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Wise has added eSIM data plans and cross-border QR payments to its app, bringing connectivity and local payment options to travellers' accounts. The services are designed to help customers access mobile data and make payments across different markets without relying on separate local services.
The eSIM service includes regional plans covering more than 150 destinations. Wise also offers customisable plans to customers in the UK, European Economic Area, US, Canada, Brazil, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, and New Zealand.
Customers can install the eSIM on their device once and then purchase data through the Wise app. They can choose the amount of data and the number of days covered by a plan.
The service also provides in-app guidance to help customers estimate how much data they may need. Data is activated when the eSIM connects to a supported network at the destination.
Wise will also refund unused data plans, giving customers the option to recover the cost if they don't use the purchased data.
QR payments
The company has expanded its QR payment capabilities by connecting the Wise app to domestic payment schemes used in several markets.
These include PayNow in Singapore, QR Ph in the Philippines, DuitNow in Malaysia, Pix in Brazil, PromptPay in Thailand, Swiss QR-bill in Switzerland and Qvik in Hungary.
These connections let Wise customers use the app to make payments through local QR payment systems, rather than relying solely on cards or cash.
Wise has also partnered with Alipay+ to extend QR payment coverage to more than 50 destinations.
The partnership covers markets including Hong Kong, Nepal, South Korea, Sri Lanka and Cambodia. In mainland China, eligible Wise customers can scan and pay at Alipay+ enabled merchants through the Wise app.
Customers using the service in mainland China do not need a Chinese bank card or local mobile number to make those payments. They also do not need to set up a separate app for the transactions.
The Alipay+ service is not available to Wise customers in the US or Canada.
Travel connectivity
The additions follow research commissioned by Wise from YouGov involving more than 14,000 travellers across 11 countries.
The research found that 62% of adults who had travelled internationally in the previous year relied on hotel or accommodation Wi-Fi to stay connected while abroad.
Some respondents reported taking additional steps to access free connectivity. About 24% said they had bought something at a café they did not want solely to access its Wi-Fi. Another 15% said they had stood outside a museum or tourist attraction to use free Wi-Fi rather than entering, while 7% had asked a stranger to share a personal hotspot.
The research also identified payment access as an issue. Cash management was the most commonly reported payment problem, cited by 43% of respondents.
Among travellers who experienced payment difficulties, almost 40% said they had missed local experiences such as street food markets as a result.
Wider account
The new services sit alongside other travel-related features available through the Wise Account.
These include pay-as-you-go airport lounge passes, destination guides, multi-currency bill splitting and group spending features.
The additions broaden the functions available through the account beyond international transfers and card payments. They also bring connectivity and locally supported payment methods into the same application.
Wise supported around 19 million people and businesses during the 2026 financial year. During the period, it processed more than USD $240 billion in cross-border transactions, while customers saved more than USD $3 billion, according to the company.
Gigs U.K. provides the eSIM connectivity service, while Wise Payments acts as the payment and administration facilitator.
The eSIM and QR payment services are available through the Wise Account.