Wise App Global QR Payments and eSIM Now in Malaysia

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Wise App Global QR Payments Now Cover 50+ Destinations
Customisable eSIM Plans with Refunds for Unused Data

Wise app has rolled out two major features for its Malaysian users: global QR payments, and customizable eSIM plans, now in a single app which it claims is a first. With year-end travel season approaching, Wise is pitching its expanded app as a one-stop solution for international travelers who want to spend and stay connected without juggling multiple apps or hunting for a money changer.

Wise App Global QR Payments Now Cover 50+ Destinations

Wise App Now Combines Global QR Payments And Customizable eSIM For Malaysian Travelers

A Wise-commissioned YouGov survey of 14,000 travelers across ten countries found that 61% have encountered payment problems abroad; among Malaysian adults who traveled internationally in the past 12 months, that figure rises to 91%, the highest friction of any market surveyed. Some 73% of Malaysian travelers said they missed out on local experiences such as street food stalls or independent artisan shops as a result.

The core problem Wise is addressing is straightforward: international credit and debit cards work at major hotels and airport retail, but local street-level merchants in many countries run entirely on domestic QR networks that were never designed for foreign visitors. That meant scrambling for ATM cash, downloading disposable local e-wallets, or simply going without.

Wise now supports QR payments in over 50 destinations globally from a single app – Malaysian users can already scan DuitNow QR codes domestically, and the same functionality now extends to schemes including PayNow in Singapore, QR Ph in the Philippines, Swiss QR-bill in Switzerland, and Qvik in Hungary.

For travelers heading to the Chinese mainland, where foreign card acceptance is limited, Wise has partnered with Alipay+ (Ant International’s unified wallet gateway) – eligible Wise users can scan and pay at millions of Alipay+-enabled merchants in China directly through the Wise app, with no Chinese bank card, local mobile number, or separate app registration required.

Customisable eSIM Plans with Refunds for Unused Data

Wise_eSIM_1 — Wise App Now Combines Global QR Payments And Customizable eSIM For Malaysian Travelers

Alongside the QR expansion, Wise is launching a customizable “build-your-own” eSIM through the app, powered by Gigs U.K. Ltd. The eSIM is available across more than 150 destinations, with fully customizable plans available to users in Malaysia, Singapore, the UK, the European Economic Area (EEA), United States, Canada, Brazil, Australia, and New Zealand.

Unlike conventional pre-packaged roaming SIMs, the Wise eSIM only needs to be installed once on a device. Travelers set their own data allowance and the number of days they need coverage; the eSIM activates only when the device connects to a supported network at the destination. Wise also offers refunds on unused data plans, which sets it apart from most fixed roaming packages where unspent data is simply forfeit.

Beyond QR payments and eSIM, the Wise app also lets users buy pay-as-you-go airport lounge passes, find nearby ATMs via an in-app global map, and split multi-currency bills with travel companions. Both the global QR payment feature and customizable eSIM plans are available now to eligible Wise Account holders in Malaysia.

Pokdepinion: Only thing to worry about is your phone’s battery. Can’t recharge in-flight, remember!