How domestic users can use virtual cards to recharge and use the OpenAI API interface

The API interface provided by OpenAI, especially the GPT series models, has been widely applied in various industries for automation, intelligent customer service, content creation, and more, becoming a powerful tool for developers and businesses. However, due to payment restrictions faced by domestic users, many encounter difficulties when trying to recharge their OpenAI API accounts. This article will detail how to solve this payment issue through virtual credit cards, helping domestic users recharge smoothly and use the OpenAI API interface.

WildCard Official Website: https://leixue.com/go/wildcard (Enjoy a discount on card opening through the link or invitation code "LEIXUE")

1. Why do domestic users need virtual cards?#

OpenAI API subscriptions and recharges mainly rely on international credit cards (such as Visa, MasterCard, etc.), which are not common in the domestic market and often face payment failures. Additionally, domestic payment platforms like Alipay and WeChat usually cannot be directly linked to OpenAI's payment system. To address this issue, virtual credit cards have become an ideal alternative.

Virtual credit cards, especially those like WildCard designed specifically for international payments, can effectively bypass domestic payment restrictions, solving the problem of domestic users being unable to pay with local credit cards. With a virtual card, users can not only easily recharge their OpenAI API but also enjoy a higher payment success rate.

2. How to use WildCard virtual card to recharge OpenAI API?#

1. Register a WildCard account#

First, domestic users need to register for a WildCard account and complete the application for a virtual card. Here are the specific steps:

Visit the official website: https://leixue.com/go/wildcard (Enjoy a discount on card opening through the link or invitation code "LEIXUE")
Click the "Register" button in the upper right corner of the page, use a domestic phone number to complete the account registration, and verify your identity. WildCard supports registration with phone numbers from mainland China and Hong Kong, making it very convenient.

2. Apply for a WildCard virtual card#

After registering the account, users need to apply for a virtual credit card in the WildCard backend. The steps are as follows:

Log in to the WildCard backend and select the "Open Card" function.
Choose a suitable package; it is recommended to select a 2-year or 3-year service package to ensure long-term use. Also, remember to use the invitation code "LEIXUE" to get a discount.
After completing the payment, WildCard will provide you with a Visa virtual credit card. You can use this virtual card for payments at any time, including recharging the OpenAI API.

3. Recharge the WildCard virtual card#

After opening the card, the WildCard virtual card does not have a balance by default, so you need to recharge it before use. The recharge process is as follows:

Enter the WildCard account backend and click the "Recharge" option.
Choose a suitable recharge method; currently, it supports commonly used domestic payment methods such as Alipay, WeChat, and USDT.
Enter the recharge amount; it is recommended to recharge $25 for the first time to ensure sufficient balance and avoid insufficient balance during payment.
After a successful recharge, you will see the virtual card balance updated, ready for payment at any time.

4. Bind the virtual card to the OpenAI account#

After completing the recharge, the next step is to bind the virtual card information to the OpenAI API account. The steps are as follows:

Register or log in to the OpenAI account: Visit the OpenAI official website, register a new OpenAI account, or log in to an existing account.
Go to the billing page: On the OpenAI account homepage, select the Billing page and click the "Add Payment Method" button.
Enter WildCard virtual card information: On the payment method page, enter the relevant information for the WildCard virtual card, including card number, expiration date, and security code (CVV).
Complete verification: OpenAI will perform card verification, usually deducting a small amount for testing. After successful verification, your OpenAI account will be bound to the WildCard virtual card, allowing for normal recharges.
Recharge successful: After binding, you can enter the Billing page to check if the balance has been credited, ensuring the recharge was successful.

5. Call the OpenAI API#

After successfully recharging and binding the virtual card, you can start using the API services provided by OpenAI. Here is a simple example code to test calling GPT-4o:

import openai

openai.api_key = "your API Key"

response = openai.ChatCompletion.create(
    model="gpt-4o",
    messages=[{"role": "user", "content": "Hello, how to use OpenAI API?"}]
)

print(response["choices"][0]["message"]["content"])

By following the above steps, you can test whether the OpenAI API has been successfully activated and start application development.

3. How to avoid recharge failures and account freezes#

Although recharging the OpenAI API through a virtual card is the most stable method, some issues may still arise during actual operations. Here are some common problems and solutions:

1. Payment failure issues#

If you encounter payment failures, you can try the following methods:

Ensure that the WildCard card has sufficient balance; it is recommended to recharge $25 to prevent insufficient balance during payment.
Try using a different network environment, such as using overseas proxies or VPNs, to avoid payment restrictions by OpenAI due to IP issues.
Check if the payment method is unsupported; if payment channels are limited, you can try using other payment methods, such as USDT or different recharge platforms.

2. Account freeze#

If your OpenAI account is frozen or has payment restrictions, it may be due to the following reasons:

Frequent changes to account information: Changing the bound payment method or performing account operations too frequently may trigger the system's security alerts.
Payment risks: If the system detects abnormal payment behavior, it may temporarily freeze the account.
Solution: You can try contacting customer service, explaining the situation, and providing necessary verification materials, which usually can restore the account.

3. API call limits#

If you encounter call limits when using the OpenAI API, you can try adjusting the request frequency or checking if you have reached the daily call limit. If you need a higher call quota, you can apply for an upgrade in the OpenAI backend.

4. Summary#

For domestic users, using a virtual credit card (such as WildCard) is the best solution to the OpenAI API recharge problem. By following these steps, you can easily complete the recharge and start using the powerful API services provided by OpenAI:

Register and apply for a WildCard virtual card.
Recharge the WildCard card balance.
Bind the virtual card information to the OpenAI API account.
Start calling the OpenAI API for development and application integration.

In this way, domestic users can not only successfully complete the recharge but also enjoy a higher payment success rate. If you are also facing difficulties with OpenAI API recharges, consider trying the WildCard virtual card.

WildCard Official Website: https://leixue.com/go/wildcard (Enjoy a discount on card opening through the link or invitation code "LEIXUE")

I hope this tutorial helps you successfully resolve your recharge issues and start using the OpenAI API, bringing greater value to your projects!