Analysis of Common Payment Methods for E-commerce Sellers in Europe, Africa, and Oceania

As e-commerce rapidly evolves, payment methods across regions have become increasingly diverse. Consumers in different countries and regions adopt various payment methods based on their consumption habits and technological development. This article introduces the main payment methods in Europe, Africa, and Oceania, including wallet payments, online payments, mobile payments, and card payments, helping you better understand the global payment ecosystem.

Europe

European consumers use a wide range of payment methods, some of which include international credit/debit cards, online payment platforms, mobile payments, and digital currencies.

● International Credit/Debit Cards: Visa and Mastercard are international financial services companies that specialize in credit and debit card payments linked to bank accounts, boasting billions of users globally. These cards are especially common in countries like the UK, Spain, and Poland.

● Online Payment Platforms: PayPal, the world’s largest online payment provider with over 150 million users, supports major payment methods such as credit cards, balance transfers, foreign bank cards, and electronic checks. It is widely used in countries like Germany, the UK, and France.

● Mobile Payments: Mobile payment is growing rapidly in Europe, driven by the widespread adoption of Near Field Communication (NFC) technology. More Europeans are using smartphones for payments, allowing for quick transactions without the need for cash or cards. Sweden, in particular, has advanced quickly in digital payments, making strides toward an efficient, cashless payment system, though challenges such as accessibility for all demographics remain.

With the acceleration of European integration, cross-border payments have seen significant growth in the region. Major payment platforms are working to provide more convenient and secure cross-border payment services to meet the increasing demand for international transactions. Alongside the development of e-payments, payment security has become critical. European governments and payment institutions are heavily investing in advanced technology to ensure safe and reliable payment processes.

1. Wallet Payments

● PayPal: A global leader in online payment platforms, also offering e-wallet functions.

● Apple Pay: Mobile payment and digital wallet service by Apple.

● Google Pay: Google’s mobile payment and digital wallet service.

● Samsung Pay: Samsung’s mobile payment and digital wallet service.

● Revolut: A popular European digital wallet and payment app offering cross-border payment services.

● N26: A digital bank in Europe providing e-wallet and payment services.

● Monese: An online bank offering e-wallets and multi-currency accounts.

● TransferWise: An international payment platform offering multi-currency accounts and e-wallet services.

● Bunq: A Dutch digital bank offering e-wallets and payment solutions.

● Skrill: A UK-based e-wallet provider supporting multi-currency transactions and online payments.

2. Online Payments

● Stripe: A platform offering payment processing services for online businesses.

● Adyen: A global payment technology company providing internet payment solutions for merchants.

● Worldpay: A provider of secure and reliable internet payment solutions for businesses.

● 2Checkout: An international online payment gateway supporting multiple payment methods and currencies.

● PayPal Checkout: An online payment solution provided by PayPal, offering convenience and speed.

● Authorize.Net: A payment gateway offering secure e-transaction solutions.

● Sage Pay: A UK-based payment gateway providing payment processing services for online businesses.

● Mollie: A European payment service provider supporting multiple internet payment methods.

● Klarna: An online payment platform offering buy-now-pay-later and installment payment solutions.

● Spreedly: A payment platform offering payment APIs to simplify online payment processes.

3. Mobile Payments

● WeChat Pay: A mobile payment tool widely used in China and some parts of Europe.

● Alipay: The international version of Alipay, offering mobile and cross-border payment services.

● Mobiamo: A platform providing mobile payment solutions, supporting phone bill payments.

● SumUp: A mobile payment solution provider offering hardware devices and services for small businesses.

● iZettle: (Acquired by PayPal) A provider of mobile payments and POS systems for small businesses.

4. Card Payments

● Visa: A leading global credit card brand widely used across Europe.

● Mastercard: Another major credit card brand with broad acceptance in Europe.

● American Express: An international company offering credit cards and payment services, also active in Europe.

● Diners Club: An international credit card brand with a presence in the European market.

● Discover: A US-based credit card brand with some partnerships and acceptance in parts of Europe.

● Maestro: An international debit card brand widely used across Europe.

● RuPay: An Indian domestic payment card brand that is accepted in some European countries.

● Mir: A Russian domestic payment card brand gradually gaining acceptance in Europe.

5. Prepaid Card Payments

● Paysafecard: A popular prepaid card payment method in Europe, available at various sales points.

● Neosurf: A French prepaid card payment solution, where users can purchase prepaid cards at retail locations for online use.

● Ukash: A UK-based prepaid card payment system where users can buy prepaid cards for online payments.

Nordic Countries

● Wallet Payments: Swish (Sweden), MobilePay (Denmark), Vipps (Norway)

● Online Payments: Klarna and Trustly (Sweden), Dankort Online (Denmark), BankAxept Internet (Norway)

● Mobile Payments: Mobile payments are becoming more popular in Nordic countries, with applications such as Swish, MobilePay, and Vipps also offering mobile payment features.

● Card Payments: Visa, Mastercard, and Maestro are widely accepted in the Nordic countries.

● Cross-border Payments: PayPal, TransferWise, and Klarna are commonly used for cross-border payments in the region.

Eastern Europe

● Wallet Payments: Qiwi Wallet and Yandex.Money (Russia), Paysafecard (Poland), GoPay Wallet (Czech Republic)

● Online Payments: Robokassa and 2Checkout (Russia), Dotpay (Poland), Privat24 (Ukraine)

Central Europe

● Wallet Payments: Giropay (Germany), EPS (Austria), PayU (Poland)

● Online Payments: PayPal and Sofortbanking (now PayNow) (Germany), Przelewy24 (Poland), GoPay (Czech Republic)

Western Europe

● Wallet Payments: Skrill and PayPal (UK), Lemon Wallet and Paylib (France)

● Online Payments: Stripe, Worldpay, Payzen, LCL Internet

● Mobile Payments: Apple Pay, Google Pay, Orange Money, BNP Paribas Mobile Payment

● Card Payments: Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, American Express, Discover (in some Western European countries)

Southern Europe

● Wallet Payments:Italy: PagoPA, Siconet

○ Spain: BBVA Wallet, CaixaBank Wallet

○ Portugal: Multibanco Mobile Wallet

● Online Payments:Italy: PostePay, SisalPay

○ Greece: Alpha e-Banking, Piraeus Bank Online Payment

○ Spain: Redsys, 4B

● Mobile Payments:Italy: Apple Pay, Google Pay

○ Greece: VivoPay, Mpay

○ Spain: Movilpay, Telefonica Movil Money

Africa

● Wallet Payments: M-PESA (Kenya, Tanzania), Airtel Money (Kenya, Ghana), PalmPay (Ghana), OPay (Nigeria), Zeepay (multiple African countries), Wallettec (multiple African countries)

● Online Payments: Paystack (Nigeria), Flutterwave (Nigeria), SnapScan (South Africa), Cellulant (Kenya)

● Mobile Payments: M-PESA, N-OPay, Zeepay, Chipper Cash (Pan-African), Vodacom M-Pesa (South Africa, Lesotho)

● Cross-border Payments: Earthport, Adyen

Oceania

● Wallet Payments: humm (Australia), PayPal Wallet, Apple Pay, Google Pay

● Online Payments: eWAY (Australia)

● Mobile Payments: Vodafone Wallet

Using BuckyDrop, Achieve Comprehensive Coverage of Payment Methods Across Europe, Africa, and Oceania Without Worry

BuckyDrop’s platform offers a comprehensive payment solution, eliminating concerns about the diversity and complexity of payment methods. Whether your business spans Europe, Africa, or Oceania, BuckyDrop provides complete coverage of various payment options, streamlines processes, and delivers excellent service support. From Northern Europe, Southern Europe, Eastern Europe, and Western Europe to African countries and Oceania, BuckyDrop ensures seamless payment solutions that support the success of your cross-border e-commerce.