Wise has expanded its app for eligible customers in Singapore by introducing cross-border QR payments and customisable eSIM plans, bringing overseas payment access and mobile data services into the same account. Singapore customers are among the first globally to receive the expanded setup, which Wise says makes it the first app to combine both functions for travellers.
Available from 6 October to eligible Wise Account customers, the QR payment support covers more than 50 destinations, while the eSIM service offers standard regional plans across more than 150 destinations. In addition, Wise is launching customisable data plans for customers in Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, EEA, US, Canada and Brazil, which it describes as among the first such launches globally.
QR payments connect travellers with local networks
The QR payment feature is intended to reduce the need for travellers to register for separate local wallets when merchants rely on domestic payment networks. While Wise customers in Singapore can already scan PayNow QR codes locally, overseas support includes payment schemes such as DuitNow in Malaysia, QR Ph in the Philippines, Swiss QR-bill in Switzerland and Qvik in Hungary.
Wise has also connected its payment service through a partnership with Alipay+, Ant International’s unified wallet gateway. In the Chinese mainland, eligible travellers can scan supported QR codes and pay at millions of Alipay+ enabled merchants directly through the Wise app without a Chinese bank card, local mobile number or separate app setup. More broadly, Alipay+ powered QR support through Wise covers more than 50 destinations, including Hong Kong, Nepal, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Argentina and Mexico. Wise said Alipay+ connects more than 2 billion user accounts from over 50 digital wallet and banking apps with more than 150 million merchants across more than 220 markets worldwide, including over 10 national payment schemes.
Wise cited a YouGov survey it commissioned involving 14,000 travellers across 10 countries, which found that 61% had encountered payment hurdles while abroad, with the company adding that 40% of global travellers had missed local experiences because of payment barriers. Among Singapore adults who had travelled internationally in the previous 12 months, 87% reported payment difficulties, citing challenges such as accessing and setting up local QR codes and electronic wallets, carrying cash, and finding suitable currency exchanges or ATMs. The survey also found that 51% had missed local travel experiences, such as buying from street food vendors or independent shops, because of payment barriers.
SK Saraogi, Asia Pacific CEO at Wise, said: “Singaporeans are used to the ease of scanning a QR code to pay, but overseas, a different payment system in each destination can turn a simple purchase into a frustrating exercise. Travellers shouldn’t have to set up a new wallet or hunt for an ATM just to buy breakfast from a street food vendor. With Scan to Pay, we’re bringing these local QR networks together in the Wise app, helping customers pay like a local with an app they already use. Alongside our customisable eSIM, that means less time figuring out how to pay and stay connected, and more time enjoying the places they’ve come to discover.”
Customisable eSIM plans add control over data use
Alongside its standard regional plans, Wise’s eSIM service adds customisable data packages that let customers choose the amount of data they want and the number of days they need it for, allowing them to match a plan more closely to their itinerary. The eSIM only needs to be installed on a device once rather than for each trip. Once set up, customers can buy data through the Wise app, while usage begins only when the eSIM connects to a supported network at the destination.
To help customers estimate their data requirements before travelling, Wise has added in-app guidance. Travellers who purchase a data plan but do not use it can receive a refund for the unused plan, covering situations where travel arrangements change before activation. Connectivity services for the Wise eSIM are provided directly by Gigs U.K. Ltd, while Wise Payments Limited acts as the payment and administration facilitator.
Wise adds more travel functions to one account
The QR payment and eSIM additions join other travel-related functions available through the Wise Account. From the same application, customers can purchase pay-as-you-go airport lounge passes, use an in-app global ATM map to locate nearby cash points, and split multi-currency bills with family and friends.
