Payment Methods in Ireland in 2025: Everything You Need to Know

Ireland’s digital economy is accelerating, with mobile wallets now taking centre stage in everyday payments. According to Banking and Payments Federation Ireland, Irish consumers made 732 million mobile wallet transactions worth €13.9 billion between June 2023 and June 2024, averaging 142 payments per person. When it comes to online payments, the shift in the preferences of Irish customers is even more apparent. According to Central Bank of Ireland, the number of online transactions in Ireland in 2024 surpassed 863.4 million.

For merchants entering Ireland or expanding locally, aligning with these payment preferences is essential. Supporting familiar methods like mobile wallets builds trust, reduces friction at checkout, and increases conversions. In this guide, we explore most popular payment methods used in Ireland, examine the growing role of open banking, and show how Noda offers the ideal solution for meeting local customer expectations.

Most Popular Payment Methods in Ireland

Irish consumers favour a blend of international and home‑grown options. Debit and credit cards remain dominant, but PayPal, digital wallets and direct bank services are all growing in popularity. Local solutions like SEPA‑based bank transfers and direct debit schemes also play a major role, especially for subscriptions and higher‑value transactions.

Online Payment Methods in Ireland

When shopping online, Irish buyers look for security, speed and simplicity. They expect major card networks, PayPal and mobile wallets alongside efficient bank‑to‑bank services. As 70% of users browsing online end up not buying what they were looking for according to Evalon.ie, merchants should understand which local favourites to offer in order to prevent cart abandonment.

Top  8 Payment Methods in Ireland

1. Credit and Debit Cads

Visa and Mastercard together account for over 60 per cent of Irish card transactions. Debit cards issued by AIB, Bank of Ireland and Permanent TSB are most common. Credit cards are also accepted widely, particularly for travel and higher‑value purchases, though merchants should plan for higher processing fees and potential fraud disputes.

2. PayPal

PayPal is a familiar option for both domestic and cross‑border shoppers. It offers buyer protection and a one‑click checkout that boosts conversion. However, its fees are higher than for direct card or bank payments, so it is best used as a secondary method for international customers.

3. Digital Wallets (Revolut, Monese)

Beyond Apple Pay and Google Pay, challenger apps such as Revolut and Monese have gained significant traction in Ireland, particularly among younger, tech-savvy consumers. According to RTE, more than 3 million Irish customers use Revolut, with over 400 000 being under 18. These digital wallets offer seamless in-app payments, real-time peer-to-peer transfers, and easy account management, making them a go-to choice for users looking for flexible financial tools. They also support online payments through simple payment links, allowing merchants to cater to a growing audience that values speed, convenience and mobile-first experiences. With Revolut alone being used by most of Ireland’s 5 million population, integrating these wallets is becoming increasingly important for businesses looking to meet local demand.

3. Apple Pay and Google Pay

Digital wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay are rapidly gaining ground in Ireland, especially among smartphone users. Use is strongest among under‑35s, many of whom prefer wallets for everyday purchases like food and ride‑hailing. While wallets improve convenience and security, they still depend on underlying cards, so merchants should account for standard card fees. According to Tech Buzz Ireland, 21% of e-commerce payments in 2023 were fulfilled using those wallets, with annual growth projected at 15% through to 2026. Both Apple Pay and Google Pay let customers pay with a single tap on their device.

4. SEPA Bank Transfers

Standard SEPA transfers remain common for larger orders and B2B transactions. They are reliable and familiar to Irish consumers. Many banks now support instant SEPA, which completes transactions in seconds for a small fee, making it a viable online option for merchants. 

5. Direct Debit 

Direct debit allows businesses to collect recurring payments directly from a customer’s bank account. It is commonly used for subscriptions, utilities, and insurance. Customers authorise payment mandates in advance, enabling merchants to maintain steady cash flow without the need for manual invoicing. As a widely supported and low-cost option in Ireland, direct debit is ideal for automating regular payments. It also helps reduce late payments and administrative workload, making it a strong choice for businesses with predictable billing cycles.

7. Klarna and Other BNPL Services

Buy‑now‑pay‑later options are increasingly used in Ireland. Klarna and Afterpay allow shoppers to split payments over weeks or months without interest. BNPL services can increase average order value, but merchants must manage the risk of customer default and bear in mind the very high cost of BNPL payments as compared to standard card processing fees and other payment methods.

8. Open Banking Payments

Open banking – a payment method that is slowly but steadily growing in popularity in Ireland – lets customers pay directly from their bank account via secure APIs (Application Programming Interfaces), without entering card details. They offer real‑time confirmation, lower fees and stronger authentication. Adoption in Ireland is on the rise, driven by the EU’s mandatory PSD2 regulations and consumer demand for fast, low‑cost payments. With increasing support across Irish banks, open banking is also gaining traction among tech-savvy consumers in e-commerce seeking direct and low-cost payment alternatives.

The Rise of Open Banking in Ireland

Open banking is transforming how Irish consumers pay online. Under PSD2, banks must provide APIs to licensed providers once customers consent. This enables direct account‑to‑account payments with instant settlement and reduced fraud risk. Open banking cuts out intermediary fees, improving margins and speeding up reconciliation. As more merchants and consumers discover its advantages, open banking is becoming an essential part of Ireland’s payment mix.

Choosing a Payment Gateway in Ireland

A robust payment gateway must handle both local and international methods. Irish shoppers expect to see Visa, Mastercard, PayPal and mobile wallets, as well as bank transfers and direct debit. Gateways also need to comply with PSD2, support strong customer authentication and deliver real‑time settlement.

Stripe and BOI Payment Acceptance, as well as AIB Merchant Services are among the platforms serving Ireland, but Noda stands out for its open banking‑first approach. It combines pay‑by‑bank, cards and wallets in one integration, cutting fees (which start from as low as just 0.1%) and reducing complexity, and provides each merchant with a personal account manager ready to answer all your questions and to ensure effortless integration.

Why Local Payment Methods Matter

Over 90 per cent of Irish consumers prefer using fast, modern payment methods they know and trust. Failing to offer familiar options such as mobile payment wallets, buy-now-pay-later or direct debit can drive shoppers away and lead to cart abandonment at your e-commerce website. By blending local favourites with globally renowned cards and wallets, merchants can deliver a checkout experience that feels tailored to Irish buyers and maximises conversion.

Introducing Noda as Your Payment Gateway in Ireland

Noda provides a single integration for all major payment rails in Ireland and beyond:

• Instant Bank Payments from all major Irish Banks like Bank of Ireland, Allied Irish Bank, and others, as well as over 2,000 banks across 28 countries in Euope through a secure open banking API.
• Extremely low fees starting from as little as 0.1% 
• Instant settlement. Receive payments in seconds directly to your bank account with no intermediaries.
• Additional Card and Wallet Support for Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay and Google Pay.
• Easy Integration with Developer‑Friendly API, no‑code tools such as payment links and hosted payment pages, and e-commerce plugins like WooCommerce, Magento, Prestashop, and OpenCart for your business to go live in minutes.
• Built‑in PSD2 Compliance with strong customer authentication and fraud prevention.
• Dedicated Account Manager to guide you through launch and ongoing optimisation.

With Noda, merchants can meet Irish payment expectations, reduce operational friction and scale across Europe with confidence. Contact Noda for a no-obligation demo! Our open banking experts will be happy to look into your unique business case.