How do Paraguayans pay online?
Mostly by QR and debit card. QR accounts for 52% of e-commerce operations, and 85% at Paraguayan online stores, according to Bancard data presented in 2026. Debit cards make up 75% of card operations online.
In detail
Mostly by QR and debit card. QR accounts for 52% of e-commerce operations, and 85% at Paraguayan online stores, according to Bancard data presented in 2026. Debit cards make up 75% of card operations online.
How people pay in Paraguay in 2026
QR codes, launched by Bancard in 2020, now carry most electronic payments: 25 million QR transactions in August 2026, 65.6% of digital payments, against 3% for magnetic stripe cards. Cards keep growing too. The Cámara Paraguaya de Medios de Pago (CPMP) projects 656 million card transactions in 2026, up 39%, from 11.39 million cards in force, with debit far ahead of credit.
Payment by card in Paraguay
Bancard reports that debit accounts for 65% of the volume it processes and 75% of online operations, with online debit transactions up 157% to August 2026. Visa and Mastercard dominate issuing, and banks push credit cards with promotions in cuotas, or installments. Acquiring runs mostly through two networks: Bancard, owned by local banks, and Bepsa with its Dinelco brand. Online, many merchants plug into Bancard's vPOS checkout.
More detail in our #PayWorldTour guide Payment methods in Paraguay.