Free tools
Which app for what in China.
A comparison table for first-timers. Official payment and Shenzhen metro facts last verified 12 November 2026. We skipped a metro fare estimator: we could not verify a complete official 2026 fare formula.
This is a comparison of jobs, not a sponsored ranking, and not a circumvention tutorial. Fees and app rules change — confirm in the app. Last verified for payment and Shenzhen metro facts: 2026-11-12.
| What you need | Usual app | Does it work for a visitor? | Honest caveat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Messaging friends at home | WhatsApp / Instagram / iMessage | Often fail on mainland data. This is a connectivity fact, not a product recommendation. See our apps guide. | Use whatever already works on a non-mainland connection; do not count on these on a mainland SIM. |
| Messaging and mini-programs in China | WeChat (Weixin) | The everyday super-app. A foreign number can usually register; many mini-programs still ask for a Chinese ID. | Set it up before you fly if you can. |
| Paying at stalls, shops, metro QR | Alipay and WeChat Pay | Bind a foreign card. Official 2026 Tenpay rule: ¥200 or below inclusive waived; above ¥200, 3% on the full amount. Confirm on the screen. Promos are not the standing rule. Last verified: 2026-11-12. | Read the fee line every time. |
| Maps and walking directions | Amap (Gaode) or Apple Maps; Baidu Maps | Google Maps often fails on mainland data. A mainland-usable map is the one that matters. | Download offline areas before you fly if your app allows it. |
| Ride-hail | DiDi | The usual licensed app. Works more smoothly once WeChat Pay or Alipay is set up. Use licensed taxis with a meter as a backup. We will not invent typical fares. | See our DiDi guide. |
| High-speed rail tickets | 12306 | The official railway site and app. Book with your passport. Third-party apps exist; 12306 is the authority for the seat and the price. | See our 12306 passport guide. |
| Food delivery and local reviews | Meituan / Dianping | Typically a Chinese mobile number, and often a mainland ID, for a full account. We have not verified a reliable official visitor workaround, so we will not invent one. Do not count on these for a first trip. | Walk in, or use a hotel desk. |
| Metro tickets in Shenzhen | Official QR in Alipay/WeChat, or contactless bank card | Since 10 September 2026, official SZMC/sz.gov.cn wording: 17 lines, 432 stations; UnionPay, Visa, Mastercard, American Express and JCB at the gates (card must support contactless and a small-amount PIN-free limit). Last verified: 2026-11-12. Other cities: do not assume the same card set. | We did not build a fare estimator: we could not verify a complete official 2026 distance-fare formula we would be willing to encode. |
| Translation | A reputable offline-capable app, plus WeChat scan where it works | We will not rank commercial translation brands. An offline pack is more useful than a hope that the network holds. | See our phrase card for a printable backup. |
Payment guide → · Google, WhatsApp, Instagram → · DiDi, Meituan, Dianping, Taobao →