If you’re looking to register an Alipay account without exposing your personal phone number, this article will guide you through a method for verifying Alipay without using one. Additionally, we’ll explore the unique features of the payment system and how to use the app both within China and internationally.

What is AliPay?

Alipay is the largest payment system in China and one of PayPal’s key global competitors. It is owned by Alibaba Group, China’s leading corporation.

In the past, Alipay primarily served foreign users by facilitating payments on platforms like AliExpress and Alibaba. However, in 2017, Alipay ended its contract with AliExpress and is no longer the guarantor for transactions between buyers and sellers on that site.

Since then, Alipay’s focus has shifted. The parent company decided to reposition Alipay as a platform aimed at providing Chinese tourists with a quick and easy way to make payments while traveling abroad. Although over 8 million merchants worldwide accept Alipay, only Chinese citizens can fully access its services. Full functionality requires proof of Chinese citizenship.

How to Use Alipay and How It Works?

How to Use Alipay? It’s a mobile app designed to make payments fast and simple through a digital wallet. You can either download the Alipay Wallet app on your smartphone or use the web version.

You can link your bank card to Alipay, or top up your wallet balance through services like Western Union, although a transaction fee, sometimes up to 1.2%, may apply. Despite this, the fee is still lower than PayPal’s.

When making a purchase online, simply choose Alipay as your payment method at checkout and confirm the transaction. The convenience lies in not having to enter your bank card details each time since they are securely stored in the system.

However, some challenges may arise. Users might occasionally experience a freeze on funds in their digital wallet, making it difficult to withdraw money.

For non-Chinese users, creating an Alipay account is still beneficial if you plan to visit China. Additionally, many Chinese restaurants and stores worldwide accept Alipay, allowing you to use the system outside China—for instance, when paying bills at Chinese restaurants or shopping in duty-free shops at airports. However, such businesses remain relatively few across the globe.

How to Use Alipay in China?

For users in China, Alipay offers the ability to make payments using QR codes, with two options available:

• The user generates a personal QR code within the app and presents it to the cashier, who scans it to complete the transaction.

• Customers can also generate and print a receipt containing a QR code at a checkout equipped with a special PIN pad. They can then scan this receipt using the app to make the payment.

In China, Alipay not only facilitates purchases in both physical and online stores but also provides additional functionalities that integrate various aspects of modern life.

To answer the question of how to use Alipay in China, here is a list of what Chinese users can do with the app:

• Purchase a tourist ticket.
• Buy train tickets.
• Order a taxi.
• Reserve a table at a café or restaurant.
• Purchase cinema tickets.

Moreover, for Chinese users, Alipay also functions as a social network where they can chat with friends, follow their posts, and split bills at restaurants. Users can also discover discounts and promotions from nearby stores. This extensive range of features has made registering for Alipay essential for many people in China.

Is Alipay Safe to Use?

What sets Alipay apart from other payment systems is its commitment to refunding users in the event of account hacks by scammers. 

The platform has a processing period of up to a month and a half for such refunds, ensuring that users receive their money back within five business days after they submit their reimbursement request.

Regarding user data security, it’s important to note that Alipay’s parent company, Alibaba Group, is actively pursuing innovative solutions, such as implementing facial payment confirmation. This advancement will significantly enhance user data security in the future.

To bolster biometric security for mobile payments, Alipay is collaborating with Chinese facial recognition startup Megvii and Huawei Technologies.

Features of Alipay Registration

While the Alipay registration process is generally straightforward, there are a few important points to keep in mind:

• If you register for Alipay as a Chinese citizen, you must provide a Chinese identity card; otherwise, you won’t have access to in-app functions.
• When registering for Alipay, your email address serves as the primary access key to your digital wallet.
• Additionally, you will need to provide a phone number for account verification.

How to Verify Your Alipay Account?

According to the platform’s terms, filling out a profile is not mandatory when creating an Alipay account. However, it is advisable to do so to minimize the risk of future account blocks. To complete your profile, follow these steps:

• Go to the “Me” tab, which is the rightmost option in the lower horizontal menu, and click on “Identity Verification” in the settings.
• Select your country from the list, then enter your identity card or foreign passport number, first name, and last name. After that, upload a photo of your identity card.
• A notification will appear stating that you need to complete your profile before using the service. Click the blue “Verify Now” button at the bottom of the screen.
• In the form that opens, fill in your name as it appears on your identity card, your date of birth, and then enter your ID number and the expiration date of the document.
• Finally, take a selfie to complete the verification process.

To expedite the Alipay registration and verification process, you can scan your ID to automatically fill out the form. This option is available only if your document has information written in Latin letters. Simply click the “Scan to Fill Automatically” button and scan the front page of your ID with your smartphone; the system will recognize the data automatically.

How to Use Alipay Without a Phone Number?

To receive SMS online and sign up for an Alipay account with a Brazil virtual number, follow these steps:

1. Go to PVAPins.com and create an account.

2.  Deposit funds into your PVApins account.

3.  Select the Brazil virtual number service Alipay.
4.  Copy the virtual number provided by PVAPins.
5.  Open Alipay and begin the registration process.
6.  When prompted for a phone number, paste the virtual number from    PVAPins.
7. Wait for the verification code to arrive at your virtual number.
8.  Return to PVAPins, refresh the page, and retrieve the verification code.
9.  Enter the code into Alipay to verify your number.