What is the most popular payment method in Paraguay?
QR payments. Bancard processed 25 million QR transactions in August 2026, 65.6% of the digital payments on its network. Debit cards come next, and cash remains common for small purchases and in rural areas.
In detail
QR payments. Bancard processed 25 million QR transactions in August 2026, 65.6% of the digital payments on its network. Debit cards come next, and cash remains common for small purchases and in rural areas.
Payment by card in Paraguay
Cards are the base of electronic payments in Paraguay, even when shoppers pay by QR, since many QR payments draw on a debit or credit card. The CPMP counted 11.39 million cards in force, 190,849 POS terminals and 126,066 merchants in June 2026.
Payment by installment and BNPL in Paraguay
Credit cards remain a minority of payments, though. Debit cards grow faster, and Bancard says credit card purchase volume rose only 10% to August 2026.
Payment by digital wallet and X-Pay in Paraguay
The phone is Paraguay's main payment device. About 7 in 10 digital payments are made from a mobile phone, according to Bancard. Its QR is the core of that habit: more than 3.7 million people and 181,000 merchants used or accepted it in early 2026, through 18 banks, 5 financial companies, 42 cooperatives and 10 other apps. In November 2025, QR held 64% of electronic payments, physical cards 31.5% and digital wallets 4.5%, per Bancard data.
More detail in our #PayWorldTour guide Payment methods in Paraguay.