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TenPayGo: WeChat Pay Without WeChat, for Visitors

Guide
Sep 24, 2026
A man pays at a drinks vending machine in Shenzhen by scanning its WeChat Pay code with his phone

TenPayGo is WeChat Pay without the WeChat. The WeChat Pay team built it as a separate app for short-term visitors, and it went fully public on 24 September 2026, just before the APEC leaders’ week in Shenzhen (Deng, 2026). You sign up with an email address. There is no phone number and no Chinese bank account. Then you link a foreign card, a home e-wallet or Apple Pay, and pay at the same shops that take WeChat Pay. That sounds almost too simple, so this guide covers what it does, what it doesn’t, and whether it should replace WeChat on your phone. Short answer: probably not. It works best alongside it.

What TenPayGo Actually Is

Think of it as a thin wallet sitting on top of WeChat Pay’s merchant network. The listing on the App Store names Tencent Technology (Shenzhen) as the developer. It first appeared there in June 2026 as an internal beta (TechNode, 2026). Now it is the official “new option” for foreign visitors, according to WeChat Pay’s own launch post (WeChat Pay, 2026).

It is built on two services that already existed inside WeChat. One lets you bind a foreign card; the other lets you pay with a wallet from home. TenPayGo simply packages them into a small, English-first app. So the checkout looks familiar to the shop. The cashier sees a normal WeChat Pay payment and nothing more.

How to Set Up TenPayGo in Three Steps

Setup takes a few minutes on home Wi-Fi. Tencent’s official guide breaks it into three steps (WeChat Pay, 2026):

  1. Download and register. Search “TenPayGo” in the Apple App Store or Google Play. Enter your email, type the verification code it sends, and set a password or unlock pattern.
  2. Add a way to pay. Link an international card, a partner e-wallet, or switch on Apple Pay.
  3. Pay. Scan the shop’s QR code, or show your own payment code to the cashier.

One practical note. The App Store listing needs iOS 15 or later, and the app interface is English only for now (Apple, 2026). Also, do the setup before you fly. Email codes arrive fine abroad, yet a hotel lobby is still the wrong place to troubleshoot a card.

Cards, Wallets and Apple Pay in TenPayGo

The payment list is the real selling point. The official guide shows seven card networks:

  • Cards: UnionPay, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB, Diners Club and Discover.
  • E-wallets: wallets already connected to WeChat Pay’s cross-border QR gateway are joining in stages. The first batch includes ShopeePay and Starryblu, with about 60 expected by the end of 2026 (WeChat Pay, 2026).
  • Apple Pay: switch it on once in the app, and it appears as a payment option at checkout.

There is a catch, though. TenPayGo only takes payment methods issued outside mainland China. A Chinese bank card or a WeChat balance cannot be added (WeChat Pay, 2026). For a tourist that rarely matters. For someone moving here for work, it means TenPayGo is a stopgap, not a long-term wallet.

Paying in Shops, Taxis and Hotels

Tencent says the app works at “tens of millions” of WeChat Pay merchants, from restaurants to hotels, transport and scenic spots (Deng, 2026). In practice there are two ways to pay:

  • Scan the merchant’s code. Look for the green WeChat Pay QR sticker at small shops and stalls, scan it, type the amount and confirm.
  • Show your payment code. At supermarkets and chains, open your code and let the cashier scan it.

What about fees? The official FAQ says a service fee may apply when you pay by international card or Apple Pay, and the app shows it before you confirm. Interestingly, one screenshot in the launch guide shows a 3-yuan fee crossed out on a 100-yuan payment. Treat that as a possible promotion, not a promise. The broader fee and limit rules for foreign cards are in our guide on how to pay in China.

Beyond Payment: Translation, Transit and Tax Refunds

The app does more than pay, and a few of the extras are genuinely handy. Some of them are Shenzhen-only for now, so check the labels (WeChat Pay, 2026).

Face-to-face translation

A conversation mode translates speech between Chinese and languages such as English, Korean, Spanish, Thai and French. There is also a “Translate with Driver” shortcut for taxis. It does not book the ride, however. For booking, you still need DiDi or Amap, both covered in our news piece on WeChat mini programs for foreigners.

Circle to translate

Point the AI camera at a sign, a building or a menu, then circle it. You get an explanation and a translation. For menus it goes further: it can turn the dishes you pick into a bilingual order card to show the waiter.

Shenzhen transit code

With Shenzhen Tong, the city’s transit card company, TenPayGo offers a ride code for the Shenzhen metro and buses. It needs no phone number and no real-name check. You top it up, then scan at the gate. The official guide says this feature is “opening gradually”, so it may not appear for everyone yet.

Departure tax refund

With ICBC’s Shenzhen branch and others, the app links straight to a tax-refund page for eligible shopping. It is marked “Available in Shenzhen only” at launch. The standard airport process still applies elsewhere, and our guide to leaving China walks through it.

TenPayGo or WeChat Pay: Which Do You Need?

Here is the honest comparison. Both pay the same merchants. The difference is everything around the payment.

TenPayGoWeChat (with WeChat Pay)
Sign-upEmail onlyPhone number (foreign numbers work) plus passport check
Pay in shops by QRYesYes
Foreign e-walletsJoining in stages, about 60 by end of 2026Through partner wallets’ own apps
Mini programs (DiDi, Amap, Dianping, tickets)NoYes
Chat, group bookings, hotel contactNoYes
Shenzhen transit code without a phone numberYes, rolling outTransit codes vary by city

So who should use it? A short-trip visitor who won’t hand over a phone number, or whose card keeps failing verification in WeChat, gets a clean fallback. Likewise, anyone whose home e-wallet appears on the partner list may prefer paying in their own currency setup. Everyone else should still install WeChat, because the mini programs are where China’s services live. Keep TenPayGo as a second wallet. Having two routes to the same checkout is cheap insurance.

Limits Worth Knowing Before You Rely on TenPayGo

  • Pay only. The official guide lists scanning and showing a code. It does not describe transfers between people or red packets.
  • Shenzhen first. Transit and tax refunds are tied to Shenzhen partners at launch. Other cities may follow, yet nothing has been announced.
  • Refunds go through the shop. Ask the merchant to issue it; the money returns to the original card. Timing depends on the merchant, card network and bank.
  • New app. The App Store rating sits near 3.2 from about 50 reviews (Apple, 2026). Expect rough edges and keep a backup.

If something breaks, the app has a Support section with “Send Feedback”. The official support email is tenpaygo_support@tencent.com, and the website is tenpaygo.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a Chinese phone number for TenPayGo?

No. TenPayGo registers with an email address and a verification code. You don’t need a Chinese number, a foreign number or a Chinese bank account.

Where can I pay with TenPayGo?

At merchants that accept WeChat Pay across mainland China, by scanning their QR code or showing your payment code. The transit code and tax-refund link work in Shenzhen only at launch.

Can I add a Chinese bank card?

No. The app accepts only cards issued outside mainland China, Apple Pay, and partner overseas e-wallets. Residents with a local card should use WeChat Pay or Alipay instead.

Is TenPayGo free to use?

The app is free to download. A service fee may apply to card or Apple Pay payments, and TenPayGo shows the exact amount before you confirm each payment.

Should I still install WeChat?

Yes, for most trips. WeChat hosts the mini programs for rides, restaurants and tickets, plus chat with hotels and guides. Use TenPayGo as a second, simpler wallet.

References