The Best Online Payment Methods for 2024

Physical currency is becoming less prevalent in the digital age and instead, most payments are now processed online or using digital means. There are also hundreds of different online payment methods, which often makes it difficult for people to choose one!

I want to help correct that and below I discuss the best online payment methods currently available in 2024. This list is based on payment methods that offer some type of benefit — whether that be fast payment processing, ease of use or quick transfers between accounts. The aim is to help you thrive in the digital world so you don’t have to worry about making online payments.

How to choose an online payment method in 2024

First, let’s look at the key factors of online payment methods and how to pick the best one. Important things to consider include:

• Security
• Accepted currencies
• Popularity
• Linking with accounts
• Features

Security is paramount and I only recommend using payment methods that offer payment protection and include authentication features like two-factor authentication to prevent account fraud. You should also be able to use a wide variety of fiat currencies with the payment method if you are travelling abroad.

Popularity and availability are also highly important. Ideally, the payment method should be accepted globally at both e-commerce and physical stores. There’s no point using a payment method if it’s only available on a games console, for instance, or a specific type of e-commerce store.

Lastly, I like to look at how easy it is to link the payment method with my existing bank accounts, as this has a huge effect on how simple it is to use the online payment method. For example, many bank accounts offer a Visa debit card that links directly to your account and takes money out of it.

Top 7 online payment methods in 2024

Now that you understand how to pick the best online payment methods, we can look at some specific examples. I have chosen these seven payment methods based on my personal preference, but also global popularity and usage statistics. This is a comprehensive selection that includes e-wallets, cards, and buy-now, pay-later methods like Klarna.

Debit card

I rely heavily on my Visa debit card, and I’ve had one for as long as I can remember! Debit cards are used worldwide, and millions of people have one. Yes, this online payment method is becoming a little antiquated compared to flashy modern methods like Google Pay, but you can’t beat a debit card for reliability, protection, and simple money management.

When paying with a Visa debit card, you know exactly where the money is coming from and there is no need to perform any additional money transfers as there is with e-wallets.

Credit card

The faithful credit card from brands like MasterCard and American Express remains a behemoth in the world of online payment methods and is used by millions of people worldwide. Most people have a credit card to build their credit score and to make hassle-free payments with their credit limit. Credit cards give you flexibility and allow you to use your money more effectively.

Admittedly, the payment processing method is a little more cumbersome these days compared to methods like PayPal and Google Pay, but you have excellent security, features, and protection. You need to enter your card details, but if you use a web browser like Google Chrome, then you can choose to store your card details, which speeds up the process.

Many credit cards also have reward schemes or points schemes which can be beneficial and offer additional bonuses for continued use.

Google Pay

Google Pay is essentially an e-wallet like PayPal, but it can be used directly from your smartphone for contactless payments too in the same way you would use your credit card. If you see the Google Pay logo, then you know you can use your account or smartphone to pay!

Google Pay allows you to link multiple payment cards to your single account. It’s a one-time process where you enter the card details to be stored in your account. You can then choose which account to use for payments.

Google Pay is widely accepted at different types of websites, is a good payment method for games and it is quickly becoming one of the most popular payment methods. For example, currently many online casinos are accepting Google Pay in Canada. We have recently seen a surge in online casinos accepting this payment method and utilizing newer technologies for gamers.

Apple Pay

Apple Pay is the rival to Google Pay and is available on iOS devices like iPhones. It effectively provides the same function — you create an Apple Pay account and then setup your payment methods within your Apple Pay account. For example, you could add one of your bank accounts and enter your Visa debit card details.

Apple Pay then stores your details and instead of having to use a card or enter payment details for every transaction, you can simply scan your smartphone or use your Apple Pay account to make the purchase. You can have multiple cards linked to your Apple Pay account, so it makes it especially easy to manage money and pay from accounts where specific funds are saved.

PayPal

Everyone knows how PayPal works! You create a PayPal account and then link your different bank accounts to it. Instead of entering card payment details every time you want to make a payment or withdrawal, you can simply use your PayPal account for quicker transactions.

PayPal is one of the most widely accepted payment methods in the world and it has a huge user base. The security is superb, the mobile app is easy to use and the platform has a fantastic reputation. In terms of e-wallets, it’s my preferred option.

Klarna

Klarna is an online payment method but also an e-commerce shopping app. It’s incredibly versatile and one of the main draws is that it offers two different buy-now, pay-later models. Firstly, there is the “Pay in 3” method which allows you to break a purchase into three interest-free installments spread over 3 months, with one payment every 30 days.

Secondly, there is the “Pay in 30” model which allows you to buy an item and pay for it 30 days later interest free. These interest-free credit payments are incredibly useful, especially if you need an item urgently but don’t have the funds available. Klarna partners with thousands of online stores and retailers and it also has a great shopping app.

Bank transfer

Let’s not forget about the bank transfer! This payment method is becoming less popular due to the surge of popularity of the above payment methods, but it’s still incredibly reliable and easy to do. I like the simplicity of bank transfers as there is no need to move money around and the cash is simply taken directly from your bank account.

Typically, you need to enter your banking details to perform a bank transfer, and these can be easy to find with a quick Google search or by logging into your mobile banking app. Bank transfers are greater for larger cash payments and they offer additional payment protection. The only downside is that sometimes, bank transfers can take between three to five business days and are not always instant.

Make hassle-free transactions with these payment methods

In today’s modern age, making payments online doesn’t have to be difficult! As you can see from the above list, online payment methods make this process especially easy, and new smartphone methods like Google Pay and Apple Pay mean we don’t have to rely on bank cards or have our wallets just to buy something — we can use our phone instead!

Remember, when choosing an online payment method, make sure to look at the suitability, security, and the common types of online payments you make. Also, look at the existing financial accounts you have and how easy it is to transfer money between them.