How to Transfer Money from Alipay to PayPal?

Alipay and PayPal are two of the most well-known third-party mobile and online payment platforms in the world. Alipay meets the payment needs of the majority of users, living in China, including foreigners, in all money transaction scenarios in China. The global payment giant PayPal, on the other hand, is a popular payment tool for international payments worldwide. Expats who frequently shop abroad whilst in China might need to top up their Alipay balance. But is it possible to transfer money between Alipay and PayPal accounts? Today, we'll examine the answer, and guide you on how to send money from Alipay to PayPal as quickly as possible.

Transferring money between accounts is a very common operation for foreigners in various countries, including China, which is why Wise is loved by more than 16 million people around the world. In order to enable users to transfer money cheaper and easier, and without borders, Wise provides a variety of services, available online and on its app. Use a Wise multi-currency account to convert and hold different currencies, and send money out of China at any time.

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Table of contents

How to transfer money from Alipay to PayPal? Alipay international money transfer limits and regulations Can I use Alipay international transfer without a Chinese bank card? The easy way to transfer money between Alipay and PayPal Step by step guide on how to add money to PayPal using Wise Why Wise is better than Alipay when sending money internationally? Learn about Wise: an international money transfer app to send money to over 160 countries including China!

How to transfer money from Alipay to PayPal?

Firstly, unfortunately, you are not able to send money from Alipay to PayPal directly.

PayPal and Alipay are two different payment methods from two different countries. They are companies that provide online payment services, they are not banks or financial institutions. Additionally, while PayPal currently supports 20 currencies, including USD, EUR, AUD, CAD, GBP, HKD, JPY, SGD, BRL, etc, for payment uses¹. CNY, or Chinese Yuan Renminbi, is excluded.

It's also important to note that Alipay international transfers supports only international remittance to China from abroad. And only Chinese users can take advantage of this service². This means you can’t send money out of China using Alipay.

So the facts are Alipay and PayPal are unable to exchange money or top one another up. Still, there are ways to transfer money from Alipay to Paypal indirectly.

Here’s how you can do it:

1. Link your Alipay account with a Visa or Mastercard Debit Card.
2. Withdraw money from Alipay balance to your Visa or Mastercard Debit Card.
3. Add money to your PayPal balance from that debit card³.

If you don’t have a Visa or Mastercard Debit Card, you can withdraw funds from Alipay to your bank account linked to Alipay, make a wire transfer to your bank overseas, and then add money to your PayPal balance from your bank³. However, this is more complicated, and takes a lot more time.

Alipay international money transfer limits and regulations

Two things to consider.

Firstly, there’s no direct way to send money out of China via Alipay.

Secondly, for Alipay international transfer to China from abroad, since Alipay uses the third-party remittance platforms (mini-apps within Alipay App), such as Western Union, Wise, and WorldRemit, to conduct an international transfer, the regulations and limits vary depending on the remittance platform you choose⁴. So take your time to search for accurate information and make a thorough comparison before you make a choice.

Can I use Alipay international transfer without a Chinese bank card?

To send money internationally from abroad to China using Alipay, via a third-party remittance platform, you don’t need a Chinese bank card. To collect the money you receive, China UnionPay banks and some international cards are supported. Here’s a list of a few of them:

• VISA
• Mastercard
• Bank of China
• Bank of Communications
• Industrial and Commercial Bank of China
• China Merchants Bank
• Diners Club International
• China Everbright Bank
• JAB cards

The easy way to transfer money between Alipay and PayPal

You can link a Visa / Mastercard debit card or a bank account to Alipay, to withdraw money from your Alipay account, and then transfer it to your PayPal account. But Why go through all this trouble? An easier way to transfer money between Alipay and PayPal is opening a Wise account.

Add funds to your Wise US dollar account, then use your Wise US balance to top up your PayPal in USD dollars directly, and for free. Better yet, you can use a Wise multi-account to switch USD dollars to the foreign currency you require and use your Wise debit card to make purchases like a local. This is incredibly handy for when you travel to new places.

If you are an expat in China, who wants to send CNY money out of China to your overseas bank account, you could be better off with Wise. As we discussed earlier, there is no direct way to move funds from China via Alipay. But Wise has the perfect solution of sending your Chinese RMB income abroad. For each transaction, you can send up to 100,000 in RMB out of China. You also have the option of sending RMB to your Wise account or an overseas bank account.

Read more about sending money to and from China with Wise

Step by step guide on how to add money to PayPal using Wise

Firstly, add money to your Wise account.

1. Register a Wise account online or using the Wise app.
2. Open a Wise US account balance.
3. Add money to your US balance.

Then, add money to your PayPal account.

1. Log into PayPal website or in-app
2. Access your “Wallet”.
3. Select “Link a card or bank”, and click “Link a bank account” (in the app just click “Banks”)
4. Conduct a quick search or simply select your Wise bank from the list.

Please note: If Wise is not listed, you can still link your Wise card to PayPal by manually entering your bank account details and completing the simple verification process.

Why Wise is better than Alipay when sending money internationally?

• First and foremost, Alipay doesn’t support sending money out of China, but now this can be easily done with Wise.
• Chinese Yuan can be sent out of China to +160 countries and regions.
• When transferring money internationally, Wise uses the mid-market rate for 70+ countries. The commission charges are lower than using traditional banks.
• Wise supports 40+ currencies. Receive and convert Pounds, Euro, Canadian dollars, Australian dollars, etc.

Learn about Wise: an international money transfer app to send money to over 160 countries including China!

Wise is more than just your international money transfer tool -- it’s like a safe and reliable electronic global bank that gives you total control over how you handle your money. Since it was founded in 2011, Wise has been used and trusted by more than 16 million people worldwide. Send and receive funds internationally quickly and cheaply, pay bills like locals in 150+ with your Wise debit card, and convert many currencies whenever you wish, all done conveniently with your Wise account.

Become one of the millions of Wise users and open your Wise account today. It is fully functional online or via the Wise app, so you can enjoy all the benefits at your fingertips. Forget about the physical banks, and the long queues or tedious.

For expats in China, not only can you top up your PayPal balance with Wise, but also you can send Chinese Yuan directly to Alipay, WeChat Pay, or Unionpay bank cards. In this way, you can function fully and fit perfectly in a foreign country like China, and your life abroad will be convenient and easy.

*This service is provided in partnership with a licensed third party payment provider in China.

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Source：

1. PayPal: PayPal Supported Currencies
2. Alipay Render: Global Remittance Tutorials
3. PayPal: How do I add money to my PayPal balance from my bank?
4. Alipay: Cross-border remittance