Alipay - Simplify Your Life

• Free to download
• In-app purchases

Last verified 31 Jul 2026

2.9 4171 ratings · App Store

1. 4/5Tourist to China

   From my understanding, there were changes starting in July 2023 which is when I'm writing this to allow foreigners to use AliPay without a Chinese bank account and phone number. I just downloaded the app, added my credit card, validated ID with passport and all appears to work. Was a bit more automated and easier than WeChat. WeChat seems to have a manual ID review which rejected my initial attempt. I tried again but awaiting approval. I haven't paid for anything yet as I just set it up but assuming no issues, it was relatively easy. Only adjustment required is that some prompts were still in Chinese even in the international version but can fumble around or ask someone to help translate. It's a must in this new cashless society which is different than my visit about 7 years ago. Even trying to use international credit card directly often fails.

   CK Apple Reviews · 31 Jul 2026

2. 1/5Unusable

   I loaded this app as a suggested way to be able to pay in stores and restaurants in China that no longer accept US credit cards. It failed to allow any US cards to be added, saying “network error try again later.” Many of the selections and menu choices are in Chinese, even when English is selected as the language. Multiple times a White message box would open on the screen with two choices and the message all written in Chinese, forcing you to choose one of the buttons with no way to close the box without making a selection and no idea what you were choosing or potentially agreeing to or giving the app access to. Don’t install this if you can’t read Chinese. It’s worthless to a US traveler. I guess we’re back to the days of needing paper traveler’s checks in order to be able to get cash in Chinese currency. So ridiculous!

   Heathm98 · 31 Jul 2026

3. 1/5Operating Standards (especially for foreigners) dropping significantly

   Operating standards for non-Chinese citizens, has basically made AliPay unusable unless you’re a person living full-time with a Resident Card on the Chinese Mainland, or are a Chinese, HK, or Macau citizen. Taiwan… is even iffy. Weixin Pei is integrated into WeChat, and I see most people using that these days due to coupons and discounts that AliPay just doesn’t have enough of. They need to do some massive changing for tourists coming to China, or expand the network GLOBALLY and handle payment processing… but essentially, if not in China… then you’re gonna have some kind of weird errors, trouble paying, errors with authentication due to the The Great Firewall, and much more. It’s not… as user-friendly in my experience as setting up and using Weixin Pei. AliGroup, you need to get some rest and wake up with some new ideas.

   JaredHylton · 31 Jul 2026

4. 1/5Bad Design and Maintenance 烂啊！

   I downloaded it for my trip back to China. My download experience was already bad, I am not sure if it works. First, it blocked me first second after I entered my phone number saying “too many attempts”. What??? I just downloaded it the very first time! Then I want to key in my email address for notifications, error appeared. I tried later, the email option totally disappeared! I want to ask the same question: WHO THE HECK DESIGNED this crap? Will it really work??? I don’t know. An app related to money, this is absolutely not trustworthy. You better have a plan B if you are heading to China. I don’t have other options as I don’t own a Chinese SIM card which required for other payment methods (stupid! Isn’t it? Seems like China doesn’t need money support from the rest of the world)

   BB68668 · 31 Jul 2026

5. 1/5Frozen at 1st use

   Traveling in China and the App froze my account for payments the first time I tried to use it. The app is very clunky and there are no instructions for use. If you make any kind of mistake trying to learn how to use the app to make a payment, the account gets frozen. To unfreeze you must add several forms of ID - including an account statement for the card on file (who travels with an account statement???) - and wait several hours for the account to unfreeze. The only way for a foreigner to request help through the app is using a chat feature. I never received a response after my account was frozen - verification is still pending several hours later. I recommend WeChat instead. It worked for payments without any trouble.

   Hip zip5 · 31 Jul 2026

Privacy

Accessibility

No accessibility labels collected yet.