Alibaba Cloud supports payments using bank cards, PayPal, and bank transfers for credit-approved enterprise users. This document describes the requirements and procedures for each method.
Use bank cards and PayPal for online payments
Individual and enterprise accounts can pay with bank cards and PayPal. After you link a payment method to your Alibaba Cloud account, you can use it to pay for resources:
For subscription resources, such as subscription ECS instances, payment is processed when you place the order.
For pay-as-you-go resources, such as pay-as-you-go ECS instances, your payment method is charged automatically after your usage costs reach a specific amount. The default deduction threshold for bank cards is 1,000 USD (before tax). The threshold for PayPal ranges from 8 USD to 500 USD and varies by account. In addition, after your monthly bill is generated, the system makes a single deduction for any pay-as-you-go charges that did not meet the threshold during the month.
If your default payment method is PayPal, the system performs a pre-authorization on the PayPal account when you enable a pay-as-you-go product and incur charges.
Refer to the following table to see the available payment methods based on the region where your account is registered. indicates that the method is supported. indicates that the method is not supported.
Payment method | United States | EU member states | Non-EU European countries | Malaysia | Other countries/regions | |
Bank card | Visa | |||||
Mastercard | ||||||
American Express | ||||||
JCB | ||||||
PayPal | ||||||
Other countries/regions: Includes but is not limited to Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Hong Kong (China), Taiwan (China), and Macao (China).
The following payment methods and scenarios are not supported:
Cards with only a UnionPay logo: Your bank card must have a logo from an international card network, such as Visa, Mastercard, AMEX, or JCB.
Prepaid, virtual, or gift cards: These types of cards cannot pass the pre-authorization verification.
PayPal accounts registered in the Chinese mainland: You must use a PayPal account registered outside the Chinese mainland.
Third-party payment methods within China: Methods such as Alipay and WeChat Pay are not supported.
Link a bank card or PayPal account
Before you link a payment method, note the following limits:
Each bank card or PayPal account can be linked to only one Alibaba Cloud account.
If a bank card or PayPal account is already linked to another account, including a deactivated account in its cool-down period, you must first unlink it from the original account before you can link it again.
Link a bank card
Before you link a bank card, make sure the following conditions are met:
The card is enabled for online payments and international transactions.
The card has a sufficient balance or credit limit to cover a 1.00 USD pre-authorization verification.
The card is enabled for 3D Secure (3DS) authentication. In some countries or regions, such as Malaysia and EU member states, you must complete 3DS authentication when you link a card due to local regulations.
You can link a bank card when you create an account. For more information, see Add payment information.
You can also link a card after you create an account but before you purchase resources. Use the Expenses and Costs console:
Log on to the Billing Account page. In the Third-party Payment Method section, click Add Payment Method.
NoteIf you are using the previous version of the console, click Payment Methods and select Add Payment Method.
On the Bank Card tab, enter the following information.
Field | Notes | |
Card number | None | |
Expiration date | Use the MM/YY format. You cannot add a card that expires in the current month. | |
CVV | The 3-digit or 4-digit security code on the back of the card. | |
Cardholder name | Enter the name exactly as it appears on the card. | |
Company name on card | This field is optional if you are using a corporate bank card. | |
Billing address | Include the full street address, city, postal code, and other details. | |
Click Submit. The system immediately initiates a pre-authorization to verify the card. After the pre-authorization is successful, the bank card is linked. The pre-authorization amount is typically 1.00 USD. It appears on your bank statement as a charge from ALIBABACLOUD.COM and is usually canceled by your card issuer within 1 to 5 business days.
The first bank card you link is set as the Default External Payment Method by default. You can use it after its Payment Method Status changes to "Active".
Alibaba Cloud does not charge a service fee for bank card payments. If your card's settlement currency is different from the transaction currency, your card issuer might charge a foreign currency conversion fee. Contact your card issuer for details.
Link a PayPal account
Log on to the Billing Account page in Expenses and Costs. In the Third-party Payment Method section, click Add Payment Method.
On the PayPal tab, click Next. You are redirected to the PayPal website.
Log on to your PayPal account and confirm the PayPal agreement. The system automatically adds PayPal as your Alibaba Cloud payment method and initiates a 1.00 USD pre-authorization.
If your PayPal account does not have a bank card or other funding source, PayPal may require you to add one immediately. For questions about adding a funding source to your PayPal account, contact PayPal customer service.
If the PayPal authorization is successful but Alibaba Cloud does not show that the account is linked, the PayPal billing agreement may not have been approved. Contact PayPal customer service to confirm.
Switch payment methods
When you need to switch your payment method:
First, make sure you have added another payment method with an Active status to your account.
In the list of payment methods, find the method you want to use and set it as the Default External Payment Method.
Delete or unlink a payment method
When you need to delete a payment method, consider its status and the number of payment methods you have:
If you have multiple payment methods linked to your account, you can directly delete any method that is Expired or is not the Default External Payment Method. You cannot delete the default payment method.
If you have only one payment method with an Active status, you cannot delete it if you have running resources, outstanding bills, or overdue payments.
Use bank transfers
Bank transfers are available only for credit-approved users. To use this method, contact your account manager. You can use your credit limit to purchase resources first. After your monthly bill is generated, make a payment by bank transfer before the due date on the invoice.
Alibaba Cloud provides two types of bank transfer accounts: dedicated remittance accounts (exclusive to a user, with automatic crediting) and non-dedicated remittance accounts (shared accounts, requiring manual claims).
Comparison | Dedicated remittance account (Recommended) | Non-dedicated remittance account |
Description | A unique remittance account assigned to each Alibaba Cloud account. | A bank account for remittances specified in your contract or agreed upon with your Alibaba Cloud account manager. |
Crediting method and time | Funds are automatically credited to your Alibaba Cloud account balance after the bank transfer is complete. No manual operation is required. | Funds are not automatically credited to your account balance after the bank transfer is complete. You must contact your account manager to claim the payment and top up your Alibaba Cloud account. |
Procedure | Obtain dedicated remittance account → Make bank transfer → Funds are automatically credited | Obtain non-dedicated remittance account → Make bank transfer → Query transaction record → Initiate claim → Wait for approval → Funds are credited |
Depending on your country/region and remitting bank, it takes about 2 to 4 days for a transfer to be processed by Alibaba Cloud after you initiate it. The actual time of crediting depends on when the bank processes the transfer.
The following sections describe how to use both types of bank transfers.
Method 1: Make a transfer to a dedicated account
New console
On the Billing Account page in Expenses and Costs, click Top-up/Remittance.
On the Top-up/Remittance page, select the account you want to top up, click Corporate Remittance, and view the dedicated remittance account.
If you need a document as proof of the dedicated account, click Download Payment Request Form to obtain it.
The supported corporate bank account information varies by country. The information displayed in the console prevails.
The dedicated Alibaba Cloud bank account for your account cannot be used for other Alibaba Cloud accounts or users. Verify the account information before you make a transfer to avoid errors.
Use your bank account to transfer the required amount to the dedicated account. You can use online banking, a mobile banking client, a bank ATM, or a bank counter.
The transferred amount is automatically credited to your account balance. Check your balance to confirm the transaction.
Previous console
On the Account Balance page in Expenses and Costs, click Top-up.
On the Top-up/Remittance page, view your dedicated remittance account.
The supported corporate bank account information varies by country. The information displayed in the console prevails.
The dedicated Alibaba Cloud bank account for your account cannot be used for other Alibaba Cloud accounts or users. Verify the account information before you make a transfer to avoid errors.
Use your bank account to transfer the required amount to the dedicated account. You can use online banking, a mobile banking client, a bank ATM, or a bank counter.
The transferred amount is automatically credited to your account balance. Check your balance to confirm the transaction.
Method 2: Make a transfer to a non-dedicated account
Use your bank account to transfer the required amount to Alibaba Cloud's receiving bank account. You can use online banking, a mobile banking client, a bank ATM, or a bank counter.
After the transfer, contact your Alibaba Cloud account manager to claim the payment. The funds can then be credited to your Alibaba Cloud account balance.
The Automatic Bill Settlement or Automatic Monthly Bill Payment feature is enabled by default. After funds are credited to your account, bills are automatically paid in chronological order. In the new console, you can go to the Billing Account page to enable or disable Automatic Bill Settlement. In the old console, you can enable or disable Automatic Monthly Bill Payment in the Available Credit section on the Account Overview page.
If Automatic Settlement or Auto-pay Monthly Bills is disabled, the system does not pay any outstanding amounts for any billing month. You must pay your bills manually. After you receive an invoice, transfer the payment promptly according to the due date on the invoice.
If you are a credit-approved user and have also linked a bank card, the bank card is not used for automatic payments.
FAQ
What to do if you cannot attach your bank card?
Common reasons for bank card attachment failures are listed below. Review each item to resolve the issue.
Unsupported card type: Only credit or debit cards with a Visa, Mastercard, AMEX, or JCB logo that are enabled for international payments are supported. Prepaid cards, gift cards, virtual cards, and cards with only a UnionPay logo are not supported.
Attachment limit: Each bank card can be attached to only one Alibaba Cloud account. If the card is already attached to another account, including a logged off account in its cool-down period, detach it from the original account before you attach it again.
Card issuer rejection: The card issuer may reject the attachment because it does not support international transactions or due to its risk governance policies. Contact your card issuer for confirmation, or try a different bank card.
Pre-authorization failure: The system initiates a pre-authorization verification for 1.00 USD (or the equivalent in local currency). Failures are usually caused by an insufficient balance or a block from the bank. Ensure the card has a sufficient balance and confirm that the bank allows the pre-authorization transaction.
Browser or network issues: Browser cache, ad-blocking plugins, or network issues can interfere with the attachment process. Try using Chrome Incognito mode, clearing the cache, or retrying on a different device.
What to do if a payment fails?
Troubleshoot and resolve payment failures as follows:
Complete Know Your Customer (KYC) identity verification: If a page prompts you for KYC verification due to account risk during payment, follow the on-screen instructions. On the KYC verification page, use the identity information that you provided during Alibaba Cloud account registration to submit your payment method and valid identity documents. If the review fails, it is usually because of inconsistent information, or blurry or expired documents. Check that your information is consistent and re-upload clear, valid, and compliant documents.
Complete the 3D Secure authentication process: Payment failures often occur because the card issuer's 3D Secure authentication is not completed. During payment, watch for a redirect to your bank's verification page. Do not close the Alibaba Cloud payment page during this process. You can also complete the verification using the link in an internal message or email, and then retry the payment.
Check bank card status and features: If payments fail multiple times without triggering a 3D Secure authentication prompt, contact your card issuer. Confirm if the card supports international or online transactions, if the 3D Secure feature is enabled, if there are any risk governance blocks from the bank, and if the account balance is sufficient.
Confirm payment method availability: The Alibaba Cloud International Website (www.alibabacloud.com) does not support credit cards, prepaid cards, gift cards, or virtual cards issued in the Chinese mainland. PayPal also does not support accounts registered in the Chinese mainland. Ensure you use a compliant payment method.
Troubleshoot browser and network issues: Clear your browser cache, switch to the Chrome browser, or change your device. This can resolve issues where browser blocks, plugin conflicts, or an unstable network prevent the 3D Secure authentication page from loading or interrupt the payment flow.
How do I determine my account region?
Log on to the Alibaba Cloud Management Console. Go to Account Center > Basic Information to view the country/region and registration time that you entered during registration.
Can I use an unverified credit card on Alibaba Cloud?
No. You must complete the credit card verification process before you can use it to make any purchases. This is a required security measure to confirm card ownership.
Is the credit card verification charge refunded?
Yes. The system initiates a refund within 24 hours. The time it takes for the refund to appear in your credit card account depends on your card issuer and may take up to 30 days.