Firebase starts projects on the No-cost (Spark plan), which does not require a payment method. If your project needs the Pay as you go (Blaze plan), you can enter a Coinepay virtual card during Google Cloud billing setup. Blaze is usage-based, not a fixed-price subscription, and adding a card does not guarantee that Google will accept it.
Before you start: understand Firebase billing
Firebase billing is tied to the Google Cloud project behind your Firebase project. Upgrading to Blaze links that project to a Cloud Billing account. Blaze includes applicable no-cost usage, then charges for usage beyond the relevant allowances. Check the official Firebase pricing page for the products you intend to use rather than looking for a single monthly Blaze price.
For example, at the time of writing (October 2026), the published US-dollar Realtime Database rates showed storage free up to 1 GB, then $5 per GB, and downloads free up to 360 MB per day, then $1 per GB. These are service rates, not a Blaze plan fee. Rates and applicable billing currencies can change; check Firebase’s official pricing page and the amounts presented in your billing account before relying on them.
Cloud Storage for Firebase is another reason to check your plan: since February 3, 2026, a project must be on Blaze to maintain access to Cloud Storage for Firebase resources, even where its storage usage falls within a no-cost allowance.
What you need before adding a card
- A Firebase project and Google account. Sign in to the Firebase console and create a project if you have not already. A new project can begin on Spark.
- A Coinepay account ready for card services. Register with Coinepay and complete identity verification (KYC). Card services are available only after verification. You can manage your card in the Coinepay self-service dashboard or mobile app.
- Your virtual card details and available funds. Coinepay issues a card number, expiry date and CVV. Check the card’s available balance and any relevant settings in the Coinepay app before entering it into Google billing.
- Accurate billing information. Use your real identity, actual billing address and the correct country for your Google payments profile. Google asks you to choose a billing-account country and currency that cannot subsequently be changed on that account.
Check Google’s card restrictions first. Google Cloud Billing does not accept prepaid cards or debit cards that require two-factor authentication for every recurring charge. Card acceptance also depends on the billing country and currency. These rules matter because Cloud Billing may charge a self-serve Postpay account automatically after setup. Do not assume that any particular virtual card qualifies: contact Coinepay support to confirm whether your card meets Google’s requirements before you buy.
How to set up Firebase Blaze billing
- Open your project in the Firebase console. Sign in, create a project if needed, and select the project you want to upgrade. Confirm that Blaze is necessary for the Firebase products and usage you expect.
- Start the upgrade to Blaze. Follow the Firebase console’s upgrade flow to link a Cloud Billing account to the underlying Google Cloud project. If you already have an eligible billing account, you may be able to select it; otherwise, follow the flow to create one.
- Set up the billing account. In Google Cloud’s self-serve setup, select your actual country, choose or create a Google payments profile, and provide the requested payment details. Review the country carefully: it and the billing currency cannot later be changed on that billing account.
- Enter your Coinepay card details. Copy the card number, expiry date and CVV from your Coinepay dashboard or app. Enter your real billing details as requested. Review the information for typing errors before proceeding.
- Review and submit. Check the billing information displayed by Google, then select Submit and enable billing if you are ready. Google may place a temporary authorization on a newly added card; that is not necessarily a Firebase usage purchase.
- Confirm the project’s billing status. Return to Firebase and review Settings → Usage and billing. Billing is ongoing and usage-based rather than a one-time checkout, so keep track of the services your project uses.
Setting a card on a billing account does not by itself establish what a particular Firebase feature will cost. Review the official Firebase pricing information for each service you enable. The country and currency of your Google billing account can affect how charges appear; do not use someone else’s details or select a different country to work around a payment or availability check.
Where to review charges or change the payment method
In the Firebase console, open Settings → Usage and billing for project usage and billing information. Details & settings takes you toward the associated billing controls. To manage the card itself, go to Google Cloud console → Billing → Payment method, or use the associated Google payments account.
Keep enough available funds for expected usage-based charges and review your billing activity regularly. If Google reports a failed charge, check the Cloud Billing Transactions page: it may show a reason supplied by the bank. You can also check the card’s status in Coinepay before updating or replacing the payment method in Google billing.
Troubleshooting a declined Coinepay card
| What to check | Practical next step |
|---|---|
| Insufficient available balance | Check the available funds and card settings in Coinepay. Account for a possible temporary authorization as well as subsequent usage charges. If there is an unpaid Google billing balance, resolve it in Google billing after the payment method is ready. |
| Billing details do not match | Recheck the entered card number, expiry date, CVV, name and real billing address. Correct mistakes in the appropriate account; do not invent an address or change countries to bypass a check. |
| 3-D Secure or recurring-payment verification | Complete any legitimate verification requested during setup. If Google displays “Your card does not support automatic recurring payments”, note that its rules exclude debit cards requiring two-factor authentication for each recurring charge. Ask Coinepay support whether your card meets Google’s requirements; if it does not, use a Google-accepted alternative. |
| Merchant country or currency checks | Check whether Google accepts the payment method for your actual billing country and currency. Confirm the country on your Google payments profile and contact Coinepay support about card eligibility. Do not create a profile with a false country. |
| General decline | If you see “General decline of the card. No other information was provided by the issuing bank.”, review the Transactions page for more detail, then contact Coinepay support with the error and transaction information. An expired or invalid payment method can also interrupt billing. |
Google’s acceptance rules, its checks on a particular payment, and the card’s status can each affect the outcome. Repeatedly resubmitting unchanged details is less useful than checking the reported reason and correcting the underlying issue. If the card is not eligible, choose another payment method that Google supports in your location.
How to stop Blaze billing for one project
If you no longer need Blaze, you can downgrade the Firebase project to Spark in the Firebase console or unlink its billing account. Check your project’s dependencies first: downgrading removes access to some paid services, and non-default storage resources can become inaccessible without their data being deleted. Usage accrued before a change may still be billed.
Closing an entire self-serve Cloud Billing account is broader than downgrading one project. The path is Google Cloud console → Billing → Account management → Close billing account; closing it stops services across the projects it pays for, while previously accrued usage remains payable. For a billing dispute, review Google’s applicable terms promptly: the Firebase Paid Services Agreement generally requires fee disputes within 60 days, and refunds under that agreement are at Google’s discretion as paid-service credit.
Get your Coinepay virtual card: Sign up · App Store · Google Play · Customer support
FAQ
Do I need a card for Firebase Spark?
No. The No-cost (Spark plan) does not require a payment method. Upgrading a project to the Pay as you go (Blaze plan) links it to a Cloud Billing account.
Is Firebase Blaze a monthly subscription?
No. Blaze is usage-based, with applicable no-cost usage and charges beyond it. Check Firebase’s official pricing page for the services you use.
Will Google accept my Coinepay virtual card?
Acceptance is not guaranteed. Google does not accept prepaid cards or debit cards requiring two-factor authentication for each recurring charge; country and currency rules also apply. Contact Coinepay support to check whether your card meets these requirements.
Where can I fix a failed Firebase payment?
Check Google Cloud Billing’s Transactions page for a reported reason, then manage the card under Google Cloud console → Billing → Payment method. Check your card status in Coinepay if needed.
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