E-Wallet (Digital wallet)
An e-wallet (electronic wallet) or digital wallet is an application that digitally stores payment information such as credit card details, bank account details or balances. Users can use it to pay online and in-store without using physical cards or cash.
There are different types of e-wallets: pass-through wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay forward the payment to the stored card. Closed-loop wallets like TWINT work with their own balance or a direct bank connection. And hybrid wallets like PayPal combine both.
For Comerciantes, accepting e-wallets means faster and smoother payment — especially at the POS (via NFC) and in mobile checkout. In Switzerland, TWINT, Apple Pay and Google Pay are the most relevant e-wallets.
E-wallet examples
A customer stores her Visa card in Apple Pay and pays in the shop via NFC — without bringing the physical card along.
A TWINT user pays in the online shop via TWINT: they scan a QR code or confirm the payment in the TWINT app.
A PayPal user pays internationally without storing their credit card details with the Comerciante.
E-Wallet FAQ
What is an e-wallet?
An e-wallet is a digital wallet — an app or software that stores payment information and enables online and in-person payments without physical cards or cash.
Which e-wallets are popular in Switzerland?
In Switzerland, TWINT, Apple Pay and Google Pay are the most widely used e-wallets. TWINT has the greatest reach with over 5 million users. PayPal is relevant for international payments.
Is paying with an e-wallet secure?
Yes. E-wallets use encryption and tokenisation — the actual card details are never transmitted to the Comerciante. In addition, biometric methods (Face ID, fingerprint) protect against unauthorised access.
Should my shop accept e-wallets?
Yes, particularly Apple Pay, Google Pay and TWINT. E-wallets speed up the checkout, increase conversion and are preferred by more and more customers — especially in mobile commerce.
