreign mobile phone number or code receiving platform)
Recommended platforms such as Google Voice or sms-activate in the United States
Step ②: Add payment method
Login https://platform.openai.com/account/billing
Click on the left menu: Billing > Payment methods
Click [+ Add payment method]
🔧 Fill in card information:
Card number (from the virtual card platform you purchased)
Expiration Date/CVV
It is recommended that the billing address be filled in the United States (for example: 100 Main Street, New York, NY 10001)
📌 Tips:
The card BIN must be in the US/International section
The virtual card must be activated for international online payment function
Step ③: Recharge or enable billing
After adding, click [Billing > Overview] on the left
If there is a gift limit, it will be displayed as "Free Trial Credit"
To enable billing, click [Set up paid account]
Enter the initial payment authorization (OpenAI does not deduct the fee immediately, but only authorizes the withholding of $1)
🔁 Step ④: Start using the API
Click on [API keys] on the left
Create a new secret key, copy and save
Start calling API interfaces (such as gpt-4, whisper, dalle)
❌ Frequently asked questions and solutions
question
Possible reasons
Solution
Card addition failed
Card segment not supported, no balance, non-US area
Change virtual card, check CVV and billing address
Unable to activate billing
Card declined pre-authorization
Make sure the card has at least $1 USD balance
Show "Card declined"
OpenAI has strict risk control
Try changing IP + card segment + browser incognito mode