Updated October 16, 2026 · VaultCue Editorial Team
Alipay vs Ant Bank
Alipay
Higher score in this comparison
Ant Bank
What sets them apart
| Compare | AlipayReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | Ant BankReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | CN¥0 | Not confirmed |
| Currencies | 18 | Not confirmed |
| Transfer fee | 3% over RMB 200 | Not confirmed |
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Our verdict on each
Alipay
Alipay suits travellers who need to pay and send money in China and want a wallet with a monthly fee of CNY 0, taking an overall score of 7.3. Money is held free of charge, but transfers carry 3% over RMB 200 and support runs on email only.
Ant Bank
Ant Bank’s 2024 accounts describe Ant Bank (Hong Kong) Limited as incorporated and domiciled in Hong Kong.
Score breakdown
| Area | Alipay | Ant Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3Monthly fee of CNY 0 to hold the account, with transfers costed at 3% over RMB 200. | Not confirmed |
| Offer | 8.9Covers 18 currencies and pays out to a bank or a wallet from a digital only account. | Not confirmed |
| Trust | 8.9 | Not confirmed |
How they place
| Ranking | Alipay | Ant Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Money transfer services | 244 of 1564 | 544 of 1564 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Alipay | Ant Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Audience | Travelers | Not confirmed |
| Pricing model | No monthly fee | Not confirmed |
| Features | Digital only | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | Alipay (Hangzhou) Technology Co. Ltd | Ant Bank (Hong Kong) |
| Headquarters | China | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 2004 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Not confirmed |
Money transfer
| Fact | Alipay | Ant Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Delivery time | Within minutes (bank-to-wallet) | Not confirmed |
| Payout methods | Bank, Wallet | Not confirmed |
| Fee to send 1,000 | CN¥0 | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Alipay | Ant Bank | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Currencies | 18highest quarter | Not confirmed | 5 |
Median across 536 listed accounts.
Pros and cons
Alipay
Pros
- Monthly fee of CNY 0 puts it 1 of 500 brands on this measure.
- Currency reach of 18 sits above the 5 median for multi-currency accounts.
- Payouts reach a bank or a wallet, and bank-to-wallet remittances land within minutes.
Cons
- Transfer charges apply: the quoted transfer fee is 3% over RMB 200.
- Support runs on email only, so a blocked payment has to be chased in writing.
- Currency reach is mid table: 18 currencies ranks 62 of 379.
Who each suits
Alipay
Who it suits
- Travellers heading to China who want to pay and send money from a phone.
- Anyone who wants a wallet with a monthly fee of CNY 0 and 18 currencies.
- People already paying in China who also need to receive money from abroad.
Who should look elsewhere
- PayPal Colombia, if a wallet in US dollars suits you better than paying in renminbi, with a monthly fee of $0.
- Skrill, if you would rather hold euros in one account than carry 18 currencies.
- eToro, if you want everyday money on a trading platform, whose monthly fee is £0, rather than a payments wallet.
Ant Bank
Who it suits
- Readers checking Ant Bank’s incorporation and domicile as recorded in its 2024 accounts.
Questions about each
Alipay
Does Alipay charge a monthly fee?+
The monthly fee is CNY 0, so there is nothing to pay for keeping the account open. That puts Alipay alongside PayPal Colombia, Skrill and eToro, whose monthly fees are $0, €0 and £0.
What does it cost to send or top up money?+
Transfer pricing is where the cost sits. The quoted transfer fee is 3% over RMB 200, and the consumer side fee is CNY 0. Since the account costs nothing to hold, the amount you send matters more than how often you send it, and the threshold is worth checking before a large transfer.
How many currencies can I hold in Alipay?+
Alipay covers 18 currencies, above the 5 median for multi-currency accounts, though below the widest wallets on the site. It ranks 62 of 379 brands on this measure, so it is a working set rather than a full travel wallet.
Who runs Alipay and where is it based?+
The service is run by Alipay (Hangzhou) Technology Co. Ltd, founded in 2004 and headquartered in China. The account is digital only, so everything runs through the app and there is no branch to visit when a payment needs checking.
Other options to compare
Related by the facts
Alipay
Ant Bank