Alibaba Cloud supports three payment methods: bank card, PayPal, and bank transfer. This topic describes the conditions and procedures for using each payment method.
Payment method comparison
Comparison item | Bank card | PayPal | Bank transfer |
Applicable to | Individual/Enterprise accounts | Individual/Enterprise accounts | Enterprise credit-approved users only |
Adding process | Enter card information → Pre-authorization | Redirect to PayPal for authorization | Contact your account manager to enable |
Crediting time | Instant | Instant | 2 to 4 days |
Payment trigger |
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Service fee | None (Foreign currency conversion fees are charged by the card issuer) | None | None (Cross-border transfer fees are charged by the bank) |
Credit management | Depends on card limit | Depends on PayPal balance/linked card | Use credit limit and repay monthly |
Use bank cards and PayPal for payments
The available payment methods vary based on the region where your account is registered:
Payment method | United States | EU member states | European countries (non-EU) | 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 types 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 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
Each bank card or PayPal account can be linked to only one Alibaba Cloud account. If a payment method is already linked to another account, including a deactivated account in its cool-down period, you must first unlink it from the original account.
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 USD 1.00 pre-authorization verification.
The card is enabled for 3D Secure authentication. In some countries or regions, such as Malaysia and EU member states, you must complete 3D Secure authentication when you link a card due to local regulations.
Log on to the Expenses and Costs console, go to the Billing Account page, and in the Third-Party Payment Method section, click Add Payment Method.
NoteIf you are using the legacy Expenses and Costs console, click Payment Methods and select Add Payment Method.
Select Bind bank card and enter the following information.
Field | Description | |
Card Number | None | |
Expiration Date | Use MM/YY format. You cannot add a card that expires in the current month. | |
CVV | The 3- or 4-digit security code on the back of the card. | |
Cardholder Name | Enter the cardholder name exactly as it appears on the bank card. | |
Click Submit. The system initiates a USD 1.00 pre-authorization to verify the card. The transaction appears on your bank statement as ALIBABACLOUD.COM and is usually released by your card issuer within 1 to 5 business days.
After successful pre-authorization, the bank card is linked. The first bank card you link is automatically set as the Default External Payment Method. 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 differs from the transaction currency, your card issuer might charge a foreign currency conversion fee. Contact your card issuer for details.
3D Secure authentication
3D Secure (3DS) is an online payment security protocol. The system may trigger this verification if it detects a potential security risk when you link a bank card or place an order to purchase, upgrade, or renew an instance.
When verification is triggered, you are automatically redirected to your card issuer's verification page. Follow the prompts to complete the identity verification, such as entering a dynamic verification code or password.
Keep the Alibaba Cloud page open during the verification process. Do not close the original window. If your browser blocks pop-ups, configure it to allow them.
After successful verification, you are automatically redirected back to Alibaba Cloud to complete the operation.
Link a PayPal account
Log on to the Expenses and Costs console, go to the Billing Account page, and in the Third-Party Payment Method section, click Add Payment Method.
Select PayPal, click Next, and you are redirected to the PayPal website.
Log on to your PayPal account and confirm the billing agreement. The system automatically adds PayPal as a payment method and initiates a USD 1.00 pre-authorization.
If you are using the legacy Expenses and Costs console, click Payment Methods and select Add Payment Method.
If your PayPal account does not have a bank card or other funding source, PayPal may require you to add one. For related questions, contact PayPal customer service.
If the PayPal authorization is successful but Alibaba Cloud does not show that the account is linked, the billing agreement may not have been approved. Contact PayPal customer service to confirm.
How to pay
After you link a bank card or PayPal account, you can use it to pay for resources:
Subscription resources (such as subscription ECS instances): Payment is processed when you place the order.
Pay-as-you-go resources (such as pay-as-you-go ECS): Your account is automatically charged after your usage costs accumulate to a specific amount.
The default payment threshold for a bank card is 1,000 USD (before tax).
The payment threshold for PayPal is from 8 USD to 500 USD, depending on the account.
After the monthly bill is issued, the system charges any pay-as-you-go bill that has not reached the payment threshold.
If your default payment method is PayPal, the system performs a pre-authorization on the PayPal account when you use a pay-as-you-go product.
Switch payment methods
To switch your payment method:
First, make sure you have added another payment method with an Active status to your account.
Log on to the Expenses and Costs console. In the list of payment methods, find the method you want to use and set it as the Preferred 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 on your account:
If you have multiple payment methods attached, you can directly delete Expired or non-preferred payment methods, but the Preferred External Payment Method cannot be deleted.
Only one active payment method: You cannot delete your only Active payment method if your account has running resources, outstanding bills, or overdue payments.
Use bank transfer
Bank transfer is only available for enterprise credit-approved users. To use this method, contact your account manager.
After your credit limit is approved, you can use it to purchase resources. After your monthly bill is generated, make a payment by bank transfer before the due date on the invoice.
Alibaba Cloud provides two remittance methods:
Comparison | Dedicated remittance account (Recommended) | Non-dedicated remittance account |
Type | Each Alibaba Cloud account has a unique assignment. | A shared account specified in your contract or agreed upon with your account manager. |
Top-up method | Funds are automatically credited to your Alibaba Cloud account balance after the bank transfer is complete. | You must contact your account manager to claim the payment before funds are credited. |
Procedure | Obtain dedicated remittance account → Make transfer → Funds are automatically credited | Obtain account → Make transfer → Contact to claim → Wait for approval → Funds are credited |
It takes about 2 to 4 days for a transfer to be processed by Alibaba Cloud. The actual time depends on your country/region and remitting bank.
The following sections describe how to use both types of bank transfers.
Make a transfer to a dedicated account
New console
Log on to the Expenses and Costs console, go to the Billing Account page, and click Top-up & Remittance.
On the Add Funds page, select the Top-up Account, click Corporate Remittance, and view the dedicated remittance account.
If you need a document as proof of the dedicated account, click Download Remittance Application Form.
Use online banking, a mobile banking app, an ATM, or a bank counter to transfer the funds to the dedicated account.
The transferred amount is automatically credited to your account balance. Check your balance to confirm.
The supported corporate bank account information varies by country. The information displayed in the console prevails.
The dedicated bank account is for the current Alibaba Cloud account only. Do not use it for other accounts.
Legacy console
On the Account Balance page in Expenses and Costs, click Top-up.
On the Top-up/Remittance page, view your dedicated remittance account.
Use online banking, a mobile banking app, an ATM, or a bank counter to transfer the funds to the dedicated account.
The transferred amount is automatically credited to your account balance. Check your balance to confirm.
The supported corporate bank account information varies by country. The information displayed in the console prevails.
The dedicated bank account is for the current Alibaba Cloud account only. Do not use it for other accounts.
Make a transfer to a non-dedicated account
Use online banking, a mobile banking app, an ATM, or a bank counter to transfer the funds to Alibaba Cloud's receiving bank account.
After the transfer, contact your account manager to claim the payment. The funds can then be credited to your account balance.
Automatic bill settlement settings
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 Expenses and Costs console, you can enable or disable Automatic Bill Settlement on the Billing Account page.
In the legacy Expenses and Costs console, you can enable or disable Automatic Monthly Bill Payment in the Available Credit section on the Account Overview page.
If this feature is disabled, you must pay your bills manually. 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 should I do if I can't add my bank card?
This issue usually stems from card type restrictions, bank-side declines, or account limitations. Here's how to troubleshoot it:
Check for supported card types. We only accept credit or debit cards with a Visa, Mastercard, AMEX, or JCB logo that are enabled for international payments. We do not support prepaid cards, virtual cards, gift cards, or cards that only have a UnionPay logo.
Ensure the card is not linked to another account. Each bank card can only be linked to one Alibaba Cloud account at a time. If your card is already associated with another account (including one in its 15-day post-closure silent period), you must first remove it from that account.
Contact your issuing bank. Your bank may decline the transaction if it does not support international payments or due to its internal risk control policies. Contact your bank to authorize the transaction or try a different card.
Verify sufficient funds for pre-authorization. To verify your card, we initiate a USD 1.00 (or local currency equivalent) pre-authorization. This can fail due to insufficient funds or if your bank blocks the transaction. Ensure your card has adequate funds and is authorized for this type of charge.
Rule out browser or network issues. Ad-blocking plugins, browser cache, or network instability can interfere with the process. Try again using Chrome's incognito mode, clearing your cache, or on a different device.
What should I do if a payment fails?
Start by checking the following common causes for payment failure:
Complete KYC identity verification: If you see an error message requiring KYC verification, you must submit the required documents. Ensure the identity information you submit matches the information used to register your Alibaba Cloud account. Failures often occur due to inconsistent information or blurry/expired documents.
Complete the 3D Secure (3DS) verification process: Many payment failures occur because the 3DS step was not completed. When paying, ensure you are not closing the redirection page from your bank. You can also find a verification link in your internal messages or email to complete the process and then retry the payment.
Check bank card status and functionality: If your payment fails without a 3DS prompt, contact your issuing bank to confirm that your card is enabled for international and online transactions, that 3DS is active, and that there are sufficient funds and no blocks on your account.
Use a supported payment method: The Alibaba Cloud international site does not support credit cards issued in the Chinese mainland, prepaid cards, gift cards, or virtual cards. PayPal accounts registered in the Chinese mainland are also not supported.
Rule out browser or network issues: Clear your browser cache, try a different browser like Chrome, or switch to another device. An unstable network or a browser plugin could be blocking the 3DS page from loading.
How do I find my account's 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?
No. For security purposes, your credit card must be successfully verified before it can be used for payments.
Will the credit card verification charge be refunded?
Yes. We initiate a refund for the verification charge within 24 hours.
The refund may take up to 30 days to appear in your account, depending on your issuing bank's processing time.