⏱️Reading time: 4 minutes
If you own or manage a small business with an e-commerce presence, payment methods are among the most important details to consider. Most shoppers want fast, frictionless checkout processes. Offering preferred ways to pay is a best practice, so discover which options consumers expect.
Credit and debit cards remain well-established payment methods, and that is unlikely to change this year. Third-party services, such as Wise and Revolut, also offer virtual card numbers, providing further protection for people who wish to buy online without using their physical cards. There is then no need for someone to go through the often-cumbersome process of replacing a card with a compromised number.
Some services also allow consumers to use apps and temporarily freeze the card numbers, which can curb impulse spending or prevent unwanted repeat charges for forgotten subscriptions. An October 2025 study found that credit and debit cardholders made 1.1 trillion purchases in the previous year. That takeaway confirms the dominance of card payments.
However, the research also clarified that while consumers like debit cards for low-value, everyday purchases, credit cards were less popular over the study period, partially due to consumers’ debt fears.
Buying something immediately and paying for it over time is particularly attractive for online purchases of essential items that consumers cannot always afford up front. Buy-now-pay-later arrangements built directly into online payment interfaces usually provide people with immediate eligibility decisions.
A March 2026 study also determined that 37% of all consumers and 50% of those under 40 used these options to buy things within the past 90 days. Adding them to your website could be a practical way to encourage people to buy things when they would otherwise hold off due to insufficient bank account balances.
Mobile payment services like Venmo, Cash App and Zelle were originally aimed at consumers who want to split bills with friends or send money to each other. However, they have become so popular that some shoppers now expect them as e-commerce payment options. Estimates suggested Venmo alone would exceed 102 million active users by 2026, highlighting its marketplace penetration.
E-commerce shoppers can pay online with this method using a branded debit card or by clicking the Venmo button on a participating online shopping site. As of April 2026, people can use Venmo to pay at over 100,000 websites and apps, including Starbucks Coffee, Uber and Shein.
Cryptocurrency is gaining ground as a payment option, with online shopping one of the leading areas of high adoption. According to a 2026 study, 69% of e-commerce and retail industry entities accept cryptocurrency payments. Additionally, 45% of all merchants offering this payment method report that it gives them access to new customer groups and helps them appeal to more consumers.
Another finding was that 82% of Gen Z customers have contacted small businesses to ask if they accept crypto. If you don’t already, this year is an excellent time to strongly consider it and potentially grow your shopper base.
Consumers have countless online shopping options, but 16% said being able to use a preferred payment method was a primary driver influencing where they make purchases. Convenience also matters for many, especially if people don't want to type in the numbers from physical cards every time they buy online. That step could cause typos, ultimately making the checkout process frustrating. Digital wallets usually allow users to copy and paste their card numbers into the appropriate fields.
Research published in 2026 showed they account for 53% of worldwide online purchases. Estimates suggest the total will rise to 65% by 2030. As the most popular global payment method, researchers found that consumers are 165% more likely to pay for things with digital wallets than with other methods.
Pay-by-bank transactions enable consumers to pay for goods and services without passwords or card details by using their bank accounts. Funds settle instantly, and merchants can issue refunds just as quickly. This option appeals to people trying to stick to budgets and track where their money goes.
April 2026 statistics from a pay-by-bank provider found that nearly 1 in 3 adults in the United Kingdom use this method. The coverage also cites research from elsewhere that puts total European adoption rates at 64 million users and notes that at least 100 million people in the United States have authorized third-party providers to access their bank account data.
One of the most effective ways to encourage consumers to shop at your site is to offer their preferred payment methods. Staying abreast of current and emerging trends lets you respond accordingly and remain competitive in the online shopping landscape.