GrabPay has played a major part in Singapore’s shift towards instant, flexible payments. What began as a way for users to pay for rides has turned into one of the country’s widely used digital wallets, which is accepted everywhere from hawker centers to high-end retail.

This wallet offers businesses a direct line to the 38 million people who are actively using Grab across Southeast Asia. Understanding how to plug into that network will help you stay visible in a market that’s almost entirely cashless. Below, we’ll discuss how GrabPay works for Singaporean businesses, including how to set it up, what it takes to run smoothly, and how it fits into the broader payment environment.

What’s in this article?

• What is GrabPay?
  
• How does GrabPay work?
  
• How can businesses in Singapore start accepting GrabPay?
  
• What are the fees and payout timelines for GrabPay businesses?
  
• What support and benefits does GrabPay provide to Singaporean businesses?
  
• How secure is GrabPay for businesses and customers in Singapore?
  
• How does GrabPay compare to other digital payment options in Singapore?
  
• How Stripe Payments can help
  

What is GrabPay?

GrabPay is a digital wallet that’s built into Grab’s all-in-one app for rides, food, and payments. It lets users store or link funds, pay instantly, and earn loyalty rewards in the same digital interface they already use daily.

In Singapore, GrabPay is accepted by many cafés, shops, and ecommerce sites, which are all connected through the Singapore Quick Response Code (SGQR), the national QR code framework. GrabPay operates under regulations set by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). For in-store purchases, payments are simple: customers can quickly scan a QR code and confirm purchases on their phones.

With GrabPay, businesses can reach a large customer base without adding much payments infrastructure. GrabPay transactions can also earn customers GrabRewards points, a built-in incentive that encourages users to keep coming back.

How does GrabPay work?

GrabPay lets people use their balances anywhere GrabPay is accepted, and customers can top up through linked debit or credit cards. Once they’re verified through Grab’s Know Your Customer (KYC) process, users can hold up to 5,000 Singapore dollars (SGD) and spend up to 30,000 SGD a year, in line with MAS regulations.

To make a purchase in person, customers open the Grab app, scan the business’s QR code, confirm the amount, and tap “Pay.” The money moves instantly from the customer’s wallet to the business’s GrabPay account, and both parties receive instant confirmation.

To make an online purchase, a customer chooses GrabPay at checkout, then verifies via a one-time code sent to their phone. If you use Stripe, it automatically manages this redirect-and-return flow and provides immediate notification about successful or failed payments so there’s no extra coding or application programming interface (API) maintenance required.

Transactions appear in the GrabMerchant App and Portal. Funds accumulate in a GrabPay merchant account and are usually transferred to the business’s bank within a few days. Because payments require customer authentication and don’t rely on card networks, they’re unlikely to be recalled.

GrabPay’s checkout is designed to be fast and clear, and Grab has developed antifraud technology specific to Southeast Asia.

How can businesses in Singapore start accepting GrabPay?

Getting started with GrabPay as a business is a simple process. Once you have all the information ready to go, you can apply to get active on the platform.

Here are the steps to integrate this payment method:

• Merchant registration: Single-outlet stores can apply through the GrabMerchant App. Others must apply on Grab’s website. You’ll need to provide some business details, including your company name and a bank account for payouts.

• Setup: Once you’re approved, you’ll gain access to the GrabMerchant Portal, where you manage your GrabPay transactions and settlements.

• In-store payments: Grab provides a QR code so it’s compliant with SGQR. Customers scan the QR code in their Grab app to pay instantly, with no hardware or card reader required.

• Online payments: You can integrate GrabPay directly through Grab’s API or through a payment provider like Stripe, which supports GrabPay through a simple integration. Stripe can handle the checkout flow and redirect customers to GrabPay for authentication, then back to your site (if desired) once the payment is confirmed.

• Eligibility and requirements: GrabPay doesn’t support restricted industries such as gambling and certain controlled substances. Businesses must comply with Grab’s Acceptable Use Policy.

What are the fees and payout timelines for GrabPay businesses?

GrabPay charges an activation fee and subsequent service fees on each transaction, and settlements usually reach your bank within a few business days. Funds are grouped into daily batches, and your account statement shows a single deposit per payout period. You can download daily settlement reports from the GrabMerchant Portal, as well as other types of reports that are available at varying frequencies, including weekly and monthly. If your business uses Stripe, GrabPay transactions are included in Stripe’s payout cycle.

What support and benefits does GrabPay provide to Singaporean businesses?

GrabPay is a full suite that helps businesses connect with an existing customer base.

The platform provides the following:

• Customer reach and visibility: GrabPay connects businesses with millions of active Grab users, many of whom use the app daily for transport, food, and shopping. Accepting GrabPay signals convenience and credibility to these potential customers.

• Rewards-driven loyalty: Some transactions earn GrabRewards points for customers so shoppers have a reason to choose your business over those that don’t accept GrabPay.

• Seasonal promos and cash back campaigns: When they’re available, these offers can drive traffic to participating businesses.

• Support with operations: The GrabMerchant Portal provides real-time sales data, downloadable reports, and refund management tools. Refunds can be processed directly through the GrabMerchant App or your payment provider (e.g., within the Stripe Dashboard).

• Merchant support: Grab offers merchant support through its help center and Marketing Manager services, which help you create ads, promotions, and more. These are available in the GrabMerchant App.

• A wider suite of services: Businesses can also enjoy adjacent Grab services such as GrabAds, a tool for targeted promotions to attract new customers and increase average spend, and PayLater, the buy now, pay later method built around Grab.

How secure is GrabPay for businesses and customers in Singapore?

GrabPay’s security is anchored in regulation, encryption, and authentication. It’s licensed and supervised by the MAS, which means wallet balances are safeguarded in regulated trust accounts and monitored under strict compliance standards.

The customer has the option to create a PIN and add biometric approval. They’re required to add a PIN if they have more than 150 SGD in credits in their GrabPay account. The app encrypts data from end to end.

Fraud detection tools, including Grab’s internal GrabDefence system, constantly monitor for unusual activity.

How does GrabPay compare to other digital payment options in Singapore?

Singapore’s payment market is crowded, but GrabPay holds a distinct place within it.

Here’s how it compares against major alternatives:

• GrabPay: GrabPay gives you access to a large user base. Payouts are batched, and risk is low due to the customer verification requirement.

• Credit and debit cards: Card payments are common in Singapore but come with high transaction fees and chargeback risks.

• PayNow: Bank transfers through PayNow come with low transaction costs, and they can be used only by domestic customers. Settlement is instant.

• Other digital wallets: Global digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay are used in Singapore, but local options like GrabPay and Singtel Dash dominate the market.

How Stripe Payments can help

Stripe Payments provides a unified, global payment solution that helps any business accept digital wallet payments online, in person, and around the world.

Stripe Payments can help you:

• Optimize your checkout experience: Create a frictionless customer experience and save thousands of engineering hours with prebuilt payment UIs, access to 100+ payment methods, including more than a dozen digital wallet payment methods, and Link, a wallet built by Stripe.

• Expand to new markets faster: Reach customers worldwide and reduce the complexity and cost of multicurrency management with cross-border payment options, available in 195 countries across 135+ currencies.

• Unify payments in person and online: Easily track and reconcile digital wallet payments across online and in-person channels.

• Improve payment performance: Increase revenue with a range of customizable, easy-to-configure payment tools, including no-code fraud protection and advanced capabilities to improve authorization rates.

• Move faster with a flexible, reliable platform for growth: Build on a platform designed to scale with you, with 99.999% uptime and industry-leading reliability.

Learn more about how Stripe Payments can power your online and in-person payments, or get started today.