This guide walks you through the process of creating and setting up your account so you can start using cloud services.
Process overview
The setup process consists of three main stages: create an account, add your information, and verify your identity. For most users, only the first two steps are required.
This table summarizes the features that are unlocked as you complete each step:
Use case | Create an account | Add billing and security information | Verify your identity (Individual account) | Verify your identity (Enterprise account) |
Browse the official website | ||||
Activate a free trial | ||||
Purchase cloud resources (in regions outside the Chinese mainland) | ||||
Purchase cloud resources in the Chinese mainland regions | ||||
Purchase specific cloud products (such as CEN and SMS) |
The information required and the estimated time for each stage are as follows:
Stage | Required information | Estimated time |
Create an account | Email address, phone number (optional) | 5 minutes |
Add billing and security information | Phone number, payment method, bill-to address, tax information (optional) | 10 minutes |
Verify your identity |
| The review is completed in about 3 business days after you submit the information. |
Create an account
On the Alibaba Cloud official website, click Free Trial in the upper-right corner to go to the Account Registration page and select an Account Type. You can change the account type when you complete your information or update it later in the Basic Information section of the Account Center.
Individual: For solo developers, students, startup teams, or personal projects, learning, and testing.
Enterprise: For any company or organization. This account type can use features designed for enterprise scenarios, such as Resource Management and finance trusteeship.
Enter your email address and set a password. This email address is used to log on to your account and receive important notifications, so you must keep it secure. The password must meet the following requirements:
Length: 8 to 20 characters
Must contain only uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and punctuation marks (except spaces)
Must contain at least three of the following: uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and punctuation marks
Select an Account Type and Country/Region, and then verify your phone number or email address.
ImportantThe Country/Region information determines your billing currency and applicable tax rates. It cannot be changed after registration. Select it carefully.
Verify with a phone number
This phone number is a key credential for future security operations, such as retrieving your password or modifying sensitive information.
Enter your phone number. The country code of the phone number must match the selected Country/Region. If they do not match, you cannot receive the verification code.
Click Send verification code and enter the 6-digit verification code that you receive.
Verify with an email address
This is the email address you entered in the first step of registration.
Click Send. The system sends a verification code to the email address you provided.
Check your inbox (including the spam folder). Click the verification link in the email address or enter the verification code from the email address to complete the verification.
Read and accept the Alibaba Cloud Terms of Service, and then click Register. A basic Alibaba Cloud account is now created.
Add billing and security information
To activate your account for purchasing, you must add a payment method and secure your account. You will be prompted to complete these steps after your initial registration.
1. Security verification
To further secure your account, enable security authentication for your email address or phone number.
Phone number
If you create an Alibaba Cloud account with an email address, you must verify a secure phone number. This number is essential for for password recovery and for enabling MFA.
Enter your phone number. The country code of the phone number must match the Country/Region selected in the previous step. If they do not match, you cannot receive the verification code.
Click Send verification code and enter the 6-digit verification code.
Email address
If you use your phone for verification when creating your account, you need to verify a security email address in this step. The security email address can be used to retrieve your password.
Click Get Code. You will receive an email with a 6-digit verification code at the email address you used for registration.
Enter the verification code, and click Next to complete the verification.
2. Add payment information
For Account Type, select Individual or Enterprise. Note that the account type selected here can be different from the one selected during account registration. You can update it in the Basic Information section of the Account Center before you complete identity verification.
Follow the on-screen instructions to fill in your Payment Information and Billing Information.
Payment methods vary by country and region. For more information, see Alibaba Cloud payment methods. You can also update your payment method later in the Expenses and Costs console.
The payment information is used to pay bills for active cloud products or to make prepayments. The system may place a temporary authorization hold on your bank card for verification purposes only. No funds will be deducted.
NoteIf your PayPal account is not verified, you may not be able to use it as a payment method for your Alibaba Cloud account.
Alibaba Cloud does not currently support adding PayPal accounts from the Chinese mainland.
Click Next to finish adding your payment information.
3. (optional) Add tax information
For enterprise accounts in certain countries (such as the United Kingdom or Malaysia), you need to add tax information for local tax filing and invoicing. Follow the on-screen instructions to submit your tax details. If you do not want to do this now, click Skip. You can add or manage your tax ID later by navigating to Expenses and Costs > Tax ID Management.
Follow the on-screen instructions to fill in your tax information and upload your tax qualification documents.
Click Submit. After you submit your tax information, please wait for it to be reviewed and approved.
After you successfully complete your information, you can start purchasing cloud products in regions outside the Chinese mainland or activate free trials for most products.
To purchase cloud products in regions in the Chinese mainland, or if your enterprise plans to sign online contracts with Alibaba Cloud, apply for a credit limit, or join the Alibaba Cloud Partner Network (ACPN), you must also complete identity verification for your Alibaba Cloud account. For instructions, see Identity verification overview.