Which Payment Methods Are Most Used in Canada?

If you plan on moving to Canada soon, you want to learn as much about the country as possible. From discovering more about the city you will be living in and the best ways of getting around it to familiarizing yourself with certain practices that will make your life easier – there is a lot to consider.

Something that you should not overlook is the payment methods that are most often used in Canada. What is more, even if you’re only visiting the Great White North for a few days, you want to make sure you will have appropriate ways of paying for what you need.

Even if you’re not a tourist, there are other reasons to consider the most used payment methods. If you are opening a business, you want to make sure you are catering to your audience and allowing them to pay for your products and services using a method that they prefer.

No matter your reasons, here are the payment methods that Canadians use most often.

Credit and debit cards

In Canada and most countries around the world, card payments are one of the most commonly used forms of payment. While some locally issued cards don’t work everywhere, there are also financial card services like Visa and MasterCard that are accepted all around the globe. For example, the leading credit card brand, Visa, is available in over 170 countries, while MasterCard is supported in over 210 countries with over 35 million acceptance locations. American Express is another debit and credit card provider that is accepted and widely used in Canada. This method is often used for in-store purchases as well as when shopping online and making online casino deposits.

Interac

In addition to accepting various international debit and credit cards, Canada also has its debit card system, Interac. This interbank network has over 59,000 ATMs across the country while more than 450,000 merchants accept debit payments through this method. With 30 years of history, Interac provides its users with easy, fast, and secure transactions. Interac is a popular option in Canada, especially as it comes with relatively low transaction costs.

PayPal

Taking into account the fact that PayPal operates in 203 markets and supports 26 currencies, it should not come as a surprise that this online payment system is also available in Canada. It allows people to send and receive money via a phone number or email, making it very convenient to use. Besides making shopping online and in-store easier, depositing money into an online casino account and withdrawing it is also made faster with e-Wallets.

Apple Pay

As e-Wallets are becoming increasingly popular, there is a greater number of them on the market. A favourite among Canadians is Apple Pay. This payment app allows customers to store various cards in one place and pay for products and services simply by using their phones. While it is limited to only iOS users, all major Canadian banks offer this option. In terms of security, it works on the principle of tokenization and confirms payments by scanning its user’s face or fingerprint.

Google Pay

Fortunately, Android users are not forgotten either as Google Pay provides them with a way to make contactless purchases on mobile devices. Similar to Apple Pay, it is compatible with major financial institutions in Canada and relies on tokenization to protect its users. However, a face or fingerprint confirmation is not necessary for a payment to go through. While some might see this approach as a positive, others might not.

InstaDebit

InstaDebit is another popular solution in Canada that allows for fast and convenient money transfers. There is no need to put money into an InstaDebit account; instead, customers only need to choose it as a payment option, log in, and select an amount. This service will then work as a middleman between the merchant and the bank. This method works for incoming and outgoing transactions. Another similar service available in Canada is iDebit.

Cash

Finally, while cash is slowly going out of fashion, many people still use it.

From credit and debit cards to e-Wallet alternatives and plain old cash, there is a wide range of methods that are available to customers in Canada. Regardless of whether you’re only visiting, plan on moving there, or already live in Canada and want to start your business, it’s good to know which approaches are best for safe and fast transactions.