One Clear Statement
The best combination for ordinary people is one that reliably gets things done. Do not spend all your energy chasing the “strongest” tool.
Tools Available in China
The following tools can be used directly in mainland China:
| Tool | Type | Login | Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kimi (Moonshot AI) | Conversational | Phone / WeChat | Free tier, paid membership |
| Tongyi Qianwen (Alibaba) | Conversational | Taobao/Alibaba account | Free tier |
| Doubao (ByteDance) | Conversational / Generative | Phone | Free tier |
| Wenxin Yiyan (Baidu) | Conversational / Generative | Baidu account | Free tier, membership |
| iFlytek Spark | Conversational | Phone | Free tier |
These tools are good for daily chat, writing, editing, and simple translation.
Foreign Tools
The following require a stable network environment:
| Tool | Type | Login | Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT (OpenAI) | Conversational / Action | Email / Google | Free tier, Plus subscription |
| Claude (Anthropic) | Conversational / Action | Email / Google | Free tier, Pro subscription |
| Codex (OpenAI) | Action | API Key | Pay-per-use |
| GitHub Copilot | Action | GitHub account | Free tier, paid tier |
| Gemini (Google) | Conversational / Action | Google account | Free tier, Advanced subscription |
Four Factors That Affect Availability
1. Regional Restrictions
Some tools have registration restrictions by region. If your account is registered in an unsupported region, you may not be able to register or use the tool.
Suggestion: Start with the tools you can log into normally. Do not get stuck on “which tool is the strongest.”
2. Phone Number Verification
Most AI tools require phone number verification. A mainland China phone number can register most domestic tools, but may encounter issues when registering foreign tools.
Suggestion: If you encounter a phone number problem when registering a foreign tool, ask Codex: “I have a mainland China phone number. How do I register this tool?” It will tell you what is currently feasible.
3. Payment Methods
Subscription tools require a credit card or international payment channel. ChatGPT Plus, Claude Pro, etc. require an international credit card or virtual card.
Suggestion: If you do not have an international payment method, start with the free version of domestic tools. When you need to pay, look for options that accept RMB, or switch to a tool that supports RMB payment.
4. Network Environment
Accessing foreign tools requires a stable internet connection. Disconnections or high latency can make the experience frustrating.
Suggestion: Do not treat network optimization as a prerequisite for learning AI. If your network is unstable, use domestic tools to get things done first.
Core Judgment
Do not spend significant time solving access problems just to use the “strongest” tool. A tool that lets you reliably complete a task is a good tool.
Examples:
- You want to write an article — Kimi can do it, so use Kimi. You do not have to use ChatGPT.
- You want to build a website — Codex can help you. Regardless of its model ranking, if it can help you complete the task, it is your tool.
A Reusable Prompt
If you encounter availability issues when choosing a tool:
I want to use [tool name] but I encountered [specific problem, e.g. phone number rejected / payment not supported / cannot register].
Are there any alternatives? Is there a domestic tool that can substitute?If You See This
Tool registration requires an international phone number:
Ask Codex: “Which AI tool can do this task that does not require an international phone number?”
Payment is declined:
Use the free tier first. If you must pay, look for RMB payment options, or switch to a tool that supports RMB.
Cannot access a tool:
This is not your problem. Tool availability is affected by region, network, and policy. Find a workable substitute and get things done.
How to Know You Are Done
You do not need to know all the availability details of every tool.
After reading this page, you only need to do one thing:
When choosing a tool, first ask yourself: can I log in and use it right now? If yes, use it. If not, switch to one I can use.
Next: Ten Things Ordinary People Can Do with AI Right Away — starting from what you can do, not from which tool to use.
Hint: The content of this page changes with policy. Before using any tool, ask Codex to check the latest official status — do not rely on old tutorials.
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