How people pay in Spain in 2026
Spain combines heavy card use with one of Europe's most successful domestic payment apps. Cards in circulation rose 10.2% to 126 million, about 2.5 per inhabitant, and card payments made up 65.9% of non-cash operations in the second half of 2025, according to the Banco de España. Bizum, owned by Spanish banks, closed 2025 with 1.237 billion operations worth €67.8 billion, and by October 2026 it counted 32.5 million users.
At the till, cash is still the most used method: in the Banco de España's 2025 survey on cash habits, 57% of consumers named cash their main way to pay in physical stores, against 27% for cards and 15% for mobile phones. Online, cards lead, and Bizum is the main local alternative, accepted by 111,000 merchants and e-commerce platforms at the end of 2025. Instant transfers, direct debits, cash on delivery and BNPL from seQura, Aplazame and Klarna complete the picture.
- 32.5 million Bizum users in October 2026 (Bizum figures via Roams)
- 126 million payment cards in circulation, H2 2025 (Banco de España)
- 1.56 billion instant transfers in 2025 (Iberpay via Roams)
- 57% of consumers mainly pay cash in physical stores, 2025 (Banco de España)
Payment by card in Spain
Cards are the backbone of non-cash payments in Spain. The Banco de España counted 126 million cards in the second half of 2025, up 10.2% in a year, with an average card payment of €32.1. Cards accounted for 65.9% of all non-cash payment operations, far ahead of credit transfers and direct debits. Most cards carry Visa or Mastercard and are contactless, and many banks let customers split purchases into installments after the fact. Our guide to card networks explains how schemes, issuers and acquirers interact.
Behind the terminals sits Redsys, the processor used by most Spanish banks. It was created in 2011 when the processors of the Servired network and Redes y Procesos merged, ending the era of separate domestic networks such as ServiRed and 4B. Online, cards remain the first method: in the ECB's 2024 study, they covered 51% of online payments in Spain, down from 59% in 2022, as Bizum gained ground.
Card schemes in Spain
Visa
International scheme
The most common brand on Spanish debit and credit cards, issued by all major banks and accepted at almost every terminal and online checkout.
Mastercard
International scheme
The other global scheme on Spanish cards, widely issued by banks and neobanks and used for e-commerce, travel and payments abroad.
American Express
Charge and credit card
Used by business travelers and affluent consumers, and accepted mainly by large retailers, hotels, airlines and online merchants.
Contactless debit cards
Debit card
Bank debit cards, usually Visa or Mastercard, are the everyday card in Spain, used tap-to-pay in stores and with 3-D Secure online.
€32.1 average card payment in H2 2025, Banco de España
Card installment plans
Bank installments
Spanish issuers such as CaixaBank, BBVA and Santander let cardholders defer or split a card purchase into monthly payments from their banking app, often after checkout.
Payment by cash in Spain
Spain is still a cash-heavy market at the point of sale. In the Banco de España's 2025 survey on cash habits, 57% of consumers still named cash their main way to pay in physical stores, slightly fewer than a year earlier, while 27% named cards and 15% their mobile phone. Cash is also still the most common way to pay other individuals, at 57%, but it is losing ground to Bizum, especially among people under 45.
Online, cash survives mainly as cash on delivery (contra reembolso), used by shoppers who do not want to share card details or who buy from marketplaces and smaller shops. It costs merchants more in returns and handling, so many shops push Bizum instead or limit cash on delivery to certain basket sizes. Prepaid vouchers such as paysafecard, sold in tobacconists and kiosks, serve gaming and digital goods.
Cash payment methods in Spain
Cash
Banknotes and coins
Still the most used method in Spanish shops, bars and markets, especially for small amounts and among older consumers.
57% of consumers who mainly pay cash in physical stores, 2025 survey, Banco de España
Cash on delivery
Cash on delivery
Known as contra reembolso, the courier or Correos collects the amount when the parcel is delivered, usually for an extra fee.
paysafecard
Cash voucher
A prepaid PIN bought with cash at kiosks, tobacconists and gas stations, then used to pay online, mainly for gaming and digital content.
Payment by bank transfer in Spain
Spain is a leader in Europe for instant payments. Iberpay, which runs the national clearing system, processed 1.556 billion instant transfers worth €436.7 billion in 2025, up 31.1% in number. Much of this traffic comes from Bizum, the mobile payment service built by Spanish banks on top of instant transfers. Bizum handled 105.6 million e-commerce purchases worth €5.4 billion in 2025, up 82.1%.
In May 2026 Bizum started in-store NFC payments with CaixaBank, BBVA, Sabadell and Bankinter. By the end of September, more than 21 million people could pay in stores with Bizum, at 1.7 million enabled outlets, and about 120,000 online shops accepted it. Since March 2025, Bizum users can pay MB WAY users in Portugal and Bancomat Pay users in Italy instantly, and in February 2026 Spanish banks launched the link with Vipps MobilePay and Wero, covering 13 European countries. Direct debits remain the default for utilities and subscriptions, at 11.2% of non-cash operations.
Bank transfer methods in Spain
Bizum
Mobile instant payment
Bank-owned service that moves money by phone number from the customer's banking app, used for person-to-person payments, online checkouts and, since 2026, contactless payments in stores.
1.237 billion operations in 2025, Bizum via Infobae
SEPA Instant Credit Transfer
Instant transfer
Transferencias inmediatas settle in seconds through Iberpay and are offered by all Spanish banks at the same price as standard transfers, with payee name checks before sending.
€436.7 billion moved by instant transfers in 2025, Iberpay via Roams
Bank transfer
Credit transfer
Manual transfers to the merchant's IBAN are still used for B2B invoices, large-ticket purchases and some online orders, with the goods shipped once funds arrive.
SEPA Direct Debit
Direct debit
Recibos domiciliados are the standard way to pay utilities, telecoms, insurance, gyms and subscriptions in Spain.
11.2% of non-cash payment operations in H2 2025, Banco de España
Payment by installment and BNPL in Spain
Spanish shoppers have long split purchases, first through store and bank credit and now through online buy now, pay later. A ResearchAndMarkets report estimated Spanish BNPL payments at about $8.9 billion in 2025, growing 11.6% a year, with local players seQura and Aplazame competing with Klarna, PayPal and the banks. Afterpay bought the Spanish firm Pagantis, known for Paga+Tarde, and ran it as Clearpay until it stopped operating in Spain in August 2023.
Barcelona-based seQura is the local leader, with more than 5,000 merchants and 2 million shoppers when it raised €410 million in November 2024. Banks remain big players too, through card installment plans and point-of-sale financing. The rules change on November 20, 2026, when the revised EU Consumer Credit Directive brings most BNPL under consumer credit law, with affordability checks and standard information for shoppers.
Installment and BNPL providers in Spain
seQura
Local BNPL
Spanish provider offering pay later, pay in 3 and longer installment plans at online and physical checkouts, strong in fashion, education, optics and health.
2 million shoppers and 5,000 merchants in November 2024, seQura
Aplazame
Local BNPL
Madrid-based point-of-sale financing provider that lets shoppers pay online purchases in installments, with credit issued by WiZink Bank.
Klarna
BNPL
Swedish provider offering pay in 3 and pay later at Spanish online retailers, especially in fashion and electronics.
PayPal Pay in 3
Wallet installments
PayPal's interest-free option that splits an eligible purchase into three payments, shown to Spanish PayPal users at checkout.
Payment by digital wallet and X-Pay in Spain
Mobile payments are rising fast in Spanish stores. In the Banco de España's 2025 survey, 15% of consumers named their phone as their main way to pay in physical stores, and the share keeps growing. Apple Pay and Google Pay carry most of this, with Spanish bank cards tokenized in the phone, and Samsung Wallet adds a smaller share. Read our guide to X-Pay for how these tokenized wallets work.
Bizum now competes in the same space. Since May 2026, users of some banks can tap their phone at the terminal to pay with Bizum, either from their banking app or from the new Bizum Pay app, and funds reach the merchant immediately. Online, PayPal remains the main third-party wallet for marketplaces and cross-border shopping.
Digital wallets and X-Pay in Spain
Apple Pay
X-Pay
Supported by all major Spanish banks for contactless payments in stores and one-tap checkout in apps and on the web.
Google Pay
X-Pay
The default wallet on Android phones in Spain, used for tap-to-pay in stores and online checkout with stored bank cards.
Bizum Pay
Bank wallet
Bizum's NFC payment for stores, available inside some banking apps or through the Bizum Pay app, with instant settlement to the merchant.
21 million people able to pay in stores with Bizum at end of September 2026, Bizum via Roams
PayPal
Digital wallet
Widely accepted by Spanish online shops and marketplaces, valued for buyer protection and cross-border purchases.
Samsung Wallet
X-Pay
Samsung's wallet for contactless card payments on Galaxy phones, supported by several Spanish banks.
Payments in Spain: FAQ
What is the most popular online payment method in Spain?
Cards, followed by Bizum. In the ECB's 2024 study, cards covered 51% of online payments in Spain. Bizum handled 105.6 million online purchases in 2025 and was accepted by 111,000 merchants and e-commerce platforms at year end.
Can you pay with Bizum in physical stores?
Yes, since May 2026. Bizum launched NFC payments at card terminals with CaixaBank, BBVA, Sabadell and Bankinter first, and other banks joined through the year. By the end of September 2026, more than 21 million people could pay in stores at 1.7 million enabled outlets.
Do people in Spain still pay in cash?
Yes, more than in most of Europe. In the Banco de España's 2025 survey, 57% of consumers named cash their main way to pay in physical stores, though the share keeps falling as cards and mobile payments grow.
Can Bizum be used outside Spain?
Partly. Since March 2025, Bizum users can send money to MB WAY users in Portugal and Bancomat Pay users in Italy, and in February 2026 banks started extending the link to 13 European countries with Vipps MobilePay and Wero. In 2025, more than 69,400 cross-border operations used this link, and 90% of them had Bizum as origin or destination.
Accept local payments in Spain with NORBr
Most merchants in Spain accept payments through bank acquirers such as CaixaBank, Santander, BBVA and Sabadell, with Redsys processing most card and Bizum traffic. Check Bizum support online and in stores, 3-D Secure exemption handling and fast euro settlement.
With NORBr, you can connect any acquirer, PSP or local provider that offers cards, Bizum, PayPal and pay-later options such as seQura and Aplazame. Some are already in our connector catalog; Mapper™ gets the others live in days, and Smart Checkout shows each shopper the right methods. Explore the other #PayWorldTour guides.
Local payment providers in Spain
Redsys
Processor
Spain's main payment processor, owned by the banks, which runs the virtual POS used by many bank-acquired merchants and processes card payments and Bizum operations.
€180.6 million net revenue in 2025, Redsys annual accounts
Covers: Cards, Bizum, Apple Pay, Google Pay
Comercia Global Payments
Acquirer
Payment institution owned by Global Payments and CaixaBank, which absorbed UniversalPay and sells the Addon Payments gateway, payment links and POS terminals to CaixaBank merchants.
640,000+ CaixaBank merchant clients in 2026, CaixaBank
Covers: Cards, Bizum, Apple Pay, Google Pay
Getnet
Acquirer
Santander's payments company, which serves merchants, ISVs and PayFacs in Spain and Portugal and is a direct member of Bizum and MB WAY.
€238 billion processed worldwide in 2025, Santander
Covers: Cards, Bizum, MB WAY, Apple Pay, Google Pay
PAYCOMET
Payment gateway
Banco Sabadell's payment institution, licensed by the Banco de España, which runs Sabadell's POS business and an omnichannel gateway with local and alternative methods.
€50 billion+ processed per year, PAYCOMET
Covers: Cards, Bizum, Apple Pay, PayPal, MB WAY, Multibanco, iDEAL | Wero, Trustly
MONEI
Payment gateway
Málaga-based payment institution registered with the Banco de España, popular with Shopify and WooCommerce shops and an early provider of Bizum in physical stores.
Covers: Cards, Bizum, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, SEPA Direct Debit
