Digital wallets · Payment methods
WeChat Pay for online stores: how to accept payments from Chinese shoppers
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WeChat Pay is the wallet inside the WeChat app, used by shoppers and travellers from China. On a desktop website the shopper scans a QR code with WeChat and approves the payment, seeing the amount in Chinese yuan. Stripe offers WeChat Pay to businesses in 22 countries for customers in China. Customers cannot file chargebacks, refunds can be made for 180 days, and recurring payments are only in private preview.
- Type
- Digital wallet inside WeChat, single-use
- Customer location
- China
- Business locations (Stripe)
- 22 countries: US, Canada, UK, 15 European countries, Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore
- Currencies
- CNY in every country, plus the account's local currency; shoppers see CNY
- Minimum
- 0.50 USD
- Refunds
- Within 180 days, full or partial; linked-card refunds take 2–5 extra days
- Disputes
- No chargebacks
- Recurring payments
- Private preview, off-session only
What PlatformDTC does
PlatformDTC checkout does not offer WeChat Pay today; a shopper from China can still check out by card (UnionPay included unless the store refuses it), with Apple Pay, or with PayPal when the store prices in a PayPal currency.
How a shopper pays with WeChat Pay
On a computer the shopper scans the QR code shown at checkout with WeChat and approves the payment in the app; the checkout page stays on the QR screen until the payment is confirmed. Inside a native mobile app, the store's app can open WeChat Pay directly. Stripe confirms successful payments immediately.
What it means for your store
Shoppers approve each payment in WeChat, so there is no chargeback process and money is never taken back from your balance for a dispute. Refunds requested on the day of the payment go out at once; later refunds go out in a daily batch at noon China time, and refunds to a linked card take 2–5 extra days. WeChat Pay refunds can't be cancelled.
- Your business must follow Stripe's restricted-business rules and WeChat Pay's own Proper Use Rules.
- For platforms on Stripe Connect, WeChat Pay on direct charges is in private preview.
- Stripe Checkout doesn't support WeChat Pay in subscription or setup mode.
Frequently asked questions
- Can WeChat Pay customers file chargebacks?
- No. Stripe says WeChat Pay doesn't support the standard dispute process. A customer who contacts WeChat Pay may be directed back to you to arrange a refund.
- How long do WeChat Pay refunds take?
- Same-day requests are processed immediately; later ones in a daily noon batch (UTC+8). Refunds to a linked card can take another 2–5 days to reach the shopper.
- Can I charge WeChat Pay for subscriptions?
- Not generally. Stripe lists recurring WeChat Pay as a private preview for off-session use only.
Sources
- WeChat Pay payments — Stripe
Related
- Alipay — Chinese wallet: shoppers from China pay by signing in or scanning a QR code with the Alipay app.
- Apple Pay — Apple's wallet: shoppers pay with a card saved on iPhone, iPad, Mac or Apple Watch.
- PayPal — Shoppers log in to PayPal and pay from their balance, a linked card or bank, or pay later.
- GrabPay — Grab's wallet for Malaysia and Singapore: shoppers pay from their GrabPay balance with a one-time password.
- Kakao Pay — South Korean wallet: Korean shoppers are redirected to approve the payment, priced in won.
- Naver Pay — South Korean wallet from Naver; shoppers can put Naver Pay points toward the purchase.
- Samsung Pay — Samsung's wallet, offered online by Stripe for South Korean shoppers paying in won.
- Shop Pay — Shopify's accelerated checkout: saved details for one-tap buying, tied to Shopify Payments.