Bottom line: install both, link the same international card
Both Alipay and WeChat Pay work for foreigners in China, and you can link the same overseas card to both (Visa / Mastercard / JCB / Discover / Diners; WeChat Pay also supports American Express and UnionPay International).
For scanning to pay, the two are nearly interchangeable — most mainland merchants accept both QR codes — so the easiest approach is to install both apps and link the same card.
The real difference is not "can I pay" but "what can I do after paying": a foreign-card account cannot send red packets, transfer money, invest, or withdraw cash. To use them like a local, you ultimately need a Chinese bank account (Class I) to unlock those features.
How to link an international card (passport verification)
Both apps let overseas users verify with a passport and then link an overseas bank card — no Chinese bank account required first.
General flow: download the app → choose the "overseas user / international" entry → verify with a passport photo → add your international card (enter the number and complete the issuer verification) → set a payment password.
After verification you get a "foreign-card account" that can scan to pay, but as noted, red packets / transfers / cash withdrawal stay locked until you open a Chinese bank account.
How the fees work (roughly the same on both)
Standard rule: transactions of RMB 200 or less per transaction are fee-free; amounts above RMB 200 are charged about 3% on the full amount (note: on the full amount, not just the excess).
In addition, your card issuer may add a 1%–3% currency conversion fee, so real cost can reach 4%–6%.
Both platforms occasionally run fee-waiver promotions for newly registered foreign users (e.g., limited-time zero fees). Check the app for the current offer — do not assume it is permanent.
Limits: check inside the app
WeChat Pay's official foreign-card limits are roughly RMB 6,000 per transaction, RMB 50,000 per month, RMB 60,000 per year; regulators also frame overseas cards around roughly USD 5,000 per transaction and USD 50,000 per year.
Alipay's limits are similar but the exact numbers shift with risk controls and promotions — always rely on the limit shown in your own app's help page.
Limits are dynamic and personal; do not treat someone else's screenshot as your quota.
What a foreign-card account cannot do (important)
This is the easiest trap: an account opened with a passport plus international card can only spend — it cannot send red packets, transfer to others, buy wealth-management / funds, or withdraw from an ATM.
To unlock these, you must open a Chinese bank account (usually Class I) and bind it to the wallet. That is why we stress: e-wallets solve "pay right now", a bank account solves "use fully".
For short trips with no cash withdrawal or transfers, a foreign-card account is enough; for long stays, work, or business, open a bank account early.
Which should you pick? Our suggestion
Do not choose one — install both and link the same card; merchants accept both QR codes, so use whichever currently has a fee waiver.
If you rely on WeChat social ecosystem (group payments, mini-programs), WeChat is more convenient — but remember a foreign-card account still cannot transfer or send red packets there.
If you care more about broad coverage of supermarkets, ride-hailing, and bill payment, Alipay merchant network is usually wider.
To go further on "can foreigners open a Chinese bank account, and what if refused", eligibility comparison and the related bank pages.
FAQ
Can foreigners use Alipay and WeChat Pay without a Chinese bank card?
Yes. Verify with a passport and link an overseas Visa/Mastercard etc. to scan and pay — no Chinese bank account needed first.
How much are the fees?
RMB 200 or less per transaction is free; above that about 3% on the full amount, plus possibly 1%–3% currency conversion from your issuer. Both sometimes waive fees for new users — check the app.
Can I send red packets, transfer, or withdraw cash?
Not with a foreign-card account. Those features unlock only after you open a Chinese bank account (Class I) and bind it to the wallet.
What are the limits?
WeChat official foreign-card limits are roughly RMB 6,000/transaction, RMB 50,000/month, RMB 60,000/year; the overseas-card framework is about USD 5,000/transaction, USD 50,000/year. Rely on your app's display.
Do I need a mainland China phone number?
Registration usually needs a number that can receive a verification code; some platforms support an overseas number plus passport — check the app sign-up page.
Alipay or WeChat Pay — which is better for foreigners?
Install both and link the same international card. Merchants accept both; pick whichever has a fee waiver. WeChat for social, Alipay for broader everyday coverage.
Can I use Apple Pay / Google Pay to scan in mainland China?
You can add the overseas card to your phone wallet, but mainland merchants QR payments run on Alipay/WeChat QR system; the phone wallet cannot directly scan a merchant Alipay/WeChat code.
