What’s the Difference Between PayNow and PayLah?

When you want to make digital payments in Singapore, two names always pop up: PayNow and PayLah!.

You see both logos at hawker centres, or your friends might ask to “PayNow” or “PayLah!” you for dinner. Due to both having similar names, it’s easy to get them mixed up.

So, what’s the real difference between PayNow and PayLah?

Here’s the simplest way to think about it: PayNow is a method of payment, while PayLah! is an app.

How it works

Think of PayNow as the set of train tracks used by all of Singapore’s major banks. It’s the underlying technology, the network, that lets you send money from your bank account (like DBS, UOB, or OCBC) directly to someone else’s bank account using just their phone number or NRIC. You access this “PayNow” service inside your existing bank’s app.

DBS PayLah!, on the other hand, is a specific train built by DBS that runs on those tracks. It’s a standalone mobile wallet app that you can download. While its main job is to help you pay (and it uses the PayNow network to do so), it also comes with many extra features: a dining guide, movie ticket booking, bill payments, and special deals.

At a Glance: PayNow vs. DBS PayLah!

Here is a side-by-side comparison:

Feature	PayNow	DBS PayLah!
Core Type	Fund Transfer Service	Mobile Wallet App
Owner / Provider	Association of Banks in Singapore (ABS)	DBS Bank
Primary Function	Instantly send/receive money directly between bank accounts.	An “all-in-one” lifestyle app for payments, rewards, bookings, and fund transfers.
How to Access	Integrated within your existing bank’s mobile app (e.g., DBS, UOB, OCBC apps).	A separate, standalone mobile app that you must download.
Who Can Use It?	Customers of participating banks (e.g. DBS/POSB, UOB, OCBC, StanChart, HSBC, etc.).	Anyone with a Singapore-registered mobile number (including non-DBS customers).
Fund Source	Directly debits from your linked bank account.	For DBS/POSB users: Can auto-debit from your linked bank account. For Non-DBS users: You must top up the PayLah! wallet first.
Identifier for Transfers	Mobile Number, NRIC/FIN, or Virtual Payment Address (VPA).	Mobile Number (It uses the PayNow network to pay non-PayLah! users).
QR Code Payments	PayNow QR (part of the unified SGQR code).	Multiple QR codes: PayNow QR, NETS QR, FavePay QR, UnionPay QR.
Key Features	Peer-to-peer transfers Merchant payments Cross-border transfers (to Malaysia, India, Thailand)	All PayNow functions Bill payments (via AXS) Book movie/event tickets Order food delivery Redeem DBS/POSB card rewards & deals FavePay integration
Transaction Limit	Tied to your bank’s daily local transfer limit	Set by your wallet limit

So, Which One Should You Use?

• You’re already using PayNow every time you use your bank app (like digibank, UOB TMRW, or OCBC Digital) to send money to a friend’s mobile number. For simple, no-fuss bank-to-bank transfers, this is all you need.
• You should download DBS PayLah! if you are a DBS/POSB customer and want to access their rewards, deals, and lifestyle features (like booking tickets) all in one place.

In short, you don’t have to “choose” one over the other. PayNow is the essential service that powers your bank app, while PayLah! is an optional, feature-packed app that builds on top of it.

As a Seller, How Do I Accept PayLah?

For most businesses, you don’t need to specifically accept PayLah!. Instead, you accept PayNow via a QR code.

As long as you can display a PayNow QR code on your storefront, or during your ecommerce checkout, your customers can scan this single QR code using any of their preferred banking apps (yes including DBS PayLah!), as well as DBS digibank, UOB TMRW, OCBC Digital, and others.