Checkout Payment Methods 2025: From Purchase Completion to Customer
Loyalty with BNPL

This article provides an overview of the most popular checkout payment methods – demonstrating why Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) proves essential not only for conversion but also for customer satisfaction and loyalty. Simultaneously, it becomes clear how Riverty, as a merchant-first provider, positions merchants at the center.

Learn more about Riverty’s Buy Now Pay Later solutions.

 

Why Checkout Payment Methods Determine Success

Checkout – the final and decisive online shopping step – remains an often
underestimated yet strategically crucial success factor. According to Mordor
Intelligence, the German payments market grew to over $220 billion in 2025. Studies show up to 70% of purchases with full carts abort, frequently because preferred checkout payment methods are missing. Consumers expect variety; simultaneously, merchants must balance costs, security, and conversion. Those who fail to address target audience needs lose not only revenue but trust and, ultimately, customers.

Yet this isn’t the only reason. Growing internationalization presents another
consideration. Merchants operating across multiple markets must recognize that
checkout payment methods preferences vary significantly by region. While PayPal
and invoice payment remain popular in Germany, wallets and BNPL dominate as
checkout payment methods in Scandinavia and the UK. Asia sees widespread QR
codes and social payments as checkout payment methods. Appropriate selection
determines whether companies remain competitive globally.

International Checkout Payment Method Differences

Checkout payment methods security trust also proves decisive. With cyber fraud and phishing prevalent, consumers increasingly ensure payments receive reliable
protection. Transparent checkout communication builds trust and reduces
abandonment. Merchants must therefore offer not only popular methods but
prominently display clear security features.

In summary: checkout payment methods selection determines online shop success
and whether customers trust brands. Variety becomes mandatory – merchants losing brand identity at checkout gain no loyalty. Merchants employing smart combinations of classics and innovations secure competitive advantages and long-term customer satisfaction.

 

Which Checkout Payment Methods Dominate 2025?

The checkout payment methods landscape remains dynamic, evolving at
tremendous speed. New players enter markets, existing providers optimize solutions, and customers continuously adapt preferences. Yet 2025 reveals clear patterns: certain checkout payment methods have prevailed and now rank as checkout essentials. Data from Stripe shows debit cards remain leading at 27%, while wallets and mobile payments rapidly gain ground. For internationally operating merchants: checkout payment methods preferences vary significantly by region.

Wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay)

Digital wallets rank among recent years’ biggest winners. Apple Pay, Google Pay,
and Samsung Pay have long established themselves in Europe, excelling through
simple operation, biometric data security, and seamless smartphone and wearable
integration. Wallets prove particularly relevant for Gen Z and Millennials who shop
mobile and value rapid processes. The 2025 reality: without wallets, you’re invisible
to Gen Z. Yet each wallet strengthens Apple, Google, or Samsung – not merchants.

Wallet advantages:

• Speed and convenience
• Security through biometric authentication
• No physical card requirement
• Acceptance in online and offline shops

Merchant impact: Merchants can understand BNPL as loyalty’s heart. With Riverty,
every reminder, return, invoice carries the brand signature – not the provider’s.
Customers remember not the checkout payment method ‘Buy Now Pay Later’
– they remember the merchant.

Credit and Debit Cards

Cards represent classic checkout payment methods. Credit cards offer rewards,
buyer protection, and financing options; debit cards provide direct account access.
While cards remain strongly utilized worldwide, change emerges: younger
demographics prefer checkout payment methods like wallets or BNPL for greater
flexibility and transparency. Cards are mandatory – but belong to the past. They
secure completion yet create no loyalty.

Card advantages:

• Worldwide acceptance
• Additional services like buyer protection
• Habit and trust among older demographics

Merchants relying on cards retain customers momentarily – Riverty BNPL retains
them long-term. Analysis from Juspay shows more Germans now pay with cards
than cash.

Merchant impact: Cards prove essential – yet interchangeable. Differentiation
emerges only when merchants like Riverty remain visible post-checkout.

PayPal and P2P Payments

PayPal remains a heavyweight in German and European checkout. Trust,
recognition, and simple processing make PayPal and P2P alternatives like Revolut
or Wise essential. These methods particularly interest consumers desiring quick
transactions using established accounts. Merchants not offering PayPal risk
significant cart abandonment – especially in DACH markets where PayPal ranks
among top-three methods.

PayPal & P2P advantages:

• Large user base
• Simple payment process
• Recognition and trust

According to Cross Border Magazine, PayPal accounts for nearly 28% of German
online payments in 2025, while BNPL and invoice payment achieve similarly high
market shares. With PayPal, you don’t just buy – you buy at PayPal. Merchants
disappear behind the blue logo. Every email, invoice, login – PayPal speaks, not the
brand.

Merchant impact: Trust matters, but not when it belongs solely to platforms. With
Riverty, merchants speak directly: from invoice through returns – visible, credible,
brand-true.

Mobile & QR-Payments

Mobile payments extend beyond wallets. QR codes, NFC, and app-based payments
already standard in Asia gain European relevance. Particularly in omnichannel
commerce – linking brick-and-mortar with online – mobile methods provide
competitive advantages. Merchants should monitor this development, though QR
remains a payment niche in Europe.

Mobile & QR advantages:

• Particularly strong in emerging markets
• Flexible and scalable
• Future-relevant for omnichannel strategies

With Wero, the European Payments Initiative (EPI) launched a European wallet
alternative reportedly adding over 17 million users by the end of 2024. Mobile
payments prove practical – but belong to platforms, not merchants. QR and NFC
accelerate checkout yet also accelerate control loss.

Merchant impact: Speed without loyalty proves worthless. Riverty BNPL delivers
tempo – while maintaining brand visibility.

 

BNPL in Focus: The 2025 Checkout Must-Have

BNPL has evolved from trend topic to checkout fixture in recent years. What began
as a niche solution for younger demographics has now reached the mainstream.
Millions of European consumers regularly use BNPL – not only for fashion or
electronics purchases but increasingly for travel, furniture, or everyday products.
Merchants not offering BNPL miss valuable conversion potential while forgoing
opportunities to position brands as customer-oriented and modern.

Consumers associate BNPL with flexibility, predictability, and fairness – qualities
increasing checkout trust. For merchants, BNPL transforms from nice-to-have to
mandatory component – comparable to credit cards’ role in the 2000s or PayPal’s in
the 2010s.

Why Consumers Prefer BNPL

BNPL captures the zeitgeist. Customers flexibly pay purchases in installments
without interest or additional fees. Particularly during economically uncertain times,
they value the ability to distribute expenses and plan better. BNPL thus increasingly
replaces traditional credit cards associated with high interest rates. Especially
Millennials and Gen Z actively use BNPL, fulfilling their desire for transparency and
control.

Merchant Advantages

For merchants, BNPL represents a game-changer. Beyond higher conversion rates,
they benefit from increased cart volumes and rising customer loyalty. Studies
demonstrate:

• 20-30% conversion increase
• 35% fewer cart abandonments
• 40% higher average order value
• More repeat purchases and customer loyalty

These effects emerge because BNPL lowers barriers. Customers feel more secure
completing higher-value purchases. For merchants, this means not only increased
revenue but long-term customer relationships.

The numbers tell the story: returning customers spend on average 67% more and
generate 40% of revenue. Simultaneously, 58% switch providers after three payment
delays and 83% expect simple returns. Here Riverty strengthens merchants –
through reliable, brand-centric after-sales flows.

Merchant impact: Merchants can understand BNPL as loyalty’s heart. With Riverty, every reminder, return, invoice carries the brand signature – not the provider’s. Customers remember not the payment method ‘Buy Now Pay Later’
– they remember the merchant. That determines 2025 growth.

2025 Market Volume

According to current analysis from Fintech Futures, Germany’s BNPL market grows
approximately 11.7% to nearly $70 billion in 2025. Europe-wide, BNPL grows even
faster, supported by high consumer acceptance and integration into major platforms
like Zalando or Amazon. Offering BNPL at checkout has become a fixed payment
landscape component.

Grand View Research expects Germany’s BNPL market to achieve approximately
27% annual growth through 2033. A clear signal: BNPL isn’t optional – it’s
mandatory. Merchants now deploying Riverty merchant-first transform growth into
loyalty – securing decisive advantage.

 

BNPL with Riverty: Control and Customer Experience for Merchants

While many BNPL providers primarily emphasize their own platforms and brands,
Riverty pursues a consistently different approach: merchant-first. This means
provider visibility doesn’t take center stage – merchant brand does. Checkout
remains completely in shop look-and-feel, providing customers continuous brand
experience. This differentiation proves especially decisive for larger merchants
protecting and strengthening brand identity.

Every checkout detail impacts perception – from communication tonality through
payment page aesthetics to after-sales processes. Additionally, merchants retain full
data control with Riverty, serving as foundation for CRM, marketing campaigns, and
loyalty programs. Platform solutions often sever this connection, complicating
long-term customer retention. Riverty instead positions itself as a partner increasing
conversion, elevating customer satisfaction while maintaining merchant
independence.

Checkout in Merchant Branding

With Riverty, brands remain in the foreground. Customers perceive the entire
customer journey as unified brand experience. This builds trust and increases shop
loyalty.

Data Sovereignty Instead of Platform Dependency

A key Riverty advantage: data sovereignty. Merchants retain customer data access –
a decisive factor for CRM, loyalty programs, and marketing strategies. Platform
solutions deprive merchants of this data foundation, reducing action scope.

Loyalty Through After-Sales Experience

BNPL doesn’t end at purchase. With Riverty, customers experience continuous
brand experience: from payment reminders through returns to service
communication. Everything occurs in the merchant’s tone and style. Result: higher
loyalty, less churn, more repeat purchases.

 

2026 Outlook: Checkout Trends at Enterprise Scale

The payment landscape continues evolving. Wallets and BNPL will become Europe’s
leading methods; cards remain foundational but lose attractiveness. Simultaneously,
regulatory requirements intensify, particularly in BNPL segments. 2026 therefore isn’t just about variety – that becomes the assumed standard. What counts ahead:
winning loyalty battles. Merchants choosing platform solutions lose brand strength.
Merchants selecting Riverty merchant-first gain customers for life.

Another trend: stronger payment and customer experience integration. Merchants
won't be selected solely by checkout checkout payment methods but by total
experience: How transparent are processes? How simple are returns? How
consistent is brand communication? BNPL providers supporting here will lead.

Additionally, omnichannel gains importance. Customers expect preferred methods
available online and offline. Merchants offering wallets, BNPL, and mobile payments
seamlessly across channels can significantly increase customer loyalty and revenue.

Merchant impact: The future belongs to providers translating payments into loyalty.
Riverty clearly positions itself as merchant-first partner for sustainable customer
retention.

 

Future-Proof Your Checkout Now

Payment variety remains decisive – yet BNPL proves mandatory for ensuring
conversion and loyalty. Merchants not integrating BNPL lose competitive standing.
Riverty offers BNPL models positioning merchants center-stage, guaranteeing data
sovereignty and strengthening customer experiences.

Every checkout counts. Transform purchase completions into genuine customer
relationships – with Riverty.