Can You Use Alipay in Taiwan? A Complete Guide for Travellers

After getting around mainland China while paying for everything with Alipay, it’s normal to wonder if things will be just as easy when you cross over to Taiwan. You’ve got used to getting your phone out for everything, and it’s a hassle to go back to your old wallet. The good news is that Alipay does work in Taiwan; that much is clear. The thing is, its acceptance is much more limited than you might imagine.

At Trip.com, we'll tell you which payment methods Taiwanese people use and whether it's worth installing Alipay before you travel. Let's take a look.

⚡ Can You Use Alipay in Taiwan?

Let's get straight to the point, as that's what you really want to know: yes, Alipay works in Taiwan, but don't expect it to have the same clout as it does in mainland China. It doesn't rule the roost here, and it's worth being clear about that before you rely on that app for your whole trip.

🏪 Where Is Alipay Accepted in Taiwan?

Where you can use Alipay in Taiwan has more to do with the type of business than the area you're in. These are the places where you'll actually find it:

• Large shopping centres, especially well-known chains in areas like Ximending or Xinyi, in Taipei.
• Department stores, like SOGO or Shin Kong Mitsukoshi, which have been catering to mainland Chinese customers for years.
• Airport duty-free shops, where it's usually among the available payment options without any issues.
• International chain hotels, especially those that welcome organised tour groups from mainland China.
• Very touristy restaurants, especially in areas with high footfall from Chinese visitors.
• Souvenir shops near popular attractions, where the average spend tends to be higher.
• Attractions with high tourist footfall, such as certain museums or viewpoints with paid entry.
• Businesses that cater specifically to Chinese tourists, which have adapted their checkout systems so as not to miss out on sales.

🚫 Where Does Alipay Usually Not Work in Taiwan?

Now let's look at the other side of the coin, because talking so much about where it is accepted can give you the wrong idea. The truth is that many local businesses still rely on other payment methods completely unrelated to Alipay, and this is especially true in the day-to-day Taiwan, not the touristy one.

These are the places where it's best not to count on it:

• Traditional markets, the kind where the lady at the stall has been taking cash for a lifetime and isn't going to change her system for you.
• Night markets, which are basically the heart of local life at night, and Alipay in Taiwan's night markets is practically non-existent.
• Street food stalls, where payment is usually quick, in cash, and loose change is almost better than a large note.
• Independent coffee shops, those charming little spots that at most have a basic card reader, if they even have one at all.
• Small, family-run restaurants, especially those off the beaten tourist track.
• Traditional taxis, where the driver will ask for cash without any fuss.
• Businesses away from tourist areas—generally speaking, the further you get from the centre or the typical routes, the less digital everything becomes.

💳 Can I Use Alipay in Taiwan With a Foreign Card?

Here comes a question that many people ask before travelling, and the answer is yes, you can link a card to Alipay without having a Chinese bank account involved. The app has an international version designed precisely for this, and it works quite simply.

The compatible cards are the usual ones:

• Visa
• MasterCard
• American Express
• JCB
• Discover

International cards you can use on Alipay

💸 Are There Fees for Using Alipay in Taiwan?

Let's talk about money, which is ultimately what worries people most before getting their card out anywhere.

The good news is that Alipay (generally speaking) doesn't charge a fee for paying in shops, so you can rest easy there. Neither registering nor linking your foreign card will cost you anything, and every payment at a local business is processed without any added surcharge from the app.

🚇 What Are the Payment Methods in Taiwan?

Anyway, after seeing all that, the logical question is: so how do the locals pay for things in their day-to-day lives? Here is the real picture.

The EasyCard, which we mentioned earlier, isn't just for transport: many people also use it to pay in convenience stores or at vending machines, so its role goes well beyond just the metro or the bus.

💳✨ Get around Taiwan hassle-free with the EasyCard from £3.13.

LINE Pay, for its part, is the go-to digital option for shopping and restaurants.

🧩 More Travel Guides