Alipay is one of the most widely used digital payment methods in China, supporting online shopping and cross-border payments. With Subotiz Payments, eligible merchants can accept Alipay payments from customers in China and Chinese consumers living overseas. Alipay supports both one-time payments and subscription billing, depending on the merchant's operating model and account configuration, helping merchants expand their cross-border business and provide a more convenient payment experience.
Alipay Capabilities
Alipay supports the following payment capabilities:
Capability |
Alipay |
|---|---|
One-time payments |
✓ (based on account configuration) |
Subscription billing |
Non-MoR merchants only (application required) |
Merchant entity |
US, Canada, UK, France, and Hong Kong* |
Customer requirement |
Alipay account required |
*Supported merchant entities and available Alipay capabilities may vary by account configuration. Availability is subject to the merchant's actual account setup.
Use Cases
Alipay is well suited for merchants serving customers in China and Chinese communities overseas. Common use cases include:
- Overseas Chinese consumers: Selling products or services to Chinese consumers living abroad.
- Cross-border e-commerce: Selling products to customers in China.
- Digital businesses: Selling digital content, virtual goods, SaaS, and other online products or services.
Supported Transaction Types
Alipay supports the following transaction types, depending on the Subotiz Payments operating model and the merchant's account configuration:
- One-time payments: Automatically enabled for eligible accounts or available after the required application is approved.
- Subscription billing: Available only to eligible non-MoR merchants upon application approval.
Supported Merchant Entities and Settlement Currencies
Alipay currently supports merchants registered in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, and Hong Kong. The settlement currency depends on the Subotiz Payments operating model and the merchant's account configuration.
Merchant entity region |
Common settlement currency |
|---|---|
United States |
USD |
Canada |
CAD |
United Kingdom |
GBP |
France |
EUR |
Hong Kong |
HKD, USD |
Settlement configurations vary by operating model:
- MoR model: Subotiz configures settlement based on the merchant's account settings. Some merchants may settle in USD.
- Non-MoR model: The settlement currency is determined by the merchant's registered entity and account configuration.
Note: The table above shows common settlement configurations. Available currencies depend on the merchant's account configuration. Contact the customer success manager to confirm the applicable settlement currency.
Alipay Fees
Default Alipay fees on Subotiz Payments depend on the merchant's account and settlement configuration.
Merchant entity region |
Settlement currency |
Default reference fee |
|---|---|---|
United States |
USD |
5% + $0.50 per transaction |
Canada |
CAD |
5% + C$0.50 per transaction |
United Kingdom |
GBP |
5% + £0.50 per transaction |
France |
EUR |
5% + €0.50 per transaction |
Hong Kong |
HKD |
5% + HK$5 per transaction |
Hong Kong |
USD |
5% + $0.50 per transaction |
The fees above are default reference rates. Actual fees may vary by operating model, account configuration, and merchant agreement. The applicable fees are subject to the merchant's agreement or final quote.
Checkout Display and Currency Conversion
When a customer selects Alipay at checkout, Subotiz Checkout displays the order amount in the original payment currency. After proceeding to Alipay, the customer sees the converted amount in Chinese yuan (CNY).
The payment process works as follows:
- View the order amount: Subotiz Checkout displays the order amount in the payment currency, such as USD.
- Proceed to Alipay: After selecting Alipay, the customer is redirected to the Alipay payment page, where the converted CNY amount is displayed.
- Confirm the payment: The customer reviews the exchange rate and final payment amount displayed by Alipay before confirming the payment.
- Receive settlement: After a successful payment, the merchant receives funds in the settlement currency configured for their account.
The order retains its original payment currency. Conversion to CNY through Alipay does not change the order currency or the merchant's settlement configuration.
Customer Payment Requirements
To complete a payment with Alipay, customers must meet the following requirements:
- Alipay account: Have an active Alipay account.
- Payment confirmation: Follow the instructions on the Alipay payment page to confirm and complete the payment.
- Payment verification: Complete any identity or payment verification required by Alipay.
Specific requirements are determined by Alipay and displayed during the payment process.
Activating Alipay
Alipay activation depends on the merchant's Subotiz Payments operating model and account configuration.
-
One-time payments:
- MoR model: Alipay is enabled automatically for eligible accounts or after the required application is approved.
- Non-MoR model: Alipay availability depends on the merchant's account configuration. If an application is required, contact the customer success manager.
- Subscription billing: Eligible non-MoR merchants must contact their customer success manager to submit a product application form and the required supporting documents. Subscription billing becomes available after approval.
Enabling Alipay in the Subotiz Admin
After completing the required activation process, follow these steps to enable Alipay:
- Enable the payment provider: In the Subotiz admin, go to Settings > Payment providers > Subotiz Payments and enable Alipay.
- Enable the payment method: Go to Settings > Payment methods, select the payment provider, and enable Alipay.
For more information, see Subotiz Payments｜Managing Payment Methods.
Alipay Visibility at Checkout
Alipay appears at checkout when the following conditions are met:
- Account status: The required Alipay payment capability is active for the merchant's account.
- Payment configuration: Alipay is enabled on both the Payment providers and Payment methods pages.
- Merchant eligibility: The merchant's registered entity and operating model are eligible.
- Transaction conditions: The payment currency, transaction type, and settlement configuration meet the account requirements.
If Alipay is enabled but does not appear at checkout, review the conditions above or contact the customer success manager to confirm the account configuration.
For the complete list of display conditions, see Subotiz Payments｜Payment Methods Visibility at Checkout.
Alipay enables eligible Subotiz Payments merchants to accept payments from customers in China and Chinese communities overseas. With support for one-time payments, subscription billing for eligible merchants, and flexible settlement configurations, merchants can expand their cross-border reach and provide a convenient payment experience.