PayPay
Japan's most widely used QR and barcode payment app for shops, online stores and bills.
Updated · AppBreakup editorial · iOS, Android
Is PayPay free?
Yes, free to use
Switch from PayPay to
All 2
Apple WalletFree
Google WalletFree
- Verified facts
- 5 of 5
- Alternatives ranked
- 2
- Approved reviews
- 0
- Visits sent from here
- 0
About PayPay
PayPay is a smartphone payment app in Japan, part of the SoftBank and LY group. People pay in convenience stores, drugstores, restaurants and many small shops by showing a barcode or scanning the store's QR code, and can also use it for online services and utility bills. The balance can be topped up from a linked bank account, a PayPay Card, or with cash at Seven Bank and Lawson Bank ATMs. Payments earn PayPay points, and frequent campaigns and coupons add extra rewards. Users can send balance to friends and family, and identity verification unlocks the full set of features. Signing up is free; merchants pay fees for accepting it. The app and site are in Japanese and it needs a phone that can receive SMS codes, so it is aimed at residents more than short-term visitors. Its group also offers a bank, card, securities and insurance under the PayPay name.
Best for: People living in Japan who want to pay by phone at everyday shops and earn points.
Pros and cons
What works
- Accepted at a very wide range of Japanese shops, online services and utility bills
- Cash top-ups at Seven Bank and Lawson Bank ATMs
- Points and regular campaigns on purchases
- Send balance to friends and family
Why people leave
- Interface and support are in Japanese
- Needs a phone number that can receive SMS, which shuts out many visitors
- Full features require identity verification
PayPay vs Apple Wallet and Google Wallet
From each app's listing and the prices verified on its own site. A dash means we haven't verified it yet.
| Attribute | PayPay | Apple Wallet | Google Wallet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free | Free |
| Verified price | — | — | — |
| Free plan | Free app | Free app | Free app |
| Open source | No | No | No |
| Self-hostable | No | No | No |
| Platforms | iOS, Android | iOS, macOS | Android, Web |
Top PayPay alternatives
See all 2- 1Apple Wallet64.8
Tap-to-pay with Suica, iD and QUICPay cards on iPhone, without scanning QR codes.
- 2Google Wallet61.8
Android tap-to-pay for transit cards and credit cards, accepted at most Japanese terminals.
Why people left PayPay
In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.
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Reviews
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PayPay: common questions
What is PayPay?
PayPay: Japan's most widely used QR and barcode payment app for shops, online stores and bills. Best for people living in Japan who want to pay by phone at everyday shops and earn points. Available for iOS and Android.
Is PayPay free?
Yes, PayPay is free to use.
Is PayPay open source?
No, PayPay is not open source.
What platforms does PayPay run on?
PayPay is available for iOS and Android.
What are the best alternatives to PayPay?
The highest-ranked PayPay alternatives right now are Apple Wallet and Google Wallet. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.
PayPay vs Apple Wallet: what's the difference?
Both PayPay and Apple Wallet are free to use. Only PayPay runs on Android. Only Apple Wallet runs on macOS.