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The landscape of buying things online is very different to what it was just a few years ago. Fancy a pizza or the latest gadget? Ordering it directly to your door has never been easier! Fast, convenient payment methods are part of the reason why, with technology allowing us to instantly send and receive money anywhere in the world.
Different payment options all have different features and benefits, meaning some may be suited to certain uses over others. Before you start shopping online, making deposits or sending money, we recommend taking the time to look at what’s available to understand what each payment method offers.
Cryptocurrency
While the jury is still out on whether cryptocurrencies will ever break into the mainstream, they’ve gained a lot of attention in recent years. A lot of new stories have covered their particularly highly volatile prices, which can make them a little daunting for most people. While they’re often treated as an investment and a store of value, the main purpose of cryptocurrencies was for fast and safe payments to anywhere in the world.
However, the increased popularity of crypto assets has also seen more sites beginning to accept them as a form of payment. The main advantage that we’ve found they offer is that they’re faster and usually a lot cheaper than the alternatives when it comes to sending money.
PayPal
Almost everyone is aware of PayPal, with millions of satisfied customers all over the world. Although it first began in 1998, it wasn’t until 2001 that it really became the payment service that we know and use today. It offers fast and convenient online payments through its eWallet, although the fees are a downside for some.
PayPal is among the most common payment methods globally, as several services permit this payment method. From eCommerce sites to bill payments, PayPal can be used for anything. Thus, many online players prefer PayPal casinos UK instead of using other types of payment methods as it is convenient. If you’re a fan of online gambling, then PayPal casinos UK may be a good fit for you.
What most people love about PayPal is that it’s designed for online payments and is incredibly safe to use. Instead of providing your bank details, you simply log into your PayPal account, protecting you from potential fraud.
Apple Pay or Google Wallet
The vast majority of people have an Android or Apple smartphone these days, and users can now benefit from a mobile wallet. Using either service is as simple as downloading the app and linking your account or card and it allows you to pay directly from your phone.
Google Wallet and Apple Pay have both been available for many years and they’re now widely accepted as a form of online payment method. What we love about these services is how easy they are to use, and they’re very secure too as you won’t need to give out your bank details.
Apple Pay and Google Wallet are popular mainly thanks to how easy they are to use. In addition, they’re extremely accessible to most people, with a significant percentage of the world’s population owning a smartphone capable of setting up a mobile wallet.
Buy Now Pay Later
Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) has always been possible through credit cards, but these are often unavailable to people with poor credit ratings. In recent years, there’s been an increase in the number of alternative BNPL options, such as Klarna and Clearpay.
Lots of online retailers now accept payments through these services, allowing consumers to easily break their purchases up into smaller, more affordable chunks. You do need to be careful about high interest fees for any late payments, but it’s completely free as long as you stay on top of it.
Not only are these services easy to use, but they also make finance more accessible to the average person. While there are some critics who argue that these services often profit from unfair practices, they may help to provide useful financial education.
Credit Cards
Like Buy Now Pay Later schemes, credit cards allow consumers to purchase goods and services on credit, delaying their payment until the next month. These cards are offered by lots of different banks and payment services, including Mastercard, Visa and American Express. Using them is free, although interest fees apply for late payments.
Credit cards are extremely useful for managing finance, helping you spread the cost and worry about it later. Another key advantage of credit cards is that they offer a higher level of consumer protection. If you use your credit card to make a purchase online and your goods don’t arrive, you can initiate a chargeback to recover your funds.
Conclusion
Paying for things online has never been easier, with loads of different methods to choose from. It’s also safer than ever before, as most payment methods come with security measures to protect your hard-earned money from potential fraudsters. Before you decide on how you want to pay, consider what you want from a payment service and rank the importance of features such as security, cost and accessibility.
