Alipay vs Alipay+: What is the difference ?
Alipay introduced Alipay+ a few years ago, which has caused some confusion among merchants.
Many wonder what differentiates Alipay from Alipay+.
This article will clarify their key differences and explain why Alipay+ is a great opportunity for merchants.
What is Alipay?
Alipay is a popular e-wallet and mobile payment app. It’s used by 1.6 billion consumers, primarily in China.
Customers can use Alipay to make payments both online and in-store. It’s one of the most widely accepted digital wallets globally.
What is Alipay+?
Alipay+ is the latest launched payment solution designed for merchants by Alipay.
Instead of accepting a single e-wallet like Alipay in your business, Alipay+ enables businesses to accept 35+ e-wallets from different countries through one integration. No additional integration needed for each payment method. All is included in Alipay+!
In other words, for merchants, Alipay has become Alipay+.
Note💡: The good news for merchants is that with Silkpay, Alipay+ is offered at the same rate as Alipay. This means that you can reach 1.6 billion customers at a minimal cost.
Key features and benefits of Alipay+
1. Supported e-wallets in Alipay+:
Alipay+ helps merchants accept payments from multiple e-wallets such as:
Alipay (China) : The leading digital wallet in China.
GCash (Philippines) : A widely used mobile wallet for online and in-store payments.
Touch 'n Go (Malaysia) : A popular digital wallet in Malaysia.
GrabPay (Southeast Asia) : A payment solution used across multiple countries, including Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand.
KakaoPay (South Korea) : One of South Korea’s major mobile payment services.
TrueMoney (Thailand) : A preferred digital wallet in Thailand.
Dana (Indonesia) : A leading mobile payment app in Indonesia.
DOKU (Indonesia) : A local Indonesian e-wallet, with 4 million users.
ezlink (Singapore) : A Singapore-based e-wallet used for both transportation and retail payments, with 2.7 million users.
Naver Pay (South Korea) : One of South Korea’s major digital wallets, with 33.7 million users.
Toss (South Korea) – An innovative fintech and payment wallet in South Korea, with 30 million users.
TrueMoney (Thailand) – One of Thailand’s top e-wallets, with 50 million users.
Merchants only need one integration to start accepting payments from all Alipay+ partner wallets.
2. Cross-border payments :
Through Alipay+, merchants can accept payments from international tourists and global consumers.It is ideal for restaurants, retailers, luxury brands, hotels, e-commerce stores, and travel-related businesses.
3. Secure and efficient transactions :
A nearly nonexistent fraud rate ensures safe payments.
4. No additional setup for existing Alipay merchants :
If a merchant already accepts Alipay, Alipay+ is automatically included without extra fees (via Silkpay).
How does Alipay+ work in real-life scenarios?
Whether you run a physical boutique in Paris or an international e-commerce site, Alipay+ adapts to your business model.
On a smart POS Terminal ( PAX A920 Pro)
If you have a Silkpay smart POS, you have two ways to collect Alipay+ payments, depending on your preference or the customer’s preference:
The merchant scans the customer’s code:
the customer will show a code from their payment app for the merchant to scan. You don’t have to worry if you don’t speak their language. If the customer plans to pay this code, they will just show you their code to scan. Or, you can also show them the scan screen and they will directly understand and show their code to you because they are used to paying like this everyday.
You simply scan their QR code using the POS camera and it's done! The transaction is authorized in seconds.
The customer scans the merchant’s QR code:
the customer opens the native scan feature on their payment app, scans the code you generated in the POS terminal, confirms the payment on their app, and you get an instant "Success" notification on the terminal.
On the Silkpay app
Ideal for tour guides, pop-up stores, or floor staff who don't want to be tied to a counter. It is also a low budget solution for merchants who don’t want to spend money on hardware. They can just turn your smartphone or tablet into a payment terminal.
Silkpay app works exactly like the smart POS terminal mentioned above in this article. Merchants can choose between 2 payment options. They can scan the customer’s payment code or the customer scans their QR code generated in the app.
No extra hardware, no monthly rental fees.
Via a static QR code
Like the Silkpay app, this is also the lowest-cost way to start accepting 20+ Asian e-wallets included in Alipay+. Perfect for small cafes or souvenir shops looking for a "plug-and-play" solution.
You can display a printed Alipay+ QR code (provided by Silkpay) at your checkout.
The customer scans the printed code, manually enters the amount in their app, and shows you the "Payment successful" screen.
On E-commerce & PaybyLink
For businesses that sell online or take bookings via chat (WhatsApp, WeChat, Facebook, Instagram etc.) or email.
Silkpay provides Prestashop, WooCommerce plugins or API integrations. During checkout, your customers simply select their preferred Asian wallet, and complete the payment.
PaybyLink: Generate a payment link in your Silkpay dashboard and send it to the customer. They click the link on their phone or computer and pay instantly using their local wallet.
How to integrate Alipay+?
If you already have a Silkpay account
Good news! You don’t need to do anything.
Silkpay has automatically upgraded your integration from Alipay to Alipay+. It means you can already accept payments from multiple e-wallets at no extra cost.
The transaction rate remains the same as Alipay.
For more details, watch our tutorial on how to accept 16+ e-wallets via Alipay+.
No Silkpay account? Here’s what to do
To start accepting Alipay+ payments, you simply need to sign up for a Silkpay merchant account and choose alipay+ payment method in the process.
Silkpay will handle the integration and help you to accept payments from all Alipay+ e-wallets with a single setup.
Why integrate Alipay+?
Alipay+ is the solution merchants didn’t know they needed. 89% of our merchants who integrated Alipay+ solution with Silkpay declared to have seen their revenue grow significantly in a period of 3 months after integration.
Additionally, foot traffic from tourists all over Asia has increased in physical locations. All merchants need to do is to stick the Alipay+ sticker in their storefront and enjoy the benefits.
Alipay+ is a convenient payment integration. It helps businesses reach nearly 2 billion customers who use mobile wallets across different countries without needing multiple integrations.
Alipay+ offers a localized payment experience to foreign travelers and online shoppers.
What types of merchants are suitable for accepting Alipay+?
If your business falls into any of the following categories, Alipay+ is your key to unlocking a new level of growth:
1. Retail & Tourism :
Whether you manage a luxury boutique, a restaurant, a hotel, or a souvenir shop, and want to capture the high-spending power of tourists from China, South Korea, and Southeast Asia:
Smart POS (PAX A920Pro): accept 20+ e-wallets through a single integration.
Silkpay app: turn your smartphone or tablet into a mobile payment terminal for ultimate flexibility and no hardware cost.
Printed QR code: this is the simplest "scan-and-pay" solution, just display it at your counter and start collecting payments instantly.
2. E-commerce & online service providers :
We offer an Alipay+ online integration tailored for your platform:
API integration: embed payment functionality directly into your checkout page to minimize friction and boost conversion rates.
PaybyLink: no website development needed. Simply send a payment link via WhatsApp, email, or social media for instant payment.
3. Growth pioneers :
No matter the size of your business, if you want to join the 89% of our merchants who saw a significant revenue spike within just three months of integration, Alipay+ is tailor-made for your success.
Frequently asked questions about accepting Alipay+
+ How can we let our customers know that we accept Alipay+?
Active promotion is very important to attract international shoppers. Show Alipay+ and its partner wallet logos clearly at store entrances, checkouts, and windows so customers can see them as soon as they arrive.
At the same time, train staff so that all salespeople know the payment methods available in the store and can tell customers directly: “We accept Alipay, Kakao Pay, and other e-wallets.”
Online merchants should also clearly display the Alipay+ payment logo on official websites, e-commerce platforms, social media, and online booking pages to further enhance international customers' trust and willingness to pay.
If merchants want their store to appear on the Alipay+ homepage, Silkpay can also provide full support.
We not only help merchants set up a dedicated storefront on the Alipay platform but also assist them in distributing store coupons or discount vouchers to consumers through Alipay+.
This approach increases the store’s visibility on the platform, attracts more potential customers to visit, and connects online traffic with in-store sales, which maximizes both sales opportunities and brand impact.
+ How does the settlement work? Do I need a multi-currency account?
No, you don’t need any multi-currency accounts. When opening an account at Silkpay, you choose your main currency (the currency your sales are made in and the currency of your main bank account).
When an Asian tourist pays in your store, the Alipay+ system converts it at the real-time exchange rate at the moment of purchase and the customer pays you exactly the amount you display in your currency.
There is absolutely no exchange rate impact on the merchant. Silkpay then settles the funds to you in your bank account currency.
+ Does Alipay+ cost more than the standard Alipay?
No. With Silkpay, Alipay+ is offered at the same competitive rate as the original Alipay, but with 15x more customer reach.
Alipay+ onboarding guide
Joining the Alipay+ ecosystem via Silkpay is designed to be fast and friction-free, simply register in our 100% online process. Our team will then ensure everything is complete and meets the requirements.
Here is everything you need to know to get your account live:
1. The timeline
Generally, it takes 7 to 14 days. Once you submit your application through our process, our dedicated team takes over, manually reviewing your files to ensure a smooth approval with Alipay+.
Our devoted team will constantly stay in contact with you to verify all information promptly and speed up the account opening as much as possible.
2. Required documents checklist
To speed up your application, please have digital copies of these 6 documents ready:
Business License: proof of legal registration.
Articles of Association: to understand your business structure.
ID verification: valid passports of the legal representative and major shareholders.
Bank details: your company bank account information for settlements.
Proof of business: Your website/App URL or photos of your physical store (interior & exterior).
3. Security & compliance
We take your data seriously. Silkpay strictly adheres to international data protection standards. Your documents are handled with the highest level of confidentiality and are used solely for official Alipay+ registration and compliance.
Empower omnichannel payments with Alipay+ and Silkpay
Alipay+ will continue expanding by adding more e-wallets to its network. Soon, merchants will not only be able to accept payments from Asia-based e-wallets but also from European and global digital wallets.
By upgrading to Alipay+, merchants can future-proof their payment systems and cater to a diverse range of global customers.
Get Alipay+ with Silkpay today and take your business to another level!
About the author: Silkpay
Based in Paris, Silkpay provides omnichannel and secure payment solutions to help physical stores and e-commerce in Europe and the Americas accept more than 30 of the world's most popular payment methods: Visa, Mastercard, CB, UnionPay, Alipay+, WeChat Pay as well as Asia-Pacific’s major e-wallets.
Silkpay is a winner of the LVMH Innovation Award. The company was also selected as a finalist for the "Money 20/20" Best Startup and in the "MPE Berlin” Startup Awards. Silkpay also won the "Best Fintech" awards from Capgemini and BPCE.
Silkpay helps merchants deliver the smoothest payment experience to their customers. We are a talented and international team driven by a single goal: to improve the customer experience and make payments simple and secure.