Modern Payment Methods – Smartwatches, Fitness Bands, Smartphones. A New Era of Wallet-Free Payments

Mobile Payments Are Here to Stay – How Poles Are Paying in 2024

Mobile payments have firmly established themselves in the daily lives of consumers, changing how we shop and manage our finances. Today, there’s no need to reach for cash, a card, or even a wallet — a smartwatch, fitness band, or smartphone is enough. This convenient, fast, and secure solution not only simplifies everyday life but also aligns with the lifestyle of modern consumers.

Moreover, modern payment methods are no longer just a tech novelty — they’ve become the dominant way to pay. Data clearly shows that Poles are increasingly ditching cash, and even traditional payment cards, in favor of contactless, digital transactions.

Contactless Payments in Poland – Rapid Growth in 2024

The year 2024 has seen a further rise in the popularity of contactless payments in Poland. This trend is clearly visible in the statistics, showing the development of various touch-free payment methods:

• Contactless cards have reached an impressive 99.3% market share, meaning nearly every payment card in Poland supports contactless payments.

• BLIK NFC transactions more than doubled — from 131 million to 263 million per year, making it one of the fastest-growing systems in the country.

• Mobile wallets – such as Google Pay, Apple Pay, and Huawei Pay – recorded a 25% year-over-year increase in the number of transactions.

• 46% of BLIK transactions at terminals are now contactless – double the share from 2023.

This rapid growth shows that mobile payments are no longer an alternative — they’re becoming the norm, especially in large cities and among the younger generation of consumers.

Source: Bank Millennium – Mobile Portrait of the Polish Consumer 2024

NFC Watches and Fitness Bands – Convenience on the Wrist

Payments made with a smartwatch or fitness band are growing in popularity. This solution is especially appreciated by active individuals who don’t want to carry a phone or wallet. For many users, the key advantage is speed — just bring your wrist close to the terminal, and the transaction is completed automatically.

According to data from Bank Millennium, 1% of Poles already say they regularly pay with a watch or fitness band. Although still a small percentage, a clear upward trend is emerging – especially among customers of banks offering Garmin Pay or Fitbit Pay.

Garmin Pay Now Available at Sparados

A noteworthy innovation is the implementation of Garmin Pay at Sparados. This means that Garmin watch users can now make payments at any contactless terminal supported by Sparados – without needing to carry a phone or physical card. This is an important step toward full mobile payment mobility and a direct response to the growing needs of premium sports tech users.

Smartphones and Mobile Wallets – Google, Apple, and Huawei Pay

The most popular and accessible payment method today remains smartphones with NFC capability. Thanks to this feature, users can access digital wallets such as:

• Google Pay – available on Android devices and supported by most Polish banks,

• Apple Pay – available on iPhones and Apple Watches, extremely popular among Apple ecosystem users,

• Huawei Pay – a solution for Huawei device users, based on technology from Verestro and Quicko, both linked to Sparados.

It’s important to note that Huawei devices do not have access to Google services, including Google Pay, due to a decision by the U.S. government in May 2019. This made the development of Huawei’s proprietary Huawei Pay wallet a necessity — and a solid alternative for users with limited access to Google-based solutions.

🔗 See Huawei Pay / Quicko – Verestro documentation

Summary: A Cashless Future?

Considering the pace of development and growing popularity of modern payment methods, it’s safe to say that cash is becoming increasingly unnecessary for everyday transactions. Both smartwatches and smartphones with digital wallets offer convenience, security, and time savings. In the coming years, we can expect a continued increase in mobile payment adoption — not just in Poland, but globally.

The digital transformation of finance is ongoing – and each of us, simply by carrying a smartphone or smartwatch, can be a part of it.