Shipping the same core idea with fresh language: a complete rewrite in clear, engaging English.
But here’s where it gets controversial: who really leads the charge in mobile payments, and what does that mean for everyday shoppers across Europe?
Overview
Technological progress is reshaping everyday life, including how people buy things. Across Europe, mobile payments are growing as more consumers use smartphones and smartwatches to complete purchases. In 2024, mobile apps accounted for 6% of all point-of-sale (POS) payments in the euro area, representing 7% of the total payment value. By contrast, in 2019 those figures were both 1%. The European Central Bank (ECB) provides these figures, illustrating the ongoing shift toward digital wallets and app-based transactions.
What counts as a mobile payment?
A mobile payment can be made with a phone, a smartwatch, a fitness band, or another connected device. Transactions occur through digital wallets or dedicated mobile apps, making payments faster and sometimes more convenient than traditional methods.
How the euro area breaks down in 2024
- In terms of share of activity, about 75% of day-to-day payments happened at the POS (in-person), roughly 21% online, and around 4% were P2P (person-to-person) transfers such as sending money to a friend. These proportions are derived from ECB SPACE survey data.
- In terms of value, day-to-day spending split roughly 58% at POS, 36% online, and 6% P2P. This mirrors broader trends toward in-person payments dominating overall spend, while online channels capture a large portion of the monetary value.
Cash, cards, and mobile: where the money goes
Across the euro area, cash remains the most used payment method by number of transactions, accounting for about 52%, though it represents only 39% of total payment value. Cards follow, used in about 39% of transactions but representing 45% of value, suggesting higher average tickets. Mobile payments account for around 6% of transactions and 7% of the total value.
Leading the way: the Netherlands
The Netherlands stands out among 20 euro-area countries for its advanced digital payment adoption. Authorities note very high use of contactless methods—whether via debit cards or smartphones—and consumers perceive these options as faster and more convenient than cash or traditional card payments. At the POS, mobile payments appear in roughly 19% of transactions in the Netherlands. Ireland and Finland also show strong uptake, at about 10%. Conversely, Slovenia, Croatia, and Belgium have the lowest shares, with mobile payments comprising only about 3% of transactions.
Big Four landscape
Among the euro-area’s four largest economies, Spain is the exception with a mobile payment share above the area average at around 7%. Germany aligns with the average at about 6%, while France and Italy fall below it. When you look at payment value, the Netherlands again leads with a 17% share, followed by Spain at 12%. Croatia, Belgium, Portugal, and Austria report the lowest value shares for mobile payments.
A practical takeaway
Digital literacy and perceptions of speed and ease significantly influence how quickly people adopt mobile payments. For many consumers, carrying cash or cards may feel unnecessary when smart devices are widely accepted and convenient. Yet, non-users express notable concerns: security and the risk of hacking (about 28%) and fraud (about 27%) remain important barriers to adoption.
In summary
The shift toward mobile and digital payments is well underway in Europe, but it unfolds unevenly by country and by payment value. While in-person payments still dominate, the rising role of mobile wallets and contactless methods is clear, especially in the Netherlands and a few other early-adopter markets. The biggest questions going forward center on how to balance convenience with robust security, and how to close the gap for those who still prefer traditional payment methods.
