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 the Alibaba Cloud International Website (www.alibabacloud.com).
These two websites operate under distinct account systems, billing methods, and legal compliance frameworks. Account data is entirely separated and not shared between the two websites. Please ensure you register an account with us on the appropriate 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 for registration. | Requires an email address for registration. You must also use 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 purchase or use any cloud resources. | As needed. Identity verification is required for specific scenarios, such as purchasing and using 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 the tax policies of the country or region associated with your account. |
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 your account's country or region. |
Legal entity | Depending on the products purchased, you enter into a contract with Alibaba Cloud Computing Co., Ltd. or its affiliated companies. | 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 tailored for the Chinese mainland market are released first. | Offers core cloud products for global use. Some products or features may differ from the Alibaba Cloud China Website (www.aliyun.com) 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 |
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FAQ
Can I convert an Alibaba Cloud China Website account (www.aliyun.com) to an Alibaba Cloud International Website (www.alibabacloud.com) one?
No. The two websites use separate systems, so accounts cannot be converted. You must register a new account on the desired website and migrate your data and resources, either manually or with migration tools.
How does purchasing resources in the Chinese mainland differ on the Alibaba Cloud China Website (www.aliyun.com) versus the Alibaba Cloud International Website (www.alibabacloud.com)?
The three main differences are as follows:
Billing and payment: On the Alibaba Cloud International Website (www.alibabacloud.com), all resource 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 Alibaba Cloud 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 Alibaba Cloud International Website (www.alibabacloud.com), using resources in the Chinese mainland requires compliance with local laws and regulations, such as completing identity verification and an ICP Filing.
Product updates: In the same region, the Alibaba Cloud China Website (www.aliyun.com) prioritizes releasing products and features for the Chinese mainland market, while the Alibaba Cloud International Website (www.alibabacloud.com) prioritizes core products for global use. As a result, some products or features on the Alibaba Cloud International Website (www.alibabacloud.com) may differ from those on the Alibaba Cloud China Website (www.aliyun.com).