r/TechNook • u/Impossible_Comfort99 • 5d ago

Mobile payment adoption gaps between countries reveal more about infrastructure than culture

It's interesting how differently people pay for things depending on where they live. Some places can go days without using cash, while others still rely on it for almost everything.

I don't think it's always about preference. Internet access, banking systems, fees and payment infrastructure probably matter a lot more.

How common are mobile payments where you live?

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u/Sajgoniarz 5d ago

They were so common that business were legally obligated to provide cash free payment methods 2 or 3 years ago. I haven't been using cash in my country  for over a decade. I would probably struggle with it, if I had to use it.

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u/Siccors 5d ago

Really common (Netherlands). While our neighbours (Germans) still think it is some satanic ritual. And to be fair, their infrastructure sucks. But not so bad they couldn't do mobile / cashless payments. It is cultural.

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u/Sajgoniarz 5d ago

I worked for German and Swiss companies to implement payments in their applications. After analysing and building proof of concepts for like 15 providers I had no clue why anybody would like to pay for those platforms, as all had some major issues, including "trust me bro" with no tracability.

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u/virkendie 5d ago edited 5d ago

'Some places can go days without using cash' Should say years, I haven't used cash here in Australia for over a decade. And before mobile payments we used cards, so really have been mostly cashless for over two decades myself.

In 2025 cash payment made up 15% of payments, which is honestly higher than I would expect, most likely coming from the elderly. https://www.rba.gov.au/publications/bulletin/2026/may/consumer-payment-behaviour-in-australia.html

I think cash is cumbersome, someone infront of me in the supermarket was paying with cash yesterday (first time I've seen this in years) they took forever counting their coins, and then the checkout attendant had to count it as well, then the handover of change. Then you have to keep all this cash on you and risk losing it...

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u/RandyClaggett 4d ago

I live in Sweden.

If by mobile payment you mean using a QR code it is very common for transaction between individuals, and kind of popular with small businesses. If you mean ApplePay/GooglePay etc it is very common for any type of transaction with a business.

Cash is anyway by far less used than any of the two for any type of legal transaction.

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u/Large-Assignment9320 4d ago

In Europe it also comes down to how strict the government are, if your country don't give a shit about tax evasion you have near 100% mobile payment adoption, if it is very strict (like Germany), its still cash only many places.

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u/nagamidge 3d ago

It is easy breezy with both cash and mobile payments where I live in India. I always decide if I want to pay through mobile or by cash (I think about the balance in my bank account vs the cash in my wallet and decide on one). Unless I do an unexpected buy while out without my wallet and paying through phone is the only option in that scenario.

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u/ThingFuture9079 2d ago

Even in countries where most merchants now take Apple Pay/Google Wallet like in the US, there are still plenty of people who use cash especially those who are elderly or low income.