Over past three years, Russians pay via smartphones 3 times as frequently

32% of the country residents prefer this payment method.

Most Russians are well aware of contactless payment technology. Over the past three years, Russians have paid contactlessly for goods and serviced via smartphones three times as frequently and via other smart devices such as smartwatches and bracelets – twice as frequently. A bank card remains the most common means of payment; most Russians (82%) hold the cards. This is shown in a study by the NAFI Analytical Center.

A typical portrait of a person who pays contactlessly with a card or digital device is a young man with a graduate degree, holding the position of a manager or a qualified specialist, and living in the capital or another large Russian city.

Russians’ awareness of contactless payment technology via smartphones, smartwatches and bracelets has increased significantly over the past three years. The share of those familiar with contactless payment using a smartphone increased by 7 pp. from 84% to 91%, and those familiar with payments via “smart watches and bracelets – by 6 pp. from 64% to 70%.

The raising awareness led to an increase in the proportion of Russians paying contactlessly. Since 2018, a bank card has remained the leader in terms of the frequency of its use for contactless payments: the share of Russians using it has doubled to reach 61%. At the same time, smartphones began to be used for payments three times as frequent: every third individual (32%) began to pay for goods or services using a mobile phone. 8% of Russians use smartwatches and bracelets for contactless payments, two times as frequent as in 2018.

Payments via mobile devices are processed in special payment systems owned by device or software manufacturers such as Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, Google Pay, Mir Pay, etc. The most popular service among Russians is Google Pay (32% of those paying contactlessly), followed by Apple Pay (30%) and Samsung Pay (17%). Apple Pay and Samsung Pay are more often used in Moscow and St. Petersburg, while Google Pay – in other large Russian cities.

“Contactlessness” applies not only to payments, but also to other services and facilities. For example, some gas stations offer drivers contactless refueling without leaving the car.

Various formats of contactless payment are becoming available: in Russia, you can already pay contactlessly not only with a card or smartphone supporting NFC technology, but also using a QR code. The results of our research show that Russians are ready to try to pay in this way, but it is not perceived as convenient so far. In the near future, we expect fiercer competition in the field of contactless payments.”

Source: materials from NAFI

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