Is there BNPL in China?
Yes, as credit lines inside super-apps: Huabei in Alipay, JD BaiTiao, Meituan Yuefu, Douyin Yuefu and WeChat Pay Fenfu, plus bank credit card installments. Since September 30, 2026, credit products must be separated from payment options at wallet checkouts.
In detail
Yes, but it looks different from the Western model. China built buy now, pay later into its super-apps. Huabei, the credit line inside Alipay, JD BaiTiao on JD.com, Meituan Yuefu, Douyin Yuefu and WeChat Pay Fenfu let users pay at the end of the month or split a purchase into installments. They are licensed consumer credit products, not separate checkout brands. Banks compete with credit card installment plans.
What changed in 2026
Under the Measures for the Administration of Online Marketing of Financial Products, effective September 30, 2026, non-bank payment institutions may no longer list loan products as payment options. Credit products must now be shown separately from bank cards and balances at checkout. Huabei, BaiTiao and the Yuefu products remain available, but shoppers find them in a distinct credit section rather than as default payment buttons.
What it means for payment operators
For merchants selling to Chinese shoppers, installments come through the wallet or the card, not through a third-party BNPL button. What matters is access to Alipay, WeChat Pay and UnionPay through local providers, and a checkout that respects the new separation rules. Connecting those providers once and enabling them per merchant keeps the effort manageable.