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Revealed: The Dominance of Contactless Payments
A review of 2024 spending habits has revealed that last year’s trend has continued. It’s a contactless world, we’re just living in it.
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Revealed: The Dominance of Contactless Payments
A review of 2024 spending habits has revealed that last year’s trend has continued. It’s a contactless world, we’re just living in it.
Last updated 15/05/2025
Contactless Payments Still on Top
The results are in, and there are no surprises.
Yep, you’ve guessed it, contactless payments are now a way of life when it comes to spending. It’s not just a trendy new method only used by cashless students, it’s actually the preferred method of payment across the UK.
This was all revealed by Barclays, which published a report on its customers’ 2024 spending habits. This isn’t a small report either; it takes hundreds of millions of customer transactions into account, and considers both the number of contactless transactions, and how much consumers are spending. It turns out both of these things continued to rise in 2024.
How Much Do We Rely on Contactless Payments?
So, what does the data show? Over half the time? 60%? 75%? More? Well, Barclays’ research shows that yes, it is actually more. In 2024, a whopping 94.6% of all in-store payments under £100 were made using contactless payments. So, in very simple terms, in every 100 trips to the shop, people opt for contactless payments 95 times. Still think cash is king?
The domination of contactless payments doesn’t stop there either. The same research also found the average transaction size has gone up, too, now standing at £16.10 (up 2.6% on last year). That means the average person spends £3,803 per year with contactless payments, choosing the method an average of four times a week.
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Is This The End Of Physical Cards?
With the relentless march of contactless payments, and easy new methods to pay popping up seemingly every week (who’d have thought you could pay with a mobile phone 15 years ago?), are we nearing the end of physical cards?
Short answer? No.
The physical card still remains at the top of the popularity table when it comes to how people choose to use contactless payments, even given the fact that a lot of places now accept card alternatives.
Barclays’ research reveals that 71% of over 55s consider it necessary to carry a physical card, and 69% of 35-54-year-olds agree. This isn’t the same with the younger generation, though, where 42% of 18-34-year-olds say they often leave the house without a physical card.
While mobile payments do lag behind physical cards, the take-up of such methods amongst younger generations could point to the future. Remember, it was the younger people amongst us who took up contactless payments the quickest.
Want to know more about how card payments work?
While this article focuses on how PayPal can work for your business, we also have in-depth guides that fully explain all you need to know about taking payments. Explore below:
All This Means One Thing…
All very interesting, but what does this mean for your business? Well, if it’s not obvious already, you need to be offering payments on a card.
Don’t get us wrong, we know there are plenty of valid arguments for cash, nobody’s saying there aren’t. Cash comes with no transaction fees, less risk of fraud, immediate settlements, and increased privacy for your customers.
But (and it’s a big but), what you’ve just read means your customers are less likely to carry cash. Why would they? They opt for contactless payments 95% of the time, and some of them don’t even carry a wallet. If they come by your shop and you say “sorry, cash only”, you’re running the risk of them having no means to pay, at which point they walk out the door. Do they come back with cash? Probably not, no.
Do you want to offer a way to pay for 95% of the population? Then you need a card machine. Not just any card machine either – one that works for your business. Even if you’ve got with the program and you do have a card machine, you could still save your business money by switching up your current deal.
Where Can You Get a Card Machine for Your Business?
If you’ve made it this far, then you’re probably interested in getting a card machine for your business. The advantages at this point are obvious and even if you have a card machine, there could be a better deal out there.
Want to get your hands on a card machine that works for you and your business? You’re in the right place. Commercial Experts can help you do just that.
To start comparing quotes from a selection of leading UK suppliers, free of charge, with no obligation to buy. So if you don’t like what you see, you can walk away, no strings attached. All you now have to do is tap below, answer a few questions about your business, and get comparing!
FAQs
Which is the best card machine for a small business?
The terms “best” and “worst” are subjective. What works for you might not work for someone else, so it’s hard to say what the best card machine is. It will depend on your specific budget, industry, and requirements.
We do, luckily for you, have a whole article dedicted to answering this question, so take a look over there to read about the best card machines for your small business – all handpicked by the experts.
Do I need a merchant account?
No, but not having one could mean putting blockades in front of your business’s progression. A good merchant account means you can take full advantage of a cashless society while also keeping your fees down to a minimum.
The best merchant account, coupled with the best card machine and best payment gateway would mean your business will be able to grow. This makes having a merchant account one of the most important things to get sorted when it comes to running your business.
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