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How to pay for the OpenAI API

OpenAI API credits cannot be bought with a prepaid card, only with a regular credit or debit card. Our card works: it is not prepaid but a Visa Business debit card, like bank cards. Issuing costs $10, you top up with crypto, and a transfer to the card is 7.5%.

5 steps Updated October 20, 2026

What you need

  1. Top up the card

    Transfer the credit amount with $5 extra for the card check and $0.25 for the payment.

    Top up the card in Telegram

  2. Open Billing on platform.openai.com

    Turn on a VPN before signing in. In the organization settings open Billing and tap Add payment details.

  3. Enter the card and address

    Copy the number, expiry and CVV in “Details”. Type the name in Latin letters. Country United States, a state with no sales tax. A ready-made address and a backup Estonia one are in this article in the app.

    Open the card in Telegram

  4. Choose the credit amount

    Minimum $5, the default is $10. Use auto‑reload is on from the start and tops up the balance from the card by itself. Turn it off to pay only manually.

  5. Confirm the purchase

    The confirmation code arrives in the chat with the bot. In the confirmation window, choose email for the code.

    3D Secure code and password

Billing address for the form

Ready-made addresses in the US and Estonia are in this article in the app.

Open in Telegram

API payment rules

Cards OpenAI acceptsCredit and debit, not prepaid
Our cardVisa Business debit card, not prepaid
Card countryEuropean, EU countries are on the OpenAI list
CurrencyUS dollars only, no conversion
Credit expiry1 year from purchase

OpenAI states the prepaid card rule in its help center help.openai.com, article Why was my credit card declined.

Card and prices

CardVisa Business from the EU, in US dollars
Card typeDebit, not prepaid
Card issue$10 once, no documents
Wallet top-upWith crypto, no fee
Transfer to the card7.5% of the amount
Card payment$0.25 per transaction
Price not in dollars2.5% conversion
Monthly feeNone
3D Secure codesArrive in Telegram

All prices and fees

Common questions

$5 was charged when adding the card

This is not a payment but a card check. OpenAI temporarily holds $5 and releases the hold within 7 days. In the history the operation first shows “Processing”, then “Canceled”.

Is the API included in ChatGPT Plus

No, they are billed separately. The subscription is paid on chatgpt.com, API credits are bought on platform.openai.com.