WalletwaitWalletwait / Development notes
Building Walletwait: from a mini program to the web and a multilingual app
Before you buy something, we want you to have room to hear another perspective. Bringing that conversation to more people took Walletwait from a mini program to the web, then into an everyday mobile experience.
Published
Our WeChat mini program helped us see the value of discussing a purchase before making it. The web opened an entry point beyond WeChat. The app supports regular mobile use, while built-in translation helps people understand posts and replies in different languages.
- Mini program: explore the value of discussion
- Web: open the door to more people
- App: make participation part of everyday life
01
Starting with a mini program: make the reasons visible
We first launched the Walletwait WeChat mini program to turn “Should I buy it?” into a conversation. Describe the product, price, reasons and possible alternatives, then listen to other perspectives.
That experience shaped our direction. We care about the reasons behind a yes or a no: does the item fit your needs, is there a better alternative, and do you need to spend the money now?
Walletwait provides a space for discussion. Approvals and votes do not place orders or charge you; the purchase decision remains yours.
02
Why we built the web version: reach people beyond WeChat
The mini program made access and sharing convenient inside WeChat. Relying on that ecosystem alone, however, made it harder to include people who do not use it. Friends may live in different countries and use different social platforms.
We built the Walletwait website so people could use a browser on a phone or computer, learn about the product, browse the public plaza, and sign in to post or join a discussion.
A website also gives us a lasting home for product information, guides and platform links. It is a shared entry point across devices.
03
Why build an app too? Make returning easier
The website already works on phones. But when a discussion carries into the next day, or someone wants to check replies in a spare moment, we also want an entry point that fits their regular mobile habits.
That led us to Android and iOS apps, bringing purchase requests, groups, the plaza and replies into a mobile experience. The web and apps serve different situations; people can choose what suits them.
Our focus is continuity: open the app, find your purchase request, read the reasons people shared and add your own thoughts. We will keep improving consistency across platforms.
04
Built-in translation: help different languages meet
Reaching the same discussion is only the first step. If people cannot understand a post or its replies, the conversation still has a barrier.
The app includes translation for posts and replies, presenting content according to the phone’s system language. This reduces the need to copy text into a separate translation tool.
Someone might describe a headphone purchase in Chinese while another person shares experience in English. Translation helps them understand each other, but each still judges the advice against their own budget, needs and circumstances.
Translation supports discussion; it does not make decisions. Important details such as product specifications and prices should also be checked against the original text and product information.
Explore the multilingual mobile experience
Suppose a camera post says the buyer shoots indoors at night and has a CNY 3,000 budget. Those details matter more than the translated headline. If a model name or condition is unclear, check the original before replying. When writing your own post, start with our guide to asking for public purchase feedback.
05
What can you do with Walletwait?
The platform has expanded, but the focus is still thinking and talking before a purchase. Start with these features:
- Purchase requests: explain the item, price, reasons and alternatives so others can offer informed advice.
- Groups and the public plaza: talk with friends or hear broader perspectives, choosing the appropriate sharing scope.
- Participant and time limits: choose how a discussion ends to give each request a clear boundary.
- Guess the Price: practise price intuition with product pictures and different game modes, alongside the main purchase discussions.
Read the feature guide · Open my groups (sign-in required) · Try Guess the Price
06
Android is available. iOS is coming soon.
Walletwait for Android is available on Google Play through our official download page. The iOS app is coming soon; its availability and official entry point will be updated on the same page.
We will continue improving mobile use, multilingual discussions and the product library, and explore more price-game experiences based on feedback. Available features and future plans will be clearly distinguished; check the download page and version notes for current details.
07
Our vision: another perspective before you buy
Walletwait is known as 钱包请等等 in Chinese. Whatever entry point you use, we want to provide a place where you can explain a purchase and give other opinions a fair hearing.
From a WeChat mini program to the web and a multilingual app, the platforms have changed but the goal has not: help people from different places and language backgrounds share experience, so you have another perspective before deciding.
These development notes will describe what we build, why, and what still needs work. Try the web version and tell us about your experience.