The 5 most popular Chinese payment apps

If you’re moving to China or spending lots of time there, you’ll need to figure out how to cover day-to-day spending.

Payment apps are widely used in China, but which are the most popular? We’ll show you the top options here in this handy guide.

We’ll also show you an alternative - the Wise card, which is perfect for low-cost overseas spending.

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How do Chinese mobile payment apps work?

Chinese payment apps allow you to pay for items in stores using just your phone, without the need to use a physical debit card.

You simply download the app, then link it to a preferred payment method (e.g. a bank account or debit card)

When paying in a store, you’ll need to scan a QR code at the checkout to pay. Alternatively, your app will generate a QR code for someone else to scan.

Some apps also allow you to send money to other users, which can be done in just a few taps within the app itself.

Low-cost spending in China with the Wise card

Not sure about using a mobile payment app? Check out the Wise card instead.

The Wise card is tailor-made for international spending, as it offers the following features:

• Spend and withdraw cash from ATMs in 150+ countries, including China
• Have your USD automatically converted to CNY at the mid-market exchange rate, whenever you spend. There’s just a small fee to convert the currency, and no transaction fees.
• Withdraw up to $100 from overseas ATMs for free (although ATM operators may charge their own fees).
• Compatible with mobile wallets such as Google Pay and Apple Pay.
• Send CNY instantly to Alipay users.

The Wise card is available for a one-time fee of just $9 when you open a Wise Account. This account also lets you send money to and from China with low and transparent fees.

Wise is a money service business, offering a multi-currency account, international money transfer services and a debit card.

Get a Wise Account today

Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing: Only Pay for What You Use for the most up-to-date pricing and fee information.

Top 5 list of Chinese payment apps

Now, what payment app is most used in China? Here’s our rundown of the most popular options:

1: Alipay

Alipay is by far the most popular Chinese mobile payment app, used by a huge 93% of customers.¹ Although, it’s worth bearing in mind that people tend to use more than one app on a daily basis.

Alipay is an eWallet app, which works similar to other mobile wallets like Apple Pay. You store your debit or credit card details, then make purchases in-store and online using just your phone.

You can also send and receive money through the AliPay app.

💡 Want to know more? Read our guides to how AliPay works for foreigners, and about the AliPay Tour Pass.

2: WeChat Pay

Another widely used payment app in China is WeChat Pay. It’s only just behind Alipay in terms of popularity, used by 86% of people.¹

WeChat Pay is a digital wallet service that has been integrated into instant messaging and social media platform WeChat. This perhaps explains its popularity, as millions of people already use WeChat everyday.

It works as a straightforward digital wallet, linked to your bank account. You can use it to make peer-to-peer transfers, pay for goods online and in-store wherever WeChat Pay is accepted.

3: UnionPay

Next up, UnionPay. This is an app developed by commercial banks, which aims to connect banks and services within the UnionPay network.

The app lets users easily link and manage bank accounts, along with accessing mobile payment services.

All you need to do is add your UnionPay bank card, then you can make in-app, online and in-store payments, either using QR codes or contactless NFC technology.

4: JD Pay

The JD Pay app was originally developed for shoppers on JD.com, one of the largest online retailers in China. It’s now used for cashless transactions on JD.com, third-party retailers and some real-world locations.

All you need to do is create a JD Pay account and credit or debit cards from UnionPay, Visa or Mastercard.

5: Tenpay

Lastly, we have Tenpay. The app was developed by Chinese tech giants Tencent, best known for developing WeChat and its ‘Pay’ function.

The Tenpay app is a digital wallet, designed for sending money and making contactless payments. It’s commonly used for online shopping, as Tenpay Express Checkout lets you check out in just a few seconds.

Bottom line

And there you have it - a quick rundown of the 5 most popular Chinese payment apps. They all work in a pretty similar way, with the exception of WeChat Pay which is integrated into a social networking platform. You download the app, link a payment method and then spend or send using just your phone.

Don’t forget though that you can also use your Wise card for convenient contactless spending in China. It automatically converts your USD to CNY at the mid-market exchange rate whenever you spend, for just a tiny fee.

Learn more about Wise

Frequently asked questions

What is the Chinese version of Venmo?

Alipay is perhaps the most similar to Venmo, which is one of the most popular payment apps in the US.

What is the Chinese online payment method?

WeChat Pay and Alipay dominate the online payment market in China used for both online shopping and contactless payments in stores.

How do I pay with my phone in China?

All you need to do is download a payment app or digital wallet, create an account and link a payment method (e.g. a bank account or debit card).

Then you can scan a QR code at the checkout, or tap where you see the contactless symbol - if the app supports NFC payments.

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Sources used for this article:

1. Statista - Most popular digital payment services in China

Sources checked on 19-Jul-2023.