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Alipay is China’s best-known digital wallet and payments app, created in 2004 and now operated under Ant Group. In everyday use, Alipay is both a payment tool (QR and contactless) and a super-app platform that supports shopping, travel, bill pay, and a wide range of in-app services.
Because Ant Group is privately held and doesn’t publish the same standardized “financial statements + KPIs” you’d see from a public U.S. company, the most reliable way to update Alipay is to focus on metrics Ant repeatedly discloses and updates: user scale, merchant scale, and ecosystem adoption (including newer experiences like Tap-to-Pay-style flows).
Alipay by the Numbers (2026)
What is Alipay? Alipay is a digital wallet and payments platform operated by Ant Group, used for online and offline purchases, transfers, travel, and everyday services.
- Users: 1.3 billion users (reported figure used by Ant Group in 2024-era materials)
- Merchants / businesses connected: 80+ million businesses (as stated in Ant Group communications)
- International visitor momentum: international users of Ant’s mobile payment services in China quadrupled over 6 months in 2024
- Newer contactless experience: Alipay Tap! passed 100 million users (reported 2025)
Sources:
Ant Group (Alipay origins / scale) |
Ant Group press release (platform scale language) |
International user growth (2024) |
Tap! users (2025)
Key Alipay Metrics Table
| Metric | Figure | Year / Timing | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alipay users | 1.3B | 2024-era disclosed figure | Ant Group (home) |
| Businesses / merchants connected on Alipay platform | 80+ million | 2024 press materials language | Ant Group press release |
| International visitors using Ant mobile payment in China | Quadrupled over 6 months | 2024 | Business Wire (Ant Group announcement) |
| Alipay Tap! users | 100+ million | 2025 | Business Wire (Tap! milestone) |
What Alipay Is Used For
Alipay started as an online payments tool and evolved into an everyday wallet used for both digital and in-person purchases. Today, the platform commonly supports:
- In-store payments via QR codes and contactless experiences
- Online checkout across merchants and marketplaces
- Transfers and bill pay
- Travel and lifestyle services inside the app (booking, local services, etc.)
International Use: Alipay vs. Alipay+
People often use “Alipay” as a catch-all for Ant’s cross-border payments. In practice, Ant also operates Alipay+, a separate cross-border wallet network that helps international visitors pay more easily in China and helps Chinese users pay abroad through partner acceptance.
In 2024, Ant Group said international visitors using its mobile payment services in China quadrupled over a six-month period—signaling a renewed push for smoother inbound payments. Source
Historical Milestones (Year-Labeled)
- 2004: Alipay launched (Ant Group roots)
- 2017 Singles’ Day: 1.5B Alipay transactions reported during the event
- 2017 Singles’ Day peak: 256,000 payment transactions per second reported
Sources:
TechCrunch (2017 Singles’ Day transactions) |
Tech in Asia (2017 peak TPS)
FAQ
How many users does Alipay have?
Ant Group has cited 1.3 billion Alipay users worldwide in 2024-era materials. Source
How many merchants accept Alipay?
Ant Group communications commonly describe the Alipay platform as connecting 80+ million businesses with 1+ billion consumers. Source
Is Alipay available outside China?
Alipay is used primarily in China, but it can be used internationally through cross-border acceptance and Ant’s partner ecosystem. Ant has also expanded inbound payment options for international visitors paying in China through broader wallet interoperability initiatives. Source
What is Alipay+?
Alipay+ is Ant’s cross-border wallet network that enables users of partner wallets to pay at participating merchants without needing to switch to a local payment method. (It’s often mentioned alongside Alipay but is not identical to the Alipay app.)
What is Alipay Tap!?
Alipay Tap! is a newer “tap-to-pay” style experience intended to simplify payments compared to scan-and-pay. Reported coverage states Tap! passed 100 million users in 2025. Source
