Updated October 16, 2026 · VaultCue Editorial Team
Alipay vs Cathay United digital accounts
Alipay
Higher score in this comparison
Cathay United digital accounts
Where Alipay and Cathay United digital accounts differ
| Compare | AlipayReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | Cathay United digital accountsReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Transfer fee | 3% over RMB 200 | Interbank transfer/remittance NTD 30 per item up to NTD 2,000,000, plus NTD 10 per each additional NTD 1,000,000; interbank card transfer NTD 0 for the first NTD 500 item per account per day, then NTD 10 (NTD 501-1,000), NTD 15 (above NTD 1,001) |
| Monthly fee | CN¥0 | Not confirmed |
| Currencies | 18 | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- Founded is lower at Cathay United digital accounts: 1975 vs 2004.
- Support channels: only Cathay United digital accounts offers Chat, Phone.
- Audience: only Alipay offers Travelers.
- Audience: only Cathay United digital accounts offers Expats.
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.
Cathay United digital accounts
The FAQ defines the digital deposit account as a Taiwan-dollar or foreign-currency demand savings account opened through an automated channel.
Score breakdown
| Area | Alipay | Cathay United digital accounts |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | 9.2Higher |
| Trust | 8.9 | 9.5Higher |
How they place
| Ranking | Alipay | Cathay United digital accounts |
|---|---|---|
| Money transfer services | 244 of 1564 | 831 of 1564 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Alipay | Cathay United digital accounts |
|---|---|---|
| Audience | Travelers | Expats |
| Pricing model | No monthly fee | Not confirmed |
| Features | Digital only | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | Alipay (Hangzhou) Technology Co. Ltd | Cathay United Bank Co., Ltd. |
| Headquarters | China | Taiwan |
| Founded | 2004 | 1975Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, PhoneCovers more |
Money transfer
| Fact | Alipay | Cathay United digital accounts |
|---|---|---|
| Delivery time | Within minutes (bank-to-wallet) | Not confirmed |
| Payout methods | Bank, WalletCovers more | Bank |
| Fee to send 1,000 | CN¥0 | NT$300 |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Alipay | Cathay United digital accounts | 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.
Cathay United digital accounts
Pros
- The FAQ defines the digital deposit account as a Taiwan-dollar or foreign-currency demand savings account opened through an automated channel.
- Applicants receive the review result by email and text message after submitting details.
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.
Cathay United digital accounts
Who it suits
- Taiwan applicants checking Cathay United digital deposit accounts
Country by country
| Country | Alipay | Cathay United digital accounts |
|---|---|---|
| Taiwan | No | Yes |
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
Cathay United digital accounts