Guide · 2026-11-13
Top-up, ready-made account, key code, Team seat — what's the difference
Account ownership, support responsibility and failure conditions for four delivery methods, side by side.
"One month of ChatGPT Plus" is four different products depending on delivery. Buying the wrong one doesn't blow up immediately — the trouble usually arrives in month two.
Top-up
You hand your own account to the seller, who activates it using a cheap-region payment method or gift cards. The account stays yours — chat history, custom GPTs and projects all remain. Two risks: you must give a third party your credentials, and when their payment method dies you need to find them again.
Ready-made account
The seller gives you an already-activated account and password. What you're paying is rent, and control isn't yours: the original holder can change the password, swap the email, or re-enable 2FA. Fine for short-term use with nothing sensitive stored.
Key code / CDK
A self-service redeem code, usually backed by a card platform's stock. Upside: automatic, instant delivery. Downside: validity and account ownership are decided by the issuer, and an expired or failed redeem can only be resolved on the original platform.
Team seat
You're added to someone else's workspace to share the Team price. Usually the cheapest of the four, but an org admin can remove you at any moment — and afterwards the history generally stays on the org side. Suits temporary needs where being kicked is acceptable.
Comparison table
- Who owns the account:Top-up: you. Ready-made account: the seller. Key code: depends on the issuer. Team seat: the organisation.
- Who handles support:Top-up and key code: the seller. Ready-made account: whatever the seller promised. Team seat: the org admin.
- When it fails:Top-up when the payment method fails, ready-made when the seller changes the password, key code on expiry, seat when you're removed.
There's only one criterion: can you accept "gone tomorrow"? If yes, take the cheap option. If not, pay the vendor.