The short version
Most API providers, including OpenAI, Anthropic, Google AI, and similar usage-based services, generally do not accept prepaid cards, whether that's a Laso card or any other prepaid card. This isn't a problem with your specific card, and in most cases it can't be worked around by re-trying the payment. It's a deliberate policy on the provider's side to protect against billing fraud.
Why API companies block prepaid cards
The core issue is that API usage can scale much faster than a card authorization can keep up with. Unlike a one-time purchase, most API services bill after usage (post-paid billing): you run requests throughout the month, and the provider charges your card later for whatever you consumed.
That post-billing model creates an obvious opening for abuse. Here's the pattern providers are trying to prevent:
A bad actor loads a prepaid card with just a few dollars.
They attach it to an API account and very quickly run up thousands of dollars in usage.
When the provider tries to charge the card at the end of the cycle, the payment fails, because there were only a few dollars on it.
The user simply abandons the account, having taken thousands of dollars of API usage they never paid for.
Because prepaid cards can't guarantee that funds will be available when the bill actually arrives, most API providers refuse them outright rather than absorb that risk. Traditional credit cards, by contrast, let the provider place holds and recover charges against a standing line of credit, which is exactly what prepaid cards don't offer.
Which services are affected
This applies broadly to pay-as-you-go API platforms, including (but not limited to):
The same logic applies to many other metered, usage-billed services beyond AI APIs. This includes anything where you can consume first and get billed afterward.
What you can do instead
If you'd like to keep using your Laso card to access these AI APIs, the recommended route is OpenRouter. OpenRouter is a single platform that gives you access to all the major AI provider APIs (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, and many others) through one unified interface, and it accepts the Laso international card where the providers themselves typically won't. You add credit to OpenRouter with your card and then call the underlying models through its API.
Alternatively, you can pay an API provider directly using a standard credit or debit card issued by a traditional bank, which these providers are set up to accept.
A few things worth checking before you assume your Laso card is the problem:
Confirm the provider's accepted payment methods in their billing or help documentation, since most state their prepaid-card policy directly.
Make sure the decline is actually due to the prepaid restriction and not an unrelated issue, such as insufficient balance, an incorrect billing address, or a temporary hold.
If you've run into a decline and you're not sure why, reach out to our support team and we'll help you figure out what happened.
Frequently asked questions
Is my Laso card broken or declined incorrectly?
No. A decline at an API provider almost always reflects that provider's policy against prepaid cards, not a fault with your card. Your Laso card will continue to work normally at merchants that accept prepaid cards.
Will this ever change?
Acceptance is decided by each provider, not by Laso. Some services adjust their policies over time, so it's worth checking the provider's current payment documentation. As of now, though, prepaid cards are broadly not supported across major API platforms.
Which cards do these companies accept?
Typically standard credit cards (and in some cases debit cards) tied to a traditional bank account. Each provider lists its accepted payment methods in its own billing settings. To use your Laso international card for these services, go through OpenRouter instead.
My card worked at first and then started failing. Why?
Some providers allow an initial charge but later tighten their checks, or they may attempt a larger post-usage charge that a prepaid balance can't cover. This is consistent with the fraud-prevention reasons described above rather than a problem on Laso's end.
Still stuck? Contact our support team and we'll be happy to help.