WeChat pulls in 400 million daily active users for mini apps in 2020

Tencent-owned WeChat disclosed during a conference held today that mini programs within its messaging app have pulled in over 400 million daily active users in 2020.

Photo credit: bigtunaonline / 123RF

Launched in 2017, WeChat’s mini programs enable third-party companies to develop mini applications within the platform that provide users with features such as online shopping, food delivery, and games.

The company said that over 100 million users have made purchases through its shopping mini programs in 2020. WeChat also noted that 300 million customers bought fruits and vegetables through the online pre-order and local pickup model within the mini programs by the end of last year.

The super app claims that its annual transaction volume increased by 100% year-over-year.

WeChat disclosed as well that its mini-games achieved 1 billion cumulative registered users and 500 million monthly active users in 2020, with 60% of them from third-tier cities.

For its payment unit WeChat Pay, the company noted that the credit scoring system WeChat Pay Score attracted more than 240 million users and allows them to save over 200 billion yuan (US$30.8 billion) worth of deposit.

This system currently covers 1,995 merchants across sectors including shopping and entertainment, transportation, everyday services, and accommodation reservations.

WeChat Pay Score was launched in 2020, nearly five years after Ant Group introduced Zhima Credit (also called Sesame Credit) in 2015. One of China’s biggest private credit-rating platforms, Zhima uses proprietary algorithms and methodology to score people and businesses based on their use of Ant-linked services.

See also: WeChat vs. Alipay: The heated battle between China’s super apps

Earlier this month, outgoing President Donald Trump signed an order banning US transactions with eight Chinese software apps including WeChat Pay in 45 days.

Currency converted from Chinese yuan to US dollar: US$1 = 6.48 yuan.