Payment methods in Brazil
Brazil is Latin America’s largest e-commerce market, worth $86 billion, with over 197million internet users. Succeeding here demands more than accepting international cards. Pix — the Central Bank of Brazil’s instant payment system — is now used by over 174 million Brazilians and dominates online transactions. Bank transfers account for 41% of e-commerce payments.
Cards make up 39% of transactions, but the picture is more nuanced than global card logos suggest. A significant share of Brazilian Visa and Mastercard cards are locally issued — backed by Brazilian banks and tied to local-currency accounts. Decline rates for these cards are much higher without a Latin America-specialist acquirer. PPRO gives merchants and PSPs direct access to that local acquiring infrastructure, alongside Pix, Boleto Bancário, and other Brazil-specific payment methods.
E-commerce payment method breakdown
- Bank Transfer (incl. Pix) 41%
- Card 39%
- E-Wallet 16%
- Cash (incl. Boleto) 3%
- BNPL 1%
- Crypto 1%
[{"label":"Bank Transfer (incl. Pix)","value":"41"},{"label":"Card","value":"39"},{"label":"E-Wallet","value":"16"},{"label":"Cash (incl. Boleto)","value":"3"},{"label":"BNPL","value":"1"},{"label":"Crypto","value":"1"}]
Card breakdown. Of the 11% who pay by card:
Popular payment methods in Brazil
PPRO supports the following local payment methods in Brazil:
Spotlight: Pix — Brazil’s Instant Payment Standard
Pix is Brazil’s real-time payment system, created and regulated by the Central Bank of Brazil. Launched in November 2020, it achieved mass adoption faster than almost any payment system in history — over 174 million Brazilians now use it, making it the single most important payment method for e-commerce merchants entering this market.
For merchants, Pix means instant settlement, no chargeback risk, and access to virtually the entire Brazilian adult population. PPRO also supports Pix Automático, enabling recurring payments for subscriptions and services — unlocking an additional 60 million consumers who lack credit cards.
Key reasons to support Pix
- 174 million active users — more than 80% of Brazil’s population
- Instant settlement, 24/7, 365 days a year
- No chargeback risk for merchants
- Pix Automático enables recurring billing and subscriptions
- Supported by 750+ financial institutions across Brazil
Why local payments matter in Brazil
Brazil’s card market looks familiar on the surface — Visa and Mastercard dominate. But the majority of cards in circulation are locally issued by Brazilian banks, tied to local-currency accounts. Decline rates for these cards are much higher without a local acquirer, and Brazil is particularly exposed to this problem. Merchants without local acquiring are leaving a significant share of card revenue on the table.
Beyond cards, Pix has redefined what “fast” means in payments, and Boleto Bancário remains the only viable option for Brazil’s nearly 50 million unbanked consumers. PPRO connects merchants and PSPs to all of this through a single integration — local acquiring for locally-issued cards, Pix, Pix Automático, and Boleto — so you can cover the full Brazilian market from day one.
Frequently Asked Questions
The most popular payment methods in Brazil are Pix, Boleto Bancário, and cards. Bank transfers — dominated by Pix — account for 41% of e-commerce payments, making them the largest single category. Cards account for 39%, though a significant share are locally-issued Visa and Mastercard that require a local acquirer to process. Any merchant entering Brazil should treat Pix as the primary payment method, with local card acceptance and Boleto as essential complements.
Many Brazilian consumers hold locally-issued Visa and Mastercard cards — backed by Brazilian banks and tied to local-currency accounts. Decline rates for these cards are much higher without a local acquirer, and this is especially pronounced in Brazil. Working with a Latin America-specialist acquirer like PPRO meaningfully improves authorisation rates and reduces lost revenue at checkout.
Boleto Bancário is an official Brazilian cash payment voucher regulated by the Central Bank of Brazil. Shoppers generate a payment slip at checkout and pay it at banks, ATMs, post offices, lottery agents, or convenience stores. It is particularly important for Brazil’s nearly 50 million unbanked consumers, who have no other way to pay online. It is also popular for high-value purchases, as many consumers prefer not to share card details online.
Pix Automático is a recurring payment extension of Pix, developed by the Central Bank of Brazil. It allows consumers to pre-authorise repeat charges for subscriptions, utilities, and memberships with a single approval — no card required. For merchants, it reduces failed payments and subscriber churn linked to card expiry or decline. PPRO supports Pix Automático, giving PSPs and merchants access to Brazil’s 174 million Pix users for recurring revenue models.
PPRO provides a single API integration covering Brazil’s full range of local payment methods: Pix, Pix Automático, Boleto Bancário, Elo, Hipercard, and locally-issued Visa and Mastercard via local acquiring. PPRO also acts as Merchant of Record in Brazil, handling compliance, tax, and regulatory requirements so you can enter the market quickly. Download the Brazil country report for a detailed breakdown of the market.
Go Deeper: Download the Brazil Payments Report
Get the complete picture on Brazil’s e-commerce payment landscape. Our country report covers market sizing, consumer payment preferences, cross-border dynamics, and the full payment mix you need to convert Brazilian shoppers. Download the report to build a payments strategy that works in Brazil.