This topic compares the Alibaba Cloud China Website (www.aliyun.com) and Alibaba Cloud International Website (www.alibabacloud.com).
To serve a global customer base and comply with local laws and regulations, Alibaba Cloud operates the China Website (www.aliyun.com) and International Website (www.alibabacloud.com).
These two websites have distinct account systems, billing methods, and legal compliance frameworks. Account data is not shared between them. Register on the website that corresponds to your business registered address.
Core differences
The following tables summarize the main differences, categorized by Account, Billing, and Products and services.
Account
Aspect | Alibaba Cloud China Website (www.aliyun.com) | Alibaba Cloud International Website (www.alibabacloud.com) |
Account registration | Requires a mobile number from the Chinese mainland. | Requires an email address. You must also verify a mobile number from outside the Chinese mainland for security authentication. This includes numbers from Hong Kong (China), Macao (China), and Taiwan (China). |
Identity verification | Mandatory. You must complete individual or enterprise identity verification before you can purchase or use any cloud resources. | As needed. Identity verification is required only for specific scenarios, such as purchasing cloud resources in the Chinese mainland or applying for a credit limit. |
Account data | Stored in data centers in the Chinese mainland. | Stored in data centers outside the Chinese mainland. |
Billing
Aspect | Alibaba Cloud China Website (www.aliyun.com) | Alibaba Cloud International Website (www.alibabacloud.com) |
Currency | Pricing and settlement are in Chinese Yuan (CNY). | Pricing is in US Dollars (USD), while settlement supports other major currencies. |
Pricing | Prices are inclusive of Value-Added Tax (VAT). | Prices are tax-exclusive. Taxes are calculated separately based on your account's country or region. |
Payment methods | Alipay, WeChat Pay, UnionPay, and corporate bank transfer. | Credit cards (such as Visa and MasterCard), PayPal, and bank transfers. Available methods vary by country or region. |
Legal entity | Depending on the products purchased, you enter into a contract with Alibaba Cloud Computing Co., Ltd. or its affiliates. | You enter into a contract with the Alibaba Cloud legal entity corresponding to your region. |
Products and services
Aspect | Alibaba Cloud China Website (www.aliyun.com) | Alibaba Cloud International Website (www.alibabacloud.com) |
Product region | You can purchase resources in all global regions except Saudi Arabia. | You can purchase resources in all global regions. |
Product updates | New products and features for the Chinese mainland market are released first. | Offers core cloud products for global use. Some services or features may differ from those on the China Website due to compliance requirements. |
Console language | Simplified Chinese, English | English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Japanese |
Product documentation language | Simplified Chinese | English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Japanese, Indonesian |
Service and support | ||
ICP filing |
| |
FAQ
Can I convert a China Website account to an International Website account?
No. The two websites use separate systems, so accounts cannot be converted. Register a new account on the desired website and migrate your data and resources manually or with migration tools.
How does purchasing resources in the Chinese mainland differ between the China Website and the International Website?
The three main differences are:
Billing and payment: On the International Website, purchases are settled in USD or another supported local currency, and taxes are calculated separately based on your account's country or region. On the China Website, purchases are settled in CNY and all prices are inclusive of tax.
Account governance and compliance: Even if your account is on the International Website, using resources in the Chinese mainland requires compliance with local laws and regulations, such as identity verification and an ICP Filing.
Product updates: In the same region, the China Website prioritizes products and features for the Chinese mainland market, while the International Website prioritizes core products for global use. As a result, some services or features may differ between the two websites.