Can you link PayPal to Alipay? (2023 money transfer guide)

In this article, we’re taking a look at whether you can link PayPal to Alipay, to use as a payment method instead of your credit or debit card.

We’ll also quickly look at an alternative for spending in Chinese Yuan (CNY) during your trip, such as Wise.

Plus, with a Wise Account, you can also send CNY directly to Alipay users, and you may end up saving money. But more on this, later.

Register a Wise Account today

Is it possible to link PayPal to Alipay?

Alipay only accepts credit or debit cards² in order to top up your mobile wallet.

So, unfortunately, this means you can’t link PayPal to Alipay and use that to fund your purchases. This is likely because they’re both mobile wallets offering very similar features, so you’ll need to choose one or the other.

If you want to use PayPal for a purchase, you’ll need to use a PayPal issued debit card or add it to a mobile wallet that accepts PayPal.

How does Alipay work?

Alipay is one of the most popular mobile payment apps in China, just like services like Venmo and PayPal here in the US. It’s also become available for tourists visiting China, who can use Alipay’s 90-day Tour Pass to spend during their trip.

It is a mobile wallet you can use for both in-person and online payments.

Once you’ve downloaded the app to your phone, you can save your debit or credit card details there. This effectively enables you to use your phone as a payment method, instead of a physical bank card.

You can use the Alipay mobile wallet app to pay for goods in store. There are a couple of ways to do this. The first is to scan the merchant’s QR code and enter the payment amount, or the merchant can scan the payment code on your phone to collect the payment².

Is Alipay available outside China?

It’s useful to know that some retailers in countries outside of China, including the US, do accept Alipay as a payment method³.

Alipay is also an option for online payments. If the merchant accepts Alipay as a payment method, all you need to do is select it at checkout.

The app is available to Chinese nationals with a Chinese bank account, but non-nationals can also use the specialist 90-day Tour Pass³. This allows you to preload funds for your trip, so you can spend more easily in Chinese Yuan during trips to China. Handily, the app is also available in English.

Wise - a convenient, low-cost way to spend in Chinese Yuan

If you’re looking for a convenient, affordable alternative to mobile wallets like Alipay for spending in China, check out Wise.

With a Wise Account, you can send Chinese Yuan directly to Alipay users with low, and transparent fees¹ – you may end up saving money compared to other providers.

Plus, For a one-time fee¹, get the Wise Card, and you can spend in Chinese Yuan (CNf) from the moment you land in China. This clever card automatically converts USD to CNY at the mid-market exchange rate whenever you spend or withdraw cash.

See how much you can save with Wise:

After reading this guide, you should have a better idea of how Alipay works, and the payment methods you can use to fund your purchases.

Unfortunately, this doesn’t include PayPal. So if you want to use Alipay in China, you’ll need to link it to your credit or debit card.

You may not be able to link PayPal to Alipay, but of course you can always use the PayPal app or a PayPal-issued debit card if you want to. And remember that there are lots of other ways to spend in China as a tourist, including the Wise Card.

Learn more about the Wise Card

Sources used for this article: