Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for a virtual objection distribution method are provided. One of the methods includes: performing an image scanning to a local environment of a user; conducting image identification to an acquired image; acquiring an electronic certificate from a server if an image identifier is identified in the image; saving the electronic certificate; and, in response to a determination that a category count of the received electronic certificates reaches the threshold, sending to the server a virtual object distribution request to cause the server to distribute a virtual object to the user. This method significantly increases interactivity and entertainingness of a virtual object distribution process.