---
title: The rise of alternative payments
description: Alternative payment methods beyond debit and credit have become the norm. Different countries and regions have adopted payment methods that they know and trust. To sell to these areas, you need to do it their way. CashFlows can help.
---

[![blue_logo](https://www.cashflows.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%20images/Blog%20Images%202021/blue_logo.png?width=143&height=26&name=blue_logo.png) ](https://www.cashflows.com)

- Products
  
    - [ Payment Processing ](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/payment-processing)
      
      ![payment-processing-icon](https://www.cashflows.com/hubfs/Solution%20Menu%20Imagery/payment-processing-icon.svg)
      
      #### [Payment Processing](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/payment-processing)
      
      Fast, secure, easy - card processing to support your business
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      #### [Anytime Settlement Get access to your funds within hours](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/anytime-settlement)
      
      
      
      #### [Account Updater Automatically update lost or stolen card details](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/account-updater)
      
      
      
      #### [Direct Send Pay out to card in minutes](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/instant-payout)
      
      
      
      #### [3D Secure V2.2 Get ready for two-factor authentication](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/3d-secure)
      
      
      
      #### [Network Tokens Revolutionizing digital transactions](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/network-tokens)
    - [ In-Person Payments ](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/point-of-sale)
      
      ![payments-in-person-icon](https://www.cashflows.com/hubfs/Solution%20Menu%20Imagery/payments-in-person-icon.svg)
      
      #### [In-Person Payments](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/point-of-sale)
      
      All you need for taking card payments in person
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      #### [SUNMI P3 Seamless, secure and speedy payments](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/sunmi-p3)
      
      
      
      #### [SUNMI P2 SE Smart POS with the power of Android](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/sunmi-p2-se)
      
      
      
      #### [SUNMI P3 Mix All-in-one POS solution for business](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/sunmi-p3-mix)
      
      
      
      #### [Countertop card machine Castles Vega Countertop specifications](https://www.cashflows.com/countertop-card-machine)
      
      
      
      #### [Mobile card machine Castles Vega 3000 Mobile specifications](https://www.cashflows.com/mobile-card-payment-machine)
      
      
      
      #### [Smart POS card machine Castles Saturn 1000 F2 specifications](https://www.cashflows.com/smart-pos-card-machine)
      
      
      
      #### [Compare Card Machines Compare our latest card machines](https://www.cashflows.com/compare-card-machines)
    - [ Payment Gateway ](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/online-payments)
      
      ![online-payments-icon](https://www.cashflows.com/hubfs/Solution%20Menu%20Imagery/online-payments-icon.svg)
      
      #### [Payment Gateway](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/online-payments)
      
      Start taking payments online today
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      #### [Hosted Checkout Easy, secure and compliant payments for your website](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/hosted-checkout)
      
      
      
      #### [Virtual Terminal Phone payments made easy for your team](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/virtual-terminal)
      
      
      
      #### [Pay by Link Take card payment on invoices and emails](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/pay-by-link)
      
      
      
      #### [Cashflows Portal Access to your data and payment tools in real-time](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/cashflows-portal)
      
      
      
      #### [Click to Pay The revolutionary digital wallet](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/click-to-pay)
    - [ Fast Onboarding ](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/fast-onboarding)
      
      ![CF NAV - Faster Customer Onboarding 2024](https://www.cashflows.com/hubfs/Icons/CF%20NAV%20-%20Faster%20Customer%20Onboarding%202024.svg)
      
      #### [Fast Onboarding](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/fast-onboarding)
      
      A game-changing tool that puts you in control of your customer applications
    - [ Omnichannel ](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/omnichannel)
      
      ![omnichannel-icon](https://www.cashflows.com/hubfs/Solution%20Menu%20Imagery/omnichannel-icon.svg)
      
      #### [Omnichannel](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/omnichannel)
      
      Take payments wherever your customers shop
    - [ Cashflows Advance ](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/cashflows_advance)
      
      ![Cashflows Advance](https://www.cashflows.com/hubfs/Cashflows%20Advance.svg)
      
      #### [Cashflows Advance](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/cashflows_advance)
      
      Alternative business financing
    - [ Solutions for sectors ](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/solutions-for-sectors)
      
      ![CF NAV - Solutions for Sectors 2024](https://www.cashflows.com/hubfs/Icons/CF%20NAV%20-%20Solutions%20for%20Sectors%202024.svg)
      
      #### [Solutions for sectors](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/solutions-for-sectors)
      
      Your industry supported with card payments
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      #### [Retailer payment systems Retail payment solutions to support your business.](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/retail)
      
      
      
      #### [Insurance payment processing Seamless payment processing for Insurance, Brokers and MGA's.](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/insurance)
      
      
      
      #### [Financial services payment solutions From recurring billing, to payout, we’re ready to support you.](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/financial-services)
      
      
      
      #### [Veterinary payment systems Payments you can trust to help your business grow.](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/vets)
      
      
      
      #### [Dental payment systems Seamless and secure systems for dental payments.](https://www.cashflows.com/dental-payment-systems-cashflows)
- [Partner with us ](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/partnership-opportunities)
- [Shift ](https://www.cashflows.com/shift)
- About
- Resources
- Support
- [Developers ](https://developer.cashflows.com/)

[ Login ](https://www.cashflows.com/login)

[ Contact sales ](https://www.cashflows.com/contact)

****

- Products
  
    - [![payment-processing-icon](https://www.cashflows.com/hubfs/Solution%20Menu%20Imagery/payment-processing-icon.svg)
      
      #### Payment Processing
      
      Fast, secure, easy - card processing to support your business
      
      
      
      
      
      ](https://www.cashflows.com/blog/the-rise-of-alternative-payments#Payment-Processing)
    - [![payments-in-person-icon](https://www.cashflows.com/hubfs/Solution%20Menu%20Imagery/payments-in-person-icon.svg)
      
      #### In-Person Payments
      
      All you need for taking card payments in person
      
      
      
      
      
      ](https://www.cashflows.com/blog/the-rise-of-alternative-payments#In-Person-Payments)
    - [![online-payments-icon](https://www.cashflows.com/hubfs/Solution%20Menu%20Imagery/online-payments-icon.svg)
      
      #### Payment Gateway
      
      Start taking payments online today
      
      
      
      
      
      ](https://www.cashflows.com/blog/the-rise-of-alternative-payments#Payment-Gateway)
    - [![CF NAV - Faster Customer Onboarding 2024](https://www.cashflows.com/hubfs/Icons/CF%20NAV%20-%20Faster%20Customer%20Onboarding%202024.svg)
      
      #### Fast Onboarding
      
      A game-changing tool that puts you in control of your customer applications
      
      
      
      
      
      ](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/fast-onboarding)
    - [![omnichannel-icon](https://www.cashflows.com/hubfs/Solution%20Menu%20Imagery/omnichannel-icon.svg)
      
      #### Omnichannel
      
      Take payments wherever your customers shop
      
      
      
      
      
      ](https://www.cashflows.com/blog/the-rise-of-alternative-payments#Omnichannel)
    - [![Cashflows Advance](https://www.cashflows.com/hubfs/Cashflows%20Advance.svg)
      
      #### Cashflows Advance
      
      Alternative business financing
      
      
      
      
      
      ](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/cashflows_advance)
    - [![CF NAV - Solutions for Sectors 2024](https://www.cashflows.com/hubfs/Icons/CF%20NAV%20-%20Solutions%20for%20Sectors%202024.svg)
      
      #### Solutions for sectors
      
      Your industry supported with card payments
      
      
      
      
      
      ](https://www.cashflows.com/blog/the-rise-of-alternative-payments#Solutions-for-sectors)
- Partner with us
- Shift
- About
- Resources
- Support
- [Developers ](https://developer.cashflows.com/)

[ Login ](https://www.cashflows.com/login)

[ Contact sales ](https://www.cashflows.com/contact)

 Back

[![payment-processing-icon](https://www.cashflows.com/hubfs/Solution%20Menu%20Imagery/payment-processing-icon.svg)

#### Payment Processing

Fast, secure, easy - card processing to support your business

](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/payment-processing)

##### Features

#### [Anytime Settlement Get access to your funds within hours](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/anytime-settlement)

#### [Account Updater Automatically update lost or stolen card details](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/account-updater)

#### [Direct Send Pay out to card in minutes](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/instant-payout)

#### [3D Secure V2.2 Get ready for two-factor authentication](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/3d-secure)

#### [Network Tokens Revolutionizing digital transactions](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/network-tokens)

 Back

[![payments-in-person-icon](https://www.cashflows.com/hubfs/Solution%20Menu%20Imagery/payments-in-person-icon.svg)

#### In-Person Payments

All you need for taking card payments in person

](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/point-of-sale)

##### Features

#### [SUNMI P3 Seamless, secure and speedy payments](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/sunmi-p3)

#### [SUNMI P2 SE Smart POS with the power of Android](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/sunmi-p2-se)

#### [SUNMI P3 Mix All-in-one POS solution for business](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/sunmi-p3-mix)

#### [Countertop card machine Castles Vega Countertop specifications](https://www.cashflows.com/countertop-card-machine)

#### [Mobile card machine Castles Vega 3000 Mobile specifications](https://www.cashflows.com/mobile-card-payment-machine)

#### [Smart POS card machine Castles Saturn 1000 F2 specifications](https://www.cashflows.com/smart-pos-card-machine)

#### [Compare Card Machines Compare our latest card machines](https://www.cashflows.com/compare-card-machines)

 Back

[![online-payments-icon](https://www.cashflows.com/hubfs/Solution%20Menu%20Imagery/online-payments-icon.svg)

#### Payment Gateway

Start taking payments online today

](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/online-payments)

##### Features

#### [Hosted Checkout Easy, secure and compliant payments for your website](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/hosted-checkout)

#### [Virtual Terminal Phone payments made easy for your team](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/virtual-terminal)

#### [Pay by Link Take card payment on invoices and emails](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/pay-by-link)

#### [Cashflows Portal Access to your data and payment tools in real-time](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/cashflows-portal)

#### [Click to Pay The revolutionary digital wallet](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/click-to-pay)

 Back

[![CF NAV - Faster Customer Onboarding 2024](https://www.cashflows.com/hubfs/Icons/CF%20NAV%20-%20Faster%20Customer%20Onboarding%202024.svg)

#### Fast Onboarding

A game-changing tool that puts you in control of your customer applications

](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/fast-onboarding)

 Back

[![omnichannel-icon](https://www.cashflows.com/hubfs/Solution%20Menu%20Imagery/omnichannel-icon.svg)

#### Omnichannel

Take payments wherever your customers shop

](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/omnichannel)

##### Features

 Back

[![Cashflows Advance](https://www.cashflows.com/hubfs/Cashflows%20Advance.svg)

#### Cashflows Advance

Alternative business financing

](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/cashflows_advance)

 Back

[![CF NAV - Solutions for Sectors 2024](https://www.cashflows.com/hubfs/Icons/CF%20NAV%20-%20Solutions%20for%20Sectors%202024.svg)

#### Solutions for sectors

Your industry supported with card payments

](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/solutions-for-sectors)

##### Features

#### [Retailer payment systems Retail payment solutions to support your business.](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/retail)

#### [Insurance payment processing Seamless payment processing for Insurance, Brokers and MGA's.](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/insurance)

#### [Financial services payment solutions From recurring billing, to payout, we’re ready to support you.](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/financial-services)

#### [Veterinary payment systems Payments you can trust to help your business grow.](https://www.cashflows.com/solutions/vets)

#### [Dental payment systems Seamless and secure systems for dental payments.](https://www.cashflows.com/dental-payment-systems-cashflows)

[![arow](https://www.cashflows.com/hubfs/Group%2021%20(3).svg)Explore our blog library](https://www.cashflows.com/blog)

[Insights](https://www.cashflows.com/blog/tag/insights)

# The rise of alternative payments

[By Cashflows Press Team](https://www.cashflows.com/blog/author/cashflows-press-team)

**Today, operating successfully online takes a lot more than accepting debit and credit cards. You have to think locally. **

When it comes to payments, consumer habits have developed over time and are strongly national.

The UK is a card-loving nation. 63% of online purchases are made via payment card, while 21% use PayPal and 11% pay by an alternative method, say figures from eCommerce Worldwide. However, just over 400 miles away in the Netherlands, it is a very different story. Nearly 60% of online purchases are made via bank transfer, with only one-third by cards.

**Alternative payment methods**

The term ‘alternative payment methods’, is a bit of a misnomer. Bank account-funded payments, real-time payments, mobile and other digital payments are actually the default way to pay in many countries.

‘Alternative’ actually went mainstream long ago. In fact, one-in-four online shoppers in the US will abandon their purchase if their preferred payment method is not available. In Europe, it’s higher at just over two-in-five shoppers. And in Asia, it stands at three-in-five, according to e-payment specialist PPRO.

You must support commonly available payment methods. But more importantly, you must support the preferred payment methods of your target market and sector. Globally there are subtle regional differences. In Europe with a high banked population, alternative payment methods tend to be based on online banking. Whereas in Africa with the proliferation of mobile, payment methods are optimised specifically for this channel.

**How CashFlows can help**

CashFlows can offer a variety of ways to pay, helping you convert more sales from more customers more of the time. That’s everything from credit and debit cards to local alternatives and sector-specific options.

**Find out more**

We simplify integration and can offer advice on the best alternative payment method bundles. So, contact us today to learn more about optimising online presence in your key markets at [sales@cashflows.com](mailto:sales@cashflows.com) 

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Insights

## Selecting the best payment terminal for your business

In-Person Payments Made Easy "When selecting a terminal for processing payments in your business, ...

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