Known locally as 微信 or Weixin, WeChat is a social media app that’s become one of the most widely used in China. Because it’s governed by China’s strong censorship laws and messaging interception rules, the government can potentially review your messages and other data at any time. Given this, it’s no surprise that WeChat hasn’t yet caught on internationally. Additionally, President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January 2021, prohibiting transactions with companies behind eight Chinese apps, including WeChat Pay.
Can I use WeChat Wallet in the US?
Only if you have a bank account in China, Hong Kong, Malaysia or South Africa. It’s the only way to use WeChat Wallet in the US, but that might be impeded by the executive order signed by Trump.
WeChat Pay launched at the start of 2018, allowing tourists, expats and international students to pay at select stores in the States. See if your local grocery store participates by looking for the WeChat logo.
How do I request and send money with WeChat Wallet?
Follow these steps to request and send money with WeChat Wallet:
Download the WeChat app. Unlike PayPal and similar services, you must download an app on your phone or computer. You can’t access WeChat Wallet through a website.
Set up your WeChat account. Enter your phone number and subsequent verification code, complete your profile and create a password and ID for your account.
Activate WeChat Pay by getting someone to send money to you. To activate WeChat Pay for the first time, ask a friend or loved one to send you either a red envelope — also called a hongbao — or a small payment.
Add a credit card or Chinese bank account number. Enter your info and select your bank for verification through your mobile phone number. You may also need to add your ID or passport number.
Set up your transfer. Choose the Me icon at lower right and choose Wallet from the list of services. Select Transfer and the contact you’d like to transfer money to or request money from.
Indicate your transfer amount. Specify how much you’d like to send or receive, and add a note if you like. Choose Transfer again and enter your password to complete your transaction.
What happens when someone sends me money?
The money you’re sent on WeChat is automatically transferred into your WeChat Wallet — meaning you don’t accept or deny payment. Review your balance to manage how much money is in your WeChat account.
Are there restrictions for sending money with WeChat?
Yes. WeChat is not legally allowed to process international money transfers. Be aware that only wallets specific to the areas supported by WeChat — China, Hong Kong, Malaysia and South Africa — can send accessible money among one another.
Keep in mind that if you’re trying to send money from your wallet in China to someone in South Africa, WeChat will send the money, but now your recipient in South Africa will also have a Chinese wallet. Unless the user from South Africa heads to China, they can’t access the money.
Is sending money over WeChat Wallet safe?
WeChat encrypts your personal information, financial details and monetary transactions. However, WeChat doesn’t provide much information on other digital safeguards.
Because WeChat Wallet is based in China, it isn’t required to comply with American security standards. The Chinese government also monitors all social media devices, including WeChat. So it’s maybe safe from hackers, but your transaction isn’t private.
Pros
Free service. Unlike PayPal, which makes money by skimming a percentage of your transaction amount, WeChat’s developer Tencent makes money selling other products. WeChat Wallet is another way for Tencent to sell its products, but the service is free to use.
Cons
Limited service area. To use WeChat Wallet, your account must be registered in mainland China, South Africa or Hong Kong.
Potential for government prying. WeChat is governed by China’s laws that allow the government to monitor your messages and personal info.
No specified delivery. WeChat doesn’t advertise how long it takes for transfers to complete, which means you may need to look elsewhere for emergencies.
Compare other services that send money within the US
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Kelly Suzan Waggoner is editor-in-chief at Finder, where she works with a talented team of expert writers and editors focused on helping readers to save money, earn money and grow their wealth. She joined Finder in 2016 as an editor, germinating the site from money transfers to include the wide scope of personal finance.
Kelly has worked with publishers, magazines and nonprofits throughout New York City to develop best practices around editorial, SEO, plain language and accessibility, including Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, HauteLife Press and Queerty. She is quoted on such sites as Lifehacker and CertifiKid, and ghostwrote Copyediting and Proofreading for Dummies, published by Wiley.
Kelly earned a BA in English from Russell Sage College and a Poynter ACES Certificate in Editing from Poynter News University. She is trained in digital and website accessibility and plain language, and is a member of ACES: The Society for Editing and the Center for Plain Language. Between projects, she toys with words, flips through style guides and fantasizes about the serial comma’s world domination.
I see that this article and questions are a little bit dated and have a question. As a private school, we rely on donations from our parents and alums. One of our current parents sent us an email from China saying that he paid “a legal service fee to a US law firm through wechat pay channel”. We have many students from China and want to make it easy for them to make a donation. Can you tell me if things have changed with Wechat and the transfer of money from China to the US is now possible through Wechat? Thank you
As of this writing, we haven’t received any update on sending money via WeChat from China to the US. As per this page you’re looking at, you may use WeChat to message friends worldwide, but not its send/receive money facility in the US.
Hi am in the USA and is it possible to send money to someone in china via wechat if he has an account already with wechat and do i need to download and register Wechat also in the USA
No, it is not possible for you to send money to someone in China because WeChat is not legally allowed to process international money transfers. As of this time, WeChat supports wallets for China, Hong Kong and South Africa so sending money via WeChat is only possible between these countries.
If you want to send money to China, you may want to consider using online money transfer providers. They typically offer the strongest exchange rates and lowest fees on money transfers to China.
Hi, as there is any money limit that we can transfer from wechat wallet for an international student. I mean legally how much we can receive and send using wechat wallet per day, if yes then how much is legal?
Thanks for your inquiry. Please note that we are not affiliated with WeChat or any company we feature on our site and so we can only offer you general advice.
You can add a debit or a credit card in sending money with WeChat Wallet. You can try to enter a different card to check if it will also not accept it. Please contact WeChat support directly from their app to report the issue.
Hi, I’m a Filipino and currently working in Hong Kong and registered in WeChat wallet. If I will go home to the Philippines, can I still send money to Cebuana or Palawan?
If you are going back to the Philippines, you won’t be able to use the WeChat Wallet as it is specific to users registered in China, Hong Kong and South Africa. WeChat is not legally allowed to process International Money Transfers.
You may always inquire/ use the Money Transfer Agencies available within the Philippines if you are going to send funds locally.
I hope this helps.
Let us know if there is anything else that we may assist you with. Enjoy the rest of your day!
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I see that this article and questions are a little bit dated and have a question. As a private school, we rely on donations from our parents and alums. One of our current parents sent us an email from China saying that he paid “a legal service fee to a US law firm through wechat pay channel”. We have many students from China and want to make it easy for them to make a donation. Can you tell me if things have changed with Wechat and the transfer of money from China to the US is now possible through Wechat? Thank you
Hi Judy,
Thank you for getting in touch with Finder.
As of this writing, we haven’t received any update on sending money via WeChat from China to the US. As per this page you’re looking at, you may use WeChat to message friends worldwide, but not its send/receive money facility in the US.
I hope this helps.
Thank you and have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Jeni
Hi am in the USA and is it possible to send money to someone in china via wechat if he has an account already with wechat and do i need to download and register Wechat also in the USA
Hi Gloria,
Thanks for reaching out to Finder.
No, it is not possible for you to send money to someone in China because WeChat is not legally allowed to process international money transfers. As of this time, WeChat supports wallets for China, Hong Kong and South Africa so sending money via WeChat is only possible between these countries.
If you want to send money to China, you may want to consider using online money transfer providers. They typically offer the strongest exchange rates and lowest fees on money transfers to China.
I hope this helps.
Cheers,
Charisse
Hi, as there is any money limit that we can transfer from wechat wallet for an international student. I mean legally how much we can receive and send using wechat wallet per day, if yes then how much is legal?
Hi Gul
Thanks for contacting finder.
Wechat transfer limit per day is 200 RMB – 1000 RMB and only residents in China can send and receive funds through wechat.
Hope this clarifies!
Nikki
Why cant i link my wells fargo account with wechat?
Hi Art,
Thanks for your inquiry. Please note that we are not affiliated with WeChat or any company we feature on our site and so we can only offer you general advice.
You can add a debit or a credit card in sending money with WeChat Wallet. You can try to enter a different card to check if it will also not accept it. Please contact WeChat support directly from their app to report the issue.
Best regards,
Rench
Hi, I’m a Filipino and currently working in Hong Kong and registered in WeChat wallet. If I will go home to the Philippines, can I still send money to Cebuana or Palawan?
Hi Marikit,
Thank you for visiting finder.
If you are going back to the Philippines, you won’t be able to use the WeChat Wallet as it is specific to users registered in China, Hong Kong and South Africa. WeChat is not legally allowed to process International Money Transfers.
You may always inquire/ use the Money Transfer Agencies available within the Philippines if you are going to send funds locally.
I hope this helps.
Let us know if there is anything else that we may assist you with. Enjoy the rest of your day!
Cheers,
Ash