Mobile Wallets Surpass Cards as Smartphones Lead Ireland’s Contactless Payment Shift

Smartphones have rapidly emerged as the preferred payment device for consumers, underscoring their increasing role in daily life. According to the Banking and Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI), over half of all contactless payments are now made via mobile wallets such as Apple Pay or Google Pay, rather than traditional cards.

Financial analysts attribute this trend to the convenience of mobile payments and the absence of the €50 limit imposed on contactless card transactions. In the year leading up to June, consumers made over 1.4 billion contactless payments, valued at €24.8 billion, across retail outlets, representing approximately 80% of all in-store transactions.

Dublin leads the country in contactless payments per capital, with Carlow, Limerick, and Waterford also showing significant adoption. Meanwhile, counties like Roscommon and Monaghan have seen lower mobile wallet usage. Despite these regional differences, the choice in payment methods—whether by card, mobile, or cash—remains a critical factor for consumers.

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