Pre-subscription Requirements
GitLab Account Preparation
Existing GitLab.com account or self-managed instance
Account administrator permissions
Determine user count and requirements
Network Environment
Use a US Residential IP (Critical Success Factor)
Ensure the IP is clean and geolocated in the US
MPChat Funds Preparation
Prepare $200–500 equivalent in USDT (Premium starts at $19/user/month)
It is recommended to keep extra funds for verification fees
Detailed Steps
Phase 1: MPChat Virtual Card Preparation
USDT Deposit
Path: MPChat App → Wallet → Deposit - Copy USDT deposit address - Transfer sufficient USDT from external wallet ($300+ recommended) - Wait for network confirmation
Apply for a US MPCard
Path: MPChat App → MPCard → Apply for New Card - Issuing Country: Must select "United States" - Card Type: Virtual Card (Instant generation) - Securely record Card Number, Expiry, and CVV
Funds Transfer
Path: MPChat App → Wallet → Transfer - From: MP Wallet (USDT) - To: MPCard (USD) - Amount: Determine based on user count ($250+)
Phase 2: GitLab Subscription Process
Visit GitLab Official Site
Access about.gitlab.com using a US IP
Click "Get free trial" or "Buy now"
Select Subscription Plan
Plan Type | Price | Core Features | Team Size
Premium | $19/user/month | Advanced code & project management | 10–50 members
Ultimate | $99/user/month | Security compliance, advanced insights | 50+ members
SaaS | Per above prices | Hosted on GitLab.com | Any team
Self-Managed | Same price | Private on-premise deployment | Specialized needs
Configure Subscription Parameters
Select user count (Minimum 10 users)
Select billing cycle (Annual discount available)
Select deployment method (SaaS or Self-Managed)
Phase 3: Entering Company Information
Company Details
Company Name (English recommended)
Company Size
Industry Type
Contact Details
Name and Position
Business Email
Contact Phone
Entering Payment Information
Payment Interface Navigation
Select "Credit Card" as payment method
Click "Add payment method"
MPCard Information Entry
Source: MPChat App → MPCard → Card Details - Card number: 16-digit virtual card number - Expiration date: Expiry (MM/YY) - CVV: 3-digit security code - Name on card: Company Pinyin recommended
Billing Address Entry (Critical Step)
Country: United States
Use a professional US business address generator
Example Format:
Company: [Your Company English Name] Address Line 1: 1234 DevOps Street City: San Francisco State: CA ZIP Code: 94105 Phone: Generate a US business phone number
Payment Verification & Activation
Instant Verification
GitLab will perform a small authorization hold (refunded immediately)
Verifies card validity and address matching
Service Activation
Premium features activate immediately after successful payment
Receive license file and usage guide
Administrators can configure advanced features
Function Verification
Test advanced CI/CD features
Verify security scanning tools
Check project management features
GitLab Plan Comparison
Feature | Free | Premium | Ultimate |
Repo Count | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
CI/CD Minutes | 400 min/mo | 10,000 min/mo | 50,000 min/mo |
Code Review | Basic | Advanced rules | Enterprise-level review |
Security Scanning | Basic | Advanced security | Full security & compliance |
Support Level | Community | Standard Support | Priority Support |
Troubleshooting Guide
Common Causes of Payment Failure
Incomplete Company Info (Solution: Provide detailed/authentic info; ensure name and address match)
Strict Address Validation (Solution: Use real US business addresses; ensure ZIP and State match)
Insufficient User Count (Solution: Premium requires minimum 10 users; estimate team size accurately)
Handling Subscription Status Issues
Charged but not active (Wait 10–15 mins for sync; check confirmation email; contact GitLab support)
License Issues (View status in Admin Area; re-upload license file; check license expiry)
Subscription Management Guide
Account Management
License Management: Admin Area → License
User Management: Manage user permissions and access
Billing Management: View and download invoices
Renewal & Upgrades
Auto-Renewal: Enabled by default, automatic annual billing
Seat Adjustment: Add users at any time
Tier Upgrade: Supports upgrading from Premium to Ultimate
Cost Optimization Suggestions
Annual Subscription: Get discounts for annual billing
Accurate Estimation: Determine user count based on actual needs
Plan Evaluation: Choose the plan that fits current needs
Security Reminders
MPCard Protection
Set reasonable spending limits
Set limits based on subscription fees
Regularly check transaction records
Account Security
Enable multi-layer security measures
Enforce Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
Regularly review access logs
Set IP access restrictions
Data Security
Configure backup and recovery policies
Regularly back up project data
Test recovery processes
Encrypt sensitive information
GitLab Premium Core Features
Enhanced Code Management
Merge Requests: Advanced MR features; Code owners auto-review; MR approval rules; Push rules protection
Code Quality: Raise code standards; Automated code quality checks; Test coverage visualization; Performance metrics
Enhanced CI/CD
Pipeline Optimization: Advanced CI/CD; Parent-child pipelines; Dynamic env configuration; Auto-scaling Runners
Deployment Management: Smart deployment; Canary deployments; Progressive delivery; Automated rollbacks
Security & Compliance
Security Scanning: Comprehensive detection; SAST; DAST; Dependency scanning
Compliance Management: Enterprise compliance; License compliance; Audit event tracking; Compliance report generation
Usage Best Practices
Team Collaboration Optimization
Project Management: High-efficiency collaboration; Use Epics for large-scale projects; Set milestones; Visualize workflows with boards
Knowledge Sharing: Promote knowledge transfer; Use Wiki for docs; Share snippets; Standardize with issue templates
Performance Optimization Suggestions
Repo Optimization: Improve performance; Periodic repo cleanup; Use shallow clones; Configure cache for CI/CD speed
Monitoring & Alerts: Proactive system monitoring; Health monitoring; Performance threshold alerts; Periodic log review
Technical Support Resources
Official Resources
Documentation Center: Comprehensive docs; Installation guides; Best practices; Troubleshooting manuals
Community Support: Active user community; GitLab Forum; Issue tracker; Periodic Webinars
Professional Services
Implementation Support: Professional guidance; Architecture consulting; Migration services; Customized training
Technical Support: Multi-tier support; Standard (Premium); Priority (Ultimate); Dedicated Customer Success Manager (Enterprise)
By following this guide, you can successfully subscribe to GitLab Premium using an MPChat virtual card. GitLab has relatively strict verification for business customers; please ensure authentic and consistent company info and billing addresses. We recommend starting with a plan suited to your team size and upgrading as your business grows. Fully utilize GitLab’s powerful DevOps platform to enhance team efficiency and quality.