What's Alipay? Your guide to money transfers to China with Alipay

Sending money to China shouldn't be a struggle involving complex bank details or high fees. Whether you’re supporting family or settling bills abroad, Revolut has made international payments to China much simpler.

With us, you can send money directly to an Alipay ID in just a few taps. We've partnered with Ant International to provide a fast, protected, and clear way to move your money across borders.

Sign up for Revolut to start sending money to Alipay today, or read on to learn how it works.

Remittance fees, fair usage limits, and T&Cs apply.

The information provided is accurate as of 20 January 2026.

The content of this page is for general information purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. If you have any questions about your personal circumstances, please seek professional and independent advice. Revolut is not a financial adviser.

What's an Alipay transfer and how does it work? A quick walk-through

Alipay is China’s most popular payment app, used by over a billion people. While it's a digital wallet for those living in China, for Revolut customers, it's a very efficient transfer method.

Instead of needing a recipient's account number, IBAN, or SWIFT code, you only need their Alipay ID (usually their phone number or email) and their name. We then route your money through Alipay’s network, often arriving in seconds.

Important note: Australian customers with a cryptocurrency transaction history can't send money with Alipay.

What's Alipay?

Alipay is a super-app developed by the Ant Group. While it started as a simple payment service for online shopping on Alibaba, it's since evolved into a comprehensive financial ecosystem. In mainland China, digital wallets have largely replaced traditional transfers for everyday life.

In the past, sending money to China was often slow and expensive, involving multiple intermediary institutions. By integrating Alipay directly into the Revolut app, we’ve removed those hurdles.

You can now send Chinese yuan (CNY) from your Revolut account directly to your recipient's digital wallet.

How do Alipay transfers work?

When you send money via Alipay, you're tapping into a modern, high-speed payment network. Here’s how the process works behind the scenes:

• Identification: you enter the recipient’s Alipay ID. This is usually the mobile number or email address they used to sign up for Alipay.
• Conversion: we convert Australian dollars (AUD) into Chinese yuan (CNY) using our competitive exchange rates. Fair usage limits and weekend fees may apply, depending on your plan.
• Routing: the payment is sent through Ant International’s global infrastructure.
• Settlement: the money's credited directly to the recipient’s Alipay wallet balance.

Because the system is designed for mobile-first payments, it avoids the long chain of intermediaries that traditional SWIFT transfers usually follow. This makes it one of the fastest ways to get money to China.

How to send money to Alipay with Revolut

We've built the transfer process directly into our Payments screen. You don't need to leave our app or open an Alipay account yourself to send money.

Step-by-step: sending your first transfer to China

To get started, follow these steps in-app:

1. If you’re not a customer yet, download our app and open your account in a matter of minutes
2. Go to Payments on the bottom menu
3. Tap the + New button in the top-right corner, then tap Send international
4. Choose China as the destination country
5. Enter the amount you want to send in AUD or CNY
6. Select Alipay as your delivery method
7. Enter the recipient’s Alipay ID (phone or email) and their full legal name
8. Review the exchange rate and applicable fees, then tap Send

Why choose Alipay for transfers to China?

Using Alipay for your money transfers offers several advantages over traditional transfers:

• Simplicity: you don't need to ask your recipient for their bank's branch name, address, or sort code
• Accessibility: almost everyone in China has an Alipay account, making it easier for them to receive and use the money
• Transparency: you'll see the exact amount your recipient gets and the estimated arrival time before you hit Send
• Availability: the network operates 24/7, so you can send money on weekends or public holidays without waiting for banks to open

Transfer limits and regulations

To protect your money and comply with international regulations, there are some limits on Alipay transfers:

• Per transaction: the maximum value for a single payment is CNY 50,000
• Monthly limit: you can typically send up to 5 individual payments within a 30–day period
• Annual limit: you can send up to CNY 500,000 in total over a 365-day period

Detailed transfer limits and requirements are set by our partner, Ant International, to comply with local regulations.

Keep in mind that your Revolut plan’s fair usage limits and weekend fees still apply.

For larger transfers, we may ask for additional information or security checks to ensure the payment is legitimate and your money stays protected.

How long does an Alipay transfer take?

In most cases, these transfers take seconds to complete. The recipient will usually receive a notification from their Alipay app within seconds of you tapping Send.

However, delays can occasionally happen due to:

• Verification: if it's the first time the recipient is receiving an international transfer, Alipay may ask them to authorise the payment in their app.
• Security checks: our sophisticated systems monitor every transfer. If something looks unusual, we might pause the payment to double-check with you.
• Recipient status: the recipient must have a verified Alipay account with a linked Chinese bank card to receive the money.

Alipay vs traditional transfers

If you're wondering whether to send a standard transfer or use Alipay, here's how they compare for China:

Staying safe when sending money to China with Alipay

Security is at the heart of everything we do. When you send money to China, we use several layers of protection:

• Two-factor authentication: you'll need to authorise the transfer in-app using your biometrics or passcode
• Anti-fraud system: our AI-driven technology monitors for suspicious activity 24/7
• Confirmation of Payee: we'll show you the details clearly before you commit, helping you avoid mistakes

Avoiding transfer scams on Alipay

Always be sure you know exactly who you're sending money to.

• Never send money to strangers: even if they claim it's for an emergency or a tax fee
• Check the ID: double-check the Alipay ID with your recipient via a secure message or call before sending
• Watch for upgrade scams: we'll never ask you to pay a fee to upgrade your transfer speed outside our standard plan pricing

How much does an Alipay transfer cost?

We're clear about our fees. The total cost consists of the exchange rate and a small transfer fee. Let's break it down:

• Exchange rates: we use our Revolut competitive exchange rate, set in real-time when you’re preparing your transfer. On weekends, a small mark-up may apply, depending on your plan.
• Transfer fees: your fee depends on your Revolut plan. Premium, Metal, and Ultra customers get discounts or even fee-free international transfers. Paid Plan Terms apply.
• No intermediary fees: because we use a direct partnership, you won't be charged an unexpected intermediary fee.

Remittance fees, fair usage limits, and weekend fees may apply, depending on your plan.

Join Revolut and start sending to China with Alipay

Ready to experience a fast way to send money? Here's how to join the millions of people who use our app:

1. Download our app, sign up, and verify your identity in minutes
2. Add money to your account from your local bank or via a debit card
3. Follow the steps mentioned above to start your first Alipay transfer
4. Track your payment in real-time until it reaches your recipient