How to set up Alipay & WeChat Pay — step by step

You'll want both: Alipay as your everyday payment app, WeChat Pay as the backup some vendors insist on. The setup is the fiddly part — this walks you through it before you fly, when you have time and signal.

The rule in one line Do the whole setup at home. Download, register, bind your card and verify — four steps per app — while you still have your home network and a friend nearby to help.

Illustrations, not screenshots The phone pictures on this page are simplified illustrations showing which button to tap, not the real app. Exact screens differ by version and country — follow the words, not the pixels.

Part 1 — Alipay

Step 1 · Download Alipay

Search "Alipay" in the App Store or Google Play. It's a free app by Ant Group. If your store shows a Chinese-only version, look for the international one with English support.

App StoreSearch

Alipay

支 Alipay
Ant Group GET

Step 2 · Register with your number

Open the app and sign up with your home phone number. Set the country code to your country — your own number is fine, it doesn't need to be Chinese.

Phone number

Password

Continue

Use your home number

Step 3 · Add your card

Go to Account → Add card and enter your Visa or Mastercard. You may be asked to complete real-name verification with your passport — this is normal and required for foreign cards.

Add a card

Card number

MM/YY

CVV

Add card

Visa · Mastercard

Step 4 · Verify & test

After your card binds, do a tiny test payment — even a small transfer confirms the whole chain works before you're standing at a counter abroad.

✓ Card added

Visa •••• 1234

Send a test payment

Done

Part 2 — WeChat Pay

Step 5 · Download WeChat

Search "WeChat" in the App Store or Google Play — it's the green messaging app by Tencent. You're installing it for payment, but it's also the messaging app everyone in China uses.

App StoreSearch

WeChat

微 WeChat
Tencent GET

Step 6 · Register

Sign up with your home phone number and set a password. WeChat may ask you to verify with an SMS code — have your phone handy.

Phone number

SMS code

Continue

Step 7 · Add a card

Go to Me → Services → Wallet → Cards → Add a card and enter your Visa or Mastercard. Complete the passport real-name verification if prompted.

Wallet → Add card

Card number

MM/YY

CVV

Add card

Step 8 · Verify — sometimes a friend helps

WeChat occasionally asks an existing user to scan a QR to confirm your identity. If it does, do it at home with a friend who already has WeChat — this is the step that catches people out at a counter abroad.

Verify account

Have a friend scan this code

▦ ▦ ▦
▦ ▦ ▦

Verified

Common pitfalls

Real-name verification is the biggest blocker — finish it at home, with your passport to hand.
Fees & limits — foreign cards are free on single transactions up to ¥200; above that you pay ~3% of the full amount, plus a daily cap. Check in-app before a big payment.
WeChat friend-scan — if prompted, you need an existing user. Ask before you fly.
Only one app accepted — some small vendors take only WeChat or only Alipay. Having both covers you.

When you're done

Both apps set up? Head back to the payment guide for how to actually use them day to day, or carry on with the full pre-arrival checklist.