Mobile payment app usage in Switzerland plateaued last year, a recent survey by the Swiss National Bank (SNB), highlighting the continued preference for cash in face-to-face transactions. Despite the rise of digital payment options, a significant majority of respondents expressed strong support for maintaining cash as a payment method, with only 2% advocating for its elimination due to concerns about impracticality or illicit use.
The survey found that mobile payment apps, including Switzerland’s Twint and Apple Pay, accounted for 17% of transactions in 2025, a slight decline from 18% in 2024. Debit cards remained the most widely used payment method, involved in 37% of purchases, while physical cash was used in 30% of in-person payments, maintaining the same share as the previous year.
Marcel Stadelmann, a payments expert at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences, noted that many people appreciate the anonymity cash provides. He explained that some individuals prefer not to leave digital footprints when making payments with cards or mobile apps. Stadelmann also pointed to privacy concerns heightened during the COVID-19 pandemic, which influenced public attitudes toward digital transactions.
He further suggested that the stagnation in mobile payment app growth is due to widespread adoption already being achieved, meaning users require additional incentives to choose apps over debit cards or cash. “For instant payments to gain traction, they must offer faster, easier, or more convenient experiences, or provide users with greater control over their spending through immediate feedback,” Stadelmann said.
In a significant development, the SNB recently announced the designers for its upcoming banknotes, which are expected to enter circulation in the 2030s. Stadelmann emphasized that people enjoy the tangible experience of spending cash and the sense of control it offers. “Physical cash will continue to play an important role in Switzerland for the foreseeable future,” he concluded.
