Unreal Engine is free for many creators, but organizations above Epic Games' revenue threshold generally need a paid seat-based Unreal Subscription. This guide walks through what you need to pay for that subscription with a Coinepay virtual card, how the Epic checkout flow works, and what to do if your card is declined. Coinepay is a payment tool, not affiliated with Epic Games, so always confirm plan details on Epic's official pages.
Understand which Unreal Engine license you actually need
Before you pay, make sure a paid seat is the right license. Epic's licensing page lists three standard options, which are licensing models rather than three paid tiers:
- Free — covers individuals and businesses under US$1 million in annual gross revenue, plus qualifying educational use. Game royalties can still become due if a product passes its revenue threshold.
- Royalty-based — for qualifying games and applications licensed to end users, with no required seat purchase; the standard royalty is 5% of attributable lifetime gross product revenue above US$1 million. A qualifying "Launch Everywhere with Epic Release" carries a 3.5% rate on eligible revenue instead.
- Seat-based (Unreal Subscription) — generally required for commercial, non-royalty-product development by an organization above the US$1 million trailing-12-month gross-revenue threshold.
The seat-based option is the one you pay for. At the time of writing (October 2026), Epic showed a US price of US$1,850 per seat per year, with a 30-day trial offered on the licensing page. Prices vary by region, and Epic shows the location-specific final price only after you start the purchase and before you pay. Always check the official Unreal Engine licensing page for the current price in your currency. Note that, as of May 27, 2026, Unreal Subscriptions no longer include Twinmotion and RealityScan.
What you need before you start
- An Epic account, signed in. The trial and purchase links both require one and offer sign-up if you don't have it.
- Your real billing details — legal name, billing address and country — matching the information on your Coinepay account.
- A Coinepay virtual card, with its card number, expiry date and CVV ready, and enough balance to cover the full seat price plus any tax shown at checkout.
- Access to the Coinepay app for real-time balance, notifications and any one-time verification prompt.
If you don't have a card yet, register with Coinepay and complete identity verification (KYC) first. Card services require verification, and card issuance is provided by licensed partner financial institutions. You can manage everything from the Coinepay dashboard or the mobile app on iOS and Google Play.
Create (or top up) your Coinepay virtual card
- Sign in to the Coinepay app or dashboard and open the card section.
- Create a virtual card. You'll instantly see the card number, expiry date and CVV.
- Fund the card so the available balance comfortably covers the seat price plus tax. Keep a small buffer so a currency conversion or tax line doesn't push the total over your balance.
- Note the exact billing address Coinepay has on file — you'll enter this at Epic's checkout.
Step-by-step: pay for an Unreal Engine seat
- Go to the Unreal Engine licensing page on unrealengine.com and sign in to your Epic account.
- Choose Buy seats to purchase, or Start 30-day trial if you want to evaluate first. Download now covers the free license and doesn't require payment.
- Buy seats opens the Epic Developer Portal purchase flow with your seat quantity. Set the number of seats you need.
- Review the location-specific total that Epic displays. This is the price that will actually be charged, including any tax, in your supported currency.
- At the payment step, enter your Coinepay card number, expiry and CVV, and the billing address exactly as it appears in your Coinepay account.
- If your bank or card issuer triggers a 3-D Secure check, approve it through the Coinepay app when prompted.
- Confirm the purchase. After payment, assign and manage seats in the Epic Developer Portal.
A signed-in buyer's exact checkout screens and the full list of accepted payment methods for Unreal seats are not something we can confirm here, because they depend on your account and region. Epic lists credit cards, debit cards and PayPal for adding Epic account balance and shows regional methods at checkout. If you're unsure whether your Coinepay card will be accepted for a recurring Unreal seat, contact Coinepay support to confirm your card meets the merchant's requirements before you buy.
Troubleshooting common card declines
Epic's general payment guidance points to several causes when a card is declined. Work through these in order:
Insufficient balance
A virtual card is only charged up to its available balance. If the seat total plus tax exceeds your balance, the payment fails. Check your Coinepay balance in the app and top up to cover the full amount shown at checkout, then retry.
Billing address or card detail mismatch
Epic flags mismatched billing address, expiry, card name or CVV as common issues. Re-enter each field carefully and make sure the billing address matches the one on your Coinepay account exactly, including country and postal code.
3-D Secure / verification not completed
If a verification prompt appears and isn't approved in time, the transaction won't go through. Keep the Coinepay app open during checkout and approve any one-time verification request promptly.
Bank restrictions or inactive card
Confirm the card is active in Coinepay and not frozen or past its expiry. Some issuer restrictions can block a merchant category; if payments keep failing after your details are correct, contact Coinepay support.
"For your protection, this transaction has been declined"
Epic documents the message "For your protection, this transaction has been declined. Please try another card or other payment methods." for some purchases. If you see a protective decline, double-check your details, make sure your Epic account country matches your billing country, and try again after confirming your balance.
Region and account-country checks
Epic restricts purchases from regions under export controls or sanctions — its billing article names Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk, Cuba, Iran, and North Korea. An account-region mismatch can also block payment. Use your real location and account country; never use a VPN, false address or any workaround to bypass a region or payment check.
Temporary purchase block after repeated attempts
Multiple failed attempts can trigger a temporary Epic purchase block. Epic advises waiting 24 hours, then rechecking your payment details and account country before trying again.
Renewals, cancellation and refunds
Paid developer subscriptions renew and charge once per subscription period until canceled. Under Epic's developer subscription terms, cancel before the current period ends through account management to prevent the next charge. Your paid rights continue through the period you already paid for, but cancellation gives no prorated refund. A self-service refund procedure specifically for Unreal seats isn't confirmed, so read Epic's subscription terms before buying and treat Epic Games Store game-refund rules as separate.
To keep your own records clean, use a dedicated Coinepay virtual card for the Unreal Subscription and set a reminder before the renewal date. That makes it easy to track the charge and to pause or replace the card if your plans change.
Get help
For questions about your Coinepay card, balance or a specific decline, reach out through Coinepay support or our Telegram channel. For licensing, pricing and subscription terms, rely on Epic Games' official Unreal Engine pages.
Get your Coinepay virtual card: Sign up · App Store · Google Play · Customer support
FAQ
Do I need a paid subscription to use Unreal Engine?
Not always. Unreal Engine is free for individuals and businesses under US$1 million in annual gross revenue and for qualifying educational use. A paid seat-based Unreal Subscription is generally required for commercial, non-royalty-product development by an organization above the US$1 million trailing-12-month gross-revenue threshold. Check Epic's licensing page to see which model applies to you.
How much does an Unreal Engine seat cost?
At the time of writing (October 2026), Epic showed a US price of US$1,850 per seat per year, with a 30-day trial available. Prices vary by region, and Epic shows the final location-specific price only after you start the purchase. Always confirm the current price in your currency on the official Unreal Engine licensing page.
Why was my Coinepay card declined at Epic checkout?
Common causes include insufficient card balance, a billing address or card detail that doesn't match your Coinepay account, an unapproved 3-D Secure prompt, an inactive card, or an account-region mismatch. Fix the details, make sure your balance covers the total plus tax, and retry. If it keeps failing, contact Coinepay support.
Will I get a refund if I cancel my Unreal Subscription?
Under Epic's developer subscription terms, cancellation gives no prorated refund. Your paid rights continue through the period you already paid for, but the next charge is only prevented if you cancel before the current period ends. A self-service refund process specifically for Unreal seats isn't confirmed, so review Epic's subscription terms before buying.
Can I use a Coinepay virtual card for Unreal Engine from any country?
Epic blocks purchases from regions under export controls or sanctions, such as Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk, Cuba, Iran and North Korea, and may require your account country to match your billing country. Use your real identity and location. If you're unsure your card will be accepted, contact Coinepay support before you buy.
Related guides
- How to Pay for a Huawei AppGallery Developer Account with a Virtual Card
- How to Pay for Amazon Appstore Developer Account with a Virtual Card
- How to Pay for Chrome Web Store Developer Registration with a Virtual Card
- How to Pay for Meta Quest Developer Hub with a Virtual Card
- How to Pay for Unity Pro with a Virtual Card (Step-by-Step Guide)
- How to Pay for Apple Developer Program with a Virtual Card

