E-Wallet (Digital Wallet)
An e-wallet (electronic wallet) or digital wallet is an application that digitally stores payment information such as credit card details, bank accounts or balances. It allows you to pay online and in-store without using physical cards or cash.
There are different types of e-wallets: pass-through wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay forward the payment to the linked card. Closed-loop wallets such as TWINT work with their own balance or a direct bank connection. And hybrid wallets such as PayPal combine both.
For merchants, accepting e-wallets means faster and smoother payment — especially at the POS (via NFC) and in mobile checkout. In Switzerland, TWINT, Apple Pay and Google Pay are the most relevant e-wallets.
E-wallet examples
A customer stores her Visa card in Apple Pay and pays in the shop via NFC — without carrying the physical card with her.
A TWINT user pays in the online shop via TWINT: They scan a QR code or confirm the payment in the TWINT app.
A PayPal user pays internationally without storing their credit card details with the merchant.
E-Wallet FAQ
What is an e-wallet?
An e-wallet is a digital wallet — an app or software that stores payment information and enables online and in-person payments, without physical cards or cash.
Which e-wallets are popular in Switzerland?
In Switzerland, TWINT, Apple Pay and Google Pay are the most widely used e-wallets. TWINT has the largest reach with over 5 million users. PayPal is relevant for international payments.
Is paying with an e-wallet secure?
Yes. E-wallets use encryption and tokenisation — actual card details are never shared with the merchant. In addition, biometric methods (Face ID, fingerprint) protect against unauthorised access.
Should your shop accept e-wallets?
Yes, especially Apple Pay, Google Pay and TWINT. E-wallets speed up checkout, increase conversion and are preferred by more and more customers — particularly in mobile commerce.
