Online payment methods

Online payment methods are used in web shops and for all kinds of services, by (semi-)government agencies and for online banking. Consumers have more and more choice, which makes things easier to use but also more complex. Below is an overview of the most commonly used online payment methods, their applications and trends in use.

Overview of popular payment methods

iDEAL
With an online market share of around 70%, iDEAL remains the most widely used online payment method in the Netherlands. Consumers appreciate the direct link to their bank and the familiar payment process. iDEAL is becoming Wero, which will make it available to consumers and (online) businesses in other eurozone countries.

Credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express)
Credit cards are widely used for booking travel and rental cars and for online purchases from foreign web shops. Their online market share is stable at around 14%. With the introduction of Click to Pay, online payments with these cards will become easier and faster.

Debit cards (Visa Debit, Debit Mastercard)
You can also pay online with the new debit cards from the Debit Mastercard and Visa Debit card schemes. This works in the same way as a credit card, except that the amount is debited from your payments account immediately, rather than at the end of the month. As more bank customers receive a new debit card, online payments will become more common.

But Now, Pay Later (Klarna, Riverty, Billink, etc.)
The use of BNPL is growing rapidly, especially among young people. BNPL offers security for purchases that have yet to be delivered, but can also lead to (excessive) debt accumulation. New legislation is intended to counteract this.

Paying via QR code
You can pay by scanning a QR code with your smartphone. Often you pay with iDEAL, but you can also be taken to a payment page where you can choose from several online payment methods. QR codes offer a lot of payment convenience if you know how to recognize fake QR codes.

Open Banking
If you give your explicit consent, your bank can give another company or institution digital access to your payments account; this is called Open Banking. The applications of Open Banking are still in their infancy and offer opportunities for innovative new ways of paying online, directly from your payments account.

Digital ‘wallets‘ (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Garmin Pay etc.)
A digital wallet is an app for smartphones in which you can store digital payment cards and use them to pay in online stores and physical stores. Some wallets also allow you to store other cards, such as access cards and airline tickets.

Accessibility is receiving increasing attention. From June 2025, the European Accessibility Act (EAA) will require digital accessibility for online stores. This includes understandable language, visual support, and compatibility with screen readers. Checkouts in online stores must also comply with the EAA’s accessibility requirements.