Complete Guide to Purchasing ChatGPT/Claude on Apple Store

April 22, 2026 6-minute read

Why You Need a US Apple ID

AI applications like ChatGPT and Claude have subscription services that are unavailable or limited in certain regions. Using a US Apple ID allows you to:

✅ Purchase full ChatGPT Plus subscription
✅ Subscribe to Claude Pro service
✅ Access complete features of more AI apps
✅ Avoid feature limitations due to regional restrictions

Creating a US Apple ID

If you don’t have a US Apple ID yet, create one first:

Visit Apple ID website
Click “Create Your Apple ID”
When filling in information, note:
- Country/Region: Select “United States”
- Email: Use a valid email address
- Phone: You can use a Chinese phone number for verification
Complete email and phone verification

Topping Up Your US Apple Store

Method 1: Purchase Gift Cards via Alipay (Recommended)

This is the simplest and safest method through Alipay’s “出境” (Outbound Travel) mini-program:

Detailed Steps

Step 1: Switch Alipay Location

Open Alipay App
Tap the “Location” in the top-left corner (e.g., shows “Shanghai”)
Select “International/HK/Macau/Taiwan”
On the left, select “North America”
On the right, select “San Francisco” from the popular cities list (or search for other US cities)

Step 2: Enter the Outbound Travel Mini-Program

Tap the search bar at the top of Alipay
Search for: “出境” (Outbound Travel)
Select the “出境” mini-program (shows “400K+ recent users”)

Step 3: Find Gift Card Purchase Entry

After entering the mini-program, scroll down
Find “Discount Gift Cards” and tap to enter
Continue scrolling down, find “More Branded Discount Gift Cards” in the middle section, tap to enter
⚠️ Note: There may be three “More Branded Discount Gift Cards” sections. If you can’t find Apple Store in the second one, try the others
Search for “apple store”, or scroll down to find it
Select “App Store & iTunes US” and tap to enter

Step 4: Register/Login to Mini-Program Account

The mini-program will prompt you to register/login
Use your common Chinese email to register and login

Step 5: Purchase Gift Card

Enter amount:
- You can enter $19.99 or $20 (USD)
- Recharge range: $2-$500 (customizable)
- Recommendation: ChatGPT Plus $20/month, Claude Pro $20/month
Tap “Purchase Now”
Select payment method:
- Alipay balance
- Credit card
- Debit card
- All are acceptable
Tap Pay to complete payment

Step 6: Get Redemption Code

After successful payment, the redemption code can be viewed in “My Orders”
Or check the email you used during registration
Copy the redemption code (usually a code starting with letters)

Step 7: Redeem in Apple Store

Open Apple Store App
Tap profile icon in the top-right
Scroll to the bottom, tap to logout from current Chinese Apple ID
Login with your US Apple ID
Tap “Redeem Gift Card or Code”
Tap “Enter Code Manually”
Return to Alipay, copy the redemption code you just purchased
Return to Apple Store
Paste the redemption code
Tap “Redeem”
You’ll see a message confirming successful recharge

Method 2: Credit Card Payment

If you have a credit card that supports international payments:

Log in to your US Apple ID
Go to “Payment & Shipping” settings
Add credit card information
Ensure your card supports USD payments

Setting Up a Tax-Free Billing Address

Very Important: The billing address must be set to a tax-free state, otherwise you may be charged additional tax (approximately 8-10%).

Recommended Tax-Free States

The following states don’t have digital services tax:

🏆 Oregon - Recommended
🏆 Delaware
🏆 Montana
🏆 New Hampshire

Setup Steps

Visit Apple Account Management Page
Log in with your US Apple ID
Go to “Payment Method” settings
Change billing address to a tax-free state address

Example Address (Oregon)

Name: [Your Name in Pinyin]
Street: 1234 SW Morrison St
City: Portland
State: Oregon (OR)
Zip: 97205
Phone: (503) 555-0123

⚠️ Note: The Zip Code must match the selected state. This is the key factor in determining whether tax is applied.

Contacting OpenAI Support to Remove ChatGPT Purchase Restrictions

Many users report that the purchase button in the ChatGPT App is disabled or unclickable. You need to contact OpenAI Support (not Apple Support) to remove this restriction.

Why is the Purchase Button Disabled?

Account regional restrictions
New account requires verification
Mismatch between Apple ID region and OpenAI account region

Contact Methods

Recommended: OpenAI Official Support

Visit OpenAI Support
Click “Submit a request” to create a ticket
Select issue type:
- Category: ChatGPT
- Type: Billing and Payments or Technical Issue

Fill in the issue description:

Subject: Unable to Purchase ChatGPT Plus - Purchase Button Disabled

Description:
Hello OpenAI Support Team,

I'm trying to subscribe to ChatGPT Plus in the iOS app, but the 
purchase/upgrade button is grayed out or not working.

My Account Details:
- Email: [Your OpenAI account email]
- Device: iPhone/iPad
- Apple ID Region: United States

I have a US Apple ID with sufficient balance and a valid payment 
method. Could you please help enable the purchase feature for my account?

Thank you!

Alternative: In-App Feedback

Open ChatGPT App
Tap “Settings”
Scroll to the bottom and find “Help” or “Support”
Select “Send Feedback” or “Contact Support”
Describe the issue with the non-functional purchase button

Processing Time

Usually responds within 24-72 hours
Support may request account verification
You’ll receive an email notification after the restriction is removed
Reopen the App to see the available purchase button

Purchasing ChatGPT/Claude Subscriptions

ChatGPT Plus Purchase Process

Ensure all previous steps are completed
Download ChatGPT App on iPhone/iPad
Log in to your OpenAI account
Tap “Upgrade to Plus”
Confirm payment information (should show $20/month)
Confirm purchase with Face ID/Touch ID

Claude Pro Purchase Process

Download Claude App (official Anthropic application)
Log in or create an Anthropic account
Select “Upgrade to Pro”
Confirm payment ($20/month)
Complete the purchase

FAQ and Important Notes

Q1: Why is the ChatGPT App purchase button grayed out/unavailable?

A: This is a restriction by OpenAI on accounts from certain regions. You need to contact OpenAI Support (not Apple Support) to remove it. Usually resolved within 24-72 hours after submitting a ticket.

Q2: Will I be charged tax?

A: If your billing address is not in a tax-free state, you may be charged 8-10% tax. Always set it to a tax-free state address.

Q3: Will subscriptions auto-renew?

A: Yes. To cancel:

Settings → Apple ID → Subscriptions → Select ChatGPT/Claude → Cancel Subscription

Q4: Can I purchase with a non-US Apple ID?

A: No. You must use a US Apple ID with a US-supported payment method.

Q5: What if my gift card balance is insufficient?

Ensure sufficient balance before purchasing subscription (at least $25)
You can top up more gift cards anytime
Insufficient balance will cause subscription failure

Q6: Do I need to re-setup when switching devices?

Log in with the same US Apple ID on the new device
Subscriptions will sync automatically
But you may need to re-verify payment information

Summary

Key steps to purchase US ChatGPT/Claude subscription:

✅ Create a US Apple ID
✅ Top up via Alipay with US gift cards
✅ Set up tax-free state billing address (Important! Avoid taxes)
✅ Contact US support to remove in-app purchase restrictions
✅ Complete subscription purchase in the app

By following this guide, you can successfully use the full features of ChatGPT Plus and Claude Pro.

💡 Tip: This guide is based on actual operational experience as of April 2026. Apple policies may change. If you encounter issues, contact Apple Support directly.