Most people get stuck at the same point: no overseas credit card, no subscription.
The solution has been around for a while — virtual credit cards.
The Most Important Part: Which Virtual Card Should You Use?
Use Pikabao Virtual Credit Card.
Friendly for users in mainland China, supports USDT top-up, fast card issuance, both Visa and Mastercard available, and high success rate with OpenAI payments.
Sign up for Pikabao — click here >>
Once you’re registered, keep reading.
What You Need to Prepare
1. An OpenAI Account
If you don’t have one, register here: https://chat.openai.com/
Google and Apple quick sign-in are both supported. Takes about five minutes.
2. A Virtual Credit Card
Pikabao is all you need. Card setup steps are below.
3. A VPN
US, Japan, or Singapore nodes all work.
An unstable node is the number one reason subscriptions fail. US nodes have the highest success rate — stick with those.
4. A US ZIP Code
Use 10001, 90001, or 94105. Any of these will work fine.
Step 1: Get Your Pikabao Virtual Card
- Open the registration link: https://t.me/pikabaobot?start=482feeb3-9
- Create an account — phone number or email both work.
- Go to your wallet and top up with USDT (TRC20 or BSC, either is fine).
- On the homepage, click “Apply for Card.” Once the card is issued, convert your USDT balance to USD.
- Top up your virtual card. Start with at least 20 USDT — ChatGPT Plus requires a minimum of $21 USD in the card (including the authorization hold).
- Open your virtual card to get the full card details: card number, expiry date, CVV/CVC, and billing address.
You’ll need all of this in a moment.
Step 2: Log into ChatGPT and Find the Upgrade Option
Log in at https://chat.openai.com/
Navigate to: bottom-left avatar → Settings → My Plan → Upgrade to Plus
Click “Upgrade plan” to enter the payment page.
Step 3: Enter Your Virtual Card Details to Complete Payment
On the Stripe payment page, fill in the following:
| Field | What to Enter |
|---|---|
| Name | The English name linked to your virtual card (e.g., John Lee) |
| Card number | Your Pikabao card number |
| Expiry | Expiry date MM/YY (e.g., 07/26) |
| CVC | 3-digit security code |
| Country | United States |
| ZIP Code | 10001 |
Double-check everything, then click Pay.
If successful, the page will redirect automatically and you’ll see “ChatGPT Plus” in the bottom-left corner — your subscription is active.
Subscription Failed? Here’s How to Fix It
Card declined / payment not going through
First, confirm your card balance is at least $21. Then check whether your VPN connection is stable.
Pikabao cards tend to work well with OpenAI. If another card isn’t working, give Pikabao a try.
ZIP code error
Use 10001 or 90001. Don’t guess or make one up.
“Upgrade” button not showing
Try a different browser, or clear your cookies and log in again.
Switch your VPN to a US node and avoid Hong Kong nodes.
Insufficient card balance
The subscription is $20/month, plus a pre-authorization charge. Keep at least $22 in the card to be safe.
What Do You Get with ChatGPT Plus?
ChatGPT Plus costs $20/month and includes:
- GPT-4o high-speed model (significantly faster than the free version)
- Web browsing
- File uploads
- Image recognition and generation
For heavy users, it’s worth it.
Want to Cancel? Here’s How
- Log in to the ChatGPT website
- Bottom-left avatar → Settings → My Plan
- Click “Manage My Subscription”
- You’ll be redirected to Stripe — click “Cancel Plan”
Do this before your next billing date. Charges for the current period are non-refundable.
Final Word
For users without an overseas credit card, a virtual card is currently the most reliable way to subscribe to ChatGPT Plus.
Pikabao is fast to set up, supports Chinese-language interface, and USDT top-up makes it accessible for everyday users.
Sign up for Pikabao Virtual Credit Card
Follow the steps in this guide and you should get it done on the first try.