WeChat Pay guide in Malaysia - 2024
WeChat Pay is a handy payment function embedded in the popular WeChat social networking app. Up until recently, WeChat Pay Malaysia offered customers here enhanced functions compared to the standard WeChat Pay international service, including holding a balance and sending and receiving money gifts. Unfortunately, this service closed in September 2024. It’s not all bad news though - Malaysian customers can still use the international version of WeChat Pay to spend with a linked card.
This guide has all you need to know about signing up to WeChat Pay for foreigners, and how to use WeChat Pay without a Chinese bank card. And, because you can send money from here to people in China, to be deposited to their WeChat Pay accounts, using providers like Wise, we’ll also touch on that handy WeChat Pay feature, too.
What is WeChat Pay?
WeChat Pay is a payment platform and wallet integrated into the WeChat messaging app. In China, users can use WeChat Pay to send and receive money and monetary gifts, to scan and pay in stores, shop online and hold a balance.
If you’re a WeChat user in Malaysia and don’t have a Chinese phone number, you may not be able to access all the features and services available to users on the Chinese mainland. However, the options are increasing all the time, so WeChat Pay can still be a very handy tool to have on your phone.
What happened to WeChat Pay Malaysia?
Before we move on, it’s useful to note that WeChat Pay Malaysia’s ewallet service ceased operation on September 1 2024. Previously this allowed Malaysian customers to access additional services with WeChat Pay, including holding a balance and sending payments to others.
You can still use WeChat Pay in Malaysia now - but the features available are a bit more limited. You can use your Malaysian WeChat Pay account to pay for things if you travel to China, and Chinese WeChat Pay users can still use the app to pay in Malaysia where it’s supported.
How to use WeChat Pay
Malaysian customers can now use WeChat Pay linked to a Malaysian bank card, under the same terms that are extended to other customers using a card which is not issued in Mainland China. The primary use of the app now is for payments in China when you travel there, although some merchants in Malaysia may also accept WeChat Pay scan and pay payments..
WeChat Pay accounts linked to international bank cards don’t have the same functions as the options open previously under the WeChat Pay ewallet - so it’s worth double checking the functions before you start to use the system. Generally you can use WeChat Pay to make QR code payments in stores where the app is supported for payments - look out for the logo at the payment terminal.
How to set up WeChat Pay in Malaysia
You can open a WeChat account and then activate the WeChat Pay feature by adding a bank card. The broad process looks as follows:
Download or update your WeChat app to make sure you have the latest version
Register a new WeChat account, or sign in.
In the WeChat app, tap Me, then Services, then Wallet
Follow the prompts to enter your identity information and add a card to pay with
You’ll be asked to verify your identity which you can do with your Malaysian passport
How to activate WeChat Pay
You’ll need to upload an identity document to activate the WeChat Pay feature in the WeChat app. Assuming you don’t hold a Chinese Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card, you’ll need to upload an image of your Malaysian or foreign passport to complete this step.
How to transfer money with WeChat Pay
International users can not usually transfer money with WeChat Pay. The services available for people who are not residents of Mainland China are usually limited to making payments with a linked bank card.
How to transfer money from Malaysia, to WeChat Pay users in China
If you want to send money to someone in China with Wechat Pay, you can use Wise. Wise Weixin money transfers can be made to personal Weixin users who are Chinese citizens aged 18 - 65, with a Chinese National ID card, in 21 currencies. There are limits on how much can be received, so do check up all the details based on the currency you’re sending.
How to pay with WeChat Pay
Paying with WeChat Pay is easy once you have opened a WeChat account, activated WeChat Pay and linked a card to make payments with.
Use WeChat Pay for online payments
For online and in-app payments, just look out for the WeChat Pay logo at the checkout when it’s time to pay. Tap this option, and follow the prompts to complete the payment - the money is deducted from your linked card. Bear in mind that if you’re paying in a currency different to the card’s currency, fees may apply. More on that later.
Use WeChat Pay for in-store payments
Look out for the WeChat Pay logo in stores - usually on the board displaying various scan and pay QR codes. If WeChat Pay is accepted you can just scan the QR when it’s time to pay, and the transaction is deducted from your linked card.
Can I use WeChat Pay without a Chinese bank account?
Yes. It used to be the case that you could not use WeChat Pay without a Chinese bank account, ID and phone number. This changed in 2023, and now you can also add foreign bank cards - which means your Malaysian card can be linked to WeChat without needing a Chinese account or card.
WeChat Pay fees
You’ll be able to see the WeChat Pay fees which may apply once you’ve set up your account and linked a card. Usually, this is a 3% fee when you use a Malaysian card to make payments of over 200 CNY in value.
Bear in mind that even though WeChat may not charge for many simple transactions, you might pay card fees to your bank. So, as an example, if you add a Maybank card to WeChat Pay and then make a purchase in China, you’ll pay a foreign transaction fee of 2.25%. This fee is paid to Maybank and the card network, rather than to WeChat Pay, but it still pushes up the costs of using your card.
You might have better luck if you link your WeChat Pay to a multi-currency card which doesn’t use a foreign transaction fee. Wise, for example, offers a debit card which has no fee to spend a currency you hold in your account, and offers currency conversion from MYR to 40+ other currencies, from 0.33%.
Advantages and disadvantages of WeChat Pay
WeChat Pay has a few distinct advantages and drawbacks. But, its Malaysian services have become more limited recently, and it’s not an option everywhere. Here’s a quick roundup of some pros and cons.
Advantages
Scan and pay in stores wherever you see the WeChat Pay logo displayed
Makes paying when you travel to China very easy
No fees for low value transactions in the currency of your card
Disadvantages
Foreign transaction fees may apply if you use a Malaysian card overseas with WeChat Pay
WeChat Pay imposes their own fees on higher value transactions
Not as broadly accepted globally as or contactless payments using a card or wallet like Apple Pay
Alternatives to WeChat Pay
The right WeChat Pay alternative depends on the specific service you want to use.
You can’t now use WeChat Pay to send money to others - but if that’s the service you need, you may want to look at an alternative like Wise. With Wise you can send money from Malaysia to 160+ countries with the mid-market exchange rate and low fees from 0.33%. Plus you can also use Wise to send money to someone in China, if you want the payment to be received with Wechat Pay. Send money to Chinese citizens aged 18 - 65, with a Chinese National ID card, in 21 currencies. Bear in mind that there are limits on how much can be received, which may vary based on the currency you’re sending.
If you want a WeChat Pay alternative for spending in Mainland China you might want to take a look at AliPay. You can use Alipay in Malaysia with a Malaysian bank card, and you can also use it easily when you’re traveling to China. Alipay is even more popular in China than it is here in Malaysia, which makes this a good WeChat Pay alternative for payments on the go when you’re there.
What is the difference between Alipay vs WeChat Pay?
Both Alipay and WeChat Pay are popular payment options in China and internationally. There’s a lot of overlap in the services available if you’re not a Chinese resident, but they’re not exactly the same.
WeChat Pay is integrated into WeChat - so if you use weChat for messaging it may be the natural choice. However, the services offered in Malaysia have been recently limited and so you can no longer hold a balance and access some of the other functions which were previously available.
Alipay is a standalone payment app, which can also be used in Malaysia and internationally. The services available are fairly similar, but this is better known for online payments as it’s part of the Ant Group which is a giant in online sales and payment processing.
How to receive money with WeChat Pay
WeChat Pay is now only available on an international user basis. Previously there was a specific Malaysian WeChat ewallet which allowed the sending and receiving of monetary gifts. However this has been discontinued.
Usually international WeChat Pay users can’t receive money to their account. Accounts are only really meant for spending using a linked payment card.
WeChat Pay mobile app
Download WeChat as an Android app or an iOS app. WeChat is primarily a social network and messaging app - so you can easily connect with friends.
WeChat Pay limits
If you’re spending with WeChat Pay, there is a limit of 6,500 CNY for single transactions, a cumulative limit of 50,000 CNY for monthly transactions, and a cumulative limit of 65,000 CNY for yearly transactions.
Is WeChat Pay safe?
WeChat Pay is generally considered to be safe to use to make payments at home and abroad. As with any wallet or payment service you will have to take steps to keep your own account and details safe, but with common sense precautions you should be fine.
Conclusion: Using WeChat Pay in Malaysia
WeChat Pay is a Chinese payment service built into the popular WeChat messaging app. It’s very widely used in China and becoming more popular elsewhere in the region.
Previously, there was a Malaysian WeChat Pay ewallet, which offered enhanced functionality to Malaysian customers - this has been discontinued. Now, in Malaysia, you can use WeChat Pay with your local bank card to scan and pay with merchants at home, on your travels to China and other countries where it’s accepted.
WeChat isn’t your only payment option. For more flexibility and lower fees when you’re overseas, you may also want to consider a provider like Wise. You can order a Wise card to make contactless and wallet payments around the world, with no foreign transaction fee - and no need to worry about the WeChat Pay 3% fee for transactions over 200 CNY.
How to use WeChat Pay FAQs
Yes. You can add a Malaysian or other foreign bank card to WeChat Pay without needing a Chinese account.
To register a WeChat Pay account you must activate a WeChat account, open the wallet function, add a debit or credit card, and upload your ID to get verified.
Use WeChat Pay to scan and pay in stores, mainly in Mainland China, but also in Malaysia where the app is supported.