No bank account required — multiple ways to pay

How to Pay

We made paying as easy as possible. Whether you have a bank account or not, there is an option for you. Pick the one that works best for your situation.

Takes 2 minutes

to complete payment

100% secure

powered by Stripe

Instant access

for the inmate

Cancel anytime

no long contracts

Choose Your Payment Method

1

Regular Debit Card

Most Common

Easiest option — works instantly

  1. 1Go to mycellmateai.com/pay on your phone or computer
  2. 2Enter the inmate's ID number or the phone number they call from
  3. 3Choose a plan ($10, $20, $30, or $40/month)
  4. 4Type in your debit card number, expiration date, and the 3-digit code on the back
  5. 5Hit "Subscribe" — done! The inmate can use it right away

Works with any Visa, Mastercard, or Discover debit card from any bank.

2

Prepaid Visa or Mastercard

No Bank Needed

No bank account needed — buy at any store

  1. 1Go to Walmart, Walgreens, CVS, Dollar General, or any grocery store
  2. 2Look for a green Visa or Mastercard prepaid card in the gift card section
  3. 3Buy one and load it with $10, $20, $30, or $40 (however much the plan costs)
  4. 4Scratch off the back to get the card number, or register it online
  5. 5Go to mycellmateai.com/pay and enter the prepaid card just like a regular card

Popular brands: Green Dot, NetSpend, Vanilla Visa, Bluebird by American Express. All work.

Where to buy:

Walmart (~$3 fee)Walgreens (~$3 fee)CVS (~$3 fee)Dollar General (~$2 fee)7-Eleven (~$3 fee)
3

Cash App Card

Free Card

Free debit card linked to your Cash App balance

  1. 1Download Cash App (free) on your phone from the App Store or Google Play
  2. 2Sign up with your phone number — takes about 2 minutes
  3. 3Tap "Cash Card" in the app and order your free black Cash App Visa card
  4. 4Add money to Cash App using another card, or have someone send you money
  5. 5Use your Cash App card number at mycellmateai.com/pay just like a regular card

The Cash App card is completely free. You can also use the card number right away without waiting for the physical card to arrive.

Download Cash App
4

Chime Bank (Free Online Bank)

No Fees

Free checking account with a Visa debit card

  1. 1Go to chime.com or download the Chime app (free)
  2. 2Sign up — no credit check, no minimum balance, no monthly fees
  3. 3You get a Visa debit card in the mail in about 5–7 days
  4. 4Add money by direct deposit, or transfer from another account
  5. 5Use your Chime card at mycellmateai.com/pay

Chime is a real bank account with zero fees. Great option if you don't have a bank account yet.

Open Chime Account (Free)
5

PayPal

Widely Used

Use your PayPal balance or link a card

  1. 1Log in to your PayPal account at paypal.com
  2. 2Go to your PayPal Debit Card settings and get your card number
  3. 3Or: use the PayPal prepaid Mastercard (available at Walmart)
  4. 4Go to mycellmateai.com/pay and enter your PayPal card number
  5. 5The charge will come from your PayPal balance

If you have a PayPal account with money in it, you can use the PayPal Debit Mastercard number directly on our site.

Ready to Subscribe?

Pick a plan, enter your payment info, and your loved one has access in minutes.

Subscribe Now View All Plans

Common Questions

Is it safe to put my card number on this website?

Yes. All payments are processed by Stripe, the same company that handles payments for Amazon, Lyft, and millions of other websites. Your card number is never stored on our servers — it goes directly to Stripe's secure system. Look for the padlock icon in your browser's address bar.

What if I don't have any of these options?

Ask a friend or family member to pay for you and you can pay them back in cash. Or visit your local library — they often have computers and can help you set up a Cash App account for free.

Will I be charged automatically every month?

Yes, subscription plans renew automatically each month. You can cancel anytime by going to mycellmateai.com/account and clicking "Cancel Subscription." You'll keep access until the end of the month you paid for.

What if I want to pay for just one month and not auto-renew?

Choose a prepaid minute pack instead of a subscription. Prepaid packs are one-time purchases — no auto-renewal. The inmate uses the minutes until they run out, then you can buy more if you want.

How does the inmate know their subscription is active?

As soon as payment goes through, the inmate can call the CellMateAI number and their new plan is active immediately. CellMateAI will greet them by name and tell them their plan and minutes remaining.

Can I split the cost with other family members?

Yes — just have one person pay and share the confirmation with everyone else. Or buy a prepaid Visa card together and use that to pay.

Questions? Chat with AI 🤖

CellMateAI Assistant

AI-powered · Always online

Hey! 👋 I'm the CellMateAI assistant. I can answer questions about our service, pricing, how to subscribe, or how to partner with us as a facility. What's on your mind?

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