Latest update (6/2023) on WeChat's Weixin Pay and AliPay, from my coworkers and I, trying to get one of the wallet working so we won't starve in China

1) I have both accounts registered with same local phone number and gone through all the necessary SMS verifications.
2) Both accounts are verified as deeply as it can with US-issue passport, no Chinese ID, no Chinese bank account.
3) I added the same US-issue credit card to both accounts.
4) Both wallets appears in "functional" state, meaning I can launch and access wallet and not get alerts or warning about lock out or limited function.

Here are the key observations:
1) Tried to receive 5RMB from a local coworker - AliPay allowed me to accept but Weixin Pay did not.
2) Coworker tried to receive about 1000RMB from the same coworker and also worked on AliPay and not on Weixin Pay.
3) The "transfer from" coworker has long established accounts - basically our local person in China, so his account is not new.
3) Tried to spend the RMB in our AliPay "cash balance" - my 5RMB was spent with no issue; my worker tried to buy a mid-price Bluetooth headset and the "hundred RMB" range transaction was blocked. He has the cash balance but they decline to let him spend it. He attempt to buy a drink and AliPay did allow that.
4) I tried to pay for ~20RMB snack/meal with zero "cash balance". Once merchant scanned my QR code, the app prompted me to agree to the amount. The transaction triggered a charge to my credit card and app prompted me again to entered the CVV code!! Once I entered the CVV code, the transaction went through but it look a long time based on merchant feedback - the process does feel long to me as well compare to the usual swipe, insert or tap of my card in direct credit card transaction. Basically, every step require data exchanges between merchant, the pay platform server, me and then my bank and me again.
5) Same spend-via-credit card process for both Weixin Pay and AliPay.

In conclusion:
1) Same account setup/creation process for both, so it's an apple-to-apple comparison.
2) AliPay allowed me to accept money from friends/coworkers and spend it. Weixin Pay did not allow me to even accept money.
3) AliPay does allow you to spend small amount of that accepted money but not larger amount but not sure a few hundred RMB is consider a large amount.
3) Same spend process via charging the linked foreign-issued credit card.

All said and done, I'd recommend just use AliPay as it is more widely accepted and does allow you to transfer and spend petty cash.