Do I need both an esim and wechat or alipay
Hi,
I am Australian and travelling to China next month. I have installed wechat and alipay on my iphone. I have also purchsed an esim. Did I need the sim as well as wechat and alipay? If so, what cant wechat and alipay do that the esim can?
When traveling to China as an Australian with an eSIM and apps like WeChat and Alipay already installed, it’s important to understand what each service provides and whether you really need both.
1. Role of eSIM or local SIM:
An eSIM or local SIM provides mobile data and cellular connectivity. With this, your iPhone can access the internet anywhere within network coverage, make local calls (if enabled), and receive SMS for verification codes.
2. Role of WeChat and Alipay:
WeChat and Alipay are mobile apps mainly used for payments, messaging, and some local services like transport and ticketing. Both require internet access to function, either via Wi-Fi or mobile data.
- You can use WeChat and Alipay on Wi-Fi without a local SIM, but some services (like topping up your Alipay wallet, registering for some Chinese services, or receiving verification SMS) may require a Chinese phone number.
- Some features, such as QR code payments in stores or public transport, work offline only if previously loaded with funds; otherwise, you need internet access via eSIM/SIM.
3. Advantages of having both:
- Reliable connectivity everywhere, especially if you are traveling outside cities or away from Wi-Fi.
- Ability to receive SMS for verification from local Chinese services.
- Using mobile payments smoothly without interruptions from Wi-Fi outages.
In conclusion, your eSIM (or local SIM) provides the connectivity backbone, while WeChat and Alipay are applications that leverage that connection. You technically could manage with just Wi-Fi for the apps, but having an eSIM ensures seamless usage, access to verification codes, and reliable mobile payments throughout China.
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