How China wallets crush cards in 2025 payments race

Alipay reached 85% of surveyed users whilst WeChat Pay stood at 73%.

Digital wallets continued to dominate payments in China in 2025, accounting for 89% of online transactions and 87% of point-of-sale (POS) value.

Chinese consumers remain the largest users of digital wallets globally, with Alipay and WeChat Pay leading the market. The two platforms were cited by 85% and 73% of surveyed consumers, respectively, according to the Global Payments Report 2026 by Worldpay.

Their continued growth is supported by the range of payment options they offer within a single platform, including cards, bank transfers and instalment plans.

The widespread use of digital wallets has also extended beyond China. Consumers are increasingly able to use their domestic wallets whilst travelling, as acceptance expands across Asia-Pacific and other regions. 

Alipay+ enables users in 14 markets to pay abroad using their home wallets and banking apps. 

The platform connects around 100 million merchants and 1.8 billion users globally, creating a broad international acceptance network.

Direct card usage in China remains limited. In 2025, cards used outside digital wallets accounted for just 7% of both e-commerce and POS transaction value. 

Most card payments are made through wallet platforms rather than directly.

China UnionPay continues to dominate the domestic card market. 

At the same time, international operators such as Visa and Mastercard are present through partnerships with Alipay and WeChat Pay, allowing foreign travellers to make payments within China.