A method for distributing an augmented reality, AR, based virtual object, applicable to an AR client and an AR server, comprising: in response to an image scanning operation of a user, performing by the AR client, real-time image scanning on an offline environment of the user; initiating, by the AR client, image identification with respect to a real scene image acquired by the scanning; determining whether a preset pattern identifier is identified in the real scene image; if the preset pattern identifier is identified in the real scene image, transmitting, by the AR server to the AR client, an electronic certificate, wherein the electronic certificate is used for obtaining a virtual object, and is one of a number of different categories of electronic certificates preset on the AR server, and is bound to the preset pattern identifier; acquiring, by the AR client, the electronic certificate transmitted from an AR server and saving the acquired electronic certificate locally; determining, by the AR client, whether a category count of locally-saved electronic certificates reaches a predetermined threshold; if the category count of the electronic certificates saved in the AR client reaches the predetermined threshold, sending, by the AR client, to the AR server a virtual object distribution request containing a plurality of electronic certificates having a category count equal to the predetermined threshold; receiving, by the AR server, the virtual object distribution request sent by the AR client; determining, by the AR server, whether the category count of the electronic certificates contained in the virtual object distribution request reaches a predetermined threshold; and if the category count of the electronic certificates contained in the virtual object distribution request reaches the predetermined threshold, distributing a virtual object from a preset virtual object set to the user based on a preset distribution rule. in response to an image scanning operation of a user, performing by the AR client, real-time image scanning on an offline environment of the user; initiating, by the AR client, image identification with respect to a real scene image acquired by the scanning; determining whether a preset pattern identifier is identified in the real scene image; if the preset pattern identifier is identified in the real scene image, transmitting, by the AR server to the AR client, an electronic certificate, wherein the electronic certificate is used for obtaining a virtual object, and is one of a number of different categories of electronic certificates preset on the AR server, and is bound to the preset pattern identifier; acquiring, by the AR client, the electronic certificate transmitted from an AR server and saving the acquired electronic certificate locally; determining, by the AR client, whether a category count of locally-saved electronic certificates reaches a predetermined threshold; if the category count of the electronic certificates saved in the AR client reaches the predetermined threshold, sending, by the AR client, to the AR server a virtual object distribution request containing a plurality of electronic certificates having a category count equal to the predetermined threshold; receiving, by the AR server, the virtual object distribution request sent by the AR client; determining, by the AR server, whether the category count of the electronic certificates contained in the virtual object distribution request reaches a predetermined threshold; and if the category count of the electronic certificates contained in the virtual object distribution request reaches the predetermined threshold, distributing a virtual object from a preset virtual object set to the user based on a preset distribution rule.