Hong Kong has always moved fast: in finance, in culture, and now, in digital payments. The city is charging full speed into a cashless future by 2030, with digital wallets playing a dominant role in daily lives.

Whether it’s tapping into the train, settling the dinner bill, or managing your finances on the go, e-wallets have become second nature to most residents here. Their appeal? Speed, convenience, and security; all essentials in a city that never slows down.

Behind the scenes, a strong digital infrastructure fuels this evolution. In fact, it’s no surprise that Hong Kong e-wallets are now accepted at over 30 million merchants across Mainland China, with transaction volume surging by as much as 40 times between 2021 and 2024.

So, which one should you use? From AlipayHK to Octopus, PayMe by HSBC, WeChat Pay HK, and Apple Pay, here’s a closer look at what each e-wallet does best.

Last updated: 29 May 2025

A Snapshot of the Top E-Wallets in Hong Kong

Here’s a dive into five of Hong Kong’s leading e-wallets and how each stands out in everyday use.

AlipayHK

AlipayHK, the localised version of the mainland Chinese payment giant Alipay, has firmly established itself as a cornerstone of Hong Kong’s burgeoning cashless ecosystem.

Launched in partnership with Ant Group, the parent company of Alipay and CK Hutchison Holding limited, it has rapidly expanded its reach to become the top digital wallet to use in Hong Kong, according to a Worldpay report.

According to its official site, AlipayHK is accepted at more than 150,000 retail outlets across Hong Kong. Beyond everyday purchases, it also supports a wide range of features — from public transport payments and cross-border transactions to peer-to-peer transfers, blockchain-powered remittances, third-party insurance purchases, and more.

AlipayHK and Ant Bank have also teamed up with AXA to offer embedded insurance products, providing users with convenient access to solutions for savings, health coverage, and wealth growth.

AlipayHK is available under iOS and Android app stores.

WeChat Pay HK

Next on the list of top e-wallets in Hong Kong is WeChat Pay HK. WeChat Pay Hong Kong is operated by Tencent Holdings, the tech giant behind the widely used messaging app WeChat, known as Weixin in Mainland China.

Its platform is designed with simplicity at its core. According to its website, users can start making payments in just a few steps: either by topping up their wallet or linking a local bank card. No complicated settings, no constant updates. Just straightforward, on-the-go convenience.

WeChat Pay HK has also been thoughtfully designed to support the visually impaired, offering larger fonts and a user-friendly interface to make mobile payments accessible to all.

As of 2025, the platform boasts a network of over one million merchants across Hong Kong, Mainland China, and Macau per its website. WeChat Pay HK supports a wide range of transactions, including in-store QR payments, online shopping, utility bills, and telecom providers like Towngas, China Mobile, and SmarTone.

WeChat Pay HK is purportedly built with financial-grade security features, ensuring protection for users at all times. However, the e-wallet provider was fined HK$875,000 in September 2024 for customer due diligence failures.

WeChat Pay HK also recently expanded its cross-border payment coverage to include small and micro merchants across Mainland China, including taxis in Shenzhen.

This means Hong Kong users can now pay in HK$ seamlessly when dining at food stalls, shopping, or hailing a taxi there, with all RMB transactions automatically converted to HKD and no handling fees.

Octopus Wallet

Coming up next is a crowd favourite, the Octopus Wallet. Designed to help Hongkongers embrace a cashless lifestyle, this all-in-one app apparently allows users to top up their own or loved ones’ Octopus cards via the Faster Payment System (FPS).

Through its Easy Earn feature, users can also join preferred merchant programs and enjoy seamless tap-to-pay shopping and dining at participating outlets. There’s no need to even open the app, with the provision that these are partner merchants around Hong Kong, per the Octopus Wallet website.

In 2024, Octopus teamed up with Checkout.com to streamline online checkouts for merchants, supporting the growing demand for digital-first payment solutions.

PayMe by HSBC

Another major player in Hong Kong’s e-wallet scene is PayMe by HSBC. According to its website, PayMe by HSBC boasts a community of 3 million users, and it’s not hard to see why.

Signing up takes just seconds, and once registered, users can instantly connect with friends and family within the app. PayMe by HSBC is open to anyone aged 12 and above, making it accessible to a broad audience.

Whether it’s splitting a lunch bill or planning holiday expenses, PayMe aims to simplify everyday payments. The app is apparently accepted at thousands of merchants across Hong Kong.

A standout feature is its single-tap access . The “P” button on the app gives users instant entry to key functions like pay, request, group liasee, and bank transfers. Another feature, dubbed Swipe to Scan, allows its user to pay businesses and friends with a quick left swipe and scan of the PayCode, PayMe by HSBC’s version of a QR code.

PayMe by HSBC is also available for business users, offering solutions like the PayMe for Business app to collect face-to-face or remote payments, PayMe for point-of-sale which is provided by the e-wallets’s vendor partners or directly integrated into an existing POS system, and Payme for website/app which is ideal for e-commerce or larger businesses seeking direct integration capabilities.

PayMe by HSBC recently also rolled out a UnionPay virtual card, enabling global payments at over 34 million merchants in 46 markets, including mainland China.

Apple Pay

An unexpected yet welcomed entrant in this list of top e-wallets in Hong Kong is Apple Pay. Apple Pay holds a significant market share of 22%, according to WorldPay. Apple Pay is primarily known for delivering next-level privacy and security, a critical feature in making digital payments.

With the Apple Wallet, users can store credit and debit cards from nearly all major local banks, making it easy to make purchases while collecting card rewards and benefits in one app.

Apple Pay supports a wide range of credit, debit, and prepaid cards from participating financial institutions in Hong Kong, including Citibank, HSBC, Hang Seng Bank, China Citic Bank International, and others.

Contactless payments are effortless whether through Face ID, Touch ID, or a quick wave of an iPhone or Apple Watch. The service is also integrated with Octopus, allowing users to pay for rides on trains, buses, ferries, and shop with ease.

What’s Happening Next for E-Wallets in Hong Kong?

With a high internet penetration rate and a population that has embraced digital solutions, Hong Kong is set to see even deeper integration of e-wallets into daily life and various sectors.

For one, Hong Kong is a crucial hub for cross-border e-commerce, especially with mainland China. Initiatives like Alipay+ enabling overseas e-wallets (including Touch ‘n Go eWallet from Malaysia) to be used in Hong Kong are transforming the city into a borderless shopping haven. This could continue to expand, offering seamless transactions for both inbound and outbound travellers and businesses.

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) is also actively promoting digital payments through initiatives like the Faster Payment System. Furthermore, projects like Project Ensemble (wholesale CBDC) and the e-HKD Pilot Programme indicate a forward-looking approach to digital currencies too.

Finally, we’re already seeing partnerships like AXA Hong Kong integrating insurance products into Ant Bank and AlipayHK apps. These models could likely continue and expand, offering users more comprehensive financial services.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Which e-wallet is most widely accepted in Hong Kong in 2025?

Based on WorldPay’s recent Global Payments report for 2025, Alipay HK leads with an impressive 42% market share.

Which e-wallet is best for daily transport in Hong Kong?

The Octopus Wallet is the most reliable and widely accepted e-wallet for buses and other public transportation.

Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Hong Kong, based on image by thanyakij-12 via Freepik