Coinepay | How to Pay for Obsidian Sync with a Virtual Card (Step-by-Step)

Obsidian Sync is the paid add-on that keeps your Obsidian notes in step across devices through encrypted remote vaults. If you'd rather pay for it with a virtual card you can create and control in one place, this guide walks through what you need, the exact checkout flow on Obsidian's side, and how to troubleshoot a declined payment. You'll handle the whole process from the Coinepay dashboard or app and finish at obsidian.md.

What you need before you start

Getting set up first saves a failed checkout later. Make sure you have:

A Coinepay account with identity verification (KYC) completed. You must register and finish verification before card services are available. If you haven't yet, create your account and verify your identity.
A Coinepay virtual card issued in your dashboard, with its card number, expiry date and CVV visible.
Enough available balance on the card to cover the plan plus any sales tax Obsidian adds at checkout.
Your real billing details — the name, country and postal code tied to your account. Use your genuine information; Obsidian determines sales tax from the country and postal code you enter.
An Obsidian account (free to create at obsidian.md).

You can manage your card and check your balance anytime from the Coinepay dashboard or the mobile app for iOS and Android.

Obsidian Sync plans and prices

Obsidian Sync has two tiers. At the time of writing (October 2026), the obsidian.md/sync page lists:

Plan	Monthly	Annual	Includes
Sync Standard	US$5 / user / month	US$4 / user / month (US$48 billed yearly)	One remote vault, 1 GB storage
Sync Plus	US$10 / user / month	US$8 / user / month (US$96 billed yearly)	Ten remote vaults, 10 GB storage (extra storage up to 100 GB)

Prices can change and may vary by region, so always confirm the current figures on Obsidian's official pricing page before you buy. The localized pages checked for Germany, Spain and Japan also displayed prices in USD. Your final charge may be higher than the listed price because Obsidian adds applicable sales tax based on the country and postal code you provide at checkout. Eligible education and nonprofit users can apply for 40% off Sync through Account → Billing → Discount, but approval is required before the discount applies.

Step-by-step: subscribe and check out

Issue or pick your Coinepay card. In the Coinepay dashboard, open your virtual card and keep the number, expiry and CVV handy. Top up so the balance covers the plan plus tax.
Log in to Obsidian. Create or sign in to your Obsidian account, then open your Sync account dashboard at obsidian.md/account/sync.
Open the Sync section and select Buy. Choose Sync Standard or Sync Plus, and pick monthly or annual billing. Annual billing lowers the per-month rate.
Choose a card payment at checkout. Obsidian lists Stripe, PayPal, WeChat and AliPay as payment options. To pay with your Coinepay card, select the card-processing option (Stripe handles card payments) rather than PayPal. Note: PayPal purchases are processed in Canadian dollars and can trigger issuer foreign-transaction or conversion fees — paying the card route directly avoids that PayPal conversion.
Enter your card and billing details. Type the Coinepay card number, expiry and CVV, then your real billing name, country and postal code. Keep these consistent with your Coinepay account details.
Complete any verification. If a 3-D Secure or one-time passcode step appears, approve it through the method tied to your Coinepay account.
Confirm and save your invoice. After the charge succeeds, Sync activates. You can view and edit invoice billing details later under Account → Billing → Invoices and refunds → View.

If you have Obsidian Credit on your account, it is applied before payment is due — including at auto-renewal — and it is non-refundable, so expect your card to be charged only for any remaining balance.

If your card is declined

A decline usually comes from a fixable detail rather than a fault with the service. Obsidian does not publish a comprehensive, product-specific list of decline reasons, so work through the common causes below.

Insufficient balance

The most common cause. Your card needs to cover the plan plus sales tax, and for annual plans the full yearly amount is charged up front (for example US$48 or US$96 before tax). One subscriber reported an annual renewal being declined because it would overdraw the account. Check your Coinepay balance and top up, then retry.

Billing address mismatch

If the country or postal code you enter doesn't match what your card expects, the payment can fail or the tax calculation can look wrong. Re-enter your billing details exactly as they appear on your Coinepay account and try again.

3-D Secure / authentication

If an added verification step doesn't complete, the charge won't go through. Make sure you can receive the confirmation prompt in your Coinepay app, then restart checkout.

Card type or region checks

Which specific card networks or debit/prepaid card types pass a Sync checkout is not publicly confirmed by Obsidian, and one forum user reported a Venmo debit card being declined without the cause being established. Card payments are processed by Stripe, whose policy (updated September 22, 2026) prohibits dealings involving specified persons in Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk. If you're unsure whether your card will be accepted for this checkout, contact Coinepay support to confirm your card meets the requirement before you buy.

"Failed to authenticate: Your subscription to Obsidian Sync has expired"

This in-app message means Obsidian couldn't process the payment on file — it's a subscription-status message, not a card-issuer decline code. Update or re-add your payment method and ensure your card has enough balance to renew.

If a charge still fails after checking these, verify the card is active in your Coinepay dashboard and reach out to Coinepay support or our Telegram channel.

Refunds and cancellation

Obsidian offers a full refund within seven days of purchase, requested through Account → Billing → Invoices and refunds → View → Get refund → Request refund. Be aware that a Sync refund removes the service, cancels auto-renewals and deletes your remote vaults — your local files stay on your device. If a subscription simply expires without a refund, Obsidian says it keeps remote-vault data for 30 days. Refunds are returned to the original payment method, so keep your Coinepay card active until any refund settles.

Tips for smooth renewals

Keep a small buffer on your Coinepay card ahead of renewal dates so an annual charge doesn't bounce.
For businesses, you can issue dedicated Coinepay virtual cards with custom spending limits — handy if you want one card reserved for software subscriptions like Obsidian Sync.
Save each Obsidian invoice from the billing page for your records.
Some Coinepay services aren't available in every jurisdiction, and virtual-asset-related services aren't offered to residents of mainland China. Check availability in your region in the app.

That's the full flow: fund a Coinepay card, pick your Sync tier, and check out at obsidian.md with your real billing details. Confirm current prices on Obsidian's official site, and lean on Coinepay support whenever a payment question comes up.

Get your Coinepay virtual card: Sign up · App Store · Google Play · Customer support

FAQ

Which Obsidian Sync payment option should I pick for a card?

At checkout Obsidian lists Stripe, PayPal, WeChat and AliPay. To pay with your Coinepay virtual card, choose the card-processing option (Stripe handles cards) rather than PayPal. PayPal purchases are processed in Canadian dollars and may add conversion or foreign-transaction fees.

How much does Obsidian Sync cost?

At the time of writing (October 2026), Sync Standard is US$5/month or US$4/month billed annually (US$48/year), and Sync Plus is US$10/month or US$8/month billed annually (US$96/year). Sales tax may be added based on your country and postal code. Always confirm current prices on obsidian.md.

Will my Coinepay card definitely work for Obsidian Sync?

Obsidian doesn't publicly confirm which card networks or debit/prepaid types pass a Sync checkout, and card payments are processed by Stripe under its own restrictions. If you're unsure, contact Coinepay support to confirm your card meets the requirement before you buy.

Why was my Obsidian Sync payment declined?

Common causes are insufficient card balance (annual plans charge the full year up front), a billing country or postal code mismatch, an incomplete 3-D Secure step, or card-type checks. Fix the detail and retry; if it persists, check your card in the Coinepay dashboard and contact support.

Can I get a refund if I change my mind?

Obsidian offers a full refund within seven days of purchase via Account → Billing → Invoices and refunds → View → Get refund → Request refund. A refund removes the service, cancels auto-renewal and deletes remote vaults, though your local files remain.

How to Pay for Obsidian Sync with a Virtual Card (Step-by-Step)