In Argentina, the growth of e-commerce and digital payments drove the need for fast and secure online payment solutions. Payment links became a key tool: easy to generate, share and charge in real time, without card readers.

In this article, you'll find out how they work, what options are on the market and what advantages they offer. In addition, we show you how Rebill takes this system one step further with smart payment links customized for your business.

How does an app to charge with a payment link work?

A payment link is a unique link that allows a customer to make a purchase or pay for a service online, quickly and securely. 

The merchant generates this link from an application or payment platform, shares it via WhatsApp, social networks or email, and the customer can make the payment instantly by credit card, debit card or virtual wallets. 

The whole process is executed in real time, without the need for a card reader or a website. This system gained special relevance in recent years with the growth of e-commerce and digital businesses in Argentina that needed simple, agile and secure solutions to receive payments.

Apps to charge with payment link in Argentina

Nowadays there are several applications that allow you to generate and share payment links in Argentina. Each one offers different functionalities and accreditation times, so it is important to know their main features:

Mercado Pago

It is the most popular payment services app in the country to send payment links. It allows charging with credit cards, debit cards, money in Mercado Pago account and immediate bank transfers.

Payments can be credited on the spot (with commission) or in business days at no cost. It also integrates with QR code and online stores.

Payway

Developed by Prisma, it allows merchants to generate payment links and accept credit and debit cards and virtual wallet payments. It offers accreditation in 24 to 48 business hours and tools to manage online and in-person sales.

Ualá Bis

It offers the possibility of charging with payment links without the need of having a POS. Accepts credit cards, debit cards and transfers. Accreditations are usually made within 24 business hours, and merchants can access their sales reports from the app.

Banking Apps

Several banks in Argentina (Santander, Banco Nación, BBVA) added the option of payment methods within their apps. Generally, they allow sending the link to the customer to pay with cards and transfers, with accreditation in 24 to 48 business hours, depending on the bank. 

They are useful for those who prefer to keep all operations within the financial institution.

Rebill in Argentina: the evolution of apps towards smart payment links

In Argentina there are many apps for payment, but when your business needs more control, scalability and security, the alternative is to have an advanced infrastructure such as Rebill.

Rebill' s payment links are not your typical app links: they combine simplicity for the user with all the infrastructure of an advanced payment gateway in Argentina.

• One link, multiple countries and currencies: the system detects the customer's location and adapts the experience automatically.
• Total customization: choose local payment methods (cards, transfers, digital wallets), define prices in ARS or USD, apply coupons, preload data and design the checkout with your brand.
• Control in your hands: set up currency, post-payment redirects, metadata and pre-designed links for campaigns or promotions.
• Versatility for different sectors: from Edtech and Healthtech to marketplaces and SaaS, each team can generate and manage its own links without extra development.
• Share it wherever you want: send your link by WhatsApp, email or web and start getting paid immediately.

With Rebill, a simple link becomes a powerful, adaptable and secure payment tool.

What are the advantages of using apps to charge with a payment link?

Paid links have become one of the most used tools by businesses and professionals in Argentina and other Latin American countries thanks to the benefits they offer.

These are some of its main advantages:

Ease of use

Generating a payment link is simple and fast: just create the link in the app and share it via WhatsApp, social networks or email. The customer can pay instantly without any technical complications.

No card readers or specific banking apps required

Unlike traditional payment methods, it is not necessary to have a physical POS or for the customer to download a specific banking application. The entire process is done online and in real time.

Flexibility in payment methods

The apps accept multiple forms of payment: credit cards, debit cards, bank transfers and virtual wallets. In this way, each customer can choose the method that is most convenient for them.

Compatibility assured

The payment links are compatible with different e-commerce platforms, facilitating integration with online stores and centralized management of digital sales.

Personalization and automation of the experience

Some more advanced platforms, such as Rebill, allow you to go beyond simple link generation: you can customize the links with your brand identity, define the validity of the link, automate the recurring payment method and even preload customer data.

These features provide a more professional and efficient experience for businesses with greater management needs and payment options.

How to choose an app to charge with a payment link?

When incorporating an app to generate paid links, it is important to analyze certain criteria to ensure that the chosen solution really fits the needs of your business:

• Ease of use: the application must allow to generate and share links in a fast and intuitive way, without complicated processes.
• Commissions and costs: it is essential to know the commission percentage for each transaction and if there are additional costs for maintenance or extra services.
• Accepted payment methods: make sure that the app allows charging with credit cards, debit cards, bank transfers and virtual wallets so as not to limit the customer's options.
• Accreditation time: varies according to the payment method and the financial institution. In some cases the accreditation is immediate, while in others it may take more than 48 working hours.
• Security (anti-fraud): the app must have solid protection measures, such as anti-fraud systems and certifications that guarantee the security of payments.
• Integrations: evaluate if the solution integrates with e-commerce platforms, management systems or CRM that you already use in your business.
• Customer experience: the payment interface must be clear, fast and reliable, generating confidence in those who make the transaction.

The choice of app or platform to charge with a payment link will depend on your business and the level of control you are looking for.  

If you need to go a step further, Rebill offers payment automation, checkout customization, automatic currency conversion and PCI DSS certified security.

Modernize the way you charge with smart payment links and improve your customers' experience. Contact us at and take your business into the future of payments with Rebill in Argentina.

Mercado Pago: the leading digital payment solution in Latin America

Mercado Pago is one of the largest payment platforms in Latin America, owned by Mercado Libre, the region's e-commerce giant. Founded in 2003, Mercado Pago has revolutionized digital payments, offering services ranging from online transactions to physical point-of-sale payments, money transfers, top-ups and service payments. With massive adoption in countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, and more, the platform continues to lead financial inclusion and the digitization of the economy throughout the region.

Learn about other alternatives to Mercado Pago in Argentina.

Evolution and expansion of Mercado Pago in Latin America

Growth since launch

Mercado Pago was launched in 2003 as a tool to facilitate transactions within the Mercado Libre platform. Since then, it has expanded beyond its original function, covering a variety of countries in Latin America, including Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Uruguay and Peru. Its growth has been driven by its ability to adapt to local needs, such as the integration of boletos bancários in Brazil and the adoption of instant payment systems such as Pix in the same country.

Mercado Pago financial services and payment options

Mercado Pago offers a wide range of financial services that facilitate both e-commerce and face-to-face transactions.

Online payments and installment payment options

Mercado Pago users can make secure online payments using credit and debit cards, bank transfers, and cash payments through physical points of sale. In addition, the platform allows payment in installments, making it easier for users to make larger purchases without an immediate financial burden.

Money transfers and service payments

Mercado Pago makes it easy to transfer money quickly and securely, both to other users and to bank accounts throughout the region. In addition, users can pay utility bills and recharge airtime directly from the platform, optimizing their financial management.

Innovations and safety

Mercado Pago stands out for its constant technological innovation. In 2024, the company has implemented NFC contactless payments and integrated the Visa Token Service to enhance the security of online transactions. These technologies ensure that users can make payments quickly and reliably.

Two-factor authentication and data encryption continue to be fundamental pillars of Mercado Pago's security, protecting users against fraud and guaranteeing the integrity of transactions.

Impact and future of Mercado Pago in Latin America

Financial inclusion and digital transformation

Mercado Pago has been a key player in financial inclusion in Latin America, enabling millions of people to access digital accounts, pre-approved loans and financial services that were previously inaccessible to the unbanked population. This approach has had a direct impact on the digitization of the regional economy, with more people and businesses adopting online payments.

Projections for 2026: Continuous innovation

Projections for 2026 indicate that Mercado Pago will continue to lead the fintech ecosystem in Latin America. Growth in instant payments, such as the successful Pix model in Brazil, is expected to spread to other countries in the region. Likewise, the trend toward embedded finance will allow more companies to quickly and easily integrate payment solutions, using Mercado Pago's APIs to offer hassle-free financial services.

Another key trend is the incorporation of blockchain and cryptocurrencies, which will provide users with more secure and efficient alternatives for managing their finances. These technologies are poised to multiply in the region's fintechs, offering new opportunities for businesses and consumers.

Integrate Mercado Pago into your business with Rebill

If you're looking to implement Mercado Pago as a payment method in your business, Rebill can help you manage all payments efficiently. With Rebill, you can accept all major payment methods in Argentina and LATAM, including credit cards, e-wallets like Mercado Pago, bank transfers and cash payments in all major Latam markets. In addition, we offer transparent costsno minimum fees, and real human support at every step of the process.

Advantages of using Rebill

• Cross-border payments in the main Latin American markets, optimizing the management of your operations without the need to have a legal presence in each country.
• Rapid integration through APIs and SDKs, designed to facilitate efficient implementation.
• Personalized support to help you manage customer, partner and supplier payments easily and securely.

Maximize your payments in Latin America with Rebill

The efficiency and security of Mercado Pago make this platform an excellent choice for any business looking to expand its presence in Latin America. With Rebill, you can integrate Mercado Pago and other regional payment methods quickly and seamlessly.

‍Contact us today and take your payment strategy to the next level.

What is Webpay?

Webpay is an online payment platform that enables users to conduct financial transactions securely and efficiently. Developed by Transbank, one of Chile's largest financial institutions, Webpay offers a variety of services, including credit card payments, bank transfers and e-wallet payments. This platform is widely used in Chile and is the web equivalent of the RedCompra card readers seen in many stores.

Webpay History

Webpay was launched by Transbank in 2001 as an online payment solution for the growing e-commerce in Chile. Since its launch, the platform has experienced steady growth, expanding the variety of services it offers. Continuous updates and enhancements have enabled Webpay to keep up with consumer demands and expectations, adding new features, improving security and optimizing the user experience.

Webpay features

Webpay offers a variety of features designed to facilitate online transactions:

Credit card payments

Credit card payments

• Compatibility with multiple cards: Visa, MasterCard and American Express.
• Secure process: Data encryption to protect user information.

Bank transfers

• Popular option: Ideal for those who prefer not to use credit cards.
• Simple process: Select bank, enter account details and authorize the transaction.

Electronic wallet payments

• Convenience: Allows online transactions to be kept separate from regular bank accounts.
• Efficient process: Selecting the e-wallet, entering details and authorizing payment.

Webpay Security

Security is a priority for Webpay, implementing various measures to protect transactions and user data:

Data encryption

• 256-bit encryption: One of the highest levels available to protect information during transactions.

Two-factor authentication

• Additional layers of security: Users must provide a password and a cell phone to access their accounts.

Real-time transaction monitoring

• Detection of suspicious activity: If anything unusual is detected, Webpay may block the transaction or contact the user.

Maximize your payment options in LATAM with Rebill

If you're impressed with Webpay's capabilities, you'll love what Rebill has to offer:

• Payment methods: We accept cards, e-wallets, wire transfers and cash payments in all major Latin American countries.
• Transparent costs: No minimum fees and real human support to help you every step of the way.
• Expansion without borders: Expand your business in LATAM without the need to establish a legal presence in each country.
• Rapid integration: API and SDK designed for rapid deployment.

Contact us today to simplify your cross-border payments for startups and global companies in Latin America.

‍PagoFácil is a payment platform in Argentina, operated by Gire S.A., which allows users to make cash payments for bills, taxes, services and online purchases in a secure and convenient way.

It is one of the most accessible payment networks in the country, with more than 3,600 physical points distributed throughout the country.

How does Pago Fácil work?

How Pago Fácil works is simple and effective. Here is a breakdown of how payments are made:

1. Voucher generation: Users receive a voucher or invoice with a unique barcode when making an online purchase.
2. Cash payment: Users take this voucher to any Pago Fácil branch, where the cashier scans the barcode and the user pays in cash.
3. Payment confirmation: Once the payment has been made, the merchant is notified that the transaction has been completed and the user receives a payment receipt.

Pago Fácil Locations

Pago Fácil has an extensive network of more than 3,600 payment points, including supermarkets, convenience stores, kiosks and other commercial establishments. These locations are open seven days a week and offer extended business hours, making Pago Fácil one of the most widely used payment methods in Argentina.

Pago Fácil Benefits

• Accessibility: With more than 3,600 payment points throughout the country, users can make payments at convenient, nearby locations.
• Security: Pago Fácil uses advanced encryption technology to protect user information and ensure that all payments are made securely. It also has strict policies and procedures for the protection of personal data.
• Convenience: Users can pay bills and other services without standing in long lines at banks or post offices, and locations have extended hours for added convenience.

Pago Fácil Limitations

• Geographical availability: Pago Fácil is only available in Argentina, which limits its use to users within the country.
• Banking requirements: Although a bank account is not required to pay cash, some services may require online registration which may require banking information for initial setup.

Pago Fácil Security

Pago Fácil prioritizes the security of its users by using data encryption and two-factor authentication to protect against fraud and other threats. It also has a dedicated security team that constantly monitors the platform.

Conclusion

Pago Fácil is a reliable and convenient cash payment solution for users in Argentina, allowing them to make payments for a wide variety of services and online purchases securely and affordably.

Maximize your payment potential in LATAM with Rebill

If Pago Fácil has simplified the way Argentines handle their online transactions, imagine what Rebill with its payment gateway can do for your business as it expands throughout Latin America.

Accepts LATAM's main payment methods, from cards and e-wallets to transfers and cash payments, including Pago Fácil, in more than 10 countries.

With Rebill, you'll enjoy transparent costs, no minimum fees and real human support. Whether you're starting up or taking your business global in Latin America, our Payouts services allow you to expand throughout the region without the need to establish a legal presence in each country. Plus, with Payouts, you can disperse payments to your workforce, customers and partners in the currency of your choice.

Integrate in less than an hour with our user-friendly payment API and SDK, designed for fast and efficient deployment. Contact us today to take your payment solutions to the next level.

Knowing the most used payment methods in Peru is essential to grow in the local market. From cards and transfers to digital wallets, offering the right options improves conversion and customer experience. Integrating them is not always simple. 

Rebill helps companies that collect payments in Latin America to centralize payment methods, improve reconciliation, and reduce operational friction. If you are evaluating Peru as a market, we can help you prioritize which methods to offer and what integrating them would entail.

In this article, you will discover how to choose the right payment methods for your business and what you should prioritize if you are evaluating sales and collections in Peru.

What are the best payment methods available in Peru?

Globally, payment methods have evolved rapidly in recent years, driven by technology, digitization and the massive use of mobile devices. From physical cards and transfers, to digital wallets, QR payments and cryptocurrencies, consumers expect fast, secure and convenient options, regardless of whether they shop in-store or on their cell phones.

In Latin America, and especially in Peru, this transformation has also taken hold. One of the key advances has been interoperability: today it is possible to make payments between platforms such as Yape and Plin, without belonging to the same bank, but with an associated account. This has boosted financial inclusion and access to more efficient means of payment collection.

On-site

Point of sale terminals (POS)

In 2024, card transactions grew 28 % in volume and 10.8 % in value, with an 81 % increase in online debit volume and 37 % in value.

The average ticket was S/. 73 (debit) and S/. 197 (credit), reflecting the growing adoption of low value payments.

Interchange fees decreased in debit and credit cards (interchange from 1.57% to 1.52%; reduced acquirer/facilitator discounts). This according to the Central Reserve Bank of Peru (BCRP) report.

In 2026, the use of POS terminals will continue to increase. These devices enable card payments to be processed quickly and securely. In addition, 45% of retailers have incorporated QR codes as a complement to traditional POS terminals, facilitating contactless options.

Card payments (debit/credit)

• Debit cards: are the most widely used method for online purchases in Peru, representing about 40% of the total, according to Statista. They also have a strong presence in face-to-face payments.
• Credit cards: they represent more than 25% of online transactions, with Visa, Mastercard and American Express as the most used brands.

QR code payments

Driven by the growth of contactless solutions and financial inclusion policies, this method has established itself as a practical, fast and secure option. It is common to find QR stickers at fairs, cabs and small businesses.

Cash payments

Despite digital growth, cash still dominates. According to the Central Reserve Bank of Peru, approximately 90% of transactions for purchases and services are still made in cash, especially in rural areas or where digital access is limited.

Online

Online payment methods in Peru have evolved rapidly, incorporating more and more practical, secure and accessible options. From wire transfers to digital wallets. 

Bank transfers

According to the Central Reserve Bank of Peru (BCRP), in the first half of 2024 intrabank and CCE (traditional interbank) transfers increased significantly. However, these pure A2A transfers -i.e., between bank accounts without intermediation of digital wallets- represent less than 15% of total digital payments. These tend to be used mainly for B2B payments, services or large amounts.

On the other hand, transfers made through digital wallets (e-wallets), which are also movements between accounts but mediated by digital platforms such as Yape or Plin, account for 67.6% of low-value payments in Peru. This reflects a strong preference for solutions that are more agile, practical and adapted to mobile use for everyday payments.

Digital wallets (e-wallets)

Digital wallets account for approximately 69% of low-value payments in Peru:

• Yape: the most widely used wallet in the country. In 2026, it has 14 million active users, reaching 69% of the economically active population. It is common in all types of businesses, from large chains to local markets.
  
• Plin: widely used, with 4 million users. Its key advantage is its integration with banks such as BCP, Interbank, and BBVA, making it a fast solution for transfers and payments between individuals.
  
• PagoEfectivo: an ideal payment method for those who do not have a card. It allows you to pay in cash using codes that can be paid at authorized agents or banks.
  
• Apple Pay, Google Pay and PayPal: on the rise. More and more merchants are adopting these options to offer a contactless, seamless and modern payment experience.

Cryptocurrencies

Although still in their infancy, cryptocurrency payments are gaining ground in Peru. By 2026, more businesses—from online stores to startups—will accept crypto payments, either directly or through platforms such as Lemon or Tulkit Pay.

The most widely used are Bitcoin (BTC) and stablecoins such as USDT and USDC, thanks to their integration with apps that allow payment with QR or crypto cards, even with benefits such as cashback.

Ethereum (ETH) and Solana (SOL) are also available, although with lower adoption. Despite this growth, 69% of low-value payments still occur in digital wallets such as Yape or Plin, according to BCRP.

Although still emerging, cryptocurrency payments are gaining ground in Peru's digital ecosystem. By 2026, more and more businesses—from online stores to small startups—have begun accepting cryptocurrencies as a form of payment, either directly or through integration platforms.

Why payment methods matter for your business in Peru

Offering the right payment methods is not just a technical issue: it directly impacts your conversions. 

In Peru, more than 65% of low-value payments are already made with digital wallets such as Yape or Plin. If your business does not accept them, you could be leaving sales on the table.

In addition, interoperability between payment platforms allows for faster and less frictionless charging, regardless of whether the customer uses a banking app, a wallet or even cryptocurrencies.

If you are exploring the Peruvian market, it is important to understand the payment gateway landscape in Peru and how they combine with wallets and transfers. At Rebill, we can help you evaluate the best payment strategy and what it would take to implement it. 

Tips for selecting payment method types according to your customer and business

With so many different payment methods, the important thing is to choose the ones that really fit your type of business and your customer profile. Here are some ideas to help you decide:

•  Know your customers: Do they use more cash, cards or wallets like Yape or Plin? If you sell to young people or through social networks, digital wallets are key without using customers' personal data. If you are in areas with poor connectivity, cash is still necessary.
• Think about your business model: Operating in EdTech, HealthTech or SaaS is not the same as operating in traditional retail. These sectors require payment methods such as cards, transfers and digital wallets for subscriptions and international payments. Making the right choice improves the customer experience and facilitates growth.
• Evaluate the checkout experience: Make checkout easy and fast. A complicated process can lose you sales. Use solutions that reduce steps and adapt to the channel: physical, digital or both.
• Look at ease of use and fees: Choose international payment gateways that you can easily manage and that do not affect your profitability by high commissions or delays in money delivery.

Boost your business with Rebill

Rebill is the most comprehensive and reliable payment infrastructure in Latin America. Designed for global companies expanding in the region, it offers a comprehensive and modern solution to facilitate frictionless transactions. If Peru is on your roadmap this year, we can help you evaluate opportunities and requirements right now.

With Rebill, your company can:

• Plan a collection strategy for Peru (currency, methods, reconciliation, and settlement) aligned with your regional operation.
  
• Access the most popular payment methods in the country, improving the customer experience and increasing conversion rates.
  
• Integrate the payment system in less than an hour, with a streamlined process and no technical complications.
  
• Offer flexible recurring payments, ideal for subscription or membership models.
  
• Automatic compliance, reducing risks and ensuring local regulatory compliance.

With so many options available, the most important thing is to choose the payment methods that your customers actually use. You don't need to offer them all, but you do need to offer the ones that allow you to sell more and get paid faster. This is where a regional payment infrastructure and a well-designed checkout process can make all the difference. At Rebill, we can help you evaluate and put together a plan.

We help you integrate the main payment methods - cards, transfers, digital wallets, QR, and even cryptocurrencies - from a single platform, without complicating your business. This way, your business adapts to the pace of your customers and grows with them.

Transform your customers' shopping experience by offering flexible and secure payment methods. Improve your payment management and expand your business in Peru, contact us to get started!

In Argentina, Mercado Pago is the most used payment gateway, but it is not always the best option for businesses with recurring payments or other needs. In this article, we tell you about 8 alternatives that offer flexibility and support so you can get paid without complications.

8 reliable alternatives to Mercado Pago for payment in Argentina

Mercado Pago is a digital payment platform created by Mercado Libre to manage online payments through multiple payment methods and tools such as payment links, QR code, Point readers and checkout.

However, it is not the only option available. In the Argentine fintech ecosystem there are other solutions that also allow secure, fast and adapted to different business models.

Here are 11 alternatives to Mercado Pago that are worth considering.

1. Rebill

Rebill is a payment infrastructure designed for companies that want to operate in Argentina or are looking to expand to other Latin American markets without the need to open local entities. 

Soon, it will also be available for local companies in Argentina. If you want to find out before anyone else, secure your priority access now.

It is especially designed for companies in sectors such as SaaS, EdTech, HealthTech and eCommerce. Its payment solution stands out for offering a customizable checkout , powered with intelligent rules that can increase conversion by up to 35%. 

In addition, it improves the payment approval rate by 20% compared to the international average and allows recovering up to 71% of rejected payments thanks to its optimized collection logic. 

Rebill also offers a transparent and fixed exchange rate at the time of the transaction, which facilitates the financial management of international collections.

It operates in the main Latin American markets and with the main payment methods in Argentina, including installment payments, digital wallets, bank transfers, among others.

It is ideal for automatic payments, monthly plans and subscription models.

2. Cloud Payment

This tool developed by Tiendanube facilitates the collection of online sales. Its fee structure is competitive, affordable and eliminates the cost per transaction for stores that already have an active Tiendanube plan.

The benefits of Pago Nube are the transaction bonus, integrated checkout , high security standards and preferential conditions to operate with multiple payment methods: transfers, debit card, credit card, simple installments or installments with and without interest.  

3. PayU

It is a platform that offers payment solutions to both small businesses and large corporations. It allows merchants to accept different payment methods such as debit and credit cards, bank transfers and cash payments through local networks.

4. PayPal

PayPal's presence in Argentina has been limited compared to other countries, but it remains an option for international transactions. 

PayPal allows the company's website or online store to accept linked debit and credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express), linked bank accounts (in countries where the option is available) and PayPal.

5. Mobbex

It is an Argentine fintech specialized in payment solutions for electronic and physical commerce. In 2023, it enabled cryptocurrency payments through an alliance with Binance Pay.

Mobbex also works with credit cards, debit cards, bank transfers and cash payments.

6. Payway

It is a gateway of Prisma Medios de Pago, which absorbed Todo Pago in June 2022. It is for companies with high sales volume that seek to operate with their own establishment number in gateway mode. 

Payway offers online payment management, custom integrations and automated financial reconciliation. It accepts debit and credit cards, QR payments, bank transfer and automatic debit.

7. Ualá Bis

Ualá's payment gateway is designed to facilitate online payments. Originally intended for small businesses and entrepreneurs, it now also offers solutions for companies looking for fast integration, simplicity and a clear cost structure. 

8. Openpay

This service developed by BBVA allows sales to be charged with credit, debit and prepaid cards. It also receives transfers from virtual accounts (CVU) and bank accounts (CBU) and offers installment payments.

For online sales, the payment link is used by WhatsApp, email or social networks. If it is a physical location, you can charge by QR code and Openpay Mini card reader.

Why look for alternatives to Mercado Pago in Argentina?

Although Mercado Pago is the most widely used payment gateway in Argentina, many companies begin to look for other options when faced with certain needs, especially when they handle recurring payments or need to operate in several Latin American countries.

Among the main challenges that arise when scaling with this platform are:

• Limited scalability: selling in different countries requires opening local accounts, which complicates regional expansion and revenue reconciliation.
• Lack of agile and personalized support: automated support makes it difficult to solve specific or urgent problems.
• Costs and commissions: the highest in the market.
• Lack of advanced tools: especially in subscription models, where more robust automations are required.

What about subscriptions in Mercado Pago?

The management of subscriptions is usually one of the most critical points. In this type of operations, Mercado Pago usually presents limitations such as:

• Technical complexity: setting up subscriptions involves working with keys, endpoints and custom logic, which can be a barrier for SMBs or businesses without a technical team.
• Generic support: without personalized follow-up, scaling a membership model becomes risky and costly.

Keep in mind that expanding your alternatives with another payment processor can help you:

• Reduce the risk of payment rejections
• Improve customer experience
• Optimize your foreign exchange margins
• Diversify against potential crashes or lockouts of a single platform

Solutions like Rebill offer agile support, personalized onboarding and tools designed for businesses that need more than a standard solution. If your company is growing or has more complex needs, considering alternatives like this can make a big difference.

What to consider when choosing a collection alternative in Argentina?

If you are evaluating new payment infrastructures for your business in Argentina, it is important to consider more than just price. Here are some key variables that will help you make a better decision:

• Transaction fees and interest rates
• Time of accreditation (in real time or in business days)
• Ease of integration. Choose platforms that offer a robust API, SDKs or low-code solutions to implement quickly without overloading the technical team.
• Support for multiple payment methods such as credit cards, debit cards, wire transfers, virtual wallets and cash payments.
• Security and compliance: the gateway must have certifications such as PCI DSS, data encryption and anti-fraud tools to generate user confidence.
• Adaptation to the local market. If the platform understands the particularities of the Argentinean market and the dynamics of the countries in the region, you will have advantages for your business.

Keep in mind that the most popular option is not always the best for your business. Avoid relying on a single option to grow more safely and efficiently.

Evaluate alternatives with flexibility and specialized support. Try Rebill today and start optimizing your collections in Argentina.

Payment in installments is a flexible way of financing purchases that more and more consumers in Latin America prefer.

What is payment in installments?

Payment in installments or payment in installments allows consumers to make purchases and pay for them in several monthly installments over a given period of time.

This payment method is especially useful for high-value purchases, as it allows you to spread the cost over time rather than making a single payment. 

How does payment by installments work?

The installment payment procedure consists of the following steps:

• Selection of payment option: the consumer chooses to pay in installments when making a purchase, either by credit card, debit card or platforms such as Mercado Pago.
• Assessment of the consumer 's ability to pay: the merchant or financial institution assesses the consumer's ability to pay based on his or her credit line, bank account, history or use of a personal loan.
• Approval and conditions: the customer is informed about how many installments he can choose and under what conditions:
  
  • Interest-free installments: the consumer pays only the value of the product, the total price being equivalent to the total amount of the purchase. These installments are usually part of promotional installment plans absorbed by the retailer.
  • Interest-bearing installments: in this case, an interest rate such as the annual nominal rate (APR) or the annual effective rate (AER) is applied, which increases the total financial cost. This rate may be regulated by the Central Bank of each country, especially in the context of inflation.
  • Associated costs: in addition to interest, other charges may be added for late payments or early cancellation of the total amount.
• Payment of the first installment: the first payment is made, and then the following payments are automatically debited as agreed.
• Example: if a customer wants to buy an online course costing $600, he can choose to pay for it in 6 monthly installments of $100 without interest. On the other hand, if he chooses a plan with 30% annual interest, the total amount to be paid could reach $660, divided into 6 installments of $110.

Difference between fixed and interest-free installments

When is it convenient to offer installment payments in your business?

Offering installment payments makes sense when the price of what you sell exceeds what many customers can afford to pay at once. It is especially useful if you market high-value products or services, such as technology, training or travel.

It is also a good strategy if your audience is looking for flexibility, if you sell online (where integrating fees is simple) or if you need to differentiate yourself from the competition. On key dates, such as commercial campaigns or launches, it can help you close more sales and increase the average ticket.

Benefits of payment in installments

For retailers

• Increased sales: offering quotas expands the range of viable products for the customer.
• Loyalty and conversion: offering flexible payment options can improve customer loyalty.
• Stable revenue stream: receiving regular payments makes it easier to plan business operations.

For consumers

• Access to high value products: allows access to a larger amount of money for large purchases without having to pay the full amount at once.
• Better management of personal finances: spreading the cost over time helps to better plan expenses without neglecting other commitments.
• Building credit history: meeting payments strengthens the profile with entities such as banks or financing platforms.

Key considerations when offering or choosing payment in installments

For retailers

• Appropriate payment solution: have a secure and functional integration (for example, with Mercado Pago or Rebill).
• Available installment plans: decide whether to offer 3, 6 or 12 installments with or without interest and know the impact on cash flow.
• Associated costs: transaction fees, absorbed interest or implementation costs.

For consumers

• APR and AER: understanding the difference between the nominal annual rate and the effective annual rate helps to measure the impact of interest.
• How many installments to choose: sometimes it is better to pay in fewer installments to reduce the total financial cost.
• Payment capacity and budget: evaluate whether the plan can be sustained in the medium or long term.

Offer installment payments in your business with Rebill

If you are looking for a payment gateway in Latin America to expand your business and want to offer your customers the flexibility of payment in installments, Rebill is your ideal partner.

Advantages of choosing Rebill for your installment payments

• Transparent rates, with no hidden costs or minimum fees.
• Personalized human assistance to solve any doubt.
• Facilitation of cross-border payments, ideal for startups and global companies.
• Various payment methods: credit and debit cards, e-wallets, wire transfers, cash and more.
• Expansion throughout the LATAM region without the need to establish a legal presence in each country.
• Fast and efficient integration with friendly APIs and SDKs

Ready to accept installment payments? Contact us today to start simplifying your installment payments and growing your business in Latin America.

In Peru, there is a wide variety of payment solutions that adapt to different business models, from startups to large companies. In this article, we focus on payment gateways: how they work, what types exist and what are the 12 best options currently available in the country.

What is a payment gateway?

A payment gateway is a system that allows merchants to receive payments securely through electronic means. In other words, it is the "bridge" that connects your online store with the financial system so you can get paid for your products or services without complications.

How does a payment gateway work?

The operation of a payment gateway can be summarized in three steps:

1. ‍Data capture: The customer chooses a payment method and provides their details (such as credit or debit card details, for example).‍
2. Verification and authorization: The payment gateway transmits that information to the issuing bank or payment provider to validate that the funds are available.‍
3. Confirmation: If the transaction is authorized, the money is transferred to your merchant and the customer receives the payment confirmation.
   

All this process is protected by security protocols such as the recognized PCI DSS certification.

Types of payment gateways

Depending on the type of business and sales channel, there are different types of payment gateways you can consider:

Multichannel payment gateways

These are platforms that allow you to collect payment online, at physical points and through social networks, integrating all channels in a single solution. They are ideal for hybrid businesses (online and in-person). 

Digital payment gateways

They are specifically designed for e-commerce, mobile apps and marketplaces. They offer payment links, personalized checkout and tools to automate payments. 

International payment gateways

They are the most suitable if you sell to other countries, as they allow you to charge in different currencies and accept global payment methods such as Rebill.

What is the best payment gateway for your business in Peru?

Below is a selection of the top 12 payment gateways in Peru. For each one, we include key information on accepted payment methods, support, integration and fees.

1. Rebill

Rebill is a payment platform designed for companies with high transactional volume, especially those operating in sectors such as SaaS, EdTech, HealthTech and eCommerce. 

Not only does it allow payments to be processed in Peru, but it also facilitates regional expansion in Latin America, thanks to its presence in the 7 main markets in the region. This eliminates the need to integrate a separate payment gateway for each country, simplifying the operation and accelerating growth.

It offers a highly customizable checkout, driven by intelligent rules that increase payment conversion by up to 35%, adapting to the digital habits of the Peruvian market. 

It also improves the approval rate by 20% above the global average and, thanks to its advanced collection logic, allows you to recover up to 71% of rejected payments, reducing your business losses.

Rebill is PCI DSS level 1 certified, the highest standard in financial data security.

Learn more about its key points.

2. Mercado Pago

Mercado Pago is part of the Mercado Libre ecosystem and allows you to pay online with multiple payment methods.

3. OpenPay (BBVA)

OpenPay combines technology with the support of BBVA, offering online, physical and link payments. Its strengths are security and ease of integration.

4. PayU

Platform with global presence, works to sell both in Peru and other countries. It provides reconciliation tools and advanced analytics.

5. Flow Payments

Flow Pagos offers payment solutions for online sales with extensive local coverage in Peru.

6. Pay-me

Pay-me's proposal focuses on offering a multiplatform solution to facilitate payments in both web and mobile environments.

7. PayPal

It is one of the most popular payment gateways worldwide, although its fees can be higher than average.

8. D-local

D-local is a platform specializing in cross-border payments. It allows international companies to collect payments in the Peruvian market using local payment methods.

9. EBANX

Ebanx, designed for global companies that want to operate in Latin America, facilitates payment in soles and offers multi-currency reconciliation.

10. Nuvei

Nuvei is an uncommon gateway for local SMEs, but widely used by high-volume companies in sectors such as travel, video games or international e-commerce.

11. Niubiz

Formerly known as Visanet, it is one of the most traditional gateways in Peru. It provides both face-to-face and digital solutions with a strong presence in large retailers.

12. Culqi

Developed in Peru, Culqi is a modern gateway, focused on startups and digital businesses. It offers tools to customize the payment flow and generate links, QR payments and more.

Key points when choosing a payment gateway for companies operating in the region

Before integrating any payment gateway into your business, here are some of the most important points to consider:

1. ‍Compatible payment methods: Make sure the gateway accepts the payment methods your customers use most frequently: debit and credit cards, Yape, PagoEfectivo, transfers, etc. The more options you offer, the less friction there will be in the payment process.‍
2. Ease of integration: A simple and well-documented integration can speed up implementation times, reduce the need for ongoing technical support and reduce operational risks in the collection flow. Rebill has low-code integration or integration through APIs or SDKs. In addition, it offers Webhooks.‍
3. Security and compliance: Verify that the platform is certified with standards such as PCI DSS and that it has robust anti-fraud measures. The trust of your customers is key to closing sales.‍
4. Scalability: Think ahead: will this gateway allow you to grow and sell in other countries or channels (such as mobile apps or subscriptions)? Some, such as Rebill or D-local, are designed for businesses that evolve rapidly.‍
5. Approval rate: Platforms designed for the local context tend to process payments more efficiently, as they better understand consumption patterns and the particularities of the financial system. Rebill, for example, improves payment approval rates by up to 20% over the global average.

Conclusion

Choosing the right payment gateway in Peru is not just about processing collections, it's about building an efficient, locally optimized payment experience that scales with your business. 

With Rebill, EdTech, SaaS, HealthTech or eCommerce companies can automate their recurring collections, improve their conversion rates and focus on growing.

If your company operates in Peru and you are ready to optimize your payment strategy, contact us and find out how we can help you.

‍

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Disclaimer

Note: If you are evaluating Peru as a market, we can help you understand which payment methods to prioritize and what would be required to implement them. The availability of methods and coverage may vary depending on the case.

This information is for reference only and may change without prior notice. The rates, settlement times, and integrations mentioned in this article correspond to what was published by each provider on their official channels in April 2026. For accurate and up-to-date information, it is recommended to consult directly with each payment gateway.

Payment gateways have become indispensable tools for facilitating secure and reliable electronic transactions in Mexico. 

In this article you will learn which are the most used in the country, their rates, integration methods and technical support channels, so that you can choose the best option for your company.

‍Bestpayment gateways in Mexico: Which one to choose?

1. Rebill

Rebill is a payment platform designed for companies with high transactional volume, whether they operate in Mexico or want to expand to other Latin American markets. They specialize in industries such as SaaS, EdTech, HealthTech and eCommerce. 

It stands out for its customizable checkout system, driven by intelligent rules that can improve the conversion rate by up to 35%. This optimization is key to adapt to digital consumer habits in Mexico, where factors such as distrust in online payment and the use of mobile devices influence purchase completion.

 In addition, Rebill improves the payment approval rate by up to 20% above the global average and enables the recovery of up to 71% of rejected payments thanks to its optimized collection logic.

It is present in the 7 main Latin American markets, including Mexico as one of its strategic markets.

As a result, Rebill allows Mexican companies to expand regionally with a single platform, without the need to integrate different payment solutions for each country.

It is PCI DSS level 1 certified, the highest security standard in financial data protection for this type of platform.

2. Mercado Pago

Mercado Pago is one of the most popular payment gateways in Latin America, it offers a wide variety of payment methods and is backed by Mercado Libre. Here are its key aspects for Mexico. 

3. Paypal

PayPal, with its global reach, makes it easy to receive international payments. Although its fees are relatively high.

4. Stripe

Stripe is a global payment gateway that stands out for its technical integration and documentation for developers. It offers advanced tools to manage subscriptions and complex business models.

‍5. Conekta

Conekta is a Mexican gateway that offers online payment options designed for small, medium and large companies, with a strong focus on optimizing processes and protecting financial information.

6. Openpay

Openpay specializes in the Mexican market, integrates easily with e-commerce platforms and offers anti-fraud solutions.  

7. Kueski Pay

Kueski Pay is a fintech popular for its "buy now, pay later" model that allows consumers to pay in installments.

8. 2Checkout/Verifone

2Checkout (now called Verifone) is a global platform that offers its online payment services for companies in Mexico to sell products and services internationally. 

9. PayU

PayU Mexico is one of the leading payment gateways in the country, offering online payment solutions for businesses of all sizes. 

10. Mr. Payment

Sr. Pago is a Mexican electronic payments platform that offers solutions for both physical and online merchants. Since its acquisition by Konfío, it has positioned itself as one of the leading fintechs in Mexico, integrating payment processing, financing, invoicing and business management services. However, it only accepts cards.

11. Kushki

Kushki is a payment gateway that allows businesses to accept online payments throughout the Americas and the world. It offers a unique integration to connect different payment methods in each country, facilitating international business expansion.

12. CoDi

CoDi (Cobro Digital) is a local payment gateway developed by Banco de México that allows digital payments and collections through electronic transfers via QR codes or NFC technology, using the infrastructure of the Interbank Electronic Payments System (SPEI).

What is a payment gateway?

A payment gateway is a service that processes credit card, debit card, bank transfer and other payment methods for online and physical businesses. It functions as an intermediary that connects merchants, buyers, banks and payment processors to facilitate electronic transactions in a secure manner.

The process is simple. When you make an online purchase, the payment gateway:

• Encrypts sensitive buyer information
• Authorizes the transaction with the issuing bank
• Confirms approval or rejection of payment
• Facilitates the transfer of funds to the merchant

All of this happens in a matter of seconds, improving the customer's shopping experience.

Advantages of using a payment gateway

Implementing a payment gateway brings key benefits to any e-commerce or digital business:

• Transaction security: gateways apply security standards such as encryption and protocols such as PCI DSS to protect sensitive data.
• Higher conversion: by offering multiple payment methods, churn is reduced, as the payment process becomes fast, intuitive and reliable.
• Automation and efficiency: Manual collection and reconciliation processes are eliminated.
• Scalability: Allows to operate in different countries, offer different payment methods and currencies (ideal for businesses with international focus or subscriptions).
• Analysis: Allows obtaining real-time information for transaction analysis, projections, etc.

Criteria for choosing a payment gateway in Mexico

There are many factors to evaluate before integrating a gateway into your business; however, these are the 5 points we consider key before making the decision:

1. ‍ C ompatibility with your business model: Not all gateways offer support for models such as subscriptions, recurring payments, etc. Make sure the solution fits your needs.
2. Fees and costs: Review transaction fees, monthly commissions, withdrawal charges and possible hidden costs. Some gateways offer more competitive plans for businesses with high transaction volume.
3. Available payment methods: Look for a gateway that accepts cards, transfers (SPEI), cash payments (OXXO, 7-Eleven). The more payment methods, the more sales.‍
4. Ease of integration: Check if it offers RESTful APIs, SDKs or plugins for platforms such as Shopify, WooCommerce or Magento. It is a plus if they have Webhooks that report any relevant events, in addition to allowing process automation and system synchronization. 
5. Local market expertise: Choose a payment gateway that understands consumer preferences and the most widely used payment methods in the country. This translates into smoother integrations, higher approval rates and better support.

Conclusion

Mexico has a wide range of payment gateways, each with particular strengths in payment methods, ease of integration, fees and technical support. 

However, if your company operates with a high volume of transactions, needs recurring payments or is looking to expand regionally, Rebill is the most robust option, as it not only processes payments, but also drives growth. 

With smart checkout technology, 71% recovery of declined payments and a focus on digital industries, we are a powerful alternative for businesses looking to optimize their revenue and offer a seamless and secure payment experience. 

If your company is EdTech, SaaS, HealthTech or eCommerce, contact us to optimize your collections in Mexico or in one of the most important markets in Latin America. 

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Disclaimer

This content is for informational purposes only and is based on public information available on the official websites of the payment gateways at the time of writing (April 2026). Please note that rates, features, and conditions are subject to change without notice.

How to accept payments in Mexico as a foreign company

If your company is based outside Mexico and you want to charge local customers, the key is to define (1) which methods you are going to offer, (2) whether you need local acquiring or can operate with international acquiring, and (3) how you are going to handle settlement and reconciliation.

Available methods. In addition to local and international cards, it is often crucial to enable bank transfers and wallets used in the country. In Mexico, SPEI is often a central channel for transfer payments. At the same time, wallets such as digital wallets and banking apps tend to have high adoption in everyday life.

Local cards. Accepting cards issued in Mexico improves conversion, but may require different acquiring, anti-fraud, and authorization rules than other markets. If your provider processes with international acquiring, validate approval rates, billing currency, and 3DS experience where applicable.

Local vs. international acquiring. Local acquiring tends to offer better approval rates and more predictable costs, but may require a local entity, local bank account, or operating partners. International acquiring simplifies setup, but may increase friction with local cards and make FX more expensive depending on your settlement scheme.

Settlement and reconciliation. Define the currency you use for settlement, crediting times, and how you will reconcile payments between cards, SPEI, and wallets. In practice, a good reconciliation flow reduces chargebacks and speeds up the accounting close by clearly separating authorization, capture, commissions, and taxes where applicable.

Choosing the right payment gateway is not just a technical decision: it is a business decision. For companies that sell services online, having a solution that automates collections and improves conversion rates can make the difference between growth and stagnation. 

In this guide we compare the best payment gateways in Chile and analyze their costs, integration and available payment methods to help you make an informed decision. Check them out below:

What is a payment gateway?

A payment gateway is a system that allows secure online payment processing. Its function is to connect the buyer with the merchant and validate the transaction between the two, either by bank card, transfer or any other digital payment method. They are widely used in e-commerce. 

Top 10 payment gateways in Chile

1. Rebill

Rebill is a payment platform designed for companies with large-scale operations, both in Chile and in other Latin American markets. It is especially designed for companies that handle a high volume of transactions, in sectors such as SaaS, EdTech, HealthTech and eCommerce.

Rebill operates in Chile and allows Chilean companies to charge in Chilean pesos, and international companies to charge in CLP and settle in USD abroad, depending on the structure of the transaction. It is useful for online service businesses (SaaS, EdTech, HealthTech, eCommerce) that need configurable checkout, reconciliation, and operational tools.

Examples of companies that use Rebill in Chile: Tripleten, Henry, MSK Latam, Asegura tu viaje, Neolo, Pax Assistance.

Its proposal stands out because it can improve conversion with checkout optimization and payment rules. It also improves payment approval rates by up to 20%, above the international average, and has a collection logic that includes retry logic and recovery of rejected payments.

Designed for regional scaling, Rebill positions itself as a scalable, reliable solution for businesses seeking efficiency and sustained growth.

In terms of security, it complies with PCI DSS level 1 certification, which guarantees the highest standard in financial data protection.

Flow (flow.cl)

Flow is one of the most versatile Chilean payment gateways, ideal for e-commerce companies. It accepts multiple payment methods and allows simple integrations for online stores.

Webpay Plus

Webpay Plus is the payment gateway operated by Transbank in Chile, designed to allow physical and online merchants to receive payments with different methods. It is one of the most widely used solutions in the country.

4. Mercado Pago

MercadoPago, part of MercadoLibre, is a robust option for those who sell on social networks, marketplaces or their own sites. 

5. Easy Payment

Pago Fácil is a Chilean platform designed for SMEs and companies looking for a simple option to accept payments.

6. Payku

Payku is a Chilean fintech that offers a simple platform to implement digital collections.

7. PayU

Although its presence is strongest in Peru, Ecuador and other LATAM countries, PayU also operates in Chile. It is ideal for companies that require a multi-currency system.

8. PayPal

PayPal is still one of the best known options globally, although its presence in Chile is smaller. It can be useful for international payments or customers who already have an account on the platform.

9. Kushki

Kushki offers online payment solutions for businesses in Latin America, including Chile. It was founded in 2016 with the goal of connecting the region through digital payments. 

10. Khipu

Khipu is a Chilean payment gateway that allows direct bank transfers as an online payment method, without the need to enter data manually.

What to consider when choosing a payment gateway in Chile?

When integrating a payment processing platform, it's important to look beyond price. Here are some key variables you should consider depending on the size and needs of your business:

Available payment methods

Look for a payment platform that allows you to receive payments with various payment methods. The more payment options you offer, the smoother the purchase process will be for your customers and therefore, the more your business will grow.  

Ease of integration

Choose a payment gateway that makes implementation easy, either through out-of-the-box plugins, low-code integrations or a well-documented API. Some platforms, such as Rebill, also offer native connectors with systems such as ERP, CRM or ecommerce, which simplifies data synchronization. 

Local and regional support

If your company operates in several Latin American countries or has expansion plans, it is advisable to choose a platform with regional presence and support in Spanish to resolve questions quickly.

Extra functionalities

Explore whether they offer tools such as subscriptions, recurring payments, automatic reconciliation, webhook notifications, rejected payment recovery logic or checkout customization. These features can improve efficiency and increase conversions.

Improved conversion rate and payment approvals

A good payment gateway doesn't just collect payments: it also optimizes them. Choosing a solution that offers agile payment flows that adapt to user behavior can increase your conversion rate. You can improve conversion with checkout optimization and payment rules. While the approval rate could increase by up to 20%, this translates into more sales.

Scalability

If your business is growing, make sure that the gateway you choose can accompany you to new markets or support a higher volume of transactions without problems.

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Conclusion

In a competitive market like the Chilean one, having a gateway that optimizes your collection is key.

After learning about these 10 alternatives, Rebill is positioned as a solution designed for companies with high volume operations seeking to grow in Chile and Latin America, without technical friction or loss in the payment experience.

If your operation requires a tool that evolves with your business, we are your best ally. 

Contact us and find out how we can help you scale your business sales.

‍

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Disclaimer
This content is for informational purposes only and was prepared based on public information available on the official websites of each payment gateway in Chile at the time of writing (April 2026). Rates, conditions, and features are subject to change without notice, so it is recommended to consult directly with each provider for updated information.

Choosing the right payment gateway can make the difference between the success and growth of your online business in Colombia. With the boom of e-commerce in the country, having an efficient, safe and secure payment system adapted to the local market is not only an advantage, but a necessity.

If your company operates in sectors such as EdTech, SaaS, HealthTech or eCommerce, this guide will help you find the platform to optimize your transactions and improve your customers' payment experience.

These are the 11 best payment gateways in Colombia. Find out below their outstanding features, integration methods and fees so that you can make an informed decision: 

What is a payment gateway?

A payment gateway is a technological service that allows companies to receive electronic payments securely and quickly in Colombia. It works as an intermediary between the merchant, the customer and the financial institutions, validating and authorizing each transaction in real time.

Its function is to ensure that funds are transferred correctly, protecting both the customer and the seller against fraud and errors in the purchase process.

How does a payment gateway work in Colombia?

Each payment gateway has its own process; however, most follow these steps each time a customer makes a transaction:

1. ‍Thebuyer enters his data - He enters his credit or debit card information or other alternative means of payment at checkout.‍
2. The payment gateway encrypts the information - Protects sensitive data and sends it to the payment processor.‍
3. The payment processor contacts the issuing bank - Requests authorization for the transaction.‍
4. The issuing bank approves or rejects the payment - Evaluates whether there are sufficient funds and whether the transaction is secure.‍
5. The gateway confirms the transaction - Informs the merchant and the customer if the payment was successful.
6. Funds are transferred to the merchant's account - Depending on the provider, settlement can take from minutes to several days.

Choosing the right gateway in Colombia directly impacts the conversion rate, security and customer confidence, key factors for your business to grow.

Security and regulations for payment gateways

In Colombia, payment gateways must comply with strict regulations to ensure the security of electronic transactions. The Superintendency of Industry and Commerce (SIC) establishes specific regulations on personal data protection (Law 1581 of 2012) and consumer rights in the digital environment.

Additionally, if the gateway offers specific financial services, it must be supervised by the Colombian Financial Superintendency, which regulates the financial system and ensures that entities comply with the necessary standards to protect users.

The main certification that a reliable payment gateway in Colombia must have includes:

• ‍PCIDSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) ensures that the company complies with the security standards for handling card data.

List of the best payment gateways in Colombia

The Colombian market offers several payment gateway options, each one with particular characteristics. Let's take a look at the best options available: 

1. Rebill

Rebill is a payment platform designed for global companies, both with operations in Colombia and international companies that want to expand in the country. It is ideal for companies with high transaction volume, especially in sectors such as SaaS, EdTech, HealthTech and eCommerce. 

Its main strength is the optimization of the digital payment flow with a customizable checkout and smart rules that increase the conversion rate by up to 35%.

In addition, it improves the payment approval rate by up to 20%, higher than the market average, and boosts smart recovery of failed payments by up to 71%. 

With presence in 7 Latin American countries, it offers a robust and scalable solution for companies seeking to maximize their revenues. Its payment solutions also include payment buttons and links. 

In terms of security, it is PCI DSS level 1 certified, the highest standard.

Learn more about its main features:

2. Mercado Pago

As part of the Mercado Libre ecosystem, Mercado Pago offers a comprehensive solution with wide adoption in Colombia. It is useful for merchants selling through marketplaces that require physical point-of-sale solutions in addition to online. It allows adding a payment button or sharing payment links on social networks and WhatsApp.

Explore its key functions:

3. Wompi

Developed by Bancolombia, Wompi stands out for its local focus and ease of implementation for small and medium-sized Colombian businesses. It offers a simplified onboarding process and competitive rates.

Consult the most relevant information about their service:

‍4. PayU

With a presence throughout Latin America, PayU is one of the most established payment gateways in Colombia. It offers solutions for different sizes of companies and stands out for its robustness for large transaction volumes.

Here are the essentials you need to know:

‍5. Place to Pay

Developed by Colombian company EGM Ingeniería, Place to Pay offers payment solutions with a strong focus on security and local regulatory compliance. It is especially valued by companies with strict security requirements such as the financial and healthcare sectors.

Get to know its advantages:

ePayco

100% Colombian payment gateway, ePayco stands out for its knowledge of the local market and its simplified checkout solution. It offers a shopping experience optimized for mobile devices. It is backed by Davivienda bank and PayPal. 

Check out its highlights:

7. PayPal

PayPal is one of the best known payment platforms worldwide, allowing secure transactions between buyers and sellers. Although PayPal does not operate directly in Colombia, its alliance with ePayco since 2024 allows businesses and entrepreneurs in the country to use it as a means of payment. Through this integration, it is possible to accept PayPal payments at checkout and withdraw the funds received to local bank accounts, thus facilitating online sales and expansion into international markets.

8. Stripe

Stripe is a payment platform that allows businesses to accept online payments. However, it does not operate directly in Colombia for local businesses. In order to use it, it is necessary to have a company registered in the United States (such as an LLC or a C-Corp), as Stripe does not support Colombian entities. 

Explore its key functions:

9. GETTRX

GETTRX is a payment platform focused on facilitating local and international transactions, with support for PSE payments and digital wallets. Its platform works for companies that need to process payments efficiently and quickly.

This is what it offers:

10.Openpay

Openpay is an online payment platform backed by the BBVA Group, which allows businesses to accept a variety of payment methods in a secure and efficient manner. With a presence in several Latin American countries, including Colombia, it offers solutions adapted to the needs of different types of businesses, such as dataphone, payment links, payment button, collections and customized collections with a box office:

Here are the essentials you need to know:

11. PayZen

It is an online payment platform that offers secure and efficient solutions for businesses in Colombia and other countries. It allows businesses to accept electronic payments in a simple way, adapting to the needs of the local market.

Check its characteristics:

‍Types ofpayment gateways and which one is right for your business

Depending on the model and size of your business, certain types of payment gateways may be better suited to your specific needs:

Payment gateway aggregators

These are those that group multiple merchants under the same account and offer quick implementation without the need for direct affiliation with banks.

They are usually recommended for emerging businesses or those with moderate transactional volume (up to USD 100,000 per month). The sectors that use them the most are: e-commerce due to the variety of payment methods and ease of implementation. In addition to Edtechs that offer individual courses and seek to be able to make single payments without complex recurrences.

• Examples: Mercado Pago, ePayco, Wompi, Rebill.

Direct payment gateways or payment processors

They are those that have direct connection with banks and card networks. They offer greater control over the payment process. They are recommended for companies with a transaction volume of more than 100 thousand dollars per month and that require maximum security.

The sectors that benefit most from this type of gateway are HealthTech, due to the privacy of medical data, and e-commerce platforms, where the security perceived by the customer has an impact on their purchasing decision.

• Examples: PayU, Place to Pay, Rebill.

Specialized gateways for recurring payments

These are those focused on automating periodic collections, managing subscriptions and optimizing retention. Recommended for businesses based on subscription or membership models, in sectors such as: Saas and its management of monthly or annual plans; EdTech with subscriptions for ongoing educational programs; and finally, digital content services.

• Examples: PayU Subscriptions, Rebill.

White-label payment gateway

These are those that allow you to fully customize the payment experience with your brand. They are recommended for established companies looking to reinforce their brand image and keep the user experience under control. It is ideal for Fintech and SaaS enterprise sectors to offer an integrated payment experience to corporate customers.

• Examples: Place to Pay (enterprise solution), PayU Advanced and Rebill .

What to consider when choosing the best payment gateway in Colombia

Choosing the right payment gateway for your business in Colombia requires carefully evaluating aspects such as costs, payment methods, ease of integration, approval rate and compatibility with your specific business model.

1. ‍Costs and commissions: The costs of implementing a payment gateway in Colombia usually include:
   • Transaction fee: Generally between 2.5% and 5.99%, depending on volume and gateway.
   • Fixed fee per transaction: In addition to the commission, it can be from $300 to $1,500 COP.
   • Implementation cost: Some gateways charge for initial integration.
   • Monthly fees: Fixed charges for maintenance or access to advanced functionalities.
   • Cost for refunds or chargebacks: Additional fees in case of refunds.

2. ‍Methodsof Payment AcceptedDiversity of payment methods can increase your conversions by up to 25%, according to studies by the Colombian Chamber of E-Commerce. Make sure you have the most used by the Colombian market:
   • PSE (Secure Online Payments): Used by 29% of Colombian online shoppers, it allows direct payments from bank accounts.
   • Credit/debit cards: Represent approximately 38% of online transactions.
   • Cash at physical points: Baloto, Efecty and SuRed continue to be relevant, especially for reaching unbanked consumers (close to 20% of transactions).
   • Digital wallets: Nequi, Daviplata and other mobile solutions are rapidly gaining popularity.
   • Installment payments: Fundamental for higher-value purchases in the Colombian market.

3. ‍Compatibility with local eCommerce and ERP platforms. Verify that the gateway is properly integrated, this can significantly reduce development and maintenance costs, as well as minimize errors during payment processing. These are some of the points you should check:
   • eCommerce platforms either natively or through SDKs.  
   • Management systems: SAP, Oracle, Siigo and other ERPs used locally.
   • Educational platforms: If you operate in EdTech, compatibility with LMS such as Moodle, Canvas or proprietary platforms.
   • Medical software: For HealthTech, integration with electronic medical records and scheduling systems.

‍Rebill has two integration modes: one low code and the other through APIs or SDKs. In addition, it offers Webhooks, which allow you to receive notifications in any other application or system, for example, to create a payment order in an ERP, a customer in a CRM or issue an electronic invoice automatically.‍

4. ‍Knowledge of the Latin American market: Rebill operates in the 7 main Latin American countries, including Colombia, which allows it to know the market and offer advantages such as:
   • Understanding local payment habits: Adaptation to Colombian consumer preferences.
   • Regulatory compliance: Familiarity with SIC and Superintendencia Financiera regulations.
   • Support in Spanish: Customer service in the local language and at appropriate times.
   • Contextualized anti-fraud strategies: Systems tailored to region-specific fraud patterns.‍

5. ‍Payment approval rate: Solutions that better understand the local market typically offer higher payment approval rates and lower false positive fraud rejection rates. Rebill improves the payment approval rate by up to 20%.‍

Conclusion

If your company operates in sectors such as EdTech, SaaS, HealthTech or eCommerce and processes a high volume of transactions, Rebill is the payment gateway that can help you improve your approval rate, increase conversions and optimize the payment experience. 

Contact us and find out how to speed up your collections and reduce friction at checkout to sell up to 10 times faster in Colombia.

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Disclaimer:The information on pricing, commissions and integration of payment gateways mentioned in this article is based on sources available at the time of publication: April 2025. However, this data may change over time.

How to accept payments in Colombia as a foreign company

If your company is based outside Colombia and you want to charge local customers, the key is to define (1) which methods you are going to offer, (2) whether you need local acquiring or can operate with international acquiring, and (3) how you are going to handle settlement and reconciliation.

Available methods. In addition to local and international cards, it is often crucial to enable bank transfers and wallets used in the country. In Colombia, PSE is often a central channel for transfer payments. At the same time, wallets such as digital wallets and banking apps tend to have high adoption in everyday life.

Local cards. Accepting cards issued in Colombia improves conversion, but may require different acquiring, anti-fraud, and authorization rules than other markets. If your provider processes with international acquiring, validate approval rates, billing currency, and 3DS experience where applicable.

Local vs. international acquiring. Local acquiring tends to offer better approval rates and more predictable costs, but may require a local entity, local bank account, or operating partners. International acquiring simplifies setup, but may increase friction with local cards and make FX more expensive depending on your settlement scheme.

Settlement and reconciliation. Define the currency you use for settlement, crediting times, and how you will reconcile payments between cards, PSE, and wallets. In practice, a good reconciliation flow reduces chargebacks and speeds up the accounting close by clearly separating authorization, capture, commissions, and taxes where applicable.

Payment gateways in Latin America: how to choose the best option

Payment gateways in Latin America: how to choose an international option without losing conversion or operational control

Latin America is a region with enormous potential for growth in digital payments, but it is also a fragmented environment: different currencies, local payment habits, and operating rules that vary from country to country. In this context, many companies end up integrating a different gateway in each market, with higher technical costs, more operational friction, and reconciliation that becomes difficult to sustain.

This guide is designed for growth, finance, and product teams that need to collect payments in several countries in the region. You will find evaluation criteria, recommendations based on business model, and links to country-specific guides for further information.

Quick summary: what to evaluate before choosing a gateway for LATAM

If you are comparing alternatives, these are the 7 questions that most impact conversion and operation:

• Local currency: Can you charge in local currency to avoid surprises due to the issuer's exchange rate?
• Local methods: in addition to cards, does it include local transfers, cash, or wallets depending on the country?
• Installments: Can you offer installments where the amount and segment require it (and configure them by country or by transaction)?
• Reconciliation: Do you have traceability per transaction (gross, commissions, net income, settlement date, IDs)?
• Settlement and cash flow: Do you understand settlement times and how they impact your cash flow?
• Declines and recovery: Does the platform help recover declined payments (especially recurring ones) and reduce friction?
• Support and operation: is there effective support when something stops in production?

Comparison of payment gateways in Latin America

When a company expands into Latin America, it often compares global and regional providers before defining its payment infrastructure. The decision depends not only on "accepting cards, "but also on actual coverage by country, local methods, payment experience, and operations (settlement, reconciliation, and FX).

Why "international" billing tends to lower conversion rates in Latin America

A common pattern is that the customer sees one amount and ends up paying another. In international payments, the issuing bank may apply an opaque exchange rate or add charges that the user did not expect. The result is abandonment and complaints.

That's why, to scale in LATAM, it's usually better for the payment to be perceived as local: local currency, local methods, and a clear payment experience. This not only improves conversion, but also reduces support tickets such as "I was charged differently" or "it wasn't the amount I saw."

What should a good payment gateway offer in Latin America (beyond "accepting payments")?

1) Collection in local currency and localized experience

To maximize conversion, it is essential to charge in local currency, display prices consistently, and avoid dynamic conversions that confuse users. If you sell services or subscriptions, clarity of the amount usually outweighs any aesthetic details of the checkout process.

2) Coverage of local methods by country

Actual coverage depends on the country. In some markets, local transfers dominate; in others, wallets; and in others, card installments. The correct assessment is not "how many methods," but whether it covers the methods your customer actually uses and whether your operation can reconcile each one without manual blocking.

3) Fees where the amount is requested

In categories such as online education, travel assistance, or medium/high-value services, installments can be the difference between making a sale and losing it. And it's not enough to simply "offer installments": it's important to be able to define the number of installments and rules by country, product, or transaction.

4) Unified reconciliation and net income control

If you operate in several countries, reconciliation cannot depend on manual spreadsheets. Look for a platform that records commissions, net income, currency, and settlement dates for each transaction. It also helps to be able to send metadata (e.g., order or invoice ID) so that each payment can be traced from the commercial system to settlement.

5) Operation for subscriptions and recurring payments

If your model includes recurrence, prioritize rejection recovery (retries), visibility of the reason for rejection, and tools to reduce involuntary churn. Many teams underestimate this point until they scale: the problem is not "charging once," but charging every month without friction.

6) Operational controls: returns, disputes, and anti-fraud

In LATAM, a good anti-fraud system and a clear dispute process can make all the difference. Assess whether the platform allows you to manage returns and disputes without breaking reconciliation and without creating accounting "gaps."

An important clarification regarding "operating without a local entity"

In many cases, it is possible to reduce the number of local integrations and operate with a more centralized infrastructure. But it is important to avoid oversimplification: "not opening an entity" is not the same as "having no operational or tax obligations." If your expansion depends on speed, the right thing to do is to understand what your provider handles (methods, collection, reconciliation) and what remains part of your operation (compliance, billing, taxes, as applicable).

How to choose based on your business model

EdTech and subscriptions

Prioritize local currency, installments, retries, and reconciliation. In these models, the difference between "collecting" and "collecting well" is seen in support and involuntary churn. A practical indicator: if your team receives complaints about exchange rates or sees recurring rejections that it cannot explain, you need to improve the payment layer.

Services with assisted sales (WhatsApp, email, sales representatives)

Prioritize configurable payment links, expiration, metadata/IDs, and post-payment redirects to control the flow. For teams with salespeople, the payment link is not an "extra": it is the tool for closing and reconciling without relying on engineering for each payment.

eCommerce

Prioritize mobile experience, speed, country-specific anti-fraud measures, and support for returns and disputes. It is also important to have a good monitoring panel to identify outages by method or issuing bank.

B2B and large sums

Prioritize local transfers and robust reconciliation. In certain segments, settling payments with local transfers avoids friction and costs associated with SWIFT or international payments, especially when the payer needs clear receipts and traceability.

Country guides: main options and considerations

Below you will find our articles by market in more detail. The idea behind this section is to give you a starting point and then delve deeper into each country depending on where you sell.

Argentina: a market with unique operational characteristics

In Argentina, it is usually essential to operate in local currency, consider installments, and be clear about reconciliation and net income. Some options on the market:

• Rebill: available for international companies and Argentine companies that charge in Argentina, with a focus on multi-country operations, installments, and unified reconciliation.
• Mercado Pago
• Mobbex
• Ualá Bis

➡️ Payment gateways in Argentina

Chile: a mature market with clear digital habits

Chile tends to stand out for its stable digital adoption and relatively predictable operation. Some market options:

• Transbank (Webpay)
• Khipu
• Rebill

➡️ Payment gateways in Chile

Mexico: diversity of methods and a broad ecosystem

Mexico combines international options with local providers covering transfers and cash. Some options include:

• Rebill
• Openpay
• Conekta
• Stripe
• Mercado Pago
• PayU
• PayPal

➡️ Payment gateways in Mexico

If you receive payments in Mexico from abroad: check MSI, SPEI, and this guide: receiving payments in Mexico from abroad.

Colombia: High adoption of digital payments and local methods

In Colombia, coverage of local methods such as transfers and wallets can have a significant impact on conversion. Some options on the market:

• Wompi
• PayU
• ePayco
• PlaceToPay
• Mercado Pago
• Rebill

➡️ Payment gateways in Colombia

Peru: rapid growth and consolidated local options

Peru is growing rapidly in terms of digital adoption. Some options on the market:

• Niubiz
• Culqi
• Izipay

➡️ Payment gateways in Peru

Brazil: the largest market in the region

Brazil is the largest market and usually requires solid support in terms of methods and local operations. Some market options:

• Mercado Pago
• PagSeguro
• Pay.me
• EBANX
• Rebill

Next step: build your shortlist using operational criteria

The best gateway is not the most famous one, but the one that adapts to your mix of countries, your business model, and your financial operation. If your team is currently dealing with urgent issues such as exchange rate claims, manual reconciliation, or rejected payments, these are signs that you need a more localized and traceable collection strategy.

A practical way to move forward is to put together a shortlist of two to four options and evaluate them using a fixed set of cases: a low-value purchase, a medium-value purchase with installments, a declined payment, and a refund. If differences in visibility (reasons for decline), reconciliation (net income), or experience for the payer already appear in these tests, this signal usually anticipates problems at scale.

How to evaluate a payment gateway in Latin America (B2B checklist)

If your goal is to sell in several countries in the region, choosing a gateway should not be reduced to "fees and methods." In B2B and cross-border operations, the difference between growing and suffering often lies in approval, settlement, and reconciliation.

1. Verify local payment methods available in Latin America by country (and their end-to-end experience).
2. Compare approval and conversion rates by method and by market.
3. Analyze settlement times and rules by country and currency.
4. Evaluate financial reconciliation and reporting (net, fees, IDs, statements).
5. Review technical support, regional coverage, and ability to scale across multiple countries.

Approval and conversion by payment method

Evaluate the approval rate by method (card, local transfer, wallets) and not just the average. In LATAM, a small improvement in approval can significantly boost conversions. The important thing is to be able to measure conversion by country and by method, and to have alternatives when the card fails.

Settlement and clearance by country

In regional operations, the key question is not only "how much do I charge," but when is it settled and in what currency. Different settlement times by country or method change your cash flow and your ability to reinvest in growth. If you also charge cross-border, the international payments layer often accounts for a large part of the actual net and timing.

Financial reconciliation and reporting

Reconciliation is the basis for frictionless scaling. Look for traceability per transaction: gross, commissions, net income, currency, timestamps, and settlement date. It is also key to be able to attach internal references (order or invoice ID) so that finance and support do not have to rely on manual searches.

Support for multiple local methods (SPEI, PSE, PIX)

Local methods tend to impact conversion when they are well implemented. For Mexico, SPEI; for Colombia, PSE; and for Brazil, PIX for foreign companies. Beyond "having them," the experience matters: clear confirmation, timing, statuses, and reconciliation. If your focus is Colombia, for example, it is important to understand the PSE's operational and confirmation flow well before scaling campaigns.

What metrics to compare between gateways (beyond commissions)

Comparing commissions alone often leads to poor decisions. Two options may have similar fees but very different results in terms of net income, cash flow, and operating costs.

Net income per transaction

Measure the actual net amount by method and by country: commissions, associated costs, and differences due to configuration (e.g., fees or MSI). If you cannot see the net amount per transaction, it is difficult to optimize.

Settlement times

Settlement defines cash flow. A change from 2 to 7 days may be irrelevant in one business, but critical in another. Comparing gateways without including settlement by country and method is like comparing blindly.

Hidden operating costs

The actual cost includes manual labor: reconciliation, claims support, reprocessing, returns, disputes, and tracking of declines. If your operation requires spreadsheets to understand payments, the "cheap" gateway can end up being expensive.

Customer payment experience

Evaluate mobile experience, speed, clarity of amount/currency, and alternatives when a method fails. In Latin America, local experience and methods are often just as important drivers of conversion as price.

Recommended architecture for foreign companies selling in Latin America

For foreign companies, the goal is for collection to feel local in each country, but for the operation to remain centralized. This reduces duplicate integrations and improves the ability to measure net and performance by method.

Local collection with regional infrastructure

Prioritize collection in local currency and methods that customers actually use. Where applicable, add installments or MSI to improve conversion on medium and high tickets, and ensure that this configuration has real net visibility.

Centralized reconciliation

Without unified reconciliation, multi-country scaling becomes fragile. The recommendation is to be able to reconcile everything in one place with consistent IDs, net amounts, fees, and settlement, without manually reconstructing payments.

Multi-country scalability

The ideal architecture allows you to open up a new country without redoing the circuit: local method + centralized reconciliation + clear settlement rules. This combination accelerates expansion and reduces operational risks.

How to choose a payment gateway for Latin America

In LATAM, the choice depends on country coverage, local methods, accreditation deadlines, and operational capacity (returns, chargebacks, and reconciliation). Prioritize providers that offer consistent reporting across countries.

What payment methods are available in LATAM?

In addition to cards, many countries use transfers, installments, and local methods. To maximize conversion, it is advisable to combine methods without losing control of costs or reconciliation.

Frequently asked questions about payment gateways

What is a payment gateway?

It is the technological layer that allows you to collect payments online, connect payment methods, and receive transaction statements for operating and reconciling.

What is the difference between a gateway and an acquirer?

The gateway orchestrates payment and status. The acquirer primarily processes cards and settles funds to the merchant, usually with a merchant ID.

What commission do payment gateways charge?

It varies by country, method, and accreditation period. Compare total cost and how commissions, taxes, and net amounts are reported.

What is the best payment gateway in Argentina/Latin America?

It depends on the scope: if you operate in only one country, prioritize local media and costs; if you operate in several countries, prioritize consistency of reporting, reconciliation, and coverage by country.

What payment methods are accepted in LATAM?

Cards, transfers, installments, and local methods depending on the country. The important thing is to combine them without operational complexity.

Payment methods in Latin America: cards, transfers, wallets, and installments (guide for foreign companies)

In Latin America, "accepting payments" is rarely solved with a single method. In practice, the right mix combines cards, local transfers, wallets, and, in certain markets, installments or deferred payments. For foreign companies, the challenge is not only technical integration: it is maintaining conversion, operational control, and reconciliation in more than one country.

The purpose of this hub is twofold: to help you understand which methods are typically important for each type of transaction and to provide you with a roadmap to specific guides by country and rail. If you are also defining suppliers, you can supplement this with payment gateways in Latin America.

In general, it is best to make decisions in this order: country and target audience → mix of methods → checkout experience → operations (returns, chargebacks, reconciliation) → choice of provider.

Overview of payment methods in Latin America

Why it matters for foreign companies: The mix of methods defines both conversion and operating costs. An additional method can increase coverage, but it also adds statuses (pending, expired, returned), reconciliation, and support.

A practical way to prioritize is to think in terms of objectives: (1) maximize conversion in B2C, (2) reduce disputes on high-value tickets, (3) speed up collection in B2B, and (4) maintain consistent reporting across countries.

There are four families that appear repeatedly in regional operations. Each has different implications for conversion, costs, and reconciliation:

• Cards (credit and debit): the basis of regional e-commerce, with significant differences in approval by issuer, authentication, and chargebacks.
• Local transfers: relevant in B2B and high ticket items; they change the dynamics of confirmation, timing, and reconciliation.
• Wallets and instant payments: they increase coverage and can improve costs, but require traceability by reference or ID.
• Installment plans and deferred payments: critical in certain countries and industries; they impact conversion and net settled.

One operational point: each method adds statuses and events. If your back office cannot reconcile by transaction (gross, fee, net, date, and settlement), growth becomes manual work. For specific guidance, see payment reconciliation in LATAM.

Credit and debit cards

What usually ruins the experience: rejections by the issuer, limits, authentication friction, and latency. That's why, in addition to the provider, how you present the form, handle errors, and retries matters.

Operational recommendation: record the reason for failure and segment by country and issuer. At volume, that segmentation is the difference between "works" and "optimizes."

Cards remain the standard for online payments in most countries. For foreign companies, friction often arises in three areas: approval by the issuing bank, authentication (where applicable), and chargeback and refund management.

What changes when you operate in more than one country

Card performance is not uniform. For the same product, the following may vary: approval rates, authentication rules, installment availability, and fraud patterns. That is why it is advisable to measure by country and method, not just by regional total.

Minimum operational checklist

• Approval: measure approval rate by country, BIN, and card type.
• Rejections: separate rejections from technical faults.
• Recovery: define a strategy for retries and dunning in recurring payments (see declined payment).
• Disputes: clear process for chargebacks and evidence.

To delve deeper into each market: Mexico, Chile, Colombia, Brazil, Peru, and Argentina.

Local bank transfers

When to prioritize them: B2B collections, high-ticket payments, services where disputes are costly, or when you want to complement cards with a less frictionless method for certain users.

What to measure: time to confirmation, rate of expired payments, necessary re-contact, and percentage of automatic vs. manual reconciliation.

In many cases, account-to-account transfers are the preferred method for B2B, high-value transactions, or industries where the risk of chargebacks is significant. The advantage is usually fewer disputes; the trade-off is in confirmation and reconciliation.

What to demand in terms of integration

More than just "having transferability," you need to be able to identify each payment without ambiguity: reference, status, confirmation, and link to an order. Without that, support and reconciliation become manual.

• Mexico: SPEI (see SPEI guide).
• Colombia: PSE (see PSE guide).
• Cross-border transaction: review FX, timing, and reconciliation (see international payments).

Wallets and instant payments

What changes in operation: they usually confirm quickly, but reconciliation depends on identifiers. If the supplier does not allow you to map order → transaction → settlement, you end up with differences that are difficult to explain.

For foreign companies: verify whether the method settles in local currency, whether there is conversion, and what reports it provides (net, fees, and adjustments).

Digital wallets and instant payments tend to increase coverage and, in some flows, lower costs. For foreign companies, the critical point is traceability: that the method generates a reconcilable identifier and that the provider provides consistent events and reports.

Pix, wallets, and instant rails

Brazil is the most obvious case with Pix, but the logic is the same: fast confirmation, lower risk of chargebacks, and the need to map IDs end-to-end from checkout to statement.

• Brazil: Pix (see Pix for foreign companies).
• Colombia: wallets and neobanks (see digital wallets in Colombia).

Deferred fees and payments

Financial impact: in addition to the fee, quotas may involve netting, discounts, or adjustments that appear in the settlement. This affects margin and revenue recognition if not recorded correctly.

Tip: Request an example of a settlement with installments and verify that you can reconstruct the net amount per transaction, including returns and chargebacks.

Payments are a conversion driver in part of regional e-commerce. For companies, this is not a minor detail: it changes the net amount settled, reconciliation, and sometimes the credit schedule. There are also deferred methods where confirmation arrives later (for example, certain cash payments).

For a conceptual and operational framework, see the interest-free installment guide.

Cash payments and deferred confirmation

In some markets, cash payments remain relevant for certain segments. The operational point is to manage expiration, confirmation, and reconciliation by receipt or folio.

• Mexico: OXXO Pay (see OXXO Pay guide).
• Peru: PagoEfectivo (see PagoEfectivo guide).
• Brazil: Boleto (see Boleto guide).

How to choose the right payment methods depending on the country

Implementation tip: if the goal is fast traffic and conversion, start with the method your audience already uses (by country) and add the second method only when you have the capacity to operate and reconcile it. In LATAM, "more methods" without operation usually generates more support than sales.

Avoid the common mistake of replicating the same mix in every country. In Latin America, the adoption of transfers, wallets, installments, and cash varies greatly by market and industry.

If you are putting together a regional strategy, a good rule of thumb is to define a "core" (card) and add one or two local methods per country that improve coverage without disrupting reconciliation.

A simple framework for foreign companies:

1. Define your model: e-commerce, subscription, marketplace, B2B.
2. Prioritize the mix by conversion and coverage: cards + 1 or 2 widely used local methods.
3. Design the experience: less friction at checkout, controlled retries, clear status communication.
4. Design the operation: payment statuses, returns, chargebacks, expirations.
5. Reconciliation: traceability per transaction from day one.

If your operation spans multiple countries, it is advisable to prioritize consistency in reporting and payment statuses over "adding methods" without operational capacity. For providers, see the payment gateway hub in Latin America.

Infrastructure required to accept payments in Latin America

Minimum technical checklist: idempotence in endpoints, daily reconciliation, and the ability to reprocess events (webhooks) if there are outages. In payments, resilience is just as important as initial integration.

Data checklist: order_id, transaction_id, method, gross amount, fee, taxes, net amount, currency, authorization date, settlement date, and final status.

Beyond the method, infrastructure that typically avoids problems when scaling includes:

• Checkout instrumentation: conversion by method, technical errors, and latency.
• Idempotent webhooks: retries without duplicating events.
• Data model: gross, fees, net, taxes, currency, state, settlement date.
• Reconciliation: union order → transaction → settlement → bank.
• Support: flows for pending payments, expired payments, and refunds.

Practical recommendation: define a data "contract" between product, payments, and finance. If the supplier changes field names or report formats, your reconciliation breaks down. Documenting IDs, time zones, and statuses from the outset avoids rework.

In practice, "integration" ends when you can close the month without any discrepancies. If your stack includes cross-border transactions, add FX analysis, settlement, and bank reports as well.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to offer many payment methods to sell in Latin America?

Not necessarily. It usually works better to offer a short but relevant mix for each country: cards + the local method with the highest adoption rate for your segment. Too many options can increase complexity and reconciliation.

Which method reduces chargebacks the most?

In general terms, transfers and account-to-account methods tend to have fewer chargebacks than cards. The cost is that the confirmation and reconciliation flow can be more complex.

What should I look at before joining?

More than just the published rate, check out: approval, payment statuses, webhooks, settlement reports, and how the net per transaction is reconstructed.

How does this affect accounting?

Each method generates different settlements and fees. If there is no traceability per transaction, the monthly closing becomes manual. That is why it is advisable to design reconciliation from the outset.

When is it advisable to use more than one supplier?

When you need coverage of methods or redundancy. The trade-off is greater complexity in reporting and reconciliation, so it is advisable to define governance and routing from the outset.

What should I ask the supplier before closing the deal?

I requested a real example of a settlement report and a week's worth of webhooks (with pending, confirmed, and refunds). With that, you can validate whether you can reconstruct gross, fees, net, and settlements without spreadsheets.

Conclusion

If you have a list of target countries, the next step is to review the posts by country and validate the minimum mix for that market. With that map, the choice of gateway ceases to be a discussion of "suppliers" and becomes a product and operational decision.

In Latin America, the payment method is part of the product. For foreign companies, the competitive advantage comes from solving coverage and operation: integrating the right mix per country, maintaining conversion, and reconciling without friction. Use this hub as a map and drill down by country and rail before choosing a provider.

PIX in Brazil for foreign companies: how to collect, confirm, and reconcile instant payments

For many foreign companies, Brazil is the market that most quickly exposes a reality: how the customer wants to pay matters as much as the product itself. In this context, PIX has become a dominant method for instant payments and, when executed well, can improve conversion and reduce friction.

But "activating PIX" is not enough. For it to work in a business that sells from abroad, operational issues must be resolved: bank confirmation, payment statuses, transaction reconciliation, and settlement. If your team ends up reconciling with captures or spreadsheets, PIX becomes expensive to scale.

In this guide, you will learn how the PIX system works and how to organize payments with PIX (PIX Brazil) with confirmation, reconciliation, and settlement. We also cover the flow of PIX transfers to reduce operational friction.

This guide is operational: what PIX is (without marketing), what the actual flow looks like, what data to record, and how to integrate PIX into a regional strategy. If you are still putting together the stack for LATAM, it is best to first read the hub on payment gateways in Latin America and the international payments framework to understand net and settlement when operating cross-border.

What is PIX (and why is it key in Brazil)?

PIX is an instant payment system in Brazil that allows real-time transfers and payments from bank accounts or financial apps. For the payer, it's usually simple: scan a QR code or copy a code, confirm, and you're done. For merchants, the main benefit is the immediacy of confirmation and the familiarity of the method for the user.

For a foreign company, the opportunity is clear: if customers in Brazil prefer PIX and your checkout does not offer it, you may lose the sale even if you accept cards. For average ticket sizes, PIX competes with cards; for high ticket sizes, it often competes with traditional bank transfers, offering a better confirmation experience.

PIX vs. card and installment payments: how they complement each other

In Brazil, PIX usually covers immediate payment. The card covers convenience and certain segments. And installment payments (card installments) are usually decisive when the ticket price increases. It's not an "either/or" situation, it's a mix:

• PIX: immediate payment, quick confirmation, local preference for many users.
• Card: good for self-service and repeat business, but with variable approval rates.
• Parceling: drives conversion in medium and high tickets; requires control of net and settlement.

If your business needs to make payments in Brazil, there is a specific guide to installment payments in Brazil for foreign companies.

PIX in Brazil for foreign companies: what changes when collecting payments from abroad

The point is not just the method, but the entire circuit. For a foreign company selling in Brazil, charging with PIX becomes viable when you can respond, for each payment:

• Has the payment been confirmed or is it pending?
• What is the associated internal reference (order/invoice)?
• What is the actual net amount after fees?
• When and in what currency is it settled?

These questions are the same as those that arise with other local methods such as PSE in Colombia or SPEI in Mexico. The difference is that in Brazil, PIX tends to scale faster in terms of volume.

Complete flow of a payment with PIX (operational view)

To implement PIX properly, it is best to think in terms of states, not just a single "approved payment." A typical flow:

1. Method selection: the user chooses PIX at checkout.
2. PIX order generation: the system creates a payment intention and returns a QR/copy-and-paste code.
3. Customer payment: the customer pays from their banking app.
4. Bank confirmation: the bank confirms; the method provider notifies the result.
5. Notification to the merchant: a webhook or status update arrives.
6. Reconciliation: net amount, fees, and timestamp are recorded, and the order is marked as paid.

The important detail is that confirmation and reconciliation are not the same thing. You can have quick confirmation but poor reconciliation if you don't record IDs and references correctly.

Bank confirmation: what to expect and how to design statements

In practice, users expect immediate feedback. If the checkout does not reflect the payment, support tickets appear ("I paid and it wasn't credited"). Therefore, in addition to the final status, it is advisable to design intermediate statuses:

• Pending: QR code generated, payment not yet confirmed.
• Confirmed: the supplier has received bank confirmation.
• Failed/expired: the user did not pay within the deadline, or the payment was rejected for operational reasons.
• Reconciled: recorded in back office with net/fees/settlement date.

For cross-border transactions, the difference between confirmed and reconciled is critical: your finance team needs to see net and settlement, not just "paid."

Automatic reconciliation: what to record per transaction (minimum viable)

For PIX to scale without spreadsheets, for each transaction you should save at least:

• order_id / invoice_id (your reference)
• payment_id (from the supplier)
• method = PIX
• amount and currency (what the customer saw)
• status + timestamps (created, confirmed, reconciled)
• fees and net (when available)
• estimated and actual settlement date

With that basis, you can generate reports: conversion by method, friction by checkout step, and operational support costs.

Settlement and clearing: how it impacts your operation

PIX is instantaneous for the payer, but settlement for your transaction may not be instantaneous. For foreign companies, it is important to know:

• settlement timing by supplier
• settlement currency and associated costs (if conversion occurs)
• how the net amount is reflected in reports

If your model depends on quick cash flow (for example, reinvesting in acquisitions), the settlement defines how much you can grow without extra financing. This point is best understood within the framework of international payments and net real.

Conversion: best practices for checkout with PIX

PIX usually converts well when the checkout process is clear and the confirmation is visible. Typical best practices:

• Display simple instructions: QR + "copy code" + short step-by-step guide.
• Display a timer or expiration: to avoid unexplained out-of-window payments.
• On-screen confirmation: "confirming" status with automatic update.
• Visible Plan B: if the customer does not want PIX, they can pay by card/installments without going back.

The goal is to reduce friction without inflating support. If the user goes to their bank and returns without seeing confirmation, your conversion rate drops even if the payment went through.

Common mistakes when implementing PIX in a cross-border business

• Treat PIX as "just another transfer": no statuses or visible confirmation.
• Do not record references: otherwise, reconciliation will not be possible.
• Not measuring net by method: conversion is optimized and margin is lost without realizing it.
• No fallback: if the user does not pay via PIX, there is no clear alternative.

How does PIX fit into a regional collection strategy?

Foreign companies expanding into Latin America tend to converge on one idea: local payment collection per country, centralized operations. In Mexico, that means adding SPEI and MSI; in Colombia, PSE and wallets; in Brazil, PIX and installment payments. The important thing is not to repeat isolated integrations and to maintain unified reconciliation. For that vision, the payment gateway hub in Latin America is the starting point.

Security, support, and ticket resolution: how to avoid operational noise

When PIX becomes relevant in terms of volume, the typical problem is not the payment itself, but rather support: customers who claim to have paid, duplicate payments, or discrepancies in amounts. To resolve this smoothly, it is advisable to define an internal playbook with minimum evidence and response times.

What evidence to use to investigate a payment

• internal order_id + customer email/identifier
• Supplier payment_id + confirmation timestamp
• amount and currency presented
• final status and status changes (history)
• if applicable, payer reference or receipt details

How to handle duplicate payments or payments outside the window

If the QR code expires, some users try to pay anyway or retry and end up with two receipts. To reduce this, it is useful to: (a) make the expiration visible, (b) have the system invalidate old orders, and (c) have support have a clear rule for refunding or applying the correct payment.

How to measure whether PIX is working (practical KPIs)

If your goal is to improve conversion and lower operating costs, measure PIX with actionable metrics:

• Share of payment attempts by method: how much they choose PIX vs. card/installments.
• Conversion by method: attempts vs. confirmed payments.
• Time to confirmation: p50/p90 bank confirmation.
• Support ticket rate per 1,000 payments: and top reasons.
• Net by method: fees and settlement differences.

With these KPIs, the team can make decisions: improve UX, adjust expiration, change fallback rules, or prioritize methods by country.

Recommended implementation plan (in 7 days)

1. Day 1: Define payment statuses and events (pending, confirmed, expired, reconciled).
2. Day 2: Implement IDs and metadata (order_id, payment_id, references).
3. Day 3: Implement webhooks/polling and secure retries.
4. Day 4: Checkout UX: QR + copy code + automatic confirmation.
5. Day 5: Minimum dashboard: conversion by method + times + net.
6. Day 6: Support and returns playbook.
7. Day 7: Controlled pilot and adjustment with data.

Final checklist for implementing PIX without losing control

1. Define payment statuses (pending, confirmed, expired, reconciled).
2. Record IDs and internal references per transaction.
3. Measure conversion and approval by method, not just total.
4. Monitor net and actual settlement by method.
5. Design support: what evidence and logs does the team need to resolve tickets?
6. Ensure a clear fallback at checkout (card and, if applicable, installment plan).

PIX can be a powerful lever for selling in Brazil from abroad. The difference between "having PIX" and "operating PIX" is reconciliation, settlement, and flow quality.

Frequently asked questions about PIX for foreign companies

Does PIX replace the card?

No. In practice, they complement each other. PIX tends to capture immediate payments with local preference. The card remains key for certain segments and for cases where the customer does not want to make a transfer. If your ticket requires it, installment payments are another independent lever.

What should my finance team look at to reconcile PIX?

A minimum requirement: internal order_id, supplier payment_id, amount/currency, final status with timestamps, fees, net amount, and settlement date. Without this, the team ends up reconciling manually, and operating costs skyrocket.

What is more important for conversion: adding PIX or improving card approval?

It depends on the mix. In many cases, adding PIX recovers sales from users who do not want a card. In others, the improvement is in approval. The right thing to do is to measure conversion by method and make decisions based on data.

Interest-free installments in Argentina for foreign companies: how they work, settlement, FX, and conversion

Introduction: In Argentina, "interest-free installments" is a direct conversion.

In Argentina, there are segments where many products and services are not purchased if the customer does not see interest-free installments. That is why its relevance is not "better approval rate" or payment details: it is direct conversion.

This can be seen in tickets such as travel (airfare and packages), electronics, traveler assistance, and also in digital services such as boot camps. In these cases, the question for a foreign company is not whether it is advisable to offer installments, but how to do so without losing control of margins, settlements, and net income.

An additional local expectation: price in Argentine pesos

Something similar happens with prices. In Argentina, consumers expect to see prices in Argentine pesos in many sectors. When prices are displayed in another currency, the conversion rate tends to fall sharply, even if the product "could" be paid for in the same amount.

Therefore, to operate successfully, it is not enough to accept cards: pricing and financing options must be adapted to local expectations.

What does "interest-free installments" mean in practice?

"No interest" for the customer does not mean "no cost" for the merchant. The cost exists and manifests itself as commissions, discounts on the amount charged, or commercial conditions of the installment plan.

The operational decision is simple to state:

• Absorb the cost to maintain real interest-free installments and maximize conversion, or
• Passing on the cost to the final price (directly or indirectly) to protect margins.

In Argentina, it is very common for customers to understand that "paying in installments is more expensive," but still prefer to finance their purchases rather than pay for everything up front.

Common best practice: 3 interest-free installments and more payment terms with transferred costs

A widely used practice is to offer three interest-free installments on certain products or services (those that most need that conversion boost) and, for longer terms, to transfer the cost.

This requires flexibility in configuration. For example, being able to define per payment link how many installments to enable and to which ones "interest-free" actually applies. Rebill allows this type of configuration per payment link, which helps balance conversion and margin on a case-by-case basis.

Card settlement: 10 to 18 days and option to advance funds

A key point for foreign companies is the timing of settlement. In Argentina, credit card payments are usually settled within 10 to 18 days, depending on the issuing bank and current agreements. It is also often possible to advance funds (at a cost).

This matters because it affects cash flow: selling today does not always mean having funds available today. Before scaling, it is advisable to confirm updated conditions and choose the option that best suits your transaction.

Inflation, FX, and why the cost of change may be higher than in neighboring countries

Although Argentina has stabilized compared to previous years, inflation remains high compared to markets such as Mexico, Colombia, or Chile. This often translates into a higher foreign exchange fee (FX fee) than in neighboring countries, especially when there is a period of exposure between collection and conversion to USD.

In a typical sale, the local payment provider charges in Argentine pesos, but may receive and dispose of those funds up to 18 days later. During that time, there is exposure to exchange rate fluctuations before converting to USD and settling with the foreign merchant.

Two common approaches to defining the exchange rate fee (FX fee)

In practice, there are two common approaches. Both can be valid, but they change who assumes the exchange rate risk and how much control the business has over its net income.

• FX fee at the time of the transaction: at the time of sale in Argentine pesos, the exchange cost is defined. The merchant already knows how much net income in USD will be available from that sale. This usually involves a higher FX fee, because the party providing the coverage assumes the risk of variation.
• FX fee at the time of settlement or transfer: the exchange cost is defined when it is converted and transferred to the merchant. It is usually lower, but the merchant is exposed to fluctuations, as they maintain their balance in Argentine pesos until they request the exchange and transfer in USD.

Operational case (edtech): Tutellus and the importance of charging in pesos and in installments

Tutellus is an online education company based in Spain with students in different markets. In Argentina, its performance depends on resolving local issues and reducing uncertainty regarding the final amount.

When the flow requires an international card in USD, recurring problems arise: rejections by the issuer for international transactions, differences between the expected amount and the final amount (due to conversion, taxes, or issuer costs), and abandonment due to a lack of clarity about the total and available financing.

In practice, the following factors are often decisive for collecting payments in Argentina from abroad: offering interest-free installments when applicable to the product and enabling QR payments via digital wallets. This reduces friction, improves completion rates, and decreases complaints.

Operational continuity improves when the following is recorded from the outset: method, installment plan, currency presented, amount charged, and an internal identifier that links the order, payment, and settlement. This avoids manual reconstruction and keeps reconciliation under control.

Why a local payment partner is beneficial

Local dynamics can change (conditions, deadlines, programs, costs). A local payment partner who understands the market allows you to expand without headaches: define the best combination of installments, settlement, advance funding, and FX treatment for your business.

Argentina remains an attractive market if you operate it with clarity.

If you sell from abroad, what will determine the outcome is not "having payments," but having a deal that closes: price in pesos, installments when the market expects them, understood settlement terms, and clear criteria for the exchange cost.

Argentina offers high volume and adoption of payment methods (cards, QR codes, and wallets). When these elements are properly configured and reconciled, net income ceases to be a surprise and becomes a controllable number.

Installment payments in Brazil for foreign companies: how they impact settlement, cash flow, and reconciliation

Introduction: In Brazil, selling in installments changes when you get paid, not just how much you sell.

For many foreign companies, Brazil feels complex due to language or payment methods. In practice, the problem arises after the first sales:installment payments can change the actual timing of settlement and distort margins, cash flow, and forecasts.

This applies to e-commerce and digital services (edtech, SaaS, memberships). The typical mistake is to model revenue as if it were a single payment with quick settlement. In Brazil, this is often not the case.

What is parceling (and the part that surprises outside companies)

Installment plans divide the customer's payment into monthly installments (e.g., 3x, 6x, or 12x). What is important for operations is not the definition, but a specific consequence: in many schemes, the merchant receives payment on a monthly basis, following the installment schedule.

This may come as a surprise if your model assumed that "confirmed sale" equals "cash available." For high-ticket B2C items (such as boot camps, education, or electronics), offering 12 installments can be the difference between converting or not converting, but it also changes the cash flow mechanics.

Settlement and usable cash: receiving monthly vs. advance funds

When businesses receive payments on a monthly basis, sales growth can be accompanied by working capital compression: your operating costs occur today, but cash comes in installments.

That is why there is a key operational option: advance payment (or "advance"). In many cases, a payment partner can advance the total amount of the installments, typically with a settlement schedule of around settlement of funds around 30 days (with an associated cost). This allows for more predictable cash flow, especially if the business reinvests in acquisition or has significant fixed costs.

The decision is not "better or worse" in the abstract: it is a decision of economic unity, financial cost, and forecast.

Mini operational case (realistic): strong week 1, day 30 Finance finds the gap

We saw this pattern repeat itself with global companies launching in Brazil: week 1, demand responds, revenue rises, and the growth plan accelerates.

Thirty days later, Finance makes its first serious closing, and the defining question arises: how much of what has been sold is actually usable cash?

At a global edtech company like TripleTen, installment payments are a central part of the go-to-market strategy in Brazil: a useful reference point is that approximately 80% of its sales in Brazil are made in 12 installments. Not only did they know how to offer the right option for the market, they also knew how to adapt their operations (settlement, reconciliation, and financial model) to the actual payment rules.

This pattern is not unique to edtech. It applies to any vertical with medium/high ticket prices where the customer expects financing.

Local vs. international acquisition: it's not about "approval," it's about availability and conversion

It is important not to confuse concepts: with international purchasing, installment plans are often not even available. So the point is not to compare "approval rates for installments" between local and international purchases.

The operative point is usually this: when you enable local purchasing and installment plans, conversion increases because the customer has more real options for purchasing and financing. That changes the percentage of sales in 12 installments and, with that, changes the actual payment schedule for the following month.

IOF: where does margin (or conversion) go if you don't model it?

In Brazil, there is the IOF (Imposto sobre Operações Financeiras), a tax applicable to certain financial transactions. In payments with international components or specific structures, the IOF may appear within the total cost of the transaction.

At the time of publication of this article, a common benchmark is 3.5% (this may vary depending on the type of transaction and applicable regulations). The important thing is how it is treated in your structure:

• If the retailer absorbs the IOF: there is usually more conversion, but less margin.
• If it is transferred to the consumer: there is usually less conversion, but more margin.

Your payment partner can advise you on the best option based on your use case, average ticket size, conversion elasticity, and pricing strategy.

Reconciliation: the minimum you need to stay in control

In Brazil, it is not enough to report "BRL sales." If you offer installments, you need traceability to reconcile by transaction:

• gross amount
• number of installments (e.g., 12x)
• fees and associated costs (including IOF, if applicable)
• settlement timing (monthly vs. advance)
• net and effective conversion to USD (or balance sheet currency)

This is what prevents the P&L from telling one story and the treasury from telling another.

Operational checklist before scaling up parceling in Brazil

• Model two scenarios: monthly settlement vs. advance payment (e.g., T+30) and their costs.
• Define "usable cash" for your operation and on what time frame (weekly/monthly).
• Separate cash conversion: more sales in 12 installments does not imply immediate cash.
• Decide on IOF treatment (absorb vs. transfer) and measure the actual impact on conversion and margin.
• Reconciliation by transaction with net amount and settlement timing as first-class fields.

Closing: if you don't model liquidation and cash flow, the growth plan will mislead you.

Installment plans can accelerate conversions in Brazil, especially for high-value purchases. But if you don't first model how they are settled, how much cash is actually usable, and how costs such as IOF and FX impact them, your forecast will be optimistic by definition.

In Brazil, increasing sales without understanding the mechanics of settlement is not growth. It's a slow way to break your model.

How to sell in Brazil from abroad in 2026: payments, installment plans, FX, and operational infrastructure

Introduction

Brazil is often the most complex market in Latin America from an operational point of view when it comes to collections. This is not only because of its size or language, but also due to the combination of dominant local methods, the adoption of installments (parcelamento) as standard practice, and the expectation of immediate confirmation for payments such as PIX in Brazil. This mix requires the operation to be designed for different payment statuses and consistent reconciliation.

Many international companies (from the US, Europe, the Middle East, or other markets) face friction when trying to sell in Brazil without local infrastructure. International cards tend to have more friction than local acquiring, offering consistent installment plans requires clear rules, and FX can obscure the result if the net income per transaction is not recorded in USD. Selling in Brazil from abroad requires adapting the payment architecture, not just enabling methods.

Can you sell in Brazil without a local entity?

Yes, but the operational response depends on the model. As detailed in how to collect payments in Latin America from abroad, the chosen model determines what you must register in order to operate with control. "Without a local entity" does not mean "without local operations": it means that the international company does not constitute a company in Brazil, but still needs to resolve acquisition, methods, and settlement in a manner compatible with the market.

Infrastructure with local procurement

This model seeks to process transactions locally in order to improve approval rates and enable financing methods and options that are typical in the country. The challenge is not only technical: it is necessary to define how payments are reconciled, how returns are managed, and how traceability between the sale and international settlement is administered.

Merchant of Record

A third party acts as the seller to the end customer. It processes the payment, issues the receipt, and then settles with the international company according to agreed terms. This arrangement can simplify some aspects of local compliance, but it requires clarity on transaction data, returns, disputes, and documentation for reconciliation.

PSP cross-border

It allows you to collect in local currency and settle abroad, keeping the sale in the international company. To be operational, the model must provide traceability per transaction: method, amount, FX applied, charges, and net income per transaction in USD (or balance currency) from the moment of payment or according to the defined structure.

Payment methods that really matter in Brazil

From the perspective of a foreign company, covering methods is not enough. What matters is how each method is confirmed, what the user expects, and what data is obtained for reconciliation. In Brazil, consumers expect not only to be able to pay, but also to be able to pay using their usual method and in installments when the ticket warrants it. For a regional framework, see payment gateways in Latin America.

Local cards

Local cards are often necessary to capture demand and improve approval rates. Operationally, it is advisable to measure approval rates by issuer and monitor reasons for rejection to avoid interpreting the problem as "fraud" when it may be a friction inherent in international transactions.

PIX

PIX is an instant transfer method and behaves like a confirmed payment in real time when properly implemented. The operation depends on managing expirations, statuses, and evidence, and on having identifiers that allow the payment to be reconciled with the internal order.

Ticket

Boleto is a deferred payment method: the user can pay later. This affects the completion rate and requires modeling statuses and subsequent confirmation, as well as support with evidence (reference, expiration, and status).

Installment plan

Installment plans are the usual form of financing in Brazil. This is not just a presentation detail: it impacts pricing, cash flow, reconciliation, and how returns are handled when there were installments.

Installment plans explained for foreign companies

For an international company, the key point is to separate the customer experience from the mechanics of collection and settlement. The customer pays in installments, but the merchant can receive payment in different ways depending on the agreement and the infrastructure used.

• The customer pays in installments: the buyer sees an installment plan and makes periodic payments according to the financing scheme.
• The merchant can charge monthly or in advance: depending on the structure, funds can be credited periodically or in advance.
• Financial impact: The chosen model affects cash flow and the operational risk associated with adjustments and returns.
• How pricing is affected: determining whether the financing cost is absorbed, transferred, or combined with plan rules impacts the final price and conversion.

From the transaction, parceling requires registering the chosen plan and ensuring that the reconciliation clearly identifies which payment corresponds to which order, even when the accreditation occurs in multiple events.

IOF and FX: where margin is lost without realizing it

In Brazil, the IOF may apply to international transactions, and its treatment depends on the settlement method and structure. If the cost is integrated into the FX or reflected in another way, there is a risk of losing the ability to explain why the net income per transaction in USD differs between similar transactions.

IOF stands for Imposto sobre Operações de Crédito, Câmbio, Seguro e relativas a Títulos ou Valores Mobiliários(Tax on Credit, Foreign Exchange, Insurance, and Securities Transactions). It is a Brazilian tax levied on, among other things, foreign exchange transactions carried out within the Brazilian financial system.

The IOF is a tax regulated by Brazilian law and is applied by financial institutions on certain foreign exchange transactions. It is not discretionary, does not depend on the payment provider, and should not be interpreted as a "hidden fee." In some cases, it may not appear as a separate line item, but rather be included in the final conversion result, and its treatment may vary depending on the type of foreign exchange transaction.

When converting BRL to USD to settle with a foreign company, that exchange transaction may be subject to IOF. It is important to conceptually separate this from the supplier's charges: IOF is not a fee charged by the payment provider, but rather a tax applied to the exchange transaction.

In practice, the IOF is deducted as part of the conversion process and therefore impacts the net income per transaction in USD. Even if the company does not have a local entity, the exchange transaction occurs in Brazil and, for that reason, the tax may apply. Any cross-border model should take this into account when estimating margins and auditing results per transaction. If it is not modeled correctly from the outset, it can distort the calculation of net income per transaction and generate differences between the projection and the actual result.

In addition, it is important to distinguish between two operating schemes:

• FX at the time of transaction: the FX fee is a percentage agreed in advance between the provider and the merchant. The conversion is executed when the user pays, and the balance is available in USD (or balance currency) after processing and FX charges have been deducted. In this model, volatility is assumed by the payment provider and the merchant knows its net income in USD from the moment of payment.
• FX at settlement or transfer: conversion occurs when settled or transferred. In this scheme, the trade is exposed to exchange rate fluctuations until conversion is executed, and the result in USD may depend on the timing of settlement.

Operationally, the difference between the two is not academic: it changes what can be promised to the business in terms of predictability and what data must be recorded per transaction to audit margin.

How to receive USD from Brazil without losing visibility

Receiving USD from Brazil without a local entity requires monitoring the visibility of the entire chain: which payments make up each settlement and how the net income per transaction is reflected in the balance currency.

• Balance in USD: Having a balance in USD (or balance currency) makes it easier to read the net income per transaction and reduces accounting ambiguity.
• International settlement: the settlement scheme must be transparent with regard to which transactions are included in each settlement and which adjustments or refunds affect it.
• Reconciliation: reconciliation should not be based on "amount and date." It should be based on identifiers: internal order, payment, and settlement.
• Traceability: it is essential to be able to explain which payments make up each settlement, which FX and charges were applied, and what the net income per transaction was.

Operational case

Tripleten is a technology training company based outside Brazil that sells training programs, the cost of which is usually compatible with installment payments. To operate in Brazil without a local entity, a typical approach is to enable local cards, PIX, and installment payments, and settle in USD with traceability per transaction.

In this type of operation, the key is to maintain conversion using local methods and financing when appropriate, without losing predictability regarding net income per transaction in USD. This requires recording the method, installment plan, confirmation, and composition of each settlement so that finance and operations can reconcile using identifiers rather than assumptions.

Operational checklist before launching in Brazil

• Accepted payment methods: local cards, PIX, boleto, and installment plans depending on the product.
• Quota strategy: plans offered and plan registration for each transaction.
• FX policy: whether FX is applied at the time of payment or settlement, and what data is stored for auditing purposes.
• IOF impact: treatment according to method and structure, and how it is reflected in net income per transaction in USD.
• Settlement model: balance in USD, settlement schedule, and transparency of composition per transaction.
• Reconciliation process: mandatory identifiers and handling of adjustments, returns, and disputes.

Before launching in Brazil, it is advisable to define the complete payment architecture: enabled methods, installment strategy, FX policy, international settlement model, and reconciliation process. If these elements are not resolved and recorded per transaction, conversion and financial control tend to deteriorate as volume grows.

How to collect online payments in Brazil

For foreign companies, collecting payments online in Brazil usually involves defining the mix of methods (card, Pix, and, depending on the case, boleto) and ensuring that they can operate the entire flow: confirmation, returns, and reconciliation. The decision is not only technical; it impacts conversion, costs, and operational load.

As a rule of thumb, first design the collection process and data model (order, transaction, status, fees, net, and settlement). Only then should you choose the provider or gateway. This reduces the risk of "integrating quickly" and becoming tied to reports or statuses that are difficult to reconcile.

Pix for foreign companies

Pix is an instant payment method that has been widely adopted in Brazil. For foreign companies, the value usually lies in quick confirmation and lower exposure to chargebacks, but the critical point is traceability: that the payment is associated with an order and that there is a reconcilable identifier.

If your operation depends on immediate fulfillment or activation, define a "confirmed" status based on reliable events (not just on screen). For more information, see: PIX in Brazil for foreign companies: how to collect, confirm, and reconcile instant payments.

Local cards and installment plans

Credit cards remain relevant in e-commerce, but in Brazil the experience can be greatly influenced by installment plans. In practice, the method chosen affects conversion, total cost, and how the net amount is reflected in the settlement.

Before enabling quotas, validate: (1) how the net amount per transaction is calculated, (2) how returns and chargebacks are recorded, and (3) whether the report allows you to reconstruct the final status of each order. If your model is based on subscriptions or recurring charges, it is also a good idea to review your retry strategy for rejections.

Settlement and reconciliation of payments in Brazil

The operational challenge usually arises after "payment approved": settlements, commission netting, adjustments, and refunds. To avoid spreadsheets, you need reports that explain the net amount per transaction and a consistent way to link: internal order → transaction → settlement → bank.

An approach that usually works: daily reconciliation (pending, confirmed, expired), clear rules for partial refunds, and traceability of adjustments. For the general framework, see: Payment reconciliation in LATAM.

Common errors when processing payments in Brazil from abroad

• Design checkout without operations: enable methods without defining statuses, expiration, and reconciliation.
• Do not implement conversion by method: measure only the total and do not separate card vs. Pix vs. deferred payments.
• Reconcile by totals: attempt to explain the bank with a daily total without reconstructing the net per transaction.
• Underestimating returns and adjustments: failing to document how they impact future settlements.
• Inconsistent IDs: the dashboard, API, and reports use different identifiers for the same transaction.

Offering PSE (Secure Online Payments) as a payment option in your company guarantees more confidence for buyers, expands your market by including those who prefer to avoid credit cards and optimizes the management of collections. Learn how it works and why it is essential in today's digital commerce.

What is PSE and how does it work for companies?

Secure Online Payments or PSE is an electronic payment system that serves as a bridge between merchants, collection entities and users, with the main financial entities in Colombia, such as Bancolombia, Davivienda and Banco de Bogotá.

This system, developed by ACH Colombia, allows you to make financial transactions (buying or selling) online, debiting funds directly from your bank account, as if you were paying with your debit card.

When a person buys or pays through PSE, they connect to their bank, log in with their credentials and authorize the transaction from their savings or checking account quickly and securely. 

How to receive PSE payments in your business? 

For businesses, PSE acts as an intermediary between the customer's bank and the business' bank account, ensuring that money reaches its destination smoothly, quickly and securely. 

The process of receiving payments through PSE is carried out in three stages: 

Integration

First, the company must join ACH Colombia, the PSE administrator. 

Then, the PSE payment button must be enabled on the business' website, mobile app or digital invoicing system, which allows this option to be offered to customers. 

Payment process

Once the customer chooses PSE payments as payment method, he/she will be redirected to a page where he/she can select his/her financial institution and the type of account he/she has (checking or savings account).

You will then be able to access your bank's portal and log in with your credentials. Within online banking, you will be able to view the details of the transaction and confirm the payment securely.

Collection

Once the payment is confirmed, the bank processes the debit and both parties (customer and company) receive automatic notifications about the payment status. The customer is then redirected to the company's platform to continue the flow.

The money is credited directly to the company's bank account quickly (usually the same day or the next business day).

This entire process is managed and coordinated by a payment service provider that takes care of the technical integration, security and user experience by acting as an efficient and reliable payment gateway.

For example, Rebill simplifies PSE integration with a secure, easy-to-use API, automating collections and improving financial management to help your business grow smoothly.

Importance of receiving PSE payments in your business

In Colombia, most of the population has a bank account, but not everyone has a credit card or feels comfortable using it for online payments. As a result, PSE has become a key alternative for many shoppers. 

The data supports this trend: in the first half of 2024, more than 370 million transactions were made through PSE and, according to ACH Colombia, at the end of that year there were 38 million transactions between PSE and Transfiyá.

In addition, the Colombian Chamber of Electronic Commerce (CCCE) reported that in the second quarter of 2025, PSE bank account debits accounted for 63.9% of payment methods in Latin America, reflecting the preference of most Colombians for this option.

Against this backdrop, offering PSE and other varied payment methods is key for companies to not only ensure more sales, but also provide secure and convenient options that suit their customers' preferences.

Benefits of integrating PSE in your company

With PSE, your customers can pay securely without having to share sensitive credit card data, since they connect directly with their bank, a known and trusted environment for them. This is the main reason why it is the preferred option for users.

For companies, using this means of payment allows them to:

• Greater reach: allows you to receive payments from anyone with a bank account in Colombia, even if they do not have a credit card, significantly expanding your customer base.
• Security: transactions are validated with the customer's personal password established by his bank, which considerably reduces the risk of fraud and guarantees secure transactions.
• Trust: The PSE button is widely recognized as an official and secure method, generating greater confidence among users to complete their payments.
• Versatility: this method is not only ideal for online sales, but also facilitates the collection of invoices, license plates, taxes, utilities, among others, offering a flexible option for diverse needs.
• Quick collection: PSE payments are processed in real time or in very short periods of time, which improves your company's cash flow and financial management.
• Competitive costs: unlike other media, PSE tends to have low or zero costs per transaction, optimizing profitability for the companies that use it.

Integrating Secure Online Payments into your business not only improves the customer experience, but also strengthens your company's operational efficiency and competitiveness in an increasingly digitized market.

How do you know if your company needs PSE?

Not using PSE as a payment method yet? Consider integrating it if you do: 

• Your business receives recurring paymentssuch as utilities, schools, gyms or insurance, where convenience and speed are key for your customers.
• If you sell products or services online (either through e-commerce, digital platforms or marketplaces) PSE is an ideal solution to facilitate secure and efficient collections.
• If you handle high volumes of invoicing, automating the collection through PSE can optimize your processes and reduce errors.
• Your customers prefer bank transfers or avoid using credit or debit cards for security or convenience.
• You want to minimize the risk associated with cash handling and modernize your payment methods.
• Your company is looking to grow and stay competitive.

Betting on PSE as a payment method positions your company in the digital vanguard, since it optimizes processes and strengthens the trust of those who make transactions with you.

Don't get left behind: integrate PSE today and start receiving secure payments in minutes,click and we will advise you!

Collecting PSE from abroad: operational options for companies

For many companies selling in Colombia, PSE is a relevant method because users pay from their bank and the experience feels local. The challenge for foreign companies is not usually the "payment button," but rather the operation: settlement, reconciliation, and support when there are discrepancies.

What changes when the company is not incorporated in Colombia?

When the company is not locally incorporated, operational questions arise that need to be resolved before scaling: how payments are processed, how money is settled, what data is available for reconciliation, and what actual coverage of methods and banks you can offer. In general, the goal is to maintain a local experience for the customer without multiplying integrations and without losing visibility of net income.

Currency, settlement, and operational support

For finance and operations teams, it is important to be able to answer three questions for each transaction: (1) how much was charged in local currency, (2) how much is settled net and when (settlement), and (3) how is the payment reconciled against an order or invoice. If you are evaluating market options, a good reference is to compare payment gateways in Colombia with a focus on local methods, reconciliation, and settlement.

Complete flow of a payment with PSE

Understanding the entire flow helps reduce friction in support and properly implement events and statuses in your system. In general, a PSE payment can be thought of as a sequence of steps with clear confirmation and reconciliation points.

1. The user selects PSE as the payment method.
2. The system redirects to the customer's banking portal (or initiates the authentication flow).
3. The customer authorizes the transfer.
4. The bank confirms the payment to the processor or gateway.
5. The merchant receives confirmation and records the transaction for reconciliation.

Start of payment

The user selects PSE at checkout, chooses their bank, and is redirected or authenticated according to the provider's flow. At this stage, it is essential to clearly display the amount and currency to prevent abandonment.

Bank authorization

The user authorizes payment in the bank environment. Problems often arise here due to credentials, limits, or authentication friction. Having traceability of the reason (when available) reduces support tickets.

Payment confirmation

After authorization, the system receives confirmation (or rejection) and updates the status. For conversion, it is important that confirmation is quick and that the user returns to a clear results screen.

Reconciliation in the back office

Operationally, the critical point is being able to reconcile the payment with your order or invoice. The minimum viable solution is to record an internal identifier, the final status, timestamps, commissions, and net amount. If you also sell cross-border, it is advisable to consider how FX and fees are reflected in the net amount, and how the payment is documented for internal auditing (see international payments to understand the impact of settlement and net amount).

PSE vs. card vs. digital wallets

In Colombia, there is no single "winning" method for all cases. The choice depends on the type of customer, the ticket, and the experience you want to prioritize.

When each method is appropriate

• PSE: usually works well for users who prefer to pay from their bank and for flows where local transfers reduce friction or card rejection.
• Card: This is key for speed and for certain segments that are already accustomed to paying online with credit or debit cards, but approval may vary more.
• Digital wallets: they can improve conversion among mobile-first users and serve as a complement when users do not want to use a card.

Conversion and payment experience in Colombia

A practical strategy for companies is to offer at least two payment methods: card and PSE, and add wallets when the segment warrants it. The goal is to capture more payment attempts without complicating the operation: measure conversion by method, total cost (not just fees), and reconciliation friction.

Discover in this article how interest-free months work, their benefits and why they are key to the success of your business.

What are interest-free months?

Interest-free months (MSI) are a promotional method offered by credit cards that allow people to obtain products or services by paying in fixed monthlyinstallments, without generating additional interest.

This financial tool has become very popular in Latin America, especially in Mexico, by encouraging consumption, increasing conversion and reducing purchase friction, which is very attractive especially for e-commerce, retail and sectors such as Edtech.

How do interest-free months work?

When you make a purchase with interest-free months, the total amount of the product or service is divided into established monthly installments (such as 3, 6, 12 or more months). Each installment is paid in the agreed term until the total amount of your purchase is paid in full.

For example, if a customer purchases a personal finance course for $1,200 MXN in 12 months interest-free, he will pay $100 MXN each month, with no extra charges.

Steps to buy with interest free months

To make a purchase at months without interest, follow this process: 

• Step 1: verify that your credit card has the option to pay in months without interest.
• Step 2: choose a merchant that is affiliated with a financial institution that accepts payment in months without interest. 
• Step 3: Select the number of months you wish to divide your payment into, usually 3, 6, 9 or 12 months. 
• Step 4: make the purchase and wait for authorization from the issuing bank to make the down payment.
• Step 5: Comply with the agreed payment terms to avoid penalties that affect your credit history. 

The consumer only makes a minimum monthly payment, but the total amount of the purchase will be taken into account from the credit line of the card. In other words, it affects the credit limit.

In which sectors and contexts can interest-free months be applied?

Interest-free months make products and services more accessible in different sectors and at different times of purchase:

• Retail: Department stores, supermarkets and specialty retailers often offer MSI on electronics, clothing, furniture and more.
• Health and medical services: clinics, doctors' offices and laboratories use fixed fees to pay for procedures and treatments.
• Education and training: tuition, registration fees and courses can be paid on a deferred basis.
• Tourism: travel agencies, hotels and airlines apply MSI on reservations and packages.
• Automotive: down payments, services and car or accessory purchases are facilitated on a monthly basis.
• Technology: MSI encourages the purchase of computers, gadgets and smartphones.

Likewise, interest-free months can be applied in various contexts, allowing consumers to take advantage of them at specific times, such as: 

• Promotions and special campaigns: events such as Buen Fin, Hot Sale and holiday seasons.
• Banking or temporary alliances: only with certain cards or for promotional periods.
• Online and in-store shopping: increasing the variety of uses.
• High-value purchases: ideal for high-investment products such as home appliances or medical treatments.

What are the advantages for companies to sell on interest-free months?

Selling on interest-free months provides companies with strategic advantages that impact their sales and competitiveness. This can be a decisive factor. The main benefits are detailed below:

Increase in sales

By facilitating the purchase of products and services interest-free, one of the main barriers to purchase, which is the ability to pay immediately, is eliminated. This motivates more customers to make their purchases, which generates an increase in sales volume.

Increase in average ticket

Customers often take advantage of interest-free months to access higher-value products or goods, since payment is divided into installments. This increases the average value per transaction and encourages the consumption of high-value goods and services.

Promoting competitiveness

Interest-free monthly payments allow companies to stand out in the market and attract new customers who value payment facilities. 

Customer loyalty

By providing flexible payment solutions, merchants improve the shopping experience and strengthen the relationship with their customers. This drives loyalty and repurchase, which are key to sustained growth. 

Immediate settlement of the total cost

In most cases, through agreements with the bank or payment gateway, the merchant receives the full amount of the sale from the beginning, while the customer pays the minimum amount in monthly installments. This means greater liquidity and reduced collection risk for the company.

These advantages provide the ideal context for businesses to take advantage of solutions such as Rebill, a payment platform that promotes the integration and management of MSI across multiple channels, further enhancing the growth and professionalism of your business.

Conditions to be met by businesses to apply interest-free months

Although in Mexico there is no specific regulation governing interest-free months, there are some conditions that companies should consider, among which are:

1. Formal agreements with banks or issuers: it is essential for retailers to establish agreements with financial institutions, TDC issuers or payment platforms to offer interest-free months.
2. Adequate technical infrastructure: the company must have a point-of-sale terminal (POS) or an online platform compatible with MSI payment methods. 
3. Legal compliance: retailers must comply with the Federal Consumer Protection Law and PROFECO regulations, which implies informing about promotions, terms, conditions, minimum amounts, commissions and restrictions.
4. Clear information to consumers: the customer must be provided with information on the total price and the price in months without interest, the number and frequency of installments, possible extra charges, etc. All this must be communicated prior to the time of purchase.
5. Staff training: the customer service team must be trained to correctly explain the operation of MSIs, resolve doubts and handle incidents or clarifications from consumers.
6. Financial evaluation and profitability: the company must analyze bank or payment platform fees, administrative costs and profit margin. Offering MSI implies assuming certain charges, so it is important to know the financial viability and not affect the financial health of the business.
7. Fiscal documentation and requirements: banks or payment processors usually request fiscal and legal documentation to formalize the MSI agreement, such as identification, RFC, tax receipt and financial statements.

How do the payment platforms work at MSI?

To offer interest-free months, merchants must enable this function through a specialized payment platform or through direct agreements with credit card issuing banks. 

The platform is in charge of processing the transaction, deducting the corresponding commissions and coordinating with the bank the monthly payments that are reflected in the customer's card.

The process is simple and safe:

• The business integrates its system(e-commerce or POS) with the selected platform or payment gateway.
• An agreement is established to enable MSI with participating cards.
• The customer chooses to pay MSI and selects the desired term.
• The platform settles the total amount to the merchant (minus commissions).
• The bank charges its customer for the outstanding balance of its available credit on a monthly basis until payment is completed.

It should be noted that not all platforms offer MSI automatically, some require manual activation or meet specific conditions.

Rebill makes it easy for companies to provide interest-free payment options automatically, managing total merchant collection, bank coordination and transaction security, all conveniently integrated into your system.

Sell more by giving your customers what they want: interest-free monthly payments. Find out how to activate them safely without losing profitability with Rebill,talk to us and we'll tell you how!

MSI for foreign companies: when it is appropriate to offer it

In Mexico, interest-free months (MSI) are not just a "promotion." For many companies, they are a conversion lever that changes the commercial result in medium and high tickets. The key is to decide when to offer MSI and with what rules so as not to compromise net income or complicate operations.

Which ticket types and categories tend to benefit the most?

In practical terms, MSI tends to have a greater impact when the customer compares alternatives and the "cash" price creates friction. In these scenarios, MSI lowers the barrier to entry without necessarily requiring a direct discount. On the other hand, for low ticket prices, the marginal benefit is usually lower, and sometimes it is better to prioritize the payment and approval experience.

MSI vs discount vs interest payments: how to decide

To make an informed decision, it is advisable to compare three options: (1) offer MSI, (2) offer a discount for immediate payment, or (3) offer installments with interest. The right decision depends on the margin, the financial cost, the elasticity of demand, and whether your operation can measure the actual net per transaction. If you cannot measure the net per method and per plan, it is easy to optimize conversion at the expense of the margin.

Financial impact: net real, commissions, and settlement

The typical mistake is to evaluate MSI solely on the basis of conversion. In reality, MSI changes the financial structure: commissions, financing costs, settlement times, and differences in method. For a company that sells in Mexico (particularly if it operates from abroad), the focus should be on net income and cash timing.

Which metrics to look at (and why)

• Net per transaction: amount charged minus commissions and costs associated with MSI.
• Effective financial cost: how much it "costs" to offer MSI vs. alternatives (discount, interest, etc.).
• Settlement times: when the money becomes available and how it impacts your cash flow.
• Net per cohort: if there is recurrence, measure whether MSI changes retention or repurchase behavior.

How to avoid decisions that improve conversion but worsen cash flow

A simple rule: if MSI improves conversion but leaves you with less net profit or pays you later, your "real" CAC goes up and your cash flow becomes strained. Therefore, before scaling campaigns with MSI, it is advisable to simulate scenarios: expected incremental conversion, financial cost, commissions, and payment timing. The goal is not to avoid MSI, but to use it with clear rules.

Reconciliation and reporting: how to avoid operational friction

When MSI begins to represent a significant portion of the volume, the operation can become fragile if you don't have robust reconciliation. What usually fails is not the collection itself, but traceability: identifying what was collected, in how many months, what fees were applied, and when it was settled.

What to record per transaction (minimum viable)

• Order or invoice ID (internal reference)
• Amount, currency, and method
• MSI plan (number of months) and conditions
• Fees and costs associated with the plan
• Expected net and settled net
• Settlement date and payment statuses

How to use MSI without duplicating work in finance and support

In practice, MSI scales well when finance can reconcile with consistent data and support can respond to claims without relying on manual searches. If each adjustment requires researching different screenshots or reports, the operating cost increases with volume. Therefore, in addition to offering MSI, it is advisable to ensure the reporting layer from the outset: net per plan, differences per method, and traceability per transaction.

In Argentina, interest-free installments are a key strategy for boosting sales, especially for high-value products. This system can significantly improve conversion and customer experience by facilitating access to larger purchases. In Mexico, this is usually implemented as interest-free months (MSI).

How to sell in installments without interest?

Selling in interest-free installments allows customers to pay for their purchases in several monthly payments without additional costs, which facilitates access to high-value products. This modality eliminates economic barriers that usually slow down the purchase decision. By not assuming interest, the customer perceives a concrete benefit by paying in equal parts.

What is the simple installment plan?

The simple installment plan works in several ways and adapts to the structure of each company. This flexibility makes it possible to establish:

• The total amount financed.
• The number of installments available (3, 6, 12 or more).
• If there is a down payment.
• If they are fixed or variable installments.
• And whether or not interest is applied.

This variety of configurations allows the business to define a strategy according to the behavior of its target audience, optimizing profitability without losing competitiveness.

Types of payment installments

Here are the main types of payment plans to understand why interest-free installments represent a strategic advantage:

• Interest-bearing installments: each installment includes a portion of the principal (original amount) and a financial cost associated with the chosen term. It is common in bank products or traditional financing, but can negatively affect the consumer's perception of the final price.
• Interest-free installments: the total value of the purchase is divided in equal parts, without applying any additional surcharge. This scheme is widely used in e-commerce and retail in Argentina, and has been proven to increase both the average ticket and the conversion rate.

What is the real cost of selling in interest-free installments?

Although the customer perceives interest-free installments as a direct benefit, it is important to understand that there is always a financial cost associated with this payment method. This cost does not disappear: it is simply assumed by someone in the commercial chain.

There are three possible schemes to manage the cost of selling in interest-free installments:

Trade bears the cost

 This is the most frequent option, especially in online stores or physical businesses looking to scale their sales. The financial cost is deducted from the total amount received for the sale. In return, the business gains in higher conversion, loyalty and sales volume.

It is assumed by the financial institution or issuing bank.

 This modality is less frequent and is usually applied in specific promotional campaigns promoted by banks or credit cards. In this case, the merchant receives the full amount and the bank assumes the interest.

Shared financing between trade and customer

 It is a flexible model, where part of the interest is absorbed by the business and part is passed on to the buyer. Although they are not "100% interest-free installments", the customer's perception is usually still positive if the surcharge is low.

Offering simple interest-free installments should be seen as a strategic investment rather than an operating cost. The metrics bear this out:

• Increase in average ticket
• Improved conversion rate
• Reduced cart abandonment
• Strengthening the customer experience

Implementing these payment methods in Latin America does have a cost, yes, but it also has a direct return in sales and positioning against the competition.

Payment solutions in Argentina

In the Argentine ecosystem, there are several payment processors that allow the implementation of interest-free installments with flexibility and scope, such as Rebill, Mercado Pago, Pago Nube, Mobbex, Ualá Bis.

And for companies operating in several Latin American countries or looking for a more comprehensive solution, Rebill is positioned as a payment processor specialized in Latin America, with legal and operational presence in Argentina. Its platform is designed for companies that value details and need to scale their business model with efficiency and total control over their collections, commissions and financing.

How to integrate a payment gateway to offer interest-free installments?

To offer interest-free installments as a means of payment, it is essential to have a payment gateway, i.e., a technological platform that allows a business to collect payment electronically, connecting the customer with the available means of payment: credit cards, debit cards, bank transfers or virtual wallets. 

These tools manage the authorization, validation and processing of each transaction, complying with security standards and local regulations.

Where can quotas be offered?

The merchant can decide in which channels to enable payment in interest-free installments, including:

• Personalized payment links
• QR Code
• Own e-commerce sites or on marketplaces
• Physical points of sale (POS or terminals), where modalities such as BNPL (Buy Now Pay Later) can be offered -with providers such as GoCuotas or Wibond in Argentina-, in addition to payment with credit or debit cards.

Several payment processors active in Argentina and the region allow you to set up interest-free installments easily from your administrative panel or through their API. Some examples include Rebill, Mercado Pago, Pago Nube, Mobbex, Ualá Bis.

Each offers different options, such as selecting the number of installments, calculating the applicable commission and managing settlement terms. In most cases, the merchant receives the total amount of the sale minus the corresponding commission, without waiting for the payment of each installment.

Step by step: how does the installment payment process work?

Here is a step-by-step description of how this process works. The customer selects the interest-free installments option when paying, and the company receives the total amount through the payment gateway. Then, the customer pays in fixed monthly installments, without surcharges or interest.

1. Payment processor integration payment processor: the business incorporates a gateway compatible with installment payments (via plugins, APIs, or payment tools).
2. Customer's choice of installments: at the time of payment, the customer chooses the option "pay in installments without interest" from the processor interface.
3. Choice of payment method: the customer chooses the method of payment, credit card being the most common.
4. Verification of funds: the payment processor validates that the customer has available funds or sufficient credit.
5. Purchase authorization: if everything is correct, the operation is approved.
6. Settlement of payment to merchant: Money is not transferred immediately. The processor holds the funds temporarily and deposits them to the merchant within 1-3 business days.
7. Transaction notification: the merchant receives detailed information on who paid, how much they paid and at what time the transaction took place.

Key benefits of selling in interest-free installments

Implementing interest-free installments as a payment method not only impacts immediate conversions, but also represents a solid long-term business strategy.  

Benefits for businesses and consumers

This system not only boosts sales, but also offers concrete benefits for both merchants and consumers. The main advantages for each party involved in the transaction are detailed below.

• Increases sales and average ticket without reducing prices: by allowing customers to split their purchase at no additional cost, the psychological barriers associated with the total amount are eliminated. This increases the average value per transaction, without the need to offer discounts or compromise the profitability margin.
• It boosts loyalty by positioning the brand as accessible and flexible: brands that facilitate access to valuable products or services through interest-free installments are perceived as friendlier, closer and more customer-centric, which improves retention and strengthens the long-term relationship.
• Improved shopping experience: by reducing the perceived financial burden, the shopping process becomes smoother and more satisfying. This improved user experience can translate into better reviews, recommendations and sustained loyalty.
• Facilitates decision making: consumers tend to postpone or abandon high-value purchases when they must pay in full immediately. Interest-free installments reduce friction and speed up the decision-making process, especially in digital channels.
• Improves competitiveness: in a market like Argentina's, where installments are an essential part of purchasing behavior, not offering them can mean losing out to the competition. Having this benefit not only levels the playing field, but can also become a clear differentiator.
• It adapts to different business models: whether it is an online store, a marketplace, a subscription-based service or a physical store, interest-free installments can be applied flexibly, depending on the channel and the type of product.
• Contributes to a scalable growth strategy: by easily integrating with modern payment gateways, installments can be implemented at multiple touch points without the need for major technical developments. This allows scaling operations with agility and financial control.

If your company is looking for a solid payment solution, with regional support and tools designed to scale, Rebill offers a payment platform specialized in Latin America, with legal and operational presence in Argentina. It allows you to easily implement interest-free installments, manage multiple payment methods and optimize the customer experience from a single control panel.

Start selling more today without losing profitability,contact us and find out how our payment gateway can transform your business! 

Installment payments in LATAM: differences by country (MSI, installment plans, installments)

When a company sells in Latin America, "quotas" do not mean the same thing in every country. Purchasing habits, vocabulary, and financial mechanics vary by market, and this affects conversion, approval, and operations.

• Mexico (MSI): Interest-free months are often a key commercial lever for medium and high ticket prices. In practice, MSI is used as a selling point and requires control of the actual net amount and settlement timing.
• Brazil (installment payments ): Installment payments are widespread. The correct configuration (number of installments, rules per ticket and per product) usually impacts conversion and average ticket size.
• Southern Cone (quotas): In markets such as Argentina and Chile, quotas exist with local particularities. What is important for companies is to be able to define rules by country and avoid friction in reconciliation when commissions or settlement schemes change.

Therefore, if you operate in multiple countries, it is advisable to treat quotas as a strategy for each market, rather than as a single toggle at checkout.

How to decide whether to offer quotas (rule per ticket and margin)

Offering installments can increase conversion, but it also changes net income and cash flow. To decide, the soundest approach is to separate the decision into two layers: (1) expected commercial impact, and (2) financial and operational impact.

Simple decision model (conversion vs. financial cost)

• Step 1: Estimate incremental conversion: How much does conversion increase if you add fees to the target ticket? Ideally measured with A/B testing or at least by cohorts.
• Step 2: Estimate total cost: commissions + financial cost of the plan + impact of settlement timing.
• Step 3: Compare against alternatives: discount for immediate payment, bundles, or interest-bearing installments.
• Step 4: Decide on rules: "Quotas for everyone" is not always the best approach. Many companies earn more by setting quotas only for tickets above a certain threshold, or only for products with sufficient margins.

The sign of a good decision is that you can measure net income per transaction and per installment plan, not just gross income and conversion.

Fees and operations: reconciliation, refunds, and disputes

The challenge of quotas does not end at checkout. When there is volume, friction appears in the back office: reconciliation, returns, and disputes. If these flows are not properly resolved, operating costs increase and finance loses control of the net.

• Reconciliation: record the plan (number of installments), commissions, net amount, and settlement dates for each transaction. Without this traceability, it is difficult to explain differences between what was charged and what was settled.
• Returns: define how returns are reflected in installments (partial/total) and how they impact reconciliation. Prevent support from "improvising" criteria.
• Disputes: With quotas, there may be more customer inquiries and a higher risk of chargebacks if the experience is unclear. A consistent process reduces losses and prevents misalignment between support and finance.

In summary: quotas can be a lever for growth, but they only scale well if accompanied by consistent reconciliation and reporting.

In recent years, traditional payment systems in Latin America have undergone a significant evolution, driven by the introduction of new technologies in the region. In Chile, this change has resulted in a greater diversity of payment methods. 

This transformation in payment options responds to the growth of e-commerce, becoming a key factor for the functioning of the Chilean economy. According to the Central Bank of Chile, the modernization of payment systems has been essential to adapt to the new needs of the digital market. 

Stay tuned to find out which payment methods are most popular in Chile in 2026 and how Rebill can help you securely integrate them into your business. 

What are the most commonly used payment methods in Chile?

In Chile, consumers have various payment options for their transactions, both in physical stores and online stores. Among the most common types of payment methods in Latin America are:

Debit cards

Debit cards are the most widely used payment method in the country, especially at points of sale and for digital payments. Their use is supported by high banking penetration and integration with systems such as WebPay Plus and QR payments in apps such as MACH or Fpay. 

The main service providers include: BancoEstado, Banco de Chile, Banco Falabella, BCI and Santander. 

Credit cards

Credit cards allow access to financing and installment payments, which is highly valued by Chilean consumers. This means of payment is widely used for online purchases in areas such as retail, travel and services. 

Although their use has been partially displaced by digital wallets, they are still present in larger purchases and bank promotions.

Major issuers include CMR Falabella, Banco de Chile and Banco Santander, as well as internationally recognized brands such as Mastercard and American Express, which offer additional benefits such as points programs and insurance.

Bank transfers

Although they are not the most widely used method, bank transfers, especially Immediate Electronic Transfers (IET), have gained ground due to their security and speed. This system allows direct payments to be made from the customer's bank account without the need to share card details. 

This online payment method has established itself in e-commerce thanks to its integration with payment platforms such as WebPay Plus, Flow, Fintoc and Khipu, which facilitate this type of transaction and are preferred by those seeking to avoid intermediaries and reduce the risk of fraud.

Mobile payments and digital wallets

This form of payment is becoming increasingly popular due to the convenience it offers to the user and the adoption of contactless (NFC) payment technologies or payment links. 

Also known as wallets, they allow payments to be made in physical stores, apps and online platforms, turning mobile devices into true digital wallets.  

Prepaid cards

Prepaid cards and digital accounts, such as Mach, Dale!, Global66 and Tenpo, offer an affordable and attractive alternative for young people and those without a traditional bank account. These cards are pre-loaded with credit and can be used in both physical stores and e-commerce.

How do you know which is the ideal payment method for your business?

Selecting the right payment method is fundamental to improve your customers' experience and help your business grow. Some key points to take into account when making this decision are: 

• Know your customers and their spending habits: find out which payment methods are most used and preferred by your potential customers. Evaluate whether you need prepaid options for unbanked customers or those who operate in the informal market.
• Offer multiple payment options: choose a platform that offers different payment alternatives or use multiple payment services to improve the shopping experience for consumers and reduce the abandonment rate in the process. 
• Consider the user experience: select platforms that allow a fast, simple and intuitive payment process, with few steps and compatible with mobile devices, to minimize friction and improve customer satisfaction.
• Take into account the security of the system: choose payment gateways that have high security standards, such as authentication, protection of personal information, etc. To keep your customers' financial information safe. 
• Use mobile payment methods: options that allow payment by phone number or QR codes are increasingly valued for their speed and convenience, especially in physical stores. 
• Prioritize technical compatibilityMake sure that the payment gateway easily integrated with your technology infrastructure. For example, Rebill offers three integration alternatives adaptable to any business:‍
  
  • World Class API for developers looking for maximum customization.‍
    
  • SDK with pre-built components to speed up implementation with only 5 lines of code you can create a customized checkout tailored to your brand.‍
  • Via no-code, thanks to our native Make module that allows you to connect Rebill to any other application or software without code.

Moreover, its complete integration takes less than an hour.

Why choose Rebill to manage your payments in Chile?

Rebill is positioned as the best option for managing payments in Chile thanks to its specialized focus on digital businesses and companies looking to scale in Latin America. Its infrastructure combines advanced technology, flexibility and local support, which facilitates expansion and improves the experience for both merchants and customers.

Other advantages of using Rebill

• Transparent and competitive pricing: with clear and fair rates, Rebill includes subscription management at no additional cost, helping to reduce operational and development expenses.
• Local support and personalized attention: Rebill has a dedicated support team that accompanies companies at every stage, ensuring a smooth experience.
• Adaptation to regulations: complies with international certifications such as PCI DSS, guaranteeing data protection and regulatory compliance in the region.

Rebill is ideal for businesses looking for a robust, flexible and scalable solution that facilitates payment management in Chile and throughout Latin America.

Contact us and we will help you integrate the best payment methods to start charging as a local in Chile. Our team of experts will accompany you through every step of the process, from choosing the most suitable solution to implementation, ensuring that your business can grow without limits and safely. 

Online sales in Colombia during the first quarter of 2025 reached a total value of $27.3 billion Colombian pesos, 16.4 % more than in the same period of the previous year, according to the Quarterly E-Commerce Behavior Report of the Colombian Chamber of E-Commerce (CCCE).

For total sales, 131.6 million transactions were recorded between January and March 2025, which is 15.6 % more than the first quarter of 2024. The average online consumer purchase value was $207,000 pesos (an increase of 1.3 %, compared to the last quarter of 2024. 

This growth reflects not only increased consumer adoption of the digital channel, but also increased competition among e-commerce companies to attract and retain these shoppers.

In this context, offering the most widely used payment methods in Latin America is no longer optional, but a key condition for competing. If your business does not allow users to pay how they want—whether by card, transfer, cash on delivery, or digital wallets—you are losing sales. Here we tell you more.

What are the main payment methods in Colombia?

In Colombia there are different types of payment methods that can be grouped into online and offline. Below we detail each one of them:

Online payment methods

Bank transfers

Most people have bank accounts, both savings and checking accounts, and at least 15% of the population have wire transfers as one of their preferred payment methods. They also occupy 55% of the payment options in Colombia.

Payments with digital wallets or e-wallets

In the era of mobile devices, 69% of the population opts for digital payment methods such as e-wallets. The Financial Superintendence of Colombia reported that real-time transfers through digital wallets, during the second half of 2024, grew 231%, compared to the same period of the previous year. 

Among the main payment options with digital wallets or e-wallets we have:

• NequiNequi: this Bancolombia application allows payments, transfers and withdrawals at no cost.
• Daviplata: Daviplata is a Davivienda platform that offers transfer services, ATM withdrawals and utility payments. 
• Movii: the user can make payments, recharges and transfers through this digital wallet.
• Dale! debit card: Dale! Visa allows you to pay with Apple Pay, with no handling fee.
• Mercado Pago: can be linked to your direct account in Mercado Libre. It offers the options of bank transfers, cards, cash and recharges.
• Ualá: with the Mastercard International debit card you can make purchases in Colombia and around the world. Deposits are handled through an app.
• Lulo Bank: you can make purchases electronically or in physical stores, both in Colombia and around the world, withdrawals at ATMs of the Servibanca Green Network and payments and purchases through secure online payments (PSE).
• Tuya Pay: with the digital account you can send, pay and manage money from your cell phone or make cash recharges.
• Apple Pay: has established partnerships with several financial institutions for its use.
• Google Pay: is in an initial phase, but seeks to satisfy the need of users who are looking for greater convenience and a secure way to pay.
• Contactless: Colombia recorded that 37% of the population with a bank account preferred contactless digital payments by the end of 2024. This means of payment has increased by 85% compared to last year, thanks to the use of technologies such as NFC and QR codes.
• Cryptocurrencies: Colombia is the fifth country in the world that has adopted cryptocurrencies and approximately 10% of the population made transactions by 2024. One of them is Tether (USDT), which is commonly used in P2P platforms and cross-border payments, in networks such as Tron or Ethereum (USDT-TRC20).

Secure Online Payment or PSE

It is a centralized and standardized system that allows users to make online payments by accessing their funds from the financial institution where they have them. With Secure Online Payments a debit is made to the bank account through this system. 

In the first quarter of 2025, it was the most used method with 63.1% share, given the levels of trust in this platform to directly connect bank accounts with e-commerce.

Offline payment methods

There are different offline payment methods that Colombians choose when it comes to their shopping experience. These are:

Point-of-sale (POS) terminals and card payments (debit/credit)

The Financial Superintendency of Colombia reported in December 2024 that dataphones or POS represented 7% of financial transactions in the country and were the most used channel for payments, with 42.88% of transactions.

Debit and credit cards

A study by Fiserv.com indicated that 64% of Colombians use debit cards as a means of payment and 37% opt for credit cards, including Visa, Mastercard and American Express.

Both credit and debit cards are second only to the option of secure online payments, especially for higher-value purchases where credit card financing is attractive to consumers.

It is worth noting that although credit cards are still relevant in digital payments in Colombia, their use has lost ground to more agile options such as PSE and digital wallets. These methods, which do not require card data or involve debt, are gaining preference for their simplicity, security and high adoption, especially among young users.

Cash payments

According to Fiserv.com, around 96% of Colombians make most of their transactions or payments in cash, considering that it is a safe way to avoid exposing their personal data.

In Colombia there are solutions such as Efecty and Baloto that offer the possibility of starting a purchase online and finishing it at physical points by paying in cash.

This type of payment represents between 8% and 12% of total digital transactions, and is key to including the unbanked in e-commerce, especially in regions where access to digital media is still limited.

What you should know before choosing the best payment method for your company in Colombia

Payment methods vary in terms of security, popularity and adaptation to consumer and merchant preferences. Geographic context and business characteristics also influence choice. 

When determining the best payment method for your company, you should consider the following:

• Customer context: consider the customer' s age, digital habits, geographic location and the methods they value most when paying.
• It offers various payment methods: it caters to different customer profiles by combining traditional methods, such as cash and cards, and digital methods, such as mobile payment, wallets, e-wallets, payment links and buy now, pay later (BNPL).
• Transaction costs and commissions: consider how fixed and variable commissions will be applied in each method and notify users. 
• Prioritize security and fraud prevention: apply methods such as multi-factor authentication or tokenization, encryption and other alternatives that comply with Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards or PCI-DSS. 
• Ensures a convenient shopping experience: the customer is looking for a fast, simple and hassle-free checkout process.
• Evaluate the compatibility of the payment method with your business model: depending on whether it is a physical store or e-commerce, you can opt for credit cards, debit cards, virtual cards, digital wallets, "buy now, pay later", direct debit, real-time payments, mobile payment, among others.
• Review settlement times: take into account the time it takes to receive funds so as not to negatively affect cash flow.
• Choose a payment gateway in Colombia that is easy to integrate: choose an infrastructure that offers clear sales reports, allows you to solve payment problems and helps you grow.

What is the best choice of payment method in Colombia?

Rebill is the best provider of digital payment services for global companies that want to expand into Colombia, without the need to open a local entity. In addition, it has a presence in the main Latin American markets.

With its payment and subscription platform, you can collect the money as a local and settle the funds in USD and receive them in the country you are in.

Among its advantages it has:

• Integration in less than an hour: the connection through the robust API, SDK or its low-code integration allows you to accept multiple methods. In 5 lines of code you embed a complete checkout, with all payment methods.
• Flexible recurring payments: accepts different payment frequencies, either weekly, monthly or yearly. Allows upgrades, downgrades and subscription cancellations in real time. With the smart retries feature you can recover up to 71% of rejected payments.
• Automatic compliance: each transaction goes through a validation process to detect whether it complies with local data protection, security and authentication regulations.

Ready to take your business to Colombia?Contact us and transform your payment management today!

What is a recurring payment?

A recurring payment, also known as autopay, is a billing model in which customers authorize a business to automatically charge them periodically, typically monthly or annually, without manual intervention.

This payment option is used by service providers that offer subscriptions: streaming platforms like Netflix, gyms, software as a service (SaaS), and more.

Types of recurring payments

There are two recurring payment systems that can be automated depending on the type of service offered: fixed or variable .

Fixed recurring payments

These are recurring charges made at a specific frequency (monthly, quarterly, annually) and for a fixed amount. The customer always pays the same amount, regardless of how much they use the service.

This process is ideal for flat-rate subscription services, such as educational platforms, digital services, or gyms.

Variable recurring payments

These are recurring charges whose collection frequency is fixed, but the amount varies depending on the customer's consumption or behavior.

This type of charging is common for services such as telephony, energy, e-commerce, cloud computing, and on-demand platforms.

Recurring Payment vs. One-Time Payment: What's the Difference?

The main difference between a recurring payment and a one-time payment is the frequency and continuity of the transaction .

• Recurring payments allow you to automate payments over a defined and consistent period of time.
• A one-time payment, on the other hand, is made only once for a specific product or service.

The recurring payment model is ideal for companies looking to scale operations and build long-term relationships with their customers, as is the case with subscription or on-demand services.

On the other hand, a one-time payment is more convenient for new customers with one-time purchases, where each transaction requires a new authorization from the user.

How do recurring payments work?

A recurring payment system consists of the following steps:

1. Customer consent: It all starts when the user agrees to be charged periodically using their preferred payment method (credit or debit card, bank account, or digital wallet).
2. The billing logic is defined: the frequency (monthly, annual, or other), the amount to be charged, and the plan terms are established. This configuration is recorded in the company's system or API.
3. The payment method is securely recorded: payment information is not stored directly, but is encrypted and stored under security protocols such as PCI DSS, thus avoiding the direct management of sensitive data.
4. The system automatically triggers payments: with the logic already configured, the payment services engine executes each transaction on the corresponding date, without the need to manually trigger each operation.
5. The payment method is validated before charging: the system verifies that the payment method is active and has available funds, which reduces rejections and improves the success rate.
6. The payment is collected and the systems are updated: once everything is validated, the amount is charged and subsequent actions are automated: sending a confirmation, issuing an invoice, or updating a subscription.

Benefits of recurring payments

For companies

• Predictable Revenue: Businesses can anticipate a steady stream of revenue, facilitating financial planning and growth.
• Improved cash flow: By receiving recurring revenue, payment and cash management improves, operating expenses are covered, and strategic investments can be made.
• Customer retention: The subscription model fosters loyalty, as subscribers tend to stay with the service longer.
• Payment automation: The payment gateway handles payment processing without manual intervention, reducing errors and administrative tasks.
• Improved user experience: By simplifying the checkout process, friction is reduced, improving satisfaction and reducing the risk of churn.
• Business model scalability: allows for better subscription management with different plans, upgrades, or complementary services, easily tailored to user behavior.
• Fewer careless cancellations: A well-implemented system reduces unintentional cancellations due to forgetfulness or lack of reminders.

For customers

• Convenience: Automatic payments eliminate the need to remember payment dates or complete transactions manually.
• Simplified financial management: Recurring payments help users plan their budget more accurately by knowing how much they will spend each month on essential services.
• Continuous access to the service: the customer does not run the risk of losing access due to forgetting to make a payment.
• Greater predictability: By maintaining a stable payment pattern (especially on fixed plans), the user reduces surprises or unexpected charges.
• Customization options: Some services allow for easy plan changes based on changing needs, giving the customer greater control without the hassle.

Challenges of recurring payments

• Risk of non-payment or cancellations: customers may cancel at any time or encounter issues with payment methods in Latin America.
• Technical or administrative complexity: Implementing an automatic collection system requires proper integration and constant monitoring.
• Post-sale relationship management: Active communication is essential to retain customers and prevent cancellations.
• Transparency and trust: Users must be clearly informed about the terms, fees, and ease of cancellation to avoid friction or mistrust.

Maximize your recurring payments with Rebill

At Rebill , we make it easy to manage subscriptions and recurring payments throughout Latin America, enabling businesses to accept cards, transfers, and e-wallet payments from a single payment platform.

Our technology allows you to design flexible plans: with free trials, customizable payment cycles (monthly, quarterly, annual), specific payment dates, and duration limits defined by installments or due dates.

Automate payment recovery with smart retries—recovering up to 71% of declined payments—and reduce churn without manual intervention.

Additionally, we offer secure payment method tokenization to prevent your customers from having to re-enter their information, among many other features that improve your recurring billing process.

If you're looking for a flexible, secure solution designed to grow with you, contact us and discover how we can transform the way you collect payments in key Latin American markets.

Mexico is one of the most important markets for e-commerce in Latin America, with a consumer base that values digital transactions as much as traditional options.

What are the most commonly used payment methods in Mexico?

Debit cards

Debit cards are one of the most popular forms of payment for e-commerce in Mexico. They are popular because of their ease of use and because many consumers prefer not to use credit for everyday purchases.

Credit cards 

Credit cards are also popular in the Mexican market, representing one of the most widely used means of payment in Latin America, according to a PCMI study. The most popular types of credit cards include Visa, Mastercard and American Express.

3. Cash payments

Cash remains a very important method in Mexico, especially for those who do not have access to banking services or prefer to avoid using cards.

Companies such as OXXO allow consumers to make purchases online and pay in cash at any of its thousands of physical stores. This method is secure and avoids chargebacks, making it an attractive option for both consumers and businesses.

Other chains such as 7-Eleven facilitate payment services without the need for a bank account, which promotes financial inclusion. In addition, cash payments are preferred by users who are wary of sharing banking information online.

4. Digital wallets

Digital payments have gained popularity in recent years, driven by the convenience of making transactions without the need to enter card data for each operation. Some of the most widely used options available in Mexico are:

• Mercado Pago
• Paypal
• BBVA Wallet
• Spin by OXXO

These wallets allow consumers to store funds and pay securely and quickly online. Mercado Pago, in particular, has positioned itself as a dominant option for online shopping due to its integration with Mercado Libre and other local merchants.

5. Bank Transfers (SPEI)

SPEI transfers are a reliable and secure means of payment in Mexico, especially for higher value transactions. 

This method allows direct transfer of funds between banks instantly and at no cost. Although it is not the fastest or most convenient method for all purchases, it is still a solid option for many businesses.

6. Months without interest (MSI)

A key feature of the Mexican market is the option to pay in interest-free months. In this case, the retailer absorbs the financial cost by paying a higher sales rate in 1 payment, but the end customer does not pay any interest for financing his purchase.

Credit cards often offer this option in partnership with retailers, and it is a crucial factor in driving sales, especially on higher-value products.

7. Buy now, pay later

Buy now, pay later" services are gaining ground in Mexico. Payment platforms such as Kueski Pay and Aplazo allow consumers to split their purchases into more manageable payments, without the need for credit cards. This method is popular among younger users, who are looking for financial flexibility.

8. Payments with cryptocurrencies

Online payments with cryptocurrencies are beginning to gain traction in Mexico, especially among young, technologically advanced users and in specific areas such as technology, travel and gaming. Although they still represent a small percentage of total transactions, their growth is undeniable.

Cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum are increasingly accepted in online stores, digital services and, in some cases, even in physical stores that already accept this type of payments. In addition to USDT (Tether) and USDC (USD Coin) which are the most used stablecoins for online payments, preferred for their stability, unlike BTC or ETH.

9. Contactless payments (NFC)

Contactless payments have changed the shopping experience in Mexico, especially since the pandemic. This technology uses NFC (Near Field Communication) to enable payments in an agile and secure way, simply by bringing a card, mobile device or smartwatch close to the terminal reader.

Today, most modern bank cards include this functionality. In addition, applications such as Apple Pay and Google Pay are increasingly being accepted at Mexican points of sale, thus expanding the reach of this payment system.

10. QR code payments

Electronic payments with QR codes have established themselves as a practical and accessible option, especially for small businesses, street vendors and users who prefer to minimize the use of cash or physical contact.

With this method, the customer simply scans a QR code from his cell phone and makes the payment through an app such as CoDi, Mercado Pago or even bank apps.

11. Prepaid cards

Prepaid cards are a practical tool for controlling spending and improving the user's shopping experience. They allow the purchase of products or services until the available balance is exhausted and their implementation is simple and secure, adapting to different business models. The main issuers are Mercado Pago, Nu, Stori and Albo, all under the Mastercard signature.

How can Rebill help you integrate the best payment methods in Mexico?

Rebill makes it easy to integrate all these payment methods in Latin America into your business in less than an hour, thanks to its payment infrastructure specifically designed for Latin America. From accepting cash payments to implementing recurring payments with credit or debit cards, we offer solutions tailored to the particularities of Mexico.

Other advantages of using Rebill

• Fast and frictionless connection: Integrate multiple payment methods in less than an hour using a robust API, SDK or low-code implementation. With just a few lines of code you can incorporate a complete, functional and adaptable checkout for any device.
• Adaptable and automated subscriptions: Ideal for businesses with recurring payments: set up weekly, monthly or as often as you prefer. Manage plan changes or cancellations instantly and activate trial periods from day one. In addition, intelligent retries allow you to recover up to 71% of rejected payments.
• Transactions aligned with local regulations: Each payment is automatically validated to comply with each country's security, authentication and data protection regulations, reducing operational risk and ensuring customer confidence. All this without the need to generate a local entity on your company's side.

Mexico is a dynamic market, where a variety of payment methods is key to attracting and retaining customers. To compete and grow, companies must offer flexible and secure options that adapt to the preferences of today's consumers.

With Rebill, you can scale your operation in Mexico without hassle. Contact us and find out how we can help you get paid the smart way.

Brazil is the largest e-commerce market in Latin America, offering a variety of payment methods that companies need to be aware of in order to maximize their success in the country.

Below, we provide a detailed guide to the main payment systems in Brazil, with their features and how you can integrate them into your digital business to improve conversion and customer experience.

What are the 9 payment methods used in Brazil?

1. PIX

PIX is one of the most revolutionary payment options in Brazil, introduced by the Central Bank in 2020. It enables instant payments 24/7 and in real time, which has driven its massive adoption by both consumers and businesses. It is fast and easy to use, making it a preferred option for transactions of all types.

For companies, integrating PIX is not only a competitive advantage, but practically mandatory if they want to offer a widely used payment method.

2. Cash payments

Although digital payments have grown rapidly, cash remains an important part of daily life for millions of Brazilians, especially in physical stores in rural areas or with limited infrastructure. For businesses that want to reach all consumer segments, accepting cash remains an indispensable option.

The boleto bancário is a traditional cash payment method that continues to be used by a significant portion of Brazilian consumers, especially those who do not have access to credit cards.

This means of payment allows users to make purchases online and pay in cash or by bank transfer at physical points. Although its use has declined with the emergence of PIX, it is still relevant for certain transactions in Brazil.

Credit cards

Credit cards continue to be the dominant form of payment in Brazil, accounting for a large share of online transactions, because of their buy now, pay later ease. Brazilian consumers value payment in installments, which allow them to finance their purchases over several months at no additional cost.

Among the most popular credit cards are Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Elo and Hipercard. An important aspect to consider is that consumers often use more than one card to make a purchase, splitting the payment among several to optimize their credit limits.

4. Debit cards

Debit cards are used primarily for immediate purchases and account for a significant portion of lower value transactions.

Although they do not offer the financing option of credit cards, they are still a safe and popular option for consumers who prefer not to accumulate debt.

5. Digital wallets

The use of digital wallets or e-wallets has grown considerably in Brazil. These payment platforms allow users to store money and make payments online without the need to constantly enter payment information. Among the most widely used are:

• Mercado Pago
• PicPay
• Nubank
• PagBank

Digital wallets offer a secure and convenient payment process, which explains their growing popularity.

6. QR code payments

QR Code payments have gained momentum thanks to the BR Code, which unifies this technology in Brazil. Its ease of use in the checkout process and the possibility of integrating with PIX have boosted its adoption, making the QR Code a strategic ally for ecommerce companies seeking to offer a fast and contactless payment experience.

7. Payments with cryptocurrencies

The use of cryptocurrencies as a form of payment is gaining relevance in Brazil. More and more commercial establishments are accepting virtual currencies as a form of payment and Brazilian consumers are expressing interest in using these digital assets in their daily purchases, with USDT (Tether) and USDC (USD Coin) being the most widely used stablecoins.

8. Contactless payments (NFC)

Contactless payments, or contactless payments, through NFC (Near Field Communication) technology, are gaining popularity in Brazil. This technology allows users to make payments securely and quickly by bringing their cards or mobile devices close to the payment terminals.

9. Payment Links

Payment links allow to automate the collection of payment from customers through social networks, without requiring technical integration, which makes most businesses implement them as a means of payment. 

If your company wants to operate in Brazil, accepting payments in Brazilian Reais (BRL) is key. Showing prices in your local currency improves the user's shopping experience and increases conversion by avoiding doubts about the exchange rate.

How can Rebill help you integrate the best payment methods in Brazil?

Our payment services support credit cards, debit cards, PIX, digital wallets and boletos bancários, allowing your business to offer different payment methods and, above all, the most popular among Brazilian consumers. 

Other advantages of using Rebill in Brazil

• Integration in less than an hour with the most chosen local payment methods. This, without the need for a local entity and with API options, SDK or Low-code alternatives to embed a 100% customizable checkout with all online and alternative payment methods.
• Compliance with local regulations and maximum security in all transactions.
• Robust infrastructure to process recurring payments, with support for upgrades, downgrades and cancellations in real time. In addition, it allows you to set the collection frequency that best aligns with your business model and, most importantly, includes intelligent retries that can recover up to 71% of rejected payments.

Brazil is a great opportunity, but also a challenge. That's why you should have a payment service provider that knows the market and can help you integrate your business into the local payment ecosystem smoothly. 

Rebill offers you more than a payment gateway, it offers you a complete infrastructure to optimize your collections as a local in Brazil. Contact us and accelerate your market entry.

Payment methods in Latin America refer to the different ways in which a buyer can pay for a product or service. They include traditional options such as cash and credit or debit cards, as well as digital alternatives. Choosing the right payment methods can improve the customer experience and increase conversion in physical and digital businesses.

In this article, we show you which are the most popular in Argentina and how Rebill, with its payment gateway, can help you integrate them efficiently into your online store.

What are the payment methods used in Argentina?

1. Digital wallets or e-wallets

The use of online payment methods such as virtual wallets has grown exponentially in Argentina. According to a study by the firm Kantar, almost 60% of Argentines between 25 and 34 years of age use this means of payment, and that figure is expected to grow in the coming years. Its advantages include fast and contactless payments from a mobile device, which has driven its mass adoption.

The most popular include:

• Mercado Pago: Mercado Libre's payment platform dominates the market, both in digital payments and in physical stores through QR codes.
• MODO: driven by the main banks in the country, it allows centralizing all debit and credit cards in a single application.
• Ualá: offers a prepaid card and a digital wallet, ideal for those who want to control their spending without using a traditional credit card.

Credit cards

Credit cards continue to be one of the most dominant forms of payment in Argentina, especially in e-commerce. They account for approximately 35% of online transactions.

The main credit cards in the country are:

• Visa
• Mastercard
• American Express

Argentine consumers tend to prefer credit cards because of the possibility of paying in interest-free installments, a very common practice in the country.

Debit cards

Debit cards represent approximately 18% of ecommerce transactions in Argentina.

These cards are widely used for everyday purchases and are favored by those seeking to avoid accumulating debt. In addition, financial institutions often offer special promotions, such as discounts and refunds, which has increased their use.

4. Prepaid cards

This type of payment is booming, especially among young people and those seeking greater control over their spending. Platforms such as Ualá, Naranja X, Burbank and Reba have popularized this option.

Prepaid cards offer additional security as they are not linked to a bank account, making them ideal for online purchases.

5. Bank Transfers

Bank transfers are a reliable payment system for transactions in Argentina, either through CBU (Clave Bancaria Uniforme) or Alias. Although they are not the most popular method in ecommerce, they are still key for B2B transactions and professional services seeking efficiency and control.

Thanks to their ease of use, they allow companies and customers to manage mobile payments in a secure and agile way from home banking or banking apps, reducing friction in operations.

6. Payments with cryptocurrencies

Cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum and USDT have gained popularity in Argentina, especially as a way to safeguard value in the face of inflation. More and more merchants are accepting this method, either through integrations with crypto payment processors or through direct transfers between digital wallets.

7. Payments with NFC technology

Near Field Communication (NFC) payments are transforming the shopping experience in physical stores and transportation. With digital wallets such as Google Pay and Apple Pay, and contactless cards, transactions become fast and contactless, improving user convenience and reducing waiting times.

For businesses that prioritize customer experience, this method represents an opportunity to optimize their points of sale, improve checkout and stay ahead of payment trends.

8. Cash payments

Although cash payments have declined with digitization, it is still a relevant payment option, especially in rural areas and for unbanked consumers.

Payment services such as Pago Fácil and Rapipago allow customers to make purchases online and pay for them in cash at physical locations. This method remains popular among those who prefer not to use digital means.

9. Installment payments

In Argentina, interest-free installment payments are another key payment method for boosting sales of high-value products such as household appliances and technology. This method, widely adopted by consumers, eliminates barriers by offering financing at no additional cost.

Customers often finance a purchase by spreading the payment across multiple credit cards, so payment platforms must adapt to this preference and allow a transaction to be split across multiple cards, driving conversion and customer satisfaction.

The advantages of offering installment payments include:

• Higher average ticket: consumers tend to spend more when they have the option of financing their purchases in installments.
• Improved conversion: by lowering payment barriers, quotas incentivize users to complete their purchases.

How does Rebill facilitate the integration of payment methods in Argentina?

Rebill is one of the most complete payment service providers in Latin America. Not only does it connect you with the most widely used payment methods in Argentina, but it also facilitates your expansion by not requiring a local entity, among many other advantages.

Why does this matter? Because if you process with international acquiring, up to 50% of payments can be rejected. With Rebill, you collect as local and settle in USD wherever you are.

Soon we will also be available for Argentine companies operating within the country. If you want to join us first, leave your email here.

Other advantages of using Rebill

• Integration in less than an hour: you accept multiple methods with a single connection through its robust API, SDK or its low-code integration. With 5 lines of code, you embed a complete checkout with all payment methods.
• Flexible recurring payments: also designed for subscription models. Allows upgrades, downgrades and cancellations in real time. Accept weekly, monthly, yearly or as often as you need. You can also offer free trial periods from day one. Its smart retries feature allows you to recover up to 71% of rejected payments.
• Automatic compliance: we validate that each transaction complies with local regulations: security, authentication, data protection.

If you want to expand into Argentina, it's not enough to just charge online. You have to offer payment methods that users know and trust. Rebill solves that from day one. Contact us to activate your account.

If you missed the last one about OXXO Pay and its impact on the e-commerce market in Mexico, check it out here.

Summary

If you have a few minutes to spare, here is what you need to know about SPEI and its importance for e-commerce in the Mexican market.

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- SPEI, Mexico's real-time electronic payments system that facilitates secure and instantaneous money transfers between bank accounts, is used by six out of every ten people in Mexico, facilitating more than 13.7 billion digital transactions since its launch in 2004. Initially registering only 215,634 transactions totaling US$1 billion, SPEI experienced dramatic growth, with 2023 alone witnessing more than 3.894 billion transactions valued at nearly US$31 billion. The system is predominantly used by people between the ages of 25 and 54, with the 35-54 age group accounting for 38% of usage, followed by the 25-34 age group with 28%. Usage rates for those under 25 and over 64 range between 9% and 17%, respectively.

- As a key component of Mexico's financial system, SPEI significantly improves the e-commerce sector with its real-time processing capabilities, managing around 3% of e-commerce payment volume, approximately $2.22 billion. This integration not only provides speed and reliability in online transactions, but also offers a secure alternative to traditional payment methods in Latin America by enabling direct bank transfers, thereby mitigating risks such as fraud and chargebacks. As e-commerce grows, SPEI's role is expected to expand, supported by its 24/7 availability and convenience, which aligns well with the continuous nature of online shopping and could lead to wider adoption among businesses and consumers.

- Companies have adopted SPEI for its ability to enable real-time transactions crucial to effective cash flow management and time-sensitive payments. With its flexible transaction limits, SPEI supports diverse payment needs, operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to enhance business operational flexibility, and is universally accessible through most major banks in Mexico. In addition, the finality of SPEI transactions eliminates the risk of chargebacks by providing a secure environment through multi-layered security measures, including advanced encryption and continuous monitoring. This security, combined with SPEI's cost efficiency and broad acceptance, significantly reinforces its adoption in a variety of sectors.

- The future of SPEI is shaped by ongoing developments, notably with the introduction of Cobro Digital (CoDi) in 2019 and Dinero Móvil (DiMo) in 2023. Despite CoDi's innovative features, such as QR codes and NFC for payments, it has had limited adoption, attracting only around 8% of the Mexican population. To address these challenges and improve user engagement, Mexico's central bank, BANXICO, launched DiMo, which simplifies transactions by enabling instant transfers using just a phone number. In its first year, DiMo is expected to significantly outperform CoDi, with projections of enrolling 5 million users and processing more than US$560 million in transactions, far exceeding initial expectations for CoDi.

What is SPEI?

Sistema de Pagos Electrónicos Interbancarios (SPEI) is a real-time electronic payment system developed by the Central Bank of Mexico, BANXICO, in 2004. It allows instant and secure funds transfers between bank accounts throughout Mexico. Accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, SPEI is used for a wide range of transactions, from routine bill payments to one-time purchases. Its fast processing and robust security features make it a preferred financial tool for both individuals and businesses. As a cornerstone of Mexico's financial infrastructure, SPEI improves the efficiency and security of monetary movements. This system represents a significant step toward modernizing and simplifying financial transactions in the country, where cash is still predominant.

SPEI uses a real-time gross settlement (RTGS) system. This means that transactions are processed individually rather than being batched for processing. As a result, SPEI transactions are irreversible once they are completed.

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How to make a payment with SPEI

SPEI operates similarly to other online banking systems, streamlining the payment process during online purchases. At checkout, customers can select SPEI as their payment option, which generates a receipt containing essential payment details.

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To use SPEI, customers need a bank account that supports Internet and/or mobile banking, as payments are debited directly from their account. Essential payment details required include the recipient's 18-digit CLABE (Clave Bancaria Estándarizada) and payment amount.
The entire payment process is handled through the user's bank. Once the transfer is completed, users receive a detailed receipt, ensuring that the transaction is transparent and secure. This setup not only simplifies payments, but also improves security and convenience for Mexican consumers.

How SPEI is transforming e-commerce in Mexico

As a major player in Mexico's financial landscape, SPEI is increasingly influencing the e-commerce sector. With its real-time processing capabilities, SPEI handles approximately 3% of Mexico's e-commerce payment volume, which equates to around $2.22 billion. This adoption underscores its growing role in facilitating online transactions where speed and reliability are crucial. For businesses, SPEI's appeal lies in its ability to provide instant payment confirmations, improving the efficiency of online sales operations and customer satisfaction by reducing the waiting time for payment authorization.

In addition, the integration of SPEI into e-commerce platforms offers a secure alternative to traditional payment methods, which can be prone to delays and security concerns. By enabling direct bank transfers, SPEI mitigates the risks associated with card payments, such as fraud and chargebacks, thus providing a safer environment for both merchants and consumers. This security feature is particularly significant in a digital landscape where trust and security concerns can influence purchasing behavior and brand loyalty.

As e-commerce continues to expand in Mexico, SPEI's role is likely to grow further, driven by its ability to adapt to the needs of a dynamic market. The 24-hour availability of the system allows businesses to operate and accept payments outside of traditional banking hours, which aligns well with the continuous nature of online commerce. This convenience is a crucial factor in enhancing the consumer shopping experience, potentially increasing the adoption of SPEI as a preferred payment method among more e-commerce businesses and shoppers in Mexico.

Why did companies adopt SPEI?

- Real-time transactions: SPEI enables the instant transfer of funds between bank accounts, which is crucial for companies that need to manage cash flow effectively and make time-sensitive payments.

- Flexible transaction limits: SPEI supports the execution of large and small value transactions in real time, giving businesses the flexibility to handle diverse payment needs without the constraints of fixed limits.
24/7 availability: The system operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, allowing businesses to make payments outside of normal banking hours, thus enhancing operational flexibility.

- Widespread accessibility: Because SPEI is compatible with almost all major banks in Mexico, it provides a universally accessible platform for businesses to conduct transactions within the country.

- No risk of chargebacks: SPEI transactions are final, meaning that once money is transferred, it cannot be automatically reversed. This feature is especially advantageous for businesses, as it eliminates the risk of chargebacks that are common in credit card transactions.

- Enhanced security: SPEI secures every transaction with multi-layered protections, including advanced encryption and two-factor authentication protocols. Continuous monitoring also protects against suspicious activity, ensuring the security of funds and user data.

- Cost efficiency: SPEI provides a cost-effective solution for transferring money, offering lower transaction fees that are attractive to both individuals and businesses. This affordability, coupled with its efficiency and security, greatly enhances its popularity and adoption in various sectors.

Limitations and Challenges of SPEI

Despite its many benefits, SPEI also has some limitations and challenges. For example, although the system operates in real time, the availability of transferred funds may vary depending on the recipient's bank. This can cause delays in accessing funds, which can be inconvenient for some users.

In addition, although SPEI is widely accepted by banks in Mexico, not all online merchants accept payments through this system. This may limit payment options for users who prefer to use SPEI for their online transactions.

What's next for SPEI

New initiatives: In 2019, Banxico introduced Cobro Digital (CoDi), a new instant payment system built on SPEI's infrastructure. CoDi offers functionality for payment request transactions using QR codes, near field communication (NFC) and internet messaging. Users can create a QR code that includes payment details and share it through messaging applications or the CoDi application. Despite these features, CoDi has not met its initial adoption goals and remains underutilized in Mexico (only 8% of its population has accounts). In response, Banxico launched Dinero Móvil (DiMo) in 2023, a service that simplifies instant bank transfers through SPEI using just a phone number. For its first year, BBVA Mexico anticipates enrolling 5 million users for DiMo, surpassing the total number of active CoDi users, and expects to process more than US$560 million worth of transactions, significantly more than the volume initially projected for CoDi.

Verdict

SPEI remains a key player in Mexico's payments landscape, acting as the foundation for innovations such as CoDi and DiMo, which build and expand its infrastructure. While SPEI provides the essential framework, CoDi and DiMo enhance its functionality with features tailored for modern digital transactions. This seamless integration ensures SPEI's continued relevance and adaptability in Mexico's evolving financial ecosystem. As digital payment solutions grow, SPEI's established network and role in supporting new technologies keep it vital to Mexico's shift toward more digital financial services.

As I explore the rapid evolution of SPEI and its profound impact on Mexico's payments landscape, I invite you to join the conversation about this well-adopted payment method. How do you see SPEI shaping the future of e-commerce and beyond? Share your thoughts and experiences with me on social media. Let's explore the opportunities and challenges SPEI presents and spread the word about this payment system. Share this newsletter and join the dialogue today!

If you have questions or wish to continue the discussion, feel free to contact me directly at tony@rebill.com.

SPEI for foreign companies selling in Mexico

For foreign companies, SPEI often appears as a key alternative when the customer prefers local bank transfers or when the ticket is high and the payer needs receipts and traceability. The advantage is that the payment is received locally. The challenge lies in operating effectively: currency, settlement, reconciliation, and support. For foreign companies selling in Mexico, collecting payments with SPEI from abroad can be an efficient alternative for larger payments or direct bank transfers.

Receive payments in MXN from abroad

If you sell from abroad, the goal is to keep the payment in MXN for the customer without losing control of the net amount. In practice, this requires clarity on how the transfer is processed, what reference data remains available, and how funds are settled to your operation. If your cash flow includes cross-border payments, it is important to understand how FX and fees impact it to avoid surprises in net income (see international payments).

Settlement and clearing of SPEI transfers

Although SPEI is a fast transfer system, your operational settlement may vary depending on the provider and settlement scheme. Before scaling up, it is advisable to answer the following questions: when is a payment considered "confirmed," when is it settled, and what differences exist between banks or time zones? This defines your cash flow and your ability to reinvest in acquisition.

Automatic reconciliation of SPEI payments

At SPEI, reconciliation depends on having consistent references: order ID, payer reference, and transfer identifier. The goal is to avoid manual reconciliation. To do this, it helps if your gateway allows you to send/receive metadata and check statuses by transaction. If you are comparing options, check out payment gateways in Mexico that focus on transfers and back office.

When is it better to use SPEI vs. a card or MSI?

It's not "SPEI or card." In Mexico, the best strategy is usually to offer alternatives depending on the ticket and the type of customer: card for speed, MSI for conversion in medium/high tickets, and SPEI for payers who prefer local transfers or require bank traceability.

Typical cases of high tickets

For high-value transactions (e.g., education, professional services, or B2B), SPEI can reduce friction and lower costs compared to cards, as well as facilitate internal payment policies. In these cases, the key is to ensure that the confirmation flow and receipt are clear.

Conversion and friction at checkout

The typical friction point with SPEI is the additional step: the user must go to the bank or banking app. To maintain conversion, it helps if the checkout process is clear, the payment is left "pending" with simple instructions, and the user receives quick confirmation. If the customer sees uncertainty (they don't know if they paid or if it was credited), support requests and abandonment increase.

Complete flow of a payment with SPEI

To implement SPEI effectively, it is helpful to think of the flow as a sequence of states. This facilitates support, reporting, and reconciliation.

Start of payment

The customer chooses SPEI, receives the transfer details (CLABE, bank, reference, and amount), or is directed to an assisted flow depending on the provider. At this stage, it is crucial that the reference is associated with an order.

Bank confirmation

The bank processes the transfer and generates confirmation. Depending on the provider, you may receive immediate status or with some delay. Therefore, it is advisable to handle "pending" and "confirmed" statuses explicitly.

Notification to retailers

Once confirmed, the supplier notifies the merchant (webhook or polling) and the system must record the transaction against the order. Consistency in IDs and timestamps avoids subsequent doubts.

Reconciliation in the system

The final step is to reconcile: amount, reference, status, fees (if applicable), and settlement date. A good report should allow filtering by bank, status, and time range to detect friction or operational delays.

Payment reconciliation in LATAM: how to record net amounts, fees, and settlement per transaction

When a foreign company starts selling in Latin America, the initial focus is on converting. Then the second problem arises: closing the deal. And that's where reconciliation often becomes the invisible bottleneck.

To understand the context of available providers, you can also review this guide to payment gateways in Argentina.

Reconciliation is not just "checking that the money came in." It means being able to answer, for each transaction: what was charged, by what method, in what currency, how much the fee was, what the net income was, when it was settled, and how it relates to an order or invoice. If that doesn't exist, growth is paid for with support and spreadsheets.

This guide is designed for finance, operations, and product teams. It is practical and geared toward companies that collect payments in multiple countries or from abroad. If you are still defining your regional stack, we recommend first reading the Latin American payment gateway hub and the international payments framework for net, FX, and settlement.

What does work-life balance mean in LATAM (in operational terms)?

In mature markets, many companies assume that the "paid" status is sufficient. In LATAM, this fails for two reasons:

• Multiple methods: card coexists with local transfers (SPEI, PSE), wallets, and installments.
• Asymmetry between collection and settlement: the customer may pay today, but the operational settlement comes later, and the net amount may not be evident.

That is why reconciliation is a system: data + statements + processes.

The 7 fields that every company should record for each transaction

If you are currently reconciling using "captures and spreadsheets," the first step is to collect a minimum amount of data per transaction. Recommendation:

• order_id / invoice_id (your internal identifier)
• payment_id (provider/gateway identifier)
• country (payer's market)
• method (card, installments, SPEI, PSE, wallet)
• amount and currency presented to the customer
• fees and net (when available)
• timestamps (created, confirmed, reconciled, settled)

With this, you can now answer "what happened" and prevent support and finance from investigating manually.

Reconciliation by method: what changes between cards, transfers, and installments

Card

With cards, the critical point is usually approval (rejections) and disputes. Card reconciliation requires visibility of authorizations, captures, returns, and chargebacks. In addition, settlement may vary by country, card type, or scheme.

Local transfers (SPEI, PSE)

For local transfers, reconciliation depends on references. In Mexico, SPEI; in Colombia, PSE. In both cases, the team needs to know what reference was shown to the customer and how the payment is confirmed. If you want to see the operational flow, these guides will help: SPEI in Mexico and PSE in Colombia.

Fees and MSI

Installments usually improve conversion, but increase complexity: the plan (number of installments) must be recorded and the net amount changes. In Mexico, MSI is a key variation. If your company offers installments, it is advisable to have two readings: the commercial one (interest-free installments) and the operational one (how MSI works).

Payment statuses: why "paid/unpaid" is not enough

To reconcile without friction, your system should have clear states. A simple outline:

• Created: the payment intent was generated.
• Pending: the customer has not yet completed the flow (very common in transfers).
• Confirmed: the supplier has confirmed payment.
• Reconciled: the payment was linked to the order/invoice and fees/net amount were recorded.
• Settled: the settlement was made (or the settlement date was recorded).
• Reversed: a return or closed dispute that reverses the net.

The key is to separate confirmation from settlement. This reduces claims and improves reporting.

How to design reconciliation so that finance does not depend on engineering

In growing companies, a sign of poor reconciliation is that finance "can't close the month" without requesting reports from engineering. Good design means that finance can:

• export transactions with net and fees by method
• filter by country, state, and date range
• search by order_id and investigate a case in minutes

This requires the provider/gateway to expose consistent data and your back office to record internal references from the outset.

Common mistakes (and how to avoid them)

• Do not save internal references: afterwards, the payment becomes "orphaned."
• Measuring only gross: conversion is optimized and margin is lost without realizing it.
• Do not separate states: everything is "paid" even if there is no settlement.
• Reconcile by payout: attempt to reconcile only against aggregate settlements rather than transaction by transaction.

Recommended data model: what a "reconcilable" transaction looks like

Good reconciliation starts with a stable data model. It doesn't have to be complex, but it does need to be consistent. A practical (vendor-independent) approach is to separate:

• Sales order: what you sold (order_id, customer, items, taxes, expected amount).
• Payment attempt: each attempt associated with an order (payment_attempt_id, method, country, status, timestamps).
• Confirmed transaction: payment confirmed with external IDs (payment_id, bank reference, receipt if applicable).
• Settlement: the settlement event (payout_id, date, settlement currency, net settled).

Separating attempts, transactions, and settlements prevents common errors: for example, counting something as "collected" that is still pending, or being unable to explain differences between gross and net amounts.

What to reconcile first: sales, payments, or settlements

In teams that are setting up the operation, there are two typical paths:

• Reconciliation from sales: "I have these orders, which ones have been paid?" This is useful for support and daily operations.
• Reconciliation from settlements: "I received this payout, what transactions make it up?" This is useful for accounting and cash closing.

The recommendation is to have both routes. If you only have the one for settlements, support suffers. If you only have the one for orders, finance cannot explain cash or net.

Multi-currency reconciliation: how to avoid mismatches when selling from abroad

In cross-border transactions, a common problem is mixing currencies and time zones. To avoid this:

• Always keep the amount and currency presented to the customer.
• Save the settled amount and settlement currency (may be different).
• Separate fees by type whenever possible (processing, conversion, taxes, etc.).
• Record the timing of each item: confirmed vs. settled.

This is complemented by the approach to international payments: what matters is not the "average" exchange rate, but the net rate and the actual timing.

How to design useful reports (without multiplying spreadsheets)

A common mistake is to export 10 different reports and "join" them manually. Instead, I defined two canonical reports:

1) Transactional report (per payment)

• order_id, payment_id, country, method
• amount/currency submitted
• fees and estimated net
• status + timestamps
• expected/actual settlement date

2) Settlement report (by payout)

• payout_id, date, currency
• net amount
• list of included payment_ids
• differences / adjustments

With these two reports, finance can close and support can investigate without constant reliance on engineering.

Daily operations: how to reduce support tickets with reconciliation

When a customer asks, "I paid, but it wasn't credited," the correct response is not to check the customer's bank account. It is to check the payment status and traceability. To reduce tickets:

• display clear statuses (pending vs. confirmed)
• send confirmations with order reference
• Make the typical confirmation SLA visible by method

In methods such as PSE or SPEI, this is especially important because the user leaves the bank and returns to the store with uncertainty. In Brazil, the same applies when you incorporate payments with PIX.

Monthly closing: what checklist to use to avoid "discovering" differences too late

1. Pending transactions: list payments in pending status and their age.
2. Confirmed unreconciled transactions: detect orphan IDs.
3. Returns and disputes: verify reversals that impact net income.
4. Settlements: reconcile payouts with included payments.
5. Fee variations: detect changes by method/country.

Quick map: what changes depending on the method

A useful way to avoid errors is to have an internal map per method. For example:

• Card: main risks = declines and chargebacks. Key data = authorization/capture, reason for decline, dispute events.
• Local transfer: main risks = payments not applied by reference and confirmation delays. Key data = reference displayed, bank confirmation, timestamps.
• Fees/MSI: main risks = incorrectly calculated net and incomplete reporting per plan. Key data = plan, financial cost, net per transaction, settlement.

This map, although simple, aligns support, finance, and product. And it prevents each incident from being treated as a "special case."

Minimum checklist for implementing reconciliation in 10 days

1. Define the data model per transaction (minimum fields).
2. Unify IDs: order_id, payment_id, and references.
3. Implement statuses + timestamps.
4. Record fees and net (when applicable).
5. Add settlement date and settlement currency.
6. Set up a basic dashboard for finance and support.
7. Define a research playbook (minimum evidence per case).

Conclusion: reconciliation is infrastructure, not back office

In LATAM, local methods improve conversion, but they also require operation. Well-designed reconciliation allows you to scale without every month being an investigation. If your goal is to grow across multiple countries, the right stack combines local collection with centralized reconciliation.

Frequently asked questions about payment reconciliation in LATAM

What is the minimum requirement to stop reconciling with spreadsheets?

A consistent transactional dataset: order_id, payment_id, method, country, amount/currency, status with timestamps, fees/net, and settlement date. With this, finance can close and support can investigate without relying on engineering.

Is it better to settle against liquidations or against transactions?

Both. Reconciliation against transactions is useful for daily operations. Reconciliation against settlements is useful for cash and accounting. If you only have one view, you will be blind to the other.

How to prioritize which method to improve first?

Prioritize by impact and friction: (1) methods with higher volume, (2) methods with higher complaint rates, and (3) methods where the net is less transparent (e.g., quotas/MSI). Measure before and after to confirm that the improvement reduces manual work.

What should a foreign company audit before expanding to three or more countries?

Before adding markets, make sure you can answer these questions in less than two minutes per transaction: what method did the customer use, what was the final status, what was the net amount, when will it be settled, and where can the receipt or external identifier be found? If you can't, first fix the data and statuses. Scaling countries without robust reconciliation only multiplies the problem. This is the type of operating debt that is later paid off with weeks of accounting closures.

FAQ: payment reconciliation

What is payment reconciliation?

It is the process of matching each charge with the money actually settled, its fees, taxes, adjustments, and associated settlement, until the net amount per transaction is closed.

How does transaction reconciliation work?

Orders, authorizations/captures, supplier reports, and bank transactions are compared. Matches are then flagged and discrepancies (rejections, returns, chargebacks, adjustments) are investigated.

What information is needed to reconcile payments?

Order and transaction IDs, timestamps, currency and gross amount, fees/taxes, net amount, status, settlement/payout reference, and bank references (if applicable).

Why does payment reconciliation fail?

It often fails due to inconsistent IDs, partial or grouped payments, FX, retries, late adjustments, different settlement times, and the lack of a data model that connects event to event.

How to collect payments in Latin America from abroad in 2026: a comprehensive operational guide

Collecting payments in Latin America from abroad is often presented as a "payment methods" problem, but in practice it is an end-to-end operational problem: payment experience, approval, fraud prevention, confirmation, settlement, reconciliation, local taxes, FX, and visibility of net income per transaction. By 2026, shoppers in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, and Chile expect to pay with local methods and in local currency. When forced to pay in USD or only with international cards, conversion tends to decline due to friction, declined payments, operational limits, and perceived unpredictable costs.

This guide is designed for operations, finance, and product teams that need to enable payments in Latin America without being incorporated in each country. The approach is educational, technical, and practical: which methods matter, what changes with FX, what data to request to operate with control, and how to avoid manual reconciliation at month-end.

How to collect payments in Latin America from abroad: what will change in 2026

In this region, cards, bank transfers, cash methods, wallets, and instant payments coexist. For users, "paying" means choosing the method they already use every day. For businesses, "collecting" means ensuring five things at the same time:

• High approval rate (not just coverage of methods).
• Confirmation according to the method (instantaneous vs. deferred).
• Operable reconciliation (cross-referencing by identifiers, not assumptions).
• Visibility of net income per transaction (commissions, FX, and local charges).
• Returns and dispute management with clear rules by country and method.

If the business needs to "wait until closing time" to understand how much each sale generated, the problem is not a one-off commission: it is a lack of traceability and transaction data.

Payment methods by country: what to offer and why

A rule of thumb: in each country, there are usually one or two dominant methods that unlock conversion when properly implemented. The others improve coverage, but rarely compensate for the absence of those main methods. Below is the reasonable minimum per country to operate from abroad without support and reconciliation becoming a bottleneck.

Argentina: installments + interoperable QR (wallets such as Mercado Pago)

In Argentina, in addition to cards, payment behavior is marked by financing and the intensive use of wallets. In practice, this translates into two clear operational needs.

In practical terms, collecting payments in Argentina from abroad requires adapting the payment experience to local habits and ensuring reconciliation that does not depend on manual processes.

• Installments: The option to pay in installments influences purchasing decisions across multiple categories. Operationally, it is not enough to simply "display installments": you must register the chosen plan, understand the rules set by the issuer/bank, and avoid discrepancies between what is communicated and what is charged.
• Interoperable QR (wallet payments): many users prefer to pay with a wallet. A well-designed QR flow reduces friction and avoids some card rejections when the transaction is perceived as international.

If the Argentine market is relevant, it is worth thinking about payment gateways in Argentina as part of the product: what the user sees, how the payment is confirmed, how returns are handled, and what is stored for later reconciliation. A good implementation connects three pieces: the internal order, the confirmed payment, and the settlement, with consistent identifiers.

Brazil: cards + PIX + boleto + installment payments

Brazil often requires a more comprehensive strategy of methods. Coverage is important, but operational success depends on treating each method with its own logic of confirmation and reconciliation.

In practice, collecting payments in Brazil from abroad involves treating PIX and boleto as methods with their own statuses and ensuring the traceability of net income per transaction when FX and taxes are integrated into the cost.

• Cards: They remain relevant, but authorization patterns and the behavior of local issuers require attention to approval rates by BIN, anti-fraud rules, and reasons for rejection.
• PIX: This is an instant transfer. Operationally, it requires managing expiration dates, real-time confirmation, and reconciliation with payment identifiers, not just amounts and dates.
• Ticket: this is a deferred method. The user can pay hours or days later. Expiration, abandonment of the flow, and subsequent confirmation must be managed; in addition, support needs clear evidence (status, reference, expiration).
• Installment plans: Financing in Brazil impacts cash flow and internal accounting. The plan must be recorded and reflected in the transaction data in order to reconcile and respond to claims.

For foreign companies, Brazil also highlights the problem of FX: the total cost can vary depending on the method and timing of conversion. Without data per transaction, the analysis ends up being estimated and arrives late.

Mexico: MSI + SPEI

Mexico combines financing and bank transfers in a way that is very natural for the user. A minimal approach from the outside usually includes:

For many models, charging in Mexico from abroad works best when the user can choose MSI or SPEI without friction and the system records the plan and confirmation status.

• MSI (Months without Interest): this is a conversion driver in medium and high ticket categories. It requires offering clear plans and recording the chosen plan for reconciliation and to handle returns.
• SPEI: bank transfer. This is key for users who prefer to pay from their bank or for certain B2B flows. Operationally, references, statuses (initiated, pending, confirmed), and a reliable confirmation mechanism must be defined.

If the experience is designed with an "international payment in USD" mindset, rejections and friction increase. If it is designed for local habits, the user understands the final amount, the method fits their routine, and the support burden is reduced.

Colombia: PSE

In Colombia, PSE in Colombia is a central method for paying from bank accounts. From abroad, the critical point is to operate the statements and confirmation correctly.

Operationally, collecting payments in Colombia from abroad usually relies on PSE and requires confirming and reconciling payments with consistent identifiers.

• Define statuses (started, pending, confirmed, failed) and what each one means for service delivery.
• Have reliable confirmation and a reconciliation mechanism based on identifiers.
• Design alternatives when the user abandons the flow or confirmation is delayed, without duplicating charges.

Chile: trade quotas

In Chile, in addition to cards, merchant fees may be relevant depending on the industry. To operate smoothly from abroad, care must be taken in how financing is presented and how returns are managed.

For international teams, charging in Chile from abroad requires clarity on trade fees and associated refund and support flows.

• Present fees clearly and consistently with what is charged.
• Record the installment plan in the transaction data for reconciliation and auditing purposes.
• Define how partial or total returns are handled when financing was involved.

Operational examples to understand the problem without theory

The following examples serve to ground specific decisions. These are typical operational and control situations when a foreign company collects payments in Latin America.

Tutellus (Argentina): conversion and support are defined by the payment experience

Tutellus is an online education company based in Spain, with students in different markets. In Argentina, its performance depends on resolving local issues and reducing uncertainty regarding the final amount.

In Argentina, a frequent question from users is whether they can pay in installments or with a wallet. When the flow requires an international card in USD, recurring problems arise:

• Rejections by the issuer due to international transactions or additional validations.
• Differences between the expected amount and the final amount due to conversion, taxes, or issuer costs, which generate claims.
• Abandoned due to lack of clarity regarding the total amount and available financing.

In practice, two elements are often decisive for collecting payments in Argentina from abroad: offering interest-free installments when applicable to the product and enabling QR payments through digital wallets (such as Mercado Pago). This reduces friction, improves completion rates, and decreases complaints about perceived differences in the amount.

Operational continuity improves when you define in advance what is recorded: method, installment plan, currency presented, amount charged, and an internal identifier that connects the order, payment, and settlement. This continuity prevents "gaps" between the payment experience and the back office: the user pays with clarity, and the internal team can reconcile without manual reconstruction.

Triplets (Brazil, Mexico, Colombia): standardize without losing localization

Tripleten is an online education company based in the US with regional operations. In this case, the challenge is to standardize data and processes without losing the unique characteristics of each country and method.

Operating in multiple countries at once introduces a risk: creating separate integrations that do not share the same model of states, data, and identifiers. The practical way to scale is to standardize the internal "payment contract" without erasing country differences:

• In Brazil, PIX and boleto require managing due dates and confirmations, and installment payments require saving the plan.
• In Mexico, MSI and SPEI require clarity of the plan and reliable confirmation.
• In Colombia, PSE requires traceability by identifiers to avoid manual reconciliation.

For example, in Brazil, it is often relevant to combine installment plans with advance payment options (such as a T+30 scheme), which requires accurately reflecting the chosen plan and payment schedule. In Mexico, MSI can be structured with different strategies: absorbing the cost in three installments and transferring it to 6/9/12/18/24 plans depending on the market and product. In Colombia, when installments exist, it is important to distinguish between cases where interest is paid by the customer according to the issuing bank and how it is recorded for reconciliation.

Furthermore, in multi-country operations, it is advisable to design flexibility at the payment link level to configure installments and rules by market without redoing integrations: plan offered, expiration, confirmation, and evidence. This becomes especially important when methods such as PIX and boleto coexist in Brazil, SPEI in Mexico, and PSE in Colombia, each with different confirmation and timing.

When the supplier provides consistent data per transaction, it is possible to build reports by country and method, detect deviations, and explain the net income per transaction. When this is not the case, the operation ends up depending on spreadsheets and late corrections.

Insure your trip (Chile): clarity on the amount and confirmation reduce claims

Asegura tu viaje is a travel assistance company based in Uruguay. In Chile, the experience depends on clarity of the amount, financing, and consistent confirmation.

In areas where users make urgent purchases (e.g., travel assistance), two variables dominate the support: clarity of the final amount and quick confirmation. Typical problems from abroad:

• If the final amount in local currency is unclear, abandonment and the volume of inquiries increase.
• If the payment is confirmed but the system does not reflect the status, complaints arise such as "I paid but did not receive it."
• If returns or cancellations are not modeled by method, support becomes slow and operating costs increase.

In Chile, in addition to presenting installments, it is essential to understand the available options. With merchant installments, the customer pays monthly and the merchant charges monthly. There is also an alternative where the customer pays interest according to the issuing bank and the merchant receives the amount in a single payment. The choice affects confirmation, reconciliation, and how returns and claims are handled.

The operational solution tends to be less "creative" and more disciplined: clear statuses, reliable confirmation, and sufficient data to reconcile and respond to the user with evidence.

FX, net USD, and "hidden" costs: what you really need to model

In cross-border collections, FX is not an accounting detail: it affects margin, perceived price, and predictability of net income per transaction. In 2026, three things are likely to happen:

• The FX rate is applied at the time of the transaction (not at the end of the day or month). The net income per transaction may vary within the same day due to exchange rate changes and conversion costs.
• In Brazil, the IOF (3.5%) may be included in the FX cost depending on the method and structure. The IOF is a Brazilian tax on financial transactions, and its treatment depends on the settlement method and structure. If its impact cannot be identified, it becomes impossible to explain the net income per transaction.
• The merchant needs to know the net income per transaction in USD (or in the settlement currency), not just the gross local amount. If the information is only aggregated by settlement, it becomes difficult to audit and compare performance.

What does "FX at the time of transaction" mean in practice?

In some models, the FX cost is defined as a percentage FX fee agreed in advance between the supplier and the merchant (e.g., 3%). The conversion is executed at the time of the transaction, and the balance is available in USD (or the agreed balance currency) after both the processing fees and the FX fee have been deducted.

In this scheme, the exchange rate volatility between the time of payment and the availability of the balance is assumed by the payment provider, because the conversion occurs instantly and the merchant sees a net result in balance currency for each transaction.

This differs from the scheme where conversion occurs at the time of settlement or transfer. In that case, the merchant is exposed to exchange rate fluctuations until the funds are converted, and the net income per transaction may depend on when that conversion takes place.

Why “net transaction income” is the minimum operational indicator

For finance and operations teams, net revenue per transaction enables:

• Detect deviations by country, method, and supplier.
• Compare actual performance between alternatives (not estimates).
• Answer questions with evidence: why a transaction left a certain net amount, what FX was applied, and what charges were included.

When this data does not exist for each transaction, decisions are made with incomplete information: prices, prioritization of methods, investment in acquisition, and even the definition of priority markets.

Tax withholdings and obligations when the beneficiary is abroad

When collecting payments in Latin America from abroad, in addition to commissions and FX, withholdings and other tax obligations may apply that impact net income. These withholdings may exist when the beneficiary company is based outside the payer's country, and their treatment varies depending on the case.

In operational terms, withholding does not depend solely on the payment method. It usually depends on variables such as:

• The nature of the service or product (how the concept is classified locally).
• The existence and applicability of an agreement to avoid double taxation between jurisdictions.
• The role of the intermediary in collection (for example, whether they act as an aggregator, processor, or seller to the end customer).

Argentina is an example where these withholdings can be materially relevant in some schemes. That is why it is advisable to model them as part of the operational design, rather than as a subsequent adjustment.

To maintain control, it is useful to clarify three elements from the outset:

• Who acts as the withholding agent: it can be the payer, a financial institution, or a collection intermediary, depending on the scheme.
• What is the basis for calculation: it can be the gross amount, a net amount prior to certain charges, or a specific component of the payment, depending on the regime.
• What documentation is issued: there should be a record that allows the withholding to be audited, reconciled with the settlement, and supported by accounting treatment.

If these elements are not taken into account, the finance team is often exposed to fluctuations in net income that are difficult to explain and to administrative friction in reconciliation and auditing.

Why charging only in USD affects conversion in LATAM

Charging only in USD may seem simpler for a foreign company, but in Latin America it often introduces uncertainty and perceived cost. The most common mechanisms:

• Cognitive friction: the user decides in local currency. If they see USD, they must mentally estimate the total, which increases uncertainty.
• Unexpected costs: the issuer or wallet may apply its own conversion and fees, and the user sees a final amount that is different from what they expected.
• Rejections and limits: International transactions may have a higher rejection rate or require additional verification.
• Exclusion of local methods: PIX, PSE, SPEI, or wallet payments tend to work best when the flow is designed in local currency and with local alternatives.

The operational question is not a preference for USD or local currency, but rather which configuration minimizes friction and maximizes control of net income per transaction. In general, displaying local currency and offering local methods improves completion, provided that the system records FX and net amounts with traceability.

Minimal architecture for operation: events, states, and reconciliation

To collect payments in several countries without having to do so manually, it is advisable to define a minimum architecture from the outset.

Payment statuses (not just "paid/unpaid")

Several methods in LATAM include intermediate steps or subsequent confirmation. A minimal model typically includes:

• initiated: the user initiated the payment (not yet confirmed).
• pending: awaiting confirmation or validation (for example, in deferred methods).
• confirmed: payment confirmed.
• failed: failed payment (ideally with reason).
• returned: full or partial return.
• dispute: dispute or chargeback (when applicable to cards).

Reconciliation identifiers

Reconciliation "by amount and date" is fragile, especially with FX and deferred payments. The identifiers that should be able to be connected are:

• Internal order ID (your system).
• Supplier payment ID.
• Settlement ID (when grouped).
• Bank reference or method identifier (for example, in SPEI or PSE).

Minimum fields per transaction (for actual control)

• Currency presented and amount charged.
• Method (card, PIX, ticket, SPEI, PSE, QR, etc.).
• Applied FX (effective rate or verifiable equivalent).
• Commissions (at least the total, ideally broken down).
• Net income per transaction in USD (or settlement currency) with date and time.

This minimum set reduces manual reconciliation and improves the ability to explain transactions with evidence.

Three models for structuring collections in LATAM

Before completing the checklist, it is advisable to define the payment model, as this affects taxes, reconciliation, and the level of control over net income per transaction. In practice, there are usually three schemes.

Local authority

Payments are channeled through an entity incorporated in the country (or in several countries). This can facilitate access to local methods and improve approval, but it adds fiscal and administrative complexity: registrations, local accounting, invoicing, compliance, and coordination with the central back office. Operationally, it requires clear processes for settlement, fund transfer, and reconciliation between entities.

Merchant of Record

A third party acts as the seller to the end customer: it processes the payment, issues the receipt to the buyer, and then settles with your company according to the agreed terms. In this scheme, the sale to the customer remains with the third party, and your company operates as a supplier. It is important to define what data is provided per transaction, how returns are handled, and what documentation is issued for proper reconciliation and reporting.

Cross-border aggregator

It allows you to collect in local currency and settle abroad while maintaining the sale in the international company (implementation varies by country and method). This model works well when there is traceability per transaction: local amount, FX applied, commissions, fees included when applicable, and net income per transaction in settlement currency. A specialized infrastructure such as that provided by Rebill can solve these challenges by centralizing local methods and providing operational visibility of the net amount, without requiring the team to manually reconstruct each payment.

Operational checklist before choosing a supplier

Before choosing a supplier (or consolidating several), it is advisable to use a checklist to avoid surprises and compare alternatives using consistent data.

Payment and conversion experience

• What methods do you offer per country (Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Chile) and how are they presented to the user?
• Does it natively support installments/MSI/payment plans and record the chosen plan?
• What happens when a method fails or the user abandons it? Is there an alternative without duplicating charges?
• How do you handle expirations, retries, and confirmation in PIX/boleto/PSE/SPEI?

Risk, disputes, and returns

• What evidence do you provide in disputes, and what are the deadlines for each country?
• How are returns (total and partial) executed, and what data is returned for reconciliation?
• Are reasons for rejection or payment failures recorded when available?

FX, commissions, and net income per transaction

• Is the FX applied at the time of payment or at the time of settlement?
• In Brazil, how are the IOF and other charges included in the conversion cost reflected?
• Is there a net income per transaction in USD (or settlement currency) with date and time?
• Can the effective FX rate and transaction fees be audited?

Reconciliation and reports

• What identifiers do you provide for reconciliation (order, payment, settlement, bank reference)?
• Are there reports by transaction and also by settlement?
• Are there reliable notifications (webhooks) for status changes?
• Is the confirmation time per method documented and consistent?

Data and attribution

• What source information is retained (entry page, UTM parameters, referral) and how is it displayed?
• Can a unique session or customer identifier be propagated from the site to the payment and settlement stages?
• Is it possible to measure performance by country and method without manual reconciliation?

The purpose of the checklist is simple: to prevent "charging" from working, but then not being able to explain the net income per transaction or the attribution of the origin with evidence.

Specific notes by method: confirmation, timing, and expectations

Instant transfers and payments (PIX, SPEI, PSE)

In transfers, the critical point is confirmation. A robust operational design includes:

• Real-time confirmation when the method allows it.
• States and expirations visible when the flow is not complete.
• Daily reconciliation by identifiers to detect payments without an associated order.

Deferred methods (ticket)

With a ticket, the user can pay later. That's why it's important:

• Do not enable delivery until actual confirmation, or define a clear reservation policy.
• Measure the specific conversion of the method: generated vs. paid.
• Provide support with evidence: reference, expiration date, and status.

Financing (installments/MSI/payment plans)

In financing, the risk is losing the detail that finance and support then need. It is advisable to:

• Record the plan (installments, MSI, or payment plan) for each transaction.
• Avoid discrepancies between what is shown and what is charged.
• Reconcile returns and adjustments considering the original plan.

Frequently asked questions

Is it better to open a local entity or charge cross-border fees?

It depends on the volume, ticket size, and level of control required. Cross-border billing can accelerate launch, but introduces complexity in FX, approval, and local methods. Opening a local entity can improve access and approval rates, but increases the tax and administrative burden. The decision should be based on data: approval, effective costs (commissions + FX + fees), and visibility of net income per transaction.

How do I know if FX is affecting my margin?

If no net income is recorded per transaction with FX applied, it is estimated. To measure the real impact, the following is needed: local amount, currency, effective FX, commissions, and net in USD (or settlement currency) per transaction. With this information, it is possible to compare by country and method and detect where the conversion cost erodes the margin.

Why do claims appear if I charge in USD?

Because the user does not control the exchange rate, issuer costs, or associated fees. Even if the price in USD is clear, the final amount in local currency may vary. Displaying the local currency and recording the FX applied improves transparency and reduces complaints, as well as facilitating support with evidence.

How do I avoid manual reconciliation?

Defining a consistent model: payment statuses, mandatory identifiers (order, payment, settlement), and minimum fields per transaction (method, currency, FX, fees, net income per transaction). Without this, reconciliation depends on spreadsheets and informal rules. With this, cross-checking can be automated and deviations audited.

Operational closure: what you should be able to answer at any time

If the operation is properly implemented, the team should be able to respond to any transaction:

• What method did the user use and in what currency did they pay?
• When was the payment confirmed and with what identifier?
• What FX was applied (if applicable) and what charges were included.
• What was the net income per transaction in USD (or settlement currency)?
• How it is reconciled with the internal order and with the settlement.

In international collections, the difference between "accepting payments" and "processing payments" lies in these details. When they exist, you can scale up without the monthly closing becoming a manual reconstruction. For general context, see cross-border payments in LATAM.

Sometimes a sale can be lost because, when the customer swipes the card, a declined payment notification arrives. In this article, we tell you the most common reasons why this happens and what solutions you should apply in your business to reduce its impact.

What does a declined payment mean?

A declined payment is a transaction rejected by the bank or company to which a card belongs, which means that the customer cannot complete the purchase at checkout and take the product he wanted or settle his debt by receiving a service. 

Most common causes of a declined payment

There are different reasons why a card payment may be declined. Here are some of them:

• Expiredcredit card or debit card: this payment instrument has an expiration date and, once expired, you cannot use the card. 
• Insufficient funds or lack of available credit: cards have a credit limit and if it is reached or exceeded there is no more credit until part or all of the debt is paid. 
• Security measures of the issuing bank or card issuer: the card is blocked or rejected when there is suspicion of irregular movement or atypical payment. 
• Card data errors : incomplete or incorrect card information.
• Bank or financial institution problems: sometimes there are sufficient funds, but a communication failure between the point-of-sale terminal and the bank results in a declined card.
• Error on the part of the cardholder: entering erroneous data, failure to authenticate for the payment process, or failure to use credit history responsibly.

How does a rejected payment affect your company?

A rejected payment not only represents a lost sale, but can also affect your company or business if it becomes a recurring problem when the payment method is by credit card. Among the usual problems that this can cause are the following:

Loss of immediate income

Your business stops getting the corresponding money for the payment that should have been made for a product or service.

Additional operating costs

Sometimes, fees are charged for processing payments or transactions that, in the end, do not materialize. It is also important to consider that the time invested in managing the failed collection is also wasted.

Deterioration in customer experience

The customer may choose to stop buying from your business because it is difficult for him to settle the purchase, even if he has a credit line or because he cannot choose other payment methods. 

Impact on the statement of account 

A declined payment may not have a major impact, but when you review all recurring cases the impact on your statement is negative because it is a significant amount.

Inconsistencies in the company's bank account balance

They can occur due to recording errors, transactions that are not accounted for or appear duplicated, as well as amounts not recognized by the bank.

Distrust in payment methods

Just as the customer experience is affected, the use of a payment method can also generate distrust in the business, even to the point of prohibiting it, even if that means losses in the future.

Solutions to reduce declined payments

In addition to having the option to pay with credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express), it is important that your business incorporates various payment methods so that the customer can choose the one that suits him best. For example, you can opt for payment in installments, mobile payment, digital wallets, transfers, among others.

It is important that you have payment gateways that optimize your transactions, such as Rebill, which improves your approval rate by 20% compared to the average global payment provider charging in LATAM and offers automatic recovery of up to 71% of rejected payments with smart retries and automatic notifications. For example:

• Your company bills USD 100,000 per month in subscriptions. If 10% of the payments are rejected due to expired cards, insufficient funds or security measures by the card issuer, you would lose USD 10,000 each month. At the end of the year, that would be $120,000 in uncollected revenue. 
• With a solution like Rebill, which recovers up to 71% of declined transactions, your business could recover more than $85,000 annually that would otherwise be written off.

A declined payment doesn't have to be a lost sale for your company! Contact Rebill and start recovering revenue with our smart reattempt solution.

In a world where consumers are looking for speed, security and convenience when paying, digital wallets have become a key tool for individuals and businesses. In Colombia, their growth has been accelerated and they are already part of the financial and commercial transformation.

In this article you will discover what digital wallets are, how they work, which are the most popular in the country and what benefits they bring to the businesses that integrate them.

What are digital wallets and how do they work?

Digital wallets, also called mobile wallets, are applications or online platforms that allow you to send and receive money quickly, conveniently and securely. They work as a virtual account associated with a cell phone number or email, from which payments can be made without the need for ATMs, on an Android or iOS mobile device downloaded from the App Store.

Through these payment platforms, businesses and users can pay with QR codes, payment links or transfers, as well as recharge services and send money to other accounts. To protect each transaction, they employ security processes such as personal data validation and biometric authentication.

What are the most popular digital wallets in Colombia?

These are the most popular digital wallets in Colombia:

1. Bancolombia

Bancolombia's digital wallet allows making purchases, transfers and payments from the app without the need for physical cards. It works 24/7 and is easily activated with a "dynamic key", integrating security and usability from the group's banking ecosystem.

2. Daviplata

Daviplata, owned by Davivienda, offers sending and receiving money, bill payments and recharges. It also allows withdrawals at ATMs without a card. Thanks to its long history in the market, it is one of the reliable options for those seeking basic digital solutions.

3. Nequi

Nequi was born in association with Bancolombia and has become a favorite, especially among young people. It allows making transfers, payments, purchases and digital savings without the need to have an account in traditional banking entities. It reports millions of daily transactions.

4. Movii

Movii allows deposits, payments and withdrawals by simply using the phone number as an identifier. It does not require nationality or age of majority, making it accessible to wider audiences, and also offers a physical debit card.

5. Dale!

Dale! is Grupo Aval's fintech that offers free digital services: send and receive money, e-commerce payments, recharges and withdrawals without a card. Users also have exclusive benefits, such as preferential access to events.

6. Tpaga

Tpaga is oriented to the payment of payroll, facilitating the dispersion of salaries, even if the companies are not linked to specific banks. It also allows transfers and the use of electronic payments such as PSE.

7. Ualá

Ualá combines wallet functions with savings accounts: it allows you to make payments, top-ups and manage more than 1,600 public and private services. In addition, it offers financial performance and protection for funds.

8. BBVA Wallet

Although BBVA Wallet ceased operating as a standalone app in 2023, some of its functions persist in the main BBVA app: viewing loyalty points balance, generating dynamic CVV and contactless payments from the bank's ecosystem.

9. Lulo Bank

Lulo Bank is a 100% digital bank that also offers wallet functionalities. Its users can add their digital debit card to pay from their cell phone (Google Wallet), access interest-bearing accounts and manage everything without physical branches.

10. Powwi

Powwi is an entity specialized in digital deposits and payments (SEDPE). It allows managing money, making transfers and even creating savings "pockets". Since 2024, it integrates Transfiya, which enables immediate payments between entities with just a cell phone number.

11. RappiPay

RappiPay, within the Rappi ecosystem, combines a digital wallet with a prepaid Visa card. It allows the use of funds to shop online or in physical stores, pay with QR code, and make financial transactions integrated with the delivery platform.

Benefits of integrating digital wallets in business

Today, integrating digital wallets is no longer a complementary option, but a key strategy for businesses. Let's take a look at its main benefits: 

1. Reach more customers: they allow receiving payments from people who prefer digital methods or do not have bank accounts, expanding the market and eliminating the need for expensive dataphones.
2. Improve cash flow: payments are processed in real time, automatic reconciliation streamlines accounting, and the business gains immediate liquidity and financial control.
3. Reduce operating costs: reduce expenses in cash handling, security and bank commissions, in addition to simplifying the management of collections and payments.
4. Increase security: with advanced encryption and multi-factor authentication, they reduce fraud risks and generate greater customer confidence.
5. Access to data and analytics: they provide information on consumption habits and average ticket, making it easier to segment customers and make data-driven decisions.
6. Financial opportunities: open access to microcredit, payment advances and services such as savings, insurance or loyalty programs that support financial inclusion.
7. Competitiveness and innovation: position businesses as modern and reliable, improve customer experience and differentiate them from traditional competition.

How to choose the right digital wallet for your business in Colombia?

There is a wide range of digital wallets in the country, but not all of them are the same or adapt to the same needs. Therefore, before integrating one into your business, it is important to evaluate certain key criteria:

• Costs: review transaction fees, integration costs and possible hidden charges. A good wallet should help you reduce costs, not increase them.
• Security: verify that it has advanced encryption, multi-factor authentication and compliance with international standards such as PCI DSS. This protects your finances and generates confidence in your customers.
• Ease of integration: the solution must be easy to implement in your physical point of sale, online store or back-office systems. The faster and more flexible the integration, the more benefits you will see in the short term.
• User reach: choose a virtual wallet with a large base of active users. This way you will be able to receive payments from more customers, especially those who prefer digital methods or do not use traditional banks.

Rebill, your strategic partner in digital payments

In a world where digital financial services are growing every day, Rebill becomes the partner that drives your business. We integrate the leading wallets in the market and offer you simple, secure and scalable solutions to optimize your processes without complications.

With Rebill, you connect with millions of users who already use digital payments, gain greater control of your transactions and access valuable data to grow and build customer loyalty. More than just receiving payments, you advance towards innovation, inclusion and competitiveness in a market as dynamic as the Colombian one.

Take the next step: digitize your collections with us and accelerate your company's growth.Contact us today!

Payment systems are of systemic importance in the global economy, as they ensure the stability and smooth functioning of financial markets by facilitating the efficient and secure movement of money between individuals, companies and financial institutions.

Read on to learn more about how they operate, innovate and enable businesses to grow with local solutions like Rebill. 

What are payment systems?

A payment system comprises the entire infrastructure of technological processes that allow financial transactions such as domestic and international transfers, debit and credit card payments, among other options, to be carried out in a secure and efficient manner.

These systems are the foundation of the global financial system, as they guarantee the flow of capital at all times, reduce risks and facilitate more agile operations.

What payment systems are available?

There are different types of payment systems that are classified according to their scope, processing speed and the type of transactions they support. Among the main payment systems are: 

Low value payment systems

They are the core of financial inclusion and day-to-day operations, as they allow both individuals and companies to access financial services on a massive scale. They are designed to process a large volume of transactions of small or medium amounts, guaranteeing accessibility and coverage.

Among the payment instruments most commonly used in low-value systems are: debit cards, credit cards, ATMs, point-of-sale terminals, checking accounts and direct debit. 

High-value payment systems

They are focused on large-scale transactions, such as interbank transfers, securities settlement or interest rate transactions. Although they are used for any type of payment. 

Their supervision falls to the central banks of each country to ensure financial soundness and stability. For example, in the case of Mexico, the review falls to the SPEI (Interbank Electronic Payments System) of the Bank of Mexico.

Real-time payment systems

They allow for electronic fund transfers that are credited immediately, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, both locally and in some international operations. 

They represent a strategic advantage for businesses and users, because they improve liquidity and eliminate delays in the flow of capital. Some international real-time payment systems are:

• SEPA Instant Credit Transfer (Europe)
• PIX (Brazil)
• ACH and Swift (United States)
• CoDi (Mexico)

Digital payment systems

These are solutions driven by fintech innovation and the adoption of open APIs , which have transformed the way consumers and businesses manage their payments.

They work in both physical and digital environments and offer versatility by integrating with e-commerce, digital wallets and mobile payments. Among the most widely used payment methods are: 

1. QR codes.
2. Direct debits.
3. Electronic wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Mercado Pago).
4. E-commerce platforms. 
5. Interoperable systems with clearing houses.

How do the payment systems work?

Although each country has its own infrastructure regulated by central banks and financial institutions, the logic that ensures the proper functioning of payment systems follows the same scheme. This process follows the following steps: 

Payment initiation

The user selects his preferred payment method, which can be credit or debit card, electronic transfer, QR code or direct debit. The payment order is generated from their bank account, digital wallet or point of sale, defining the technological route that the transaction will follow.

2. Processing and transmission

This step depends on the chosen payment method:

• In card payments , the issuing bank and the payment network (Visa, Mastercard, among others) are involved.
• For wire transfers , the connection is established with systems such as SPEI (Mexico), Faster Payments (UK), etc.
• In digital payments, fintech APIs and payment gateways manage secure communication with financial institutions.

3. Compensation

Transactions are grouped and validated in clearing houses or equivalent systems, where volumes and amounts are verified to ensure the integrity of the operations.

4. Settlement

After clearing, the funds are definitively transferred between financial institutions, ensuring that the money actually passes from the payer to the payee. This step can take from seconds to days, depending on the system and region.

5. Confirmation

Finally, both the payer and the receiver receive notification of the status of the transaction, confirming whether it was approved, rejected or requires any additional follow-up. This brings transparency and confidence to the entire process.

Technological innovation in payment systems

Technological evolution has redefined payment systems and the functioning of financial markets, driving a transformation that prioritizes agility, interoperability and security. 

The adoption of new tools has made payments more accessible, immediate and adapted to various business and consumer needs. Some of the most relevant changes are:

• Expanded use of QR codes at physical points of sale, mobile applications and e-commerce platforms, facilitating fast, contactless payments.
• Proliferation of digital wallets and automatic payment options (such as subscriptions or recurring debits), which offer greater convenience and reduce friction in the user experience.
• Integration of open APIs that allow businesses, fintechs and banks to connect their payment services in a secure and flexible way, enabling strategic alliances and continuous innovation.
• Implementation of biometric recognition models (fingerprint, face, voice) to authorize and protect transactions, reinforcing security without losing speed.
• Digitalization of securities clearing and settlement, enabling near real-time processes between local and international financial institutions.
• Development of instant payment platforms (such as PIX, CoDi or Faster Payments) that eliminate waiting times and improve operational liquidity for companies and users.
• Expansion of international payment networks and multicurrency solutions, which streamline global operations and open up new opportunities for foreign trade and cross-border e-commerce.

Integrations with payment systems: charge as local with Rebill

Rebill is the ideal partner for companies and startups looking to operate in Latin America, thanks to its direct integrations with the main payment systems in each country. 

In addition, its infrastructure automates collections and subscriptions, supports payments in local and foreign currencies, and its payment processor easily connects with the most widely used payment methods in each market in the region, optimizing conversion and reducing rejections.

Want to boost your business with localized and reliable payments? Contact us and eliminate friction between different payment services, thanks to our integrations. Sell like a local across Latin America with Rebill!

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Cards are an important means of payment for customers wishing to make online purchases. Currently, there are different apps that facilitate card payment. In this article, we explain what they are and the benefits they offer to your business. 

How does a card payment app work?

A card payment app allows a business to receive the money from a customer's purchase by entering the card data into a reader attached to the mobile device, using a card reader, QR code or payment link. The information is then validated with the issuing bank and the funds are transferred to the business according to the established credit. 

In Argentina, more and more businesses are looking for fast and secure solutions to receive payments, both physical businesses and online stores in Mercado Libre or Tiendanube. 

9 apps to charge with credit cards in Argentina

In Argentina there are different card payment applications. Here we explain some of their features:

Pago Nube

In Argentina, customers can pay by debit or credit card. Pago Nube offers interest-free installment plans in the Plan Nube and the Plan Cuota Simple. Stores pay a commission according to the crediting period set for withdrawing the money: 1, 7 or 14 days.  

Pago Nube takes measures such as data encryption and one-time passwords so that information is protected during transactions.

Mercado Pago

The app can be used with the card reader (Point Mini or Point Tap), with QR, payment links or accepts NFC payments by bringing your mobile device close to the customer's device. It works with debit and credit cards.

In the case of the QR code, the customer must scan it with their Mercado Pago app or other digital wallet or, if in person, bring the NFC-enabled device close to their phone. The payment will be confirmed immediately and credited to the account.

Mercado Pago uses SSL(Secure Socket Layer) protocol to protect sensitive information during payments, does not store the card's security code and allows 24-hour monitoring of payments. 

Learn about other alternatives to Mercado Pago in Argentina.

PayPal

In addition to the digital wallet, it has an app that receives domestic and international credit and debit card payments. It generates a personalized Paypal.me link that you can send to your customers by message, email or social networks to make payments.

This app allows you to close sales in real time and protects your data, as it does not require you to share your bank account information. It only asks for a commission each time it receives a payment from domestic and international customers. 

As security measures, PayPal does not display credit card information, works with data encryption and monitors transactions to prevent fraud. 

MODE

The app is available for iOS and Android. Customers must integrate their payment button in your store to be able to pay with credit and debit cards associated with the MODO account.

The crediting term will depend on what has been agreed and you will receive the money from the sales in the bank account you have notified.

This app is backed by the Argentine banking system and protects transactions with the same security measures of the financial institution. It does not store card information, but facilitates the connection between the bank and the transaction to be made from the app.

Ualá Bis

The mobile app is available for Android and iOS. Face-to-face sales are charged by POS Mini or by QR. For remote payments, the payment link is enabled and sent via WhatsApp, social networks or mail. 

Ualá Bis can be added to your Tiendanube or your own online store. Customers can pay with Visa, Mastercard, Cabal, American Express and Naranja cards. You receive immediate credit for sales in your Ualá.

In terms of security, Ualá Bis follows the PCI-DSS standard to protect user data and uses encryption algorithms to protect transaction information.

GOquotas

This platform offers customers the possibility of paying in interest-free installments with debit cards from financial institutions, prepaid or state-issued cards.

It does not have a registration fee or fixed cost, but a commission for each sale. It has the option of payment link and QR.

GOQuotas works as an intermediary. You receive the full payment of the sale in the bank account, regardless of whether the customer is late in paying the rest of the money.

Getnet

It is an application developed by Banco Santander that offers payments with credit, debit and prepaid cards in your online store. You can configure the time period for crediting the money and choose whether you receive it in your bank account or virtual wallet.

Among the security measures of this app are data protection with encryption and tokenization techniques, user identity verification and fraud detection protocols implemented by the Santander Group.

Orange Touch X

The app is downloaded to the cell phone, the reader is connected via Bluetooth and the card is charged from the phone. For each sale a percentage of commission and taxes is paid, depending on whether it is immediate credit, in 14 days or 60 days, if it is a credit or debit card.

The card reader allows charging by chip, contactless or magnetic stripe system. It accepts a variety of debit, credit and prepaid cards, such as Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Cordobesa cards.

The Naranja X app has a security center for fingerprint management, facial recognition and passwords, as well as identity confirmation with ID photos and selfie. 

Ship

It is a payment platform via QR, payment link, Nave point and online store. It allows real-time payment confirmation, sales details and personalized summaries, you can choose when to credit sales, offer installments and discounts.

Nave uses advanced technology to protect financial data through encryption to prevent interception. Biometric authentication and an anti-fraud system are also available. It allows detailed tracking of each collection and validation of payments.

An option that goes beyond apps: Rebill

Rebill arrives in Argentina as the smartest digital payments infrastructure in LATAM. It is designed for companies that need to automate collections, manage subscriptions and improve the conversion of their online payments with total security.

Some advantages of Rebill' s payment gateway are:

• Multiple payment methods in ArgentinaCredit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, etc.), bank transfers, cash payments and digital wallets such as Mercado Pago through transfers 3.0, with the option of payment in installments.
• Hyper-customizable checkout: adapt the design, logic and even your domain to offer a checkout experience aligned with your brand, which can increase your conversion rate by up to 35%.
• Increased payment approval and recovery: 20% better approval rate than the market average and automatic recovery of up to 71% of rejected payments with intelligent retries.
•  Flexible recurring charges: set up weekly, monthly, annual or customized plans, with support for upgrades, downgrades, real-time cancellations and even free trial periods.
• It complies with PCI DSS level 1 certification, guaranteeing the highest standard in financial data protection in this type of platforms.
• Automated multichannel notifications: send reminders or confirmations to your customers via WhatsApp or Email without external integrations.
• Certified security: complies with PCI DSS level 1, the highest standard in financial data protection.
• Agile integration: connect Rebill to your stack in less than an hour via modern SDK or REST API with clear documentation.
• Unlike other platforms, it includes services such as subscription management at no additional cost.

Why consider more advanced solutions than a credit card payment app?

Apps are practical for small businesses, but a payment platform in Argentina like Rebill allows for checkout customization, control and management of recurring collections, and automation of payments and notifications, making it the ideal choice for businesses in Argentina looking to scale.

A certified and tokenized payment service minimizes the risk of fraud and has detailed real-time monitoring of transactions. This facilitates processes such as refunds, audits, reconciliations and provides greater confidence and transparency.

What are the advantages of using apps for card payment?

Card payment apps help businesses sell more, more securely and with fewer obstacles. In addition, it offers these advantages: 

• Increased customer convenience: you can choose the payment method of your choice
• Remote collections: transactions can be managed from anywhere in the world, either in installments or cash.
• Transaction security: they use advanced encryption technologies and safeguard customer data to prevent fraud.
• Financial control: you can monitor online payments in real time and define whether you want immediate crediting or crediting on certain business days.
• Professional image: by using a recognized payment app you provide greater security and confidence to customers.
• You don't need expensive infrastructure: you only need to download the app and a commission will be deducted for the sale, there is no fixed monthly payment or minimum sales.

How to choose a card payment app?

When choosing a card payment app, these elements must be taken into account:

• Define your priorities: whether you want to receive money for in-person purchases, via payment link, QR code or card reader.
• Customer experience: it must be an intuitive and user-friendly app to facilitate purchases.
• Integrations: evaluate if they work integrated with financial entities, online payment systems or recharges.
• Customer segment: whether it is an app that works only with local payment methods or also accepts international ones.
• Business economics: take into account your sales volume, whether you offer the option of cash or installments, the commission percentage and credit terms.

Implementing a card payment app is a step towards the modernization of your business, whether you sell on social networks, in a physical store or in an online store. 

But if your goal is not only to grow in Argentina, but throughout Latin America, trust Rebill, the online payment platform that will integrate the different types of payment in an automated and secure way.

Simplify your collections and offer the best payment experience to your customers with Rebill. Contact us, try our platform and start collecting by card quickly and securely.

For companies that need to collect payments in Argentina and expand to other Latin American markets without multiple integrations, Rebill is a direct alternative to dLocal.

In an increasingly globalized business environment, international payments are no longer an exception but an everyday necessity. Companies operating in multiple countries, whether with distributed teams, global customers or foreign currency revenues, need to process cross-border payments with speed, security and predictability.

To avoid inconsistencies between suppliers, banks, and accounting departments, it is essential to understand payment reconciliation (net amounts, fees, and settlements) in international cash flows.

However, moving funds between countries means facing frictions: from the exchange rate to the compatibility between local payment methods, as well as the regulations of each market.

For companies with high transactional volume or subscription models, these challenges not only affect user experience, but also margins and business scalability.

This article explains what international payments are, how they work and what alternatives exist for companies operating or looking to expand in Latin America.

What are international payments?

international payments, also called cross-border payments, are transfers of money between parties in different countries. This exchange is key to international trade and ranges from the purchase of goods and services to the payment of remote jobs and investments.

These payments require operating through regulated financial institutions and handling currency conversion. In addition, they often involve intermediary banks, financial institutions in both countries and various payment platforms to ensure compliance with regulations for these international transfers. 

International vs. domestic payments: differences

In essence, international and domestic payments serve the same function: the transfer of funds from a sender to a receiver. However, there are important differences due to the complexity involved in operating between different countries. The main differences between the two types of payments are highlighted below:

• Regulation in multiple jurisdictions: domestic payments are governed by the regulations of a single country, while international payments must comply with the regulations of the jurisdictions of both the sending and receiving countries, which adds legal and administrative complexity.
• Involvement of intermediary banks: In domestic payments, generally only the issuing and receiving banks are involved. In international transactions, intermediary banks are often involved to facilitate the exchange between countries, which can increase the time and cost of the process.
• Foreign exchange and exchange rate: Domestic payments are made in a single currency, while international payments require currency conversion. This implies a risk associated with exchange rate fluctuations in the foreign exchange market, which may affect the final amount received or paid.
• Processing costs and times: Domestic payments are usually faster and less expensive due to fewer intermediaries and regulatory processes. On the other hand, international payments take longer and generate higher costs due to bank commissions, exchange fees and intermediary charges.
• Risks and compliance: International payments face additional risks such as sanctions, anti-money laundering controls and possible blockages due to foreign exchange regulations. This implies greater oversight and regulatory compliance than is usually required for domestic payments.

That's why having a specialized payment infrastructure such as Rebill can make all the difference. By operating in several Latin American countries and offering multi-currency conversion with transparent exchange rates, you can simplify the management of international payments, reduce operational costs and ensure regulatory compliance from a single platform.

What are the most common international payment methods?

In Latin America, choosing the right method for making and receiving international payments is a strategic decision, especially for companies with business models based on recurring payments, subscriptions or regional expansion. Depending on the volume of transactions, the frequency and the currency in which you want to collect, some solutions offer clear advantages over others.

Digital platforms (digital wallets and payment gateways)

Payment gateways such as Rebill, dLocal, EBANX, PayPal and PayU are widely used in Latin America for their ability to process payments in multiple currencies and accept local methods, facilitating e-commerce and recurring payments.

Credit cards and debit cards

They are one of the most frequent methods for international payments due to their acceptance in foreign trade and their speed. Cards allow immediate payments, although they usually generate additional costs for currency conversion and bank account fees.

Real Time Payment (RTP) systems

Although their international use is still limited, these systems offer almost instantaneous and lower-cost transfers. In addition, they are growing in regions with advanced infrastructure.

Traditional bank transfers

Mainly used in B2B transactions, these transfers are made through networks such as SWIFT. They are secure, but can be slow and costly due to the involvement of intermediary banks.

Cryptocurrencies

Although their use is still limited, cryptocurrencies allow fast transfers without intermediaries, with low costs. However, their volatility and variable regulations hinder their mass adoption in international transactions.

Letters of credit

Considered one of the safest methods for international payments, especially in trade of goods, as they guarantee payment to the exporter only if certain documentary conditions are met. They involve the intermediation of issuing and confirming banks, minimizing risks for both parties.

Payment orders

These are bank instructions to transfer funds from the payer to the payee, used in international transactions to secure the transfer of money. Although less common than letters of credit, they offer a formal and secure way for specific payments.

Additionally, for international payroll payments, platforms such as Deel, Ontop, Payoneer and Wise stand out for their speed and tax compliance, adapting to the management of remote employees.

These solutions overcome limitations of traditional methods such as Mercado Pago (no international support) and PayPal (high costs and limited support), responding better to the needs of the Latin American market.

How to choose an international payment provider if you operate in multiple countries

Choosing the right supplier is essential for your international operations to be safe, efficient and profitable. To make the best decision, it is key to follow a series of practices that minimize risks and optimize costs:

1. Compare payment methods: not all methods are equally convenient for every situation. For example, for urgent payments and small amounts, digital platforms or cards may be ideal. Whereas, for large amounts or B2B payments, bank transfers or letters of credit offer greater security.
2. Monitor the exchange rate: Fluctuations in the currency market can directly affect your margins. Having a platform like Rebill, which automatically adapts the exchange rate without requiring manual actions, helps you stabilize revenues and reduce exposure to unexpected variations.
3. Carefully read the associated fees and costs: it is important to be aware of all fees, including intermediary bank commissions and currency conversion charges, to avoid surprises and to correctly calculate the total cost of the payment.
4. Define who bears the additional fees: establishing by contract whether the payer or the recipient will cover the extra costs avoids misunderstandings and conflicts later on.
5. Use secure payment methods and trusted providers: Opt for payment processors that offer encryption, fraud detection and regulatory compliance. Security of information and funds should be an operational priority, especially when multiple jurisdictions are involved.

Make your international payments with Rebill

If you are looking for a reliable and efficient solution to manage your international payments, Rebill is the ideal option in Latin America. Its infrastructure is designed for companies that want to scale to the region, allowing them to centralize collections in dollars, receive payments in local currencies and access the most widely used local payment methods, without the need to create entities in each country.

It stands out from other alternatives due to its transparent rates, personalized support and integration in less than 1 hour.  

 Contact us and find out how to access the most convenient platform to process your international payments and boost your business. 

Updated in 2026 with new platforms and commission comparisons.

If you want to sell online, choosing one of the payment gateways in Argentina is a key decision. It's not just about "having a payment button": it impacts conversion, commissions, crediting times, and operations (returns, chargebacks, and settlement reconciliation ).

If your transaction also includes international payments, add conversion, crediting times, and reconciliation between reports and the bank to the analysis.

In this guide, you will find: a quick comparison, a ranking with criteria (not just a "list"), what to look for in commissions, and what changes depending on your business: e-commerce, high-volume companies, or SaaS/subscriptions.

What is a payment gateway?

A payment gateway is the technology that enables online payments to be processed by connecting a merchant's payment process with banks, card networks, and other methods. It is usually responsible for creating the payment intent, confirming the status of the transaction, and facilitating settlement and reports for reconciliation.

Types of solutions: gateway, acquirer, and integrated platform

In Argentina, it is useful to distinguish between three roles, because they are compared differently:

• Gateway: connects your payment process with the processor/acquirer and manages statuses, security, and reports. Example: Mobbex (depending on the merchant's scheme).
• Acquirer: the entity that primarily processes cards and settles funds with merchants. It usually requires a merchant ID and negotiates by volume. Examples: Payway, Getnet, and Fiserv.
• Integrated payment platform: combines payment experience + operation + reporting, and in some cases incorporates acquiring or agreements. Examples: Mercado Pago and Rebill.

Quick comparison of payment gateways in Argentina (2026)

The table is a starting point. To make a decision, I requested details by payment method and credit period, and verified that the report allows you to reconcile (order, transaction, commissions, net, and settlements).

The comparison mixes acquirers, gateways, integrated platforms, and complementary solutions, because in practice many companies evaluate these options together when designing their payment stack in Argentina.

Quick summary

• E-commerce: fees + payment process experience + accreditation.
• Volume: commercial agreements + costs by method + consistent reports.
• SaaS/subscriptions: retries for declines + payment recovery + cycle-based reconciliation.
• International collection: regional or cross-border operation: coverage of local methods, reconciliation, and ability to operate in more than one country.

Note on fees and availability

Commissions, available payment methods, and crediting times may vary depending on the volume processed, type of business, acquirer used, and specific commercial conditions of each provider.

The ranges mentioned in this guide are public approximations and may change over time, so it is always advisable to confirm updated conditions directly with each platform.

Ranges and references revised in March 2026 based on publicly available information and conditions subject to commercial agreement.

The top 10 payment platforms and gateways in Argentina (2026)

The list includes ten relevant platforms that operate online payments in Argentina or allow local payment methods to be processed in the country.

This ranking prioritizes: actual online payment coverage in Argentina, ability to operate installments, clarity of costs by method, and ease of reconciling settlements. Conditions vary by industry, volume, and agreement, but the goal is to provide you with a meaningful comparison.

1. Mercado Pago

What it stands out for: It is usually the first option that businesses in Argentina consider due to brand recognition, quick implementation, and a familiar payment process for users.

Best for: E-commerce and businesses that prioritize rapid implementation and a familiar experience.

Advantages

• Payment experience highly recognized by users in Argentina
• Onboarding and implementation are usually quick.
• Operational tools (returns, basic management)

Limitations

• Commissions vary considerably depending on the medium and term of accreditation.
• If you have volume, it may fall short in fine control of agreements/conditions compared to more negotiated schemes.

Payment methods: credit and debit cards, transfers, and other alternatives depending on configuration.

Integration: Integration via checkout (payment process) and APIs (programming interfaces) depending on the product; status confirmations via notifications.

Costs/fee model: Public fee schedule. It is advisable to compare by payment method (credit/debit/transfer) and by credit term.

Type of solution: payment platform (gateway + wallet)

2. Payway

What it excels at: It is evaluated when the focus is on cards and operating with a more "banking" and negotiated scheme. In Argentina, it is widely used by companies with high volume or specific operational needs.

Best for: High-volume businesses that want to negotiate terms and order card operations.

Advantages

• Suitable for high-volume transactions and commercial agreements
• Frequent fit in more corporate stacks
• It may be beneficial if your strategy is to optimize costs per negotiation.

Limitations

• The experience and integration depend greatly on the agreement and the product contracted.
• Requires more operational definition (deadlines, reports, reconciliation) to avoid friction.

Payment methods: Mainly credit and debit cards (depending on the contract).

Integration: Integrations and tools vary by product/contract. I requested examples of reports and fields.

Costs/fee model: By agreement. Compare commission by brand, credit term, and operating costs.

Type of solution: gateway/acquiring (business-oriented)

3. Mobbex

What it excels at: The choice for digital businesses seeking a payment solution with integration and operating options. Its unique selling point is its flexibility to adapt to different cash flows.

Best for: E-commerce and online businesses seeking flexibility in integration and operation.

Advantages

• Flexibility to adapt to different payment flows
• It usually integrates well with e-commerce.
• Allows you to work with different media depending on the configuration

Limitations

• To compare, you need detailed information about eligible media, terms, and fees.
• If you do not request consistent reports, reconciliation can become complicated.

Payment methods: Cards and other means depending on integration and configuration.

Integration: Integration via APIs (programming interfaces) and checkout components (payment process) according to the plan.

Costs/fee model: Variable depending on means and conditions. I requested details by means and accreditation.

Type of solution: gateway/payment platform

4. PayU

What it excels at: Regional provider that can serve you when you are looking to standardize integration across multiple countries while maintaining a similar workflow. In Argentina, convenience depends on the effective local offering.

Best for: Multi-country operations that prioritize regional consistency and centralized integration.

Advantages

• Regional coverage and experience operating in multiple markets
• You can simplify if your operation is in more than one country.

Limitations

• The actual coverage of methods in Argentina may vary.
• You need to validate accreditation deadlines and local support.

Payment methods: Cards and local methods depending on configuration and availability.

Integration: Integration via APIs (programming interfaces) and status events according to suite.

Costs/fee model: Variable (often based on volume/risk). Confirm conditions for Argentina.

Solution type: gateway/regional processor

5. dLocal

What it excels at: It is widely used to collect payments in local currency in different countries and to handle international payment transactions. In Argentina, it can be part of a regional strategy for companies outside the country or with a multi-country structure.

Best for: International companies that require local collection and multi-country operations.

Advantages

• Strong focus on local collection in multiple countries
• Useful for expansion without setting up a separate integration for each market

Limitations

• It is usually a company decision (not always the best option for small businesses).
• Pricing model and terms and conditions typically by agreement

Payment methods: Cards and local methods depending on the market.

Integration: APIs (programming interfaces), events, and tools for multi-country operation.

Costs/fee model: for companies/by agreement.

Type of solution: local collection for international collection (for businesses)

6. Rebill

What makes
stand out Rebill is geared toward digital businesses that need more than just payment processing. Its focus is on combining one-time and recurring payments with operational traceability: clear payment statements, transaction reconciliation, and net income visibility.

Best for
SaaS, memberships, online education, and digital products that need to combine one-time and recurring payments.

Advantages

• Good support for recurring payments and recovery of failed collections.
• Focus on operational traceability: payment statuses, reconciliation, and transaction tracking.
• Flexible integration via API, SDK, or payment links.

Limitations

• It is not primarily intended for physical retail or general e-commerce.
• It is advisable to validate available methods and commercial conditions according to the business operating model.

solution type Payment platform geared toward digital products and subscriptions.

payment methods Cards and local methods according to the configuration of the use case and the market where the company operates.

7. Ship

What it stands out for: Option to evaluate as a payment platform for digital businesses. The value lies in simplifying the operation, but it is essential to request details of payment methods, fees, and reports.

Best for: Online stores looking for an integrated solution that is simple to operate.

Advantages

• It can simplify the payment process for a business.
• Relatively straightforward implementation depending on the case

Limitations

• The actual coverage of methods and quotas in Argentina must be validated.
• Compare report quality for reconciliation

Payment methods: Cards and alternatives depending on configuration.

Integration: Checkout and integrations depending on the product.

Costs/fee model: Variable; confirm current conditions and terms.

Type of solution: payment platform

8. GOcuotas

What it excels at: Its unique selling point is financing. This makes sense when installments are a strong conversion lever. It does not always compete as a "comprehensive gateway" across all media.

Best for: Businesses where fees determine conversion (average ticket, categories with financing).

Advantages

• Proposal focused on quotas as a sales lever
• You can improve conversion when financing is key

Limitations

• It does not necessarily cover all media as a comprehensive gateway.
• It should be evaluated as a complement or specific quota strategy.

Payment methods: Installments/cards depending on the product.

Integration: Integration according to channel and type of business.

Costs/fee model: Variable depending on plan. Request effective financing cost (impact on margin).

Type of solution: specialized installment solution (complementary)

9. Getnet

What it excels at: It is chosen when the business needs a provider with omnichannel acquisition and operation components. In e-commerce, the evaluation is based on integration and reporting, not just brand.

Best for: Retail/omnichannel or businesses seeking an acquiring provider with tools.

Advantages

• Relevant alternative in acquisition and omnichannel schemes
• It can be used for transactions requiring point-of-sale + online capabilities.

Limitations

• The exact online reach and reports depend on the offer/contract.
• Reconciliation must be validated: net amount, commissions, and settlements.

Payment methods: Cards and other means as per contract.

Integration: Integrations vary by product. I requested examples of reports and events.

Costs/fee model: By agreement. Compare by brand, term, and operating costs.

Type of solution: acquiring + payment ecosystem (omnichannel)

10. Fiserv / Clover

What makes them stand out: They appear on the radar when businesses are looking for a more comprehensive payment ecosystem. For Argentina, the key is to validate local availability, partners, and actual reach (online and/or in person).

Best for: Businesses seeking a more comprehensive payment ecosystem (depending on local availability).

Advantages

• Comprehensive ecosystem (depending on configuration) for commercial operation
• You can add it if you need a combined solution.

Limitations

• In Argentina, availability and coverage depend on local partners/offerings.
• It is worth explaining the context: it is not identical to a purely online catwalk.

Payment methods: Cards and other means according to local availability.

Integration: Tools and integrations according to implementation.

Costs/pricing model: Variable depending on plan/agreement; consider total cost (service + equipment if applicable).

Type of solution: payment ecosystem (software + hardware) + processing

Payment gateway fees in Argentina

Here, it is important to be very specific: the commission depends on the payment method, the credit period, the item, and the agreement. When there is a public rate schedule, reference ranges can be used. Otherwise, the correct thing to do is to request a quote and compare it with the same basket of media.

Values may vary depending on the volume processed and commercial agreement.

Reference ranges (Argentina)

• Mercado Pago: depends on the province and the settlement period. For card payments, it is usually between approximately 4.32% + VAT and 6.60% + VAT.
• Payway / Getnet / Fiserv: these are acquirers. They mainly focus on high-volume businesses. They usually require their own merchant ID number. For a payment, fees can range from approximately 0.8% + VAT to 2% + VAT per transaction, depending on the agreement and volume.
• Mobbex: works as a gateway. As a reference, you can add an approximate fee of 1% + VAT to the acquirer's fee. The merchant usually operates with its own merchant ID.
• Ship: as a reference, approximate rates of 1.2% + VAT for debit and 4.5% + VAT for credit are observed for a single payment.
• Rebill: as a reference, approximate fees of 4% + VAT are observed for cards (credit, debit, and prepaid) and 1.6% + VAT for QR payments.
• PayU and dLocal: they generally work on a commercial agreement basis and focus on companies with high volume or regional operations.

How to compare commissions without being misled

To make a useful comparison, I requested details by method and payment term, and included in the comparison: returns, chargebacks, and how the net amount settled is reported. The "cheap" commission ceases to be so if the reconciliation ends up being manual work.

How payment gateways work in Argentina

From the payment process to settlement

• Start of payment: the user chooses the method (card, transfer, installments).
• Processing: the transaction is approved or rejected.
• Confirmation: your system receives the status to deliver the product/service.
• Returns/chargebacks: these may appear days later and affect the net amount.
• Settlement: money is credited according to deadlines, sometimes grouped together.
• Reconciliation: orders, transactions, commissions, and settlements are cross-checked.

What payment methods do payment gateways accept in Argentina?

Main methods and when to combine them

To collect payments online in Argentina, it is normal to start with cards and then add alternatives based on conversion and cost. Each method has a different impact on approval, fees, and operation.

• Credit cards: key to conversion and installments. Check approvals and chargebacks.
• Debit cards: useful for audiences that do not use credit; experience may vary.
• Transfers: they usually lower costs, but require good status confirmation.
• Installments: in Argentina, they are a powerful lever; compare conditions and total cost.
• Complementary methods: if your audience needs it, add alternative coverage options.

Payment gateways for SaaS and subscriptions

Difference between charging once and charging every month

In subscriptions, rejections matter more: a drop in approval translates into involuntary churn. You need smart retries, media updates, and a recovery flow (payment recovery) that does not depend on manual labor.

Retries, recovery, and traceability by event

The important thing is to be able to track each cycle: attempt, approval/rejection, retry, recovery, return, adjustment, and settlement. This traceability reduces discussions with finance and speeds up period-end reconciliation.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best payment gateway in Argentina?

It depends on the type of business. In e-commerce, conversion and fees tend to be important; in high-volume companies, agreements and cost control are important; in SaaS, retries, payment recovery, and cycle reconciliation are important.

How much do payment gateways charge?

It varies depending on the payment method, credit period, category, and commercial agreement. For comparison purposes, I requested a breakdown by method and term, and consider returns and chargebacks.

Which gateway is best for e-commerce in Argentina?

Prioritize installments, payment process experience, credit terms, and clear reports to reconcile settlements. Don't choose based on percentage alone.

Which platform should you use to collect payments online in Argentina?

I chose based on means, fees, integration, support, and report quality (identifiers, commissions, net, and settlements).

Other complementary payment methods (not gateways)

When does it make sense to add them together?

Collection networks such as Pago Fácil or Rapipago can serve as cash payment alternatives, but they are not payment gateways. If your audience needs them, add them as a complementary method to your main gateway to improve coverage.

How to choose a payment gateway in Argentina

To make the right choice in Argentina, compare: available methods (card, transfer, installments), credit terms, total cost (commissions + VAT + fees), support for returns/chargebacks, and the quality of reports for reconciling settlements.

If your operation involves acquirers, gateways, and integrated platforms, make sure you understand what role each provider plays so you don't duplicate costs or lose traceability.

General checklist for evaluating a payment gateway

Before comparing providers, confirm what role you need to fill: acquirer (cards and settlement), gateway (payment orchestration), or integrated platform (experience + operation). They are not chosen using the same criteria.

If your company sells digital products or works with subscription models, it may be useful to evaluate platforms designed specifically for that type of operation. In such cases, it is advisable to compare not only commissions, but also net income visibility, reconciliation, and tools for managing recurring payments.

Checklist for evaluating options

• Conversion: fees, local media, payment process experience.
• Accreditation deadlines: impact on cash flow and costs.
• Operation: returns, chargebacks, support, and resolution times.
• Reconciliation: reports with order/transaction, commissions, net, and settlements.
• Integration: documentation, stability, status events, and testing.

What to look for in reports and reconciliation

If the money is credited in bulk, you need the report to allow you to reconstruct the net amount per transaction. Request minimum fields: order ID, transaction ID, status, commissions/fees, taxes if applicable, net amount, and settlement reference.

What fees do payment gateways charge in Argentina?

The actual commission depends on the payment method, the crediting period, and the commercial agreement. When a supplier publishes ranges, use them as a reference and always confirm the current conditions.

Frequently asked questions about payment gateways

What is a payment gateway?

It is the technology that connects your payment process with banks, card networks, and other methods, and returns the status of each transaction to you for online collection and reconciliation.

What is the difference between a gateway and an acquirer?

The gateway orchestrates payment and status. The acquirer primarily processes cards and settles funds to the merchant, usually with a merchant ID.

What commission do payment gateways charge?

It varies by method, accreditation period, category, and agreement. Compare the total cost and how commissions, taxes, and net amounts are reported for seamless reconciliation.

What is the best payment gateway in Argentina?

It depends on the model: e-commerce tends to prioritize quotas and conversion; companies with volume, agreements, and control; subscriptions, retries, and traceability by transaction and by cycle.

What payment methods are accepted in LATAM?

It depends on the country, but typically cards, transfers, installments, and local methods. The key is to combine conversion, costs, and operation with reports for reconciliation.

Conclusion

Payment gateways in Argentina are chosen based on conversion, costs, and operation. Make a shortlist, request a breakdown by method and term, and verify that reconciliation is possible without manual work (order, transaction, commissions, net, and settlements).

If you sell on credit, prioritize conditions and experience. If you are SaaS, the decision is usually determined by retries, payment recovery, and traceability per cycle.

Collecting payments in Mexico from abroad: MSI, SPEI, and net income control (without SWIFT friction)

If your company is based outside Mexico and sells to Mexican customers (individuals or companies), the challenge is not to "activate a payment method." The challenge is to collect payments locally for the customer, avoid the friction of international transfers, and maintain operational control: net income, reconciliation, and settlement dates.

This guide is intentionally cross-border. It is not a list of gateways or a glossary of methods. It is a practical explanation of how to set up a payment circuit in Mexico when your operation and bank account are outside the country.

The typical problem: opaque international billing and SWIFT transfers that don't go through

In Mexico, many customers expect to pay with local options. If the charge is processed as international, two issues may arise:

• Exchange rate and issuer fees: the customer sees one amount and ends up paying another, which leads to complaints or abandonment.
• SWIFT: For certain amounts, an international transfer introduces delays and fixed costs that do not add up for the ticket or type of customer.

Therefore, the most stable strategy is to allow local payment in Mexico and, at the same time, have an operation that clearly settles and reconciles abroad.

Two paths that unlock most cross-border transactions

1) Cards and MSI (Interest-Free Months) for B2C with medium/high ticket prices

In online education, boot camps, travel, and medium/high ticket categories, MSI is often decisive. It's not just a "promotion": it defines conversion and real margin. If you offer it, you need to control financing costs and net per transaction.

➡️ Learn more about MSI (costs, conversion, settlement, and margin): MSI in Mexico for foreign companies

2) SPEI for local transfers (and to avoid SWIFT friction)

When the customer prefers a transfer (due to internal processes, limits, or habit), SPEI allows a person or company to pay as if they were local in Mexico. In cross-border transactions, SPEI is especially useful when SWIFT adds friction and disproportionate fixed costs.

➡️ Learn more about SPEI (local collection + overseas transactions): SPEI in Mexico: collect via local transfer from overseas

How do you close the circuit if you charge from outside?

For the model to work, you have to look at the entire circuit:

• Local payment: the customer pays in Mexico using the appropriate method (MSI/card or SPEI).
• Reconciliation by transaction: you need to see gross, commissions, net income, and payment status with its reference (order/invoice).
• Outward settlement: the result must reach your operation outside Mexico with clear rules regarding currency and timing.

In practice, an infrastructure such as Rebill allows you to collect payments locally in Mexico and then convert them to USD and transfer USD abroad, which helps avoid the typical friction associated with SWIFT (delays or fixed costs) for certain tickets.

What you should record so you don't lose track (net income and settlement dates)

Cross-border growth breaks down when finance cannot explain the actual net. For each transaction, record at least:

• Order or invoice ID
• method (card/MSI or SPEI)
• amount and currency presented (MXN)
• commissions and net income
• payment date and settlement date

If you charge in MXN and settle in USD, the timing of settlement and conversion impacts the net amount. Spreadsheets with averages are not sufficient.

➡️ For the FX/net income/settlement side: International payments: what to look at to control the net amount

Operational checklist (cross-border) before scaling up in Mexico

• Define when to offer MSI vs. SPEI based on customer and amount.
• Associate each payment with an order or invoice with a clear reference.
• Validates net visibility and settlement dates per transaction.
• Measure conversion by method and by segment (not "MSI on/off").
• Define the post-payment flow: confirmation to the user and status update in your system.

To climb without friction

If you sell to Mexico from abroad, the goal is not to add methods for the sake of adding them. It is to choose two or three methods that cover most cases (MSI/card for medium/high ticket and SPEI for local transfers), and to operate with reconciliation and settlement that give you control of the actual net. That is what enables growth without support and finance paying the cost.

SPEI in Mexico: how to collect payments via local transfer from abroad (without SWIFT friction)

For many foreign companies, Mexico is a large market with clear demand. The problem arises when the customer does not want to pay by card or when an international SWIFT transfer introduces friction: delays, fixed costs, and an unpredictable experience for certain amounts.

In this context, SPEI (interbank transfers in Mexico) is a practical alternative: it allows individuals or companies in Mexico to pay as if they were local. And if your transaction is outside the country, the point is that the charge is reconcilable and has net income visibility. net income , and is clearly settled outside the country.

When SPEI is appropriate (and why it is not just "another method")

SPEI is often particularly useful in these scenarios:

• B2B and corporate payments: some payers prefer transfers due to internal processes, limits, or policies.
• Tickets where SWIFT does not close: if the fixed cost of an international transfer becomes disproportionate, the payment fails or generates claims.
• Customers who avoid cards: due to habit, limits, previous rejection, or experience.
• Transactions requiring proof of payment: SPEI is ideal when the payer wants traceability and a payment reference.

SPEI vs card vs MSI: how to choose without losing conversion

There is no "best" method at all. It is best to decide based on the payer's profile and the amount:

• Cards tend to maximize speed and self-service, especially in B2C.
• MSI (Months without Interest) helps when the amount justifies it and the customer expects to finance the payment.
• SPEI usually wins when the payer needs a local transfer or when SWIFT adds friction and cost to the ticket.

The most stable strategy is to offer the method that the customer wants to use, without your operation losing control of reconciliation and settlement.

What you must register to reconcile SPEI without a "gray area"

To prevent SPEI from becoming an operational black hole, for each transfer it is advisable to record at least:

• reference/order or invoice ID
• amount and currency presented (MXN)
• payment status and timestamp
• commissions and net income
• settlement date

This is what allows us to respond quickly to support, auditing, and monthly closings, without relying on manual searches.

The key point for foreign companies: charge in MXN and settle abroad

If your company operates outside of Mexico, the goal is not just to charge "locally." It's to ensure that the payment ends up where you need it: outside the country, with visibility of the net amount.

In practice, an infrastructure such as Rebill allows Mexican customers to pay by local transfer (SPEI) and then the merchant receives the settlement in USD outside of Mexico. This helps avoid typical SWIFT friction, such as delays or fixed costs that do not add up for certain tickets.

Operational checklist before scaling SPEI in Mexico

• Define when to offer SPEI (segments, amounts, B2B/B2C) and how you communicate it.
• Associate each payment with an order or invoice with a clear reference.
• Verify that you can see the net income and settlement date for each transaction.
• Define the post-payment flow (confirmation to the user and status update in your system).
• Measure conversion by method: card, MSI, and SPEI do not compete; they complement each other.

To climb without friction

In Mexico, SPEI is an operational tool: it improves the experience of payers who want local transfers and can unlock tickets where SWIFT introduces friction. The condition for it to work at scale is the same as always: traceability per transaction, control of net income, and clear settlement for your operations outside the country.

Recurring payments in Latin America: how to reduce rejections and recover collections

In subscription models, memberships, and monthly payments, the problem is not "charging once." It is charging every month with stability. In Latin America, rejections tend to occur due to a combination of factors: payment habits, issuer limits, anti-fraud measures, currency, fees, and lack of operational visibility.

This guide summarizes how to think about recurring payments in LATAM as an operator: what causes to look at, how to design retries, and what to log to monitor net income and settlements without surprises.

Quick summary: what changes in LATAM when you pay monthly

• Rejection does not always mean "the customer is gone": many failures are temporary and recoverable.
• Currency and perception of the amount: if the payment feels "international," complaints increase and the collection rate decreases.
• Installments and amount: when the amount justifies it, installments can improve conversion and continuity, but require cost control.
• Reconciliation: it is not enough to see "approved." You need the net amount, commissions, reason for rejection, and settlement date for each transaction.
• Retries: they help when they are well designed; poorly designed, they increase friction and disputes.

Rejections: the 6 most common reasons (and what to do in each case)

1) Insufficient funds or available limit

This is usually the most common reason for recurrence. It is not a "definitive no." We work with spaced retries and reminders prior to collection.

2) Anti-fraud or issuer rules

In some cases, the bank blocks due to risk patterns. It helps to have clear signals (consistent data, device, reasonable geolocation) and, if applicable, a method update flow.

3) Card expired, replaced, or with outdated information

You need a simple process for users to update their payment method without having to "start from scratch" in the relationship.

4) Authentication issues or friction in payment collection

When the checkout experience becomes confusing, the recovery rate drops. Avoid ambiguous messages and ensure that the user receives clear confirmation when the payment is approved.

5) Currency, exchange rate, and claims for differences in amount

If users see one price and end up paying another due to the issuer's exchange rate or fees, recurring payments become fragile: complaints, cancellations, and chargebacks increase. In Latin America, charging in local currency whenever possible improves perception and reduces surprises.

6) Operational errors: lack of traceability

When support cannot answer "what was charged, why, when it was settled, and what the net amount was," operating costs multiply. This cannot be fixed with more support, but with better data per transaction.

Retries: how to design them without increasing friction

An automatic retry can recover failed charges, but it must follow clear rules. A good retry design considers:

• Separate temporary failures from permanent failures: there is no point in retrying if the reason is "invalid card."
• Space out retries: several attempts in quick succession usually worsen the result.
• Measure recovery rate: not just the first-attempt approval rate, but how many payments are recovered within 7, 14, and 30 days.
• Combine with communication: clear warnings before/after the attempt, with a specific action to update the method if necessary.

In practice, the important thing is not to "have retries," but rather that they are aligned with the reason for rejection and that you can measure the net impact and involuntary churn. For example, Rebill includes automatic retries and operational visibility to help recover failed payments without relying on manual management.

What you should look for in work-life balance to ensure the model is sustainable

To process recurring payments in LATAM without any "gray areas," it is advisable to register the following for each transaction:

• Customer ID and plan/subscription
• country and currency submitted
• gross amount, commissions, and net income
• status (approved, rejected, pending) and reason when applicable
• collection date and settlement date
• metadata (cohort, channel, vendor, product) for analysis

With this, finance can close the month without manual reconstructions, and growth can understand whether a conversion improvement is affecting actual margin.

Fees and recurrence: when they help and what to monitor

In categories with medium/high amounts (e.g., education), offering installments can improve conversion and continuity. But it introduces costs and complexity: you must be able to see in each transaction whether it was in installments, how many, and how it impacts the net amount.

The operating rule is simple: if quotas improve conversion, great, but you have to measure it against net income and against cohort behavior (delinquency, cancellations, retries).

Use cases: how the problem looks in different models

Recurring payments break down for similar reasons, but the operational impact varies depending on the model. Instead of listing examples "for the sake of listing," here are three cases where the link between declines, retries, and operations is evident, followed by a summary of patterns for other models.

TripleTen: online bootcamp focused on employability

TripleTen is an online programming and technology bootcamp focused on employability, designed for people with no prior experience who are looking to change careers in a few months. It offers intensive part-time courses in areas such as web development, data science, data analysis, and QA, with a practical "learning by doing" methodology. In this type of business, monthly payments often coexist with tickets where fees influence conversion. The operational point is to measure collection recovery and actual net per cohort, not just "registrations."

I'm Henry: ISA (Income Share Agreement) model

Soy Henry is an online technology academy focused on employability, with intensive courses in development and data. It stands out for its ISA model, where students do not pay at the beginning, but once they find employment. In ISA models, traceability is critical: you must be able to explain what is charged, why it is charged, and what happens if there is a rejection. If the operation depends on manual management, the cost accumulates just when the volume grows.

Hi Beauty: beauty club with monthly subscription

Hi Beauty is a beauty club and monthly subscription platform that sends 4 to 5 full-size makeup and skincare products. In this type of club, recurrence is tied to logistics: if the payment fails, shipping becomes complicated and support skyrockets. That's why retry design, notifications, and payment method update flow are part of the product.

Other common patterns (to evaluate your own operation)

• Shared subscriptions (e.g., Lank): low margin per user; the recovery rate and support cost outweigh a marginal improvement in conversion.
• Education by membership or catalog (e.g., MSK Latam): segmenting by cohort and country allows you to detect whether the drop is due to currency, an issuer, or a confusing experience.
• Early childhood education and family plans (e.g., Algonova): billing friction quickly translates into cancellations; clarity of amount and post-payment messages reduce involuntary churn.

What to measure to know if you are improving (not just earning money)

If you are going to invest in improving recurring payments, avoid measuring only the "approval rate." In Latin America, it is advisable to look at metrics that connect payments with operations and margins.

Recovery metrics (what defines stability)

• Recovery rate: what percentage of rejected payments are recovered within 7, 14, and 30 days.
• Collection days: how long it takes for payment to go from "first attempt" to "approved" (impacts cash flow and support).
• Reasons for rejection by country/issuer: to separate funding issues from friction issues or banking rules.

Financial and operational metrics (so as not to confuse growth with margin)

• Net income per cohort: not just gross income; includes commissions, chargebacks, and refunds.
• Support contact rate per charge: how many tickets are generated per 1,000 charges (usually anticipates churn).

With these metrics, you can decide whether a change in retries, currency, or communication improved the operation or just moved the problem elsewhere.

Operational checklist for improving recurring payments in Latin America

• Define currency and avoid surprises due to the issuer's exchange rate whenever possible.
• Separate temporary failures from permanent failures so you don't blindly retry.
• Implement spaced retries and measure recovery at 7/14/30 days.
• Record per transaction: net amount, fees, reason for rejection, and settlement date.
• Design the payment method update flow as part of the product.
• If you use quotas, measure conversion against actual net and cohort behavior.

To climb without friction

In LATAM, recurrence is disrupted by details: currency, poorly managed rejections, and lack of net visibility. When you have clear collection rules, well-designed retries, and reconciliation per transaction, recurring payments cease to be a constant source of support and become a stable foundation for growth.

Collecting payments with payment links in Latin America from abroad: an operational guide for companies

Why paid links work so well in international sales

When a company sells in Latin America from abroad, much of the friction occurs in the final step: payment collection. A Payment link is usually the simplest way to close assisted sales (WhatsApp, email, or phone call) without forcing the customer to navigate a complex payment page.

But the goal isn't just to send a link. In practice, paid links work when they solve three specific problems:

• Payment in local currency: the customer understands the amount and reduces the fear of unexpected charges.
• Local options: local cards and, where applicable, installment plans (key for certain amounts and categories).
• Reconciliation: each link is associated with an order, invoice, or reference to control net income and settlements.

The typical problem with "international" payments: the issuer's exchange rate and claims

If the payment is processed as an international transaction, the customer may see one amount and end up paying another. The issuing bank often applies an exchange rate that is not transparent to the consumer and, depending on the case, charges or differences may appear that the user interprets as "I was overcharged."

This impacts two important metrics:

• Conversion: the user leaves if they do not understand what will be charged to them.
• Support: Claims are increasing due to differences in amounts, currencies, or unexpected charges.

A well-designed payment link flow helps avoid this friction by keeping the payment process aligned with the local experience.

When to use payment links (and when not to)

The payment link is especially useful in these scenarios:

• Assisted sales: a salesperson closes the deal and sends the link via WhatsApp or email.
• Renovations and improvements: one-time charges without having to redo the entire payment page.
• International: companies without a local entity that still need to collect payments as if they were local.
• Simple B2B: a payment manager requests a link to execute the payment without friction.

On the other hand, if your operation requires a purchase flow with multiple products, complex shipping, or advanced customization, a full checkout page is probably more suitable. Many teams use both: payment links for assisted sales and checkout pages for self-service.

How to set up a payment link that charges "locally"

In daily operations, there are four decisions that determine whether the link actually helps to sell:

1) Currency and message: clarity over creativity

The link should display the amount in the currency that the customer expects. Internationally, this reduces "surprise fear" and speeds up internal approval (especially in B2B).

2) Methods: local cards and installments when the amount requires it

In Latin America, installments can be the factor that unlocks purchases in medium and high amounts. The point is not to promise specific terms, but to be able to offer installments where the segment demands them and adjust the configuration by country and by transaction.

Today, it is possible to operate with installments in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Mexico as part of a local currency collection strategy.

3) Identifiers: each link must "belong" to an order

To prevent the link from becoming a reconciliation hole, each charge should be associated with a stable identifier:

• Order ID
• Invoice ID or invoice (if available)
• Customer ID (or account)
• concept / product

This simplifies returns, internal auditing, and monthly closing.

4) Operating rules: expiration, retries, and commercial control

In teams with salespeople, it is advisable to define simple rules:

• Link expiration to avoid late charges without context
• Retries and how they are handled when there is rejection
• Who can generate links and with what limits (amount, country, currency)

What to demand from your paid link provider (operational checklist)

Not all payment links are the same. If your operation is international or multi-country, these capabilities are no longer "desirable" but become basic conversion, support, and reconciliation controls:

• Links associated with products, plans, or snapshots: be able to charge without relying on a pre-created product, but also reuse catalogs when convenient.
• Local currencies and USD: create links in ARS, BRL, CLP, COP, MXN, and USD, depending on the customer's country and your pricing strategy.
• Link control: enable or disable payment methods by link, define the number of installments, and set the expiration date.
• Discounts: coupons or promotions without changing the code.
• Metadata: send context data (order/invoice/customer) so that each payment can be reconciled.
• Pre-filled data: preload customer information to reduce friction during payment.
• Easy sharing: link ready for WhatsApp, email, and social media, with a consistent experience.

For example, platforms such as Rebill allow you to configure these parameters without code, which often speeds up business operations and reduces implementation errors.

Post-payment experience: success page and flow control

One detail that has more impact than it seems is what happens after payment. Ideally, your provider should allow:

• Define a success page or redirect the user after payment to complete the flow (registration, access, confirmation, onboarding).
• Monitor the "confirmation time" so that the user and your team see the same status (approved/pending/rejected).

In multi-country operations, it also helps to be able to adapt the currency based on signals such as the country of origin (for example, using the approximate location as an indication), without losing control of the final currency displayed to the customer.

Reconciliation: what to record to monitor net income and settlements

If you sell in multiple countries, reconciliation is not an "extra." It is part of the product. For each payment generated with a link, the minimum recommended is:

• amount charged and currency presented
• method (local card, installments)
• fees and net income
• date and time of payment
• estimated or effective settlement date
• IDs: order/invoice/customer (for traceability)

This avoids the typical pattern of disorderly growth: sales go up, but finance cannot explain what came in, when, and why it differs from the gross.

Real-world use cases: how international companies use it

International Edtech: Tripleten, Henry, and Tutellus

In online education, the payment link is usually the piece that connects assisted sales with collection. Sales teams close deals via WhatsApp or phone calls and send the link so that students can pay with a simple flow. For amounts where users compare options, installments help move the decision forward without lengthening the sales cycle.

In these models, it is important that each payment is associated with the corresponding entry or reference so that reconciliation can be carried out smoothly.

Multi-country operation with local entities: MSK LATAM

When a company operates in several countries with local entities, the challenge is to standardize the commercial process without losing financial control. The payment link allows the commercial team to unify the collection experience, while internally maintaining order by country, currency, fees, and net income.

Traveler assistance with vendors: quick closure and clear payments

In traveler assistance, timing matters. The payment link speeds up the closing process in assisted channels and reduces friction when the customer wants a quick resolution. For significant amounts, installments can be decisive. Operationally, the link needs to be traceable: plan, validity, passenger, and receipt.

Neolo: instant invoice and links to order the operation

Neolo operates from the United States in Latin America and is a good example of two patterns that should be combined. On the one hand, being able to generate links associated with an invoice or invoice order facilitates reconciliation. On the other hand, it is also useful to be able to create instant links when you need to collect quickly without preconfiguring a plan.

Common risks and simple controls

A payment link can also cause problems if used without rules. The most common ones are:

• Link forwarded to another person or used without context
• Duplicate payments due to uncoordinated retries
• Support overwhelmed due to lack of reference IDs

The solution is often less technical than it seems: expiration, clear identifiers, and an internal process for reissuing links when the payment changes (amount, currency, or condition).

Checklist: payment link ready to scale in LATAM

• Amount clearly stated in local currency to avoid claims regarding the issuer's exchange rate
• Methods aligned with the country and amount (local cards, installments where applicable)
• Config by link: quotas, expiration, enabled methods, metadata, and coupons
• Link associated with a reference (order/invoice/customer) for reconciliation
• Transaction record: fees, net income, and settlement dates
• Operating rules: expiration, retries, and control of who issues links
• Controlled post-payment experience: success page or redirection

To climb without friction

If your business sells in several countries, the payment link is an operational tool, not just a collection tool. Used correctly, it allows you to display clear amounts in local currency, enable installments where the amount justifies it, and leave traceability for reconciliation (commissions, net income, and settlement dates). This reduces claims due to the issuer's exchange rate and prevents the team from having to reconstruct payments "by hand" at the end of the month.

Collecting payments in Chile from abroad: local cards, installments, transfers, and reconciliation

Introduction: In Chile, friction arises when collection feels "international."

For many foreign companies, Chile is an attractive market for selling digital services and products. The problem arises when the payment is processed as an international transaction: the user does not see the final amount clearly, the issuing bank applies an exchange rate that is not transparent, and charges may appear that the customer did not expect.

Not only does this lower conversion rates, it also generates complaints. Therefore, to operate successfully in Chile from abroad, the practical goal is to make the payment feel local: local cards, installments when the ticket requires it, and local bank transfers for segments that avoid SWIFT.

Local cards: fewer surprises, more conversion

Accepting local cards reduces two typical frictions associated with international payments:

• Transparency of the amount: the user understands what they are paying in their currency.
• Fewer surprises after payment: fewer differences due to exchange rates or issuer fees.

In practice, this usually improves payment completion and reduces support tickets associated with "I was charged differently" or "it wasn't what I saw on the screen."

Quotas in Chile: key for certain tickets and categories

In certain segments, the possibility of paying in installments defines the purchase. This is common in medium and high ticket items: online education, travel assistance, professional services, electronics, and some annual subscription models.

The key point is not to offer quotas for the sake of it, but to have control over:

• What payment terms do you offer for each product or service?
• how the final price is displayed in local currency
• what is recorded for reconciliation (fees, commissions, and net income)

Local bank transfers: an alternative to avoid SWIFT friction

In Chile, for certain segments (especially B2B or users who avoid cards), local bank transfers are a very useful option. In many cases, the problem with SWIFT is not just the time involved: it is also the fixed cost and the experience.

For small or medium-sized tickets, an international charge with fixed costs can destroy the economics of the transaction. Local transfer often resolves that friction: the customer pays as they are accustomed to, and the merchant receives funds in a more predictable manner.

Reconciliation: the minimum you must record to operate without a "gray area"

If your goal is to collect in Chile and settle or receive abroad, the transaction is traceable. At a minimum, for each transaction, it is advisable to record:

• method (local card, local transfer)
• currency presented and currency received
• gross amount, commissions, and net income
• payment date and settlement date
• identifier linking order, payment, and settlement

This reduces claims, facilitates returns, and avoids manual reconstruction at month-end.

Operational cases: collecting payments from abroad and selling in Chile

Pax Assistance (Uruguay): fees for traveler assistance without a local entity

Pax Assistance is a modern travel assistance company with coverage in more than 190 countries and 24/7 support. A typical case is selling to Chilean customers from Uruguay, offering installments, without the need to set up a local entity.

The key to success is that customers can pay under local conditions (clear installments and amounts) and that businesses maintain control over commissions, settlements, and net income.

Algonova (United Arab Emirates): online education for children in Chile

Algonova is an international online programming school for children and teenagers (ages 8 to 17) in Latin America. They teach digital skills and creativity through projects such as Scratch, Python, Roblox, and animations.

In this type of service, the ticket and recurrence make local fees and cards key to conversion. The operation works when the payment is clearly shown in local currency and reconciliation allows real net income to be measured.

Neolo (United States): digital services with regional demand

Neolo is an international web hosting and domain registration company with nearly 20 years of experience in Latin America. They offer web hosting, email, and tools for creating websites without programming.

In digital services, international friction often arises from unexpected charges and non-transparent exchange rates. Therefore, enabling methods that users perceive as local reduces complaints and improves conversion.

Chile is best scaled when payment is local and net income is controllable.

If you sell from abroad, the point is not to "accept payments." It's about avoiding two sources of friction that come up time and time again: (1) the user seeing one amount and their bank charging them another due to conversion or fees, and (2) your team closing the month without being able to explain net income and settlement dates per transaction. With local cards, installments when the ticket requires it, and local transfers for certain segments, conversion improves and support stops putting out fires.

Receiving payments in Colombia from abroad: PSE, wallets (Nequi), international charges, and reconciliation

Introduction: In Colombia, the problem is usually the final amount and the method, not the demand.

If your goal is to collect payments in Colombia from abroad, understanding what Nequi and PSE are is key: they are two widely used local methods (digital wallet and online bank transfer) and often define conversion, international charge claims, and reconciliation.

When the payment ends up being an international card in another currency, two typical effects arise: lower conversion and claims for charges that the consumer does not control (issuing bank exchange rate, commissions, or conversions). To scale in Colombia, the focus is on reducing friction and maintaining clear reconciliation in order to settle abroad with control.

PSE: why it is key for foreign companies

PSE (Secure Online Payments) allows you to pay by bank transfer. For many consumers, this is a natural method when they prefer to pay from their bank or when they want to avoid card friction.

PSE: a key method for adoption and less post-payment friction

In Colombia, PSE is particularly important because it is on par with cards in terms of market share for e-commerce. For many users, paying from their bank is the most natural flow, which is why PSE is often a requirement for capturing demand.

Furthermore, as it is a bank transfer payment, PSE tends to reduce a typical card problem: chargebacks (card payment disputes). It does not eliminate returns or claims, but it changes the dynamics compared to a card payment.

An additional operational point: PSE is not usually supported by standard global providers. In practice, it is enabled through integration with an acquirer (the entity that processes payments with local banks).

Digital wallets (Nequi): the shortcut to local expectations

In Colombia, digital wallets are part of everyday life. Nequi is a relevant example because it attracts users who prefer to pay from within its ecosystem, without going through traditional international payment channels.

For foreign companies, enabling local wallets typically impacts two important metrics:

• payment completion (fewer steps, less friction)
• fewer support tickets due to amount differences or unexpected charges

International charges: why they generate complaints even if the product is good

A recurring pattern when a foreign company charges an international card: the consumer believes they will pay one amount, and then sees another amount on their account. It is not always fraud or a mistake on the part of the merchant: often it is due to conversion by the issuer, commissions, taxes, or bank rules that the user has no control over.

This generates complaints for two reasons:

• lack of control: the user did not choose the exchange rate or commission
• lack of clarity: the final amount appears after payment

The practical way to reduce this is to charge in local currency using local methods when the market expects it and to record transaction data accurately for reconciliation purposes.

Quotas in Colombia: the logic is different from Brazil or Mexico

In Colombia, when financing is available in installments, it is most common for the customer to pay the interest according to the agreement they have with their issuing bank. In this scheme, the merchant usually receives the payment as a normal sale: they receive the full amount minus commissions, without having to absorb a financial cost as part of the price.

For a foreign company, this changes the approach: the goal is not so much to absorb or transfer a financial cost, but rather to define:

• What installment options are available depending on the method?
• how that information is presented so as not to confuse the user
• What data is recorded for reconciliation purposes?

Local fees and methods: typically require local acquiring

In Colombia, both PSE and many quota configurations often depend on a local acquirer. For a foreign company, this is key: it's not just about adding options, it's about choosing a payment architecture that supports what the market actually uses.

In particular, the availability of quotas is often linked to agreements and capacities of the local acquirer. If your flow depends solely on international routing, it is common for these options to be unavailable or uncompetitive.

Settlement: in Colombia, the term is usually shorter (and that changes flexibility).

One practical difference between Colombia and other markets is that, with local acquisition, settlement usually occurs within 24 business hours. This provides more flexibility in setting settlement terms abroad and reduces some of the operational exposure that arises when money remains in limbo for several days.

In this regard, Colombia is more similar to markets where settlement tends to be more agile, such as Mexico and Chile. On the other hand, in countries where settlement can take longer (or where installment financing changes the payment schedule), cash flow and reconciliation design tends to be more demanding.

As always: actual deadlines depend on the scheme, the purchaser, and current agreements. It is advisable to confirm updated conditions before escalating.

Withholdings and taxes: SEP and withholding on gross income (reference)

If you charge in Colombia as a foreign digital service provider, it is worth understanding a tax issue that directly impacts your net income: Significant Economic Presence (SEP) and the associated withholding mechanisms.

Operational reference (approximate and subject to change): for foreign suppliers exceeding an annual threshold of approximately USD 358,000 in revenue, a SEP scheme may apply. In practical terms, the following is usually seen:

• If the entity is registered under the applicable scheme, it can pay around 3% annually, with bi-monthly advance payments.
• If you are not registered, a withholding of approximately 10% of gross income may be applied by the local processor.

These percentages, thresholds, and conditions are subject to change and depend on the type of service and regulatory framework. Before scaling up, confirm the current treatment with local tax advisors and your payment processor to avoid surprises in reconciliation and settlement.

Operational case (edtech): TripleTen and how to collect payments in Colombia from abroad

TripleTen is a global online education (edtech) company that sells training programs to students in different markets. Colombia is a good example of how an overseas operation can work well when the payment experience is adapted to local conditions and settlement is controlled.

In practice, the approach combines methods that Colombian consumers expect:

• Local cards with the option of up to 24 installments for high-value tickets.
• PSE for local bank transfers (covers users who prefer to pay from their bank).
• Digital wallets such as Nequi to reduce payment friction and improve completion rates.

The result does not come from enabling methods alone, but from controlling three things: (1) the appropriate method for each profile, (2) clarity of the final amount in local currency to avoid claims, and (3) reconciliation per transaction to know exactly what the net income was and when it was settled.

As a reference, it is a good example of successful expansion in Colombia from abroad: the payment feels local to the user, and the transaction is audited for the team.

What is Nequi and how does it work for online payments?

Nequi is a widely used digital wallet in Colombia. For users, it works as an app where they can maintain a balance, receive money, and make payments from their cell phone.

For online payments, Nequi is used as an alternative to a card: the payer authorizes the payment from their app and it is confirmed in the purchase flow.

How users pay with Nequi:

• choose Nequi at checkout
• authorize payment from the app
• the merchant receives payment confirmation

What is PSE and when should it be used?

PSE (Secure Online Payments) is an online bank transfer mechanism widely used in Colombia.

The user pays directly from their bank through a guided flow within the checkout process.

How PSE works:

• the user chooses PSE
• select your bank
• authorize the transfer from online banking
• the merchant receives payment confirmation

PSE vs Nequi: key differences

PSE

• type: online bank transfer
• best when: the customer wants to pay from their bank

Nequi

• type: digital wallet
• best when: the customer wants to pay quickly from their cell phone

Reconciliation: what you should see per transaction

If your goal is to collect in Colombia and settle abroad, the transaction is traceable. At a minimum, for each transaction, it is advisable to record:

• method (PSE, wallet, card)
• currency presented and currency received
• gross amount, commissions, and net income
• payment date and settlement date
• an identifier that links order, payment, and settlement

Closing: Colombia works when payment feels local and net income is controllable.

For a foreign company, Colombia works when the payment feels local to the user and the transaction is auditable for the team. PSE and wallets help convert and reduce claims; reconciliation and orderly settlement allow you to scale without losing control of net income.

Frequently asked questions

What is Nequi in Colombia?

Nequi is a widely used digital wallet in Colombia. It allows users to maintain a balance, receive money, and make payments from their cell phones. For online payments, it works as an alternative to credit cards.

What is PSE in Colombia?

PSE (Secure Online Payments) is an online bank transfer mechanism. It allows users to pay from their bank through a guided flow within the checkout process.

How to pay with Nequi

The user selects Nequi at checkout, authorizes the payment from their app, and the merchant receives confirmation to complete the order or enable the service.

How PSE works

The user chooses PSE, selects their bank, authorizes the transfer from online banking, and the merchant receives confirmation of payment.

Which is better: PSE or Nequi?

It depends on the payer's habits: PSE is usually preferable for those who want to pay from their bank; Nequi is better for those who prefer a mobile wallet to pay quickly from their cell phone. Offering both usually better meets demand.

MSI in Mexico (Months Without Interest) for foreign companies: costs, conversion, settlement, and real margin

Introduction: In Mexico, the problem is not "accepting cards," it is understanding the real cost of financing.

For many foreign companies, Mexico seems like a straightforward market to sell in: cards, local transfers, and consumers accustomed to payment options. The operational problem arises when the ticket price goes up and the customer expects MSI (Months Without Interest). MSI is not just a "promotion": it defines conversion, who pays for the financing, and what the real margin looks like.

In B2C with medium/high ticket prices (education, boot camps, travel, premium retail), MSI is often a key driver. But if you don't model it well, you end up with more sales and less profitability than you thought.

What is MSI (explained as an operator, not as a glossary)

MSI allows customers to pay in monthly installments with no apparent interest to them. The key part is the transaction: someone absorbs the financial cost. That "someone" can be the merchant, the acquirer, the issuer, or a combination depending on the scheme.

In practice, MSI forces you to make an explicit decision:

• Absorb the cost: more conversion, less margin.
• Transfer it (directly or indirectly): higher margin per transaction, but more sensitive conversion.

If you don't define it from the outset, the price and CAC may look "good" on the deck but bad at the cash register.

The critical point: conversion vs. margin (and why the projection is distorted)

MSI tends to improve conversion because it expands real purchase options for the customer. The typical mistake is to attribute that improvement solely to "more demand," without measuring the total cost of financing within the net.

In B2C, where CAC tends to rise with competition, the risk is twofold:

• You increase investment because "conversion improved."
• you discover late that the net margin per transaction fell more than expected

Flexible configuration: it's not all or nothing

A good MSI implementation is rarely binary. Configuration flexibility is key to balancing conversion and margin on a ticket-by-ticket basis.

A common operating scheme is:

• Absorb the cost in 3 MSI (to maximize conversion in the most frequent segment), and
• Spread the cost over longer terms (e.g., 6, 9, 12, or even up to 24 installments) to protect margins on long-term financing.

This allows you to offer options to customers without turning every sale into a negative margin decision. The exact details depend on ticket size, elasticity, and customer mix, but the idea is the same: MSI is designed, not just "turned on" and left at that.

Settlement and visibility: what you need to see per transaction

To operate MSI without surprises, it is not enough to see "approved sale." You need traceability to reconcile by transaction:

MSI's actual costs: where the margin is shifting

The title mentions costs because, at MSI, the result depends on specific costs that are sometimes hidden behind conversion improvements. For the model to work, you must at least identify:

• MSI financial cost: how much it costs you to absorb 3 MSI and how much the cost increases in long-term installments (for example, 12 or 24 installments).
• Transaction fees: processing fees and any additional charges associated with the installment plan.
• Impact on net amount: how much does the net amount per sale change when you absorb vs. transfer the cost?
• Returns and disputes: how they are reflected in fees and what happens to the cost already incurred if there is a refund.
• FX if you trade in USD: the effective exchange rate depends on the time of settlement and conversion, not on the average of a spreadsheet.

• gross amount
• whether it was MSI and in how many installments
• whether the MSI cost was absorbed or passed on
• fees and associated financial costs
• actual net per transaction
• settlement timing

This is what separates a profitable financing strategy from one that merely "buys" conversion.

Mini operational case (realistic): MSI boosts sales, but net income does not follow suit if the configuration is not defined.

We saw this pattern repeat itself in global companies with high ticket prices in Mexico: they launch with prices in USD, start with cards and acceptable conversion rates, then enable MSI, and volume takes off.

Thirty days later, the first serious closure exposes the point: the gross amount grew, but the net per transaction does not match the modeled margin. If the business absorbed the financial cost across all terms, the actual margin falls. If it always passed it on, the conversion becomes more elastic and the mix changes.

The difference between "MSI that works" and "MSI that causes concern" is usually simple: define a flexible configuration by term and measure net and conversion with discipline.

SPEI (operational mention): relevant alternative to avoid SWIFT friction

In addition to cards and MSI, SPEI is a relevant method for foreign companies because it allows for fast local transfers. In practice, many customers do not want to pay for SWIFT: it is slow, has friction, and for small tickets it can eat into profitability due to fixed costs.

In certain cases, a local transfer with variable transaction costs may be more efficient, especially when the goal is to reduce friction and improve the payment experience without relying on international banks.

FX and real margin: the exchange rate is not the one on the launch date

If your balance is in USD and you charge in MXN, the FX defines the actual margin. An "average" exchange rate on a spreadsheet is not enough. The timing of conversion and settlement affects the net amount.

In growth transactions, the difference between "expected margin" and "realized margin" is often found in details such as fees, financing, and FX.

Operational checklist before scaling MSI in Mexico

• Define the configuration: which deadlines you absorb and which you transfer (for example, 3 MSI absorbed, the rest transferred).
• Measure conversion by term, not just "MSI on/off."
• Settlement by transaction: MSI, installments, fees, net, settlement timing.
• Model the economy per transaction with and without absorption, before increasing CAC.
• Include FX in the realized net, not just in the gross amount.
• Evaluate SPEI when SWIFT adds friction or disproportionate fixed costs.

Closing: MSI is a lever, if you design it with clear rules.

MSI can be a very effective conversion lever in Mexico, especially for high ticket prices. The key is not to avoid it: it is to design it with clear rules, with net visibility, and with flexible term configuration.

When you model financing, settlement, and FX from the outset, MSI ceases to be a source of anxiety and becomes a tool for controlled growth.

How to accept credit card payments: an operational guide for online businesses

Accepting card payments is a basic requirement for selling online. The difference between "getting paid" and "getting paid well" becomes apparent when you start to scale up: currency, fees, declines, reconciliation, and settlement times. These factors impact conversion, support, and actual margin.

In this guide, you will see, in operational terms, what alternatives exist for card payments, what you should require from your provider, and what to record so that your finance department can close the month without manual reconstructions. If you also sell in several countries, we include a specific section with considerations for international operations in Latin America.

Quick summary (to decide without wasting time)

• Local currency: prioritize charging in local currency to avoid surprises due to the issuer's exchange rate and complaints.
• Installments: where the amount justifies it, installments increase conversion, but you have to control cost and net income.
• Rejections: the actual collection rate depends on how rejections and retries are managed (especially in recurring payments).
• Reconciliation: for each transaction, you should see the gross amount, commissions, net amount, and settlement date.
• Experience: well-configured payment links and payment pages tend to close sales faster than "more methods."

Currency, exchange rates, and complaints: the most common problem when paying by card

When the charge is not clearly stated in the customer's currency, the customer may see one amount and end up paying another. The issuing bank may apply an opaque exchange rate or add charges that the user did not expect. The typical result is twofold: low conversion and increased support tickets ("I was charged differently," "it wasn't the amount I saw").

Therefore, if you sell in Latin America, a good strategy is to ensure that the payment is perceived as local: local currency, clear conditions, and a payment confirmation that is consistent with what the user will see on their statement.

Card payment channels: which one is best for your transaction?

1) Embedded payment page (website or app)

This is the typical option for self-service: the user purchases and pays without human intervention. It tends to convert well when optimized for mobile and when the amount is displayed in local currency.

2) Paid links (assisted sales)

Useful if you sell via WhatsApp, email, or with a sales team. The payment link speeds up the closing process and allows you to associate each payment with an order or invoice. Internationally, it also helps you control currency and conditions per transaction.

3) Full checkout (when you need more control)

If you sell multiple products, have highly complex flows, or need advanced customization, a full checkout is usually better than a link. The point is not to choose one or the other: it's to have the right channel for each stage of the commercial process.

4) Subscriptions and recurring charges

If you have a monthly or annual model, your problem isn't "charging once." It's charging every month, with visibility into rejections and tools to recover failed payments. This directly impacts involuntary churn.

5) Terminal/point of sale

Applies if you have in-person payments. For digital businesses, this is usually secondary.

What you should demand from your provider to accept card payments in Latin America

In LATAM, choosing a card provider is not just about comparing rates. The difference usually becomes apparent when you scale up: rejections, currency claims, reconciliation, and settlement times. These are the capabilities that you should demand from the outset.

Currency and location

• Collection in local currency (depending on the country) and consistency in how the amount is presented.
• Experience in the user's language and clear transactional messages.

In practice, this reduces complaints and prevents users from feeling that they are paying "in dollars" even though the price is quoted in local currency.

Installments (when the amount justifies it)

• Ability to enable quotas by country and adjust the number of quotas per product or transaction.
• Visibility of associated costs so as not to confuse "more conversion" with "less margin."

A sound implementation usually allows for rules: for example, enabling three installments as a standard option and treating long terms with different criteria depending on the margin and type of customer.

Reconciliation and net income

• Transaction record: gross amount, commissions, net income, currency, method, and settlement date.
• Possibility to send metadata (e.g., order ID, invoice ID, customer ID) for traceability.

If finance cannot explain why the net amount differs from the gross amount or when each payment is settled, the problem is not an accounting one: it is an operational data issue.

Settlement and visibility per transaction

For companies that collect payments from abroad, the settlement defines the actual cash flow. Be sure to check the following for each transaction: payment date, settlement date, and final currency. This prevents wrong decisions based on averages.

Rejection and retry management

• Visible and actionable reasons for rejection.
• Automatic retries for recurring payments when applicable.

In subscription models, part of growth depends on how many payments are "recovered" without manual intervention. That's why visibility + automation is often worth more than a small difference in price.

Anti-fraud and disputes

Assess whether the provider has anti-fraud tools tailored to the regional pattern and a clear dispute process. If your team cannot respond quickly to a chargeback, the cost ends up being operational and reputational.

Operation without code (when there are non-technical teams)

• Create payment links per product/plan or instant links, with expiration dates, enabled methods, and fees.
• Discount coupons and pre-filled fields to reduce friction.
• Redirection or post-payment confirmation page to control the entire flow.

Post-payment experience control

It may seem minor, but it's key: defining a confirmation or redirection page avoids confusion, reduces tickets, and allows you to activate onboarding (course access, account registration, receipt delivery) at the right time.

Support and response times

When you sell cross-border, a payment problem can slow down sales in an entire country. Define in advance what support channel you will have and within what timeframes. In practice, this reduces the hidden cost of operating in the region.

What to register to operate without a "gray area"

If you are growing today, this point usually appears late. It is advisable to anticipate it. At a minimum, for payment, record:

• Order or invoice ID
• country and currency submitted
• gross amount, commissions, and net income
• whether it was in installments and how many
• payment date and settlement date

The simple rule: the payment must "return" to your operation.

A payment without a reference ends up in support. That's why, in addition to the financial fields, you should record the context: product, plan, cohort, salesperson, or channel. That way, when a student asks about a charge or when finance reviews the net amount, you don't need to reconstruct the story with screenshots.

Returns and disputes: define the procedure before escalating

In digital businesses, returns exist. The point is that they are integrated into reconciliation: what happens with commissions, how the net amount is reflected after a refund, and what evidence you keep to respond to disputes. If the process is defined when there is already volume, the operating cost multiplies.

Reports that help with decision-making (not just for "looking at sales")

If you collect payments in multiple countries, you need reports that separate by country, currency, and method. This allows you to see where conversion is falling, where rejections are rising, and where settlement is affecting cash flow. Without this segmentation, it is common to confuse growth with real improvement.

With these minimums, returns and audits no longer depend on manual searches.

When an alternative to an "international card" is better

In some segments (especially B2B or users with banking friction), a local transfer may be preferable to an international payment. In Mexico, for example, a local transfer such as SPEI can reduce friction compared to SWIFT in certain cases. The important thing is that your strategy does not depend on a single method: it depends on the payer's profile and the amount.

If you sell to Latin America from abroad: what changes

If your company is outside the region and sells in Latin America (e.g., online education or digital services), there are two additional risks: (1) claims for amount differences when issuer conversion is involved, and (2) loss of control over actual net income if you do not have visibility into fees, currency, and settlement date per transaction.

In these cases, it is advisable to prioritize: collection in local currency whenever possible, clear rules for quotas per country, and reconciliation that connects each payment with an order or invoice. This way, you can avoid growth translating into more support and more manual work.

To scale: those who control currency, quotas, and reconciliation convert better.

Accepting cards is the starting point. In Latin America, the competitive advantage comes when you charge clearly in local currency, offer installments with explicit rules, and can reconcile net income and settlement per transaction. This combination reduces claims, improves conversion, and gives control back to the finance team.

Payment methods in Latin America for foreign companies: cards, installments, transfers, and wallets by country

Payment methods in Latin America do not work the same way as in the United States or Europe. For a foreign company selling in the region, understanding which methods customers use in each country—cards, installments, transfers, or wallets—can mean the difference between converting or losing a sale.

The region is fragmented: different currencies, local payment habits, installments as a deciding factor for certain tickets, and local bank transfers that compete with cards. In addition, many companies sell from abroad and settle outside the country, making it critical to control net income, settlement timing, and transaction reconciliation.

If you are comparing alternatives and regional coverage, check out this guide to payment gateways in Latin America.

This guide is designed for growth, finance, and product teams. It is educational, but with an operational focus: which payment methods to prioritize by country, how they affect conversion, and what you should measure to scale without friction.

The basic rule: in LATAM, billing must feel local.

In many markets, when the collection is perceived as "international," two recurring frictions arise:

• Currency confusion: the customer sees one price, and then their bank applies conversion or charges that change the final amount.
• Approval failure with no alternative: if the card is declined or the user prefers a transfer or wallet and cannot find it, the purchase is lost.

Therefore, the operational objective is straightforward: offer local collection (method and experience) and maintain internal control of the net amount and settlement. When this is well organized, conversion improves and claims for "different amounts" or payment friction decrease.

Which "payment methods" really matter to foreign companies?

For most cross-border businesses (edtech, SaaS, digital services, memberships, and e-commerce), the most important payment methods can generally be grouped into:

• Local cards (credit and debit)
• Fees (when required by the ticket)
• Local bank transfers (e.g., PSE in Colombia, SPEI in Mexico, and transfers in other markets)
• Wallets and instant methods (e.g., Nequi in Colombia, PIX in Brazil, QR and wallets in Argentina)

The common mistake is trying to cover "everything." The recommended approach is to define a minimum viable mix per country that covers the payer's dominant habits, and then measure. In LATAM, two well-chosen methods often convert more than five poorly integrated methods.

How payment habits affect conversion

At LATAM, the payment method is not a checkout detail: it is part of the product. These are typical conversion levers:

• Availability of the dominant local method: if users want to pay as they are accustomed to and cannot find it, they abandon the site.
• Installment plans aligned with the ticket price: in certain segments, not offering installment plans reduces conversion even if the product is good.
• Clarity of the amount in local currency: reduces doubts and complaints about exchange rates or issuer charges.
• Alternative when card fails: transfers and wallets reduce losses due to rejections.

Practical tip: measure conversion by method and by ticket. Many teams look at an average and miss the point: installments can increase conversion on high tickets, while local transfers improve conversion in segments that avoid cards.

Settlement: what defines actual cash

Settlement is the issue that arises when there is already volume. Two companies may charge the same gross amount, but have very different realities due to:

• settlement timing (when the money is actually available)
• differences by method (card vs. transfer vs. wallet)
• financing costs in installments
• FX if you collect in local currency and settle abroad (e.g., in USD)

If your company sells in Latin America from abroad, it is a good idea to think about settlement from the outset. Not to complicate matters, but to avoid making the wrong decisions: investing more in acquisition for a conversion that looks good, but then leaves you with a lower net profit or arrives late.

Reconciliation: the minimum requirement for scaling

Reconciliation is where you gain or lose time (and control). If you sell in multiple countries, for each transaction you should be able to record and consult:

• Order or invoice ID
• country and method
• currency presented and amount
• payment status and timestamp
• commissions
• net income
• settlement date

This prevents support and finance from having to reconstruct payments with screenshots, emails, or manual searches. At scale, that operational cost is one of the reasons why growth becomes fragile.

Net income: the metric that is non-negotiable

In cross-border transactions, net income is what remains after commissions, method costs, and, if applicable, installment financing. In addition, if you charge in local currency and settle abroad, the net amount depends on the time of conversion and settlement, not on the average of a spreadsheet.

Therefore, the healthy approach is to measure:

• net per transaction (not just gross)
• net per method (card, installments, transfer, wallet)
• net per cohort (if there are subscriptions or recurring payments)

With that visibility, you can make informed decisions: when to offer installments, when to push SPEI or PSE, and in which cases a wallet improves conversion without destroying margin.

Payment methods in Latin America by country

Below is a summary of typical coverage by country and how it translates operationally. This is not a list of providers; it is a decision guide by method.

Argentina

In Argentina, the operation usually revolves around local cards, installments, and a simple mobile experience. For foreign companies, the focus is on offering a local experience and reconciling without relying on spreadsheets.

• Cards (basis for online payment)
• Interest-free installments (when required by the ticket and segment)
• QR payments (relevant in certain flows and channels)
• Wallets and digital wallets (as applicable)
• Bank transfers (as an alternative for specific segments)

Sign of success: the user understands the amount in local currency and the finance team can see the net amount and settlement per transaction.

Brazil

Brazil is a large market with distinct habits. For cross-border transactions, there are two key factors: support for local methods (particularly PIX) and installments (payment in installments) where the ticket justifies it.

• Cards (credit and debit)
• Installment plan (card payments)
• PIX (instant method, high impact on conversion)

In some market segments, deferred payment by ticket is also available. If your focus is cross-border, prioritize methods that maximize conversion and immediate experience (card, installment plans, and PIX) and measure the real impact by segment.

Chile

Chile tends to be more predictable operationally, but the difference is made by the combination of local cards, installments, and bank transfers depending on the segment.

• Cards
• Installments
• Fees assumed by the business (according to the scheme)
• Bank transfers

In Chile, the key is to offer the right option depending on the ticket: self-service card, installments when the amount requires it, and local transfer as an alternative. As in any country, the operation is sustained by reconciliation and net visibility.

Colombia

Colombia has a high adoption rate of local transfers and wallets. For foreign companies, offering PSE and Nequi (in addition to cards) tends to improve conversion and reduce friction associated with international payments.

• Cards
• PSE (online bank transfer)
• Nequi (digital wallet)

Operating rule: PSE tends to be preferred by users who want to pay from their bank; Nequi by those who prefer a mobile wallet. Offering both covers different habits and reduces losses due to lack of method.

Mexico

Mexico combines card payments (MSI) and local transfers (SPEI) depending on the type of payer. In cross-border transactions, SPEI is also relevant to avoid SWIFT friction on certain tickets.

• Cards
• interest-free months (MSI) (installments, key for medium or high ticket)
• SPEI (local bank transfer)

In B2C with medium or high ticket prices, MSI can be the difference between closing or losing the sale. In B2B or for payers who prefer transfers, SPEI is the natural method. In both cases, the transaction must measure actual net and settlement times.

When it is appropriate to locate payments (and when it is not)

Localizing payments does not mean opening a branch in every country. It means that the payment method is adapted to the payer's habits and that your transaction can be reconciled and settled without friction.

In general, it is advisable to locate when:

• Your target market is already validated, and the volume justifies optimizing conversion.
• Your medium or high ticket price makes quotas relevant (e.g., edtech).
• Your support already sees friction due to currency or international charges.
• You need alternatives to the card to improve approval.

On the other hand, if you are validating low-volume demand, you can start with a minimal mix and scale the localization by country based on data (conversion, rejections, net, and settlement time).

Payment infrastructure: combining local methods with centralized operation

In cross-border operations, there is a typical tension: the customer wants to pay locally; the company wants to operate centrally. That is why many companies are looking for an infrastructure that allows them to:

• process payments using local methods by country (cards, installments, transfers, and wallets)
• maintain centralized reconciliation (a single place to view gross, commissions, net, statements, and references)
• have clear settlement rules (timing, currency, net visibility)
• and, when applicable, process in USD (e.g., for US companies) without losing access to local methods in LATAM

The operational advantage of this approach is not to "simplify for the sake of simplifying." It is to reduce duplicate integrations, reduce manual work in finance and support, and accelerate country-by-country expansion without losing visibility into net revenue. When local methods and reconciliation are on the same circuit, it is easier to measure conversion by method, detect friction, and adjust strategy without redoing the operation every quarter.

Operational checklist for foreign companies

• Define priority countries and the minimum mix per country (card + 1–2 local methods).
• Decide on a quota policy where the ticket justifies it and measure the actual net.
• Includes local transfers (PSE/SPEI) when requested by the payer or when SWIFT adds friction.
• Define from the outset what you are going to record per transaction (net, commissions, settlement, IDs).
• Measure conversion and rejections by method, ticket, and segment, not just averages.

To climb without friction

In Latin America, payment methods are operational tools: they change conversion, support, and actual margin. The foreign companies that scale best are not those that add the most methods, but those that localize where it is worthwhile and maintain control of net income, reconciliation, and settlement timing.

Frequently asked questions about payment methods in Latin America

What are the most commonly used payment methods in Latin America?

It depends on the country, but the most common are cards, installment payments, local bank transfers, and digital wallets.

What payment methods should be offered to customers in Latin America?

In general, it is advisable to combine cards with local methods such as SPEI in Mexico, PSE in Colombia, or PIX in Brazil.

Why are quotas important in Latin America?

In many countries, installment payments are part of the shopping habit and can increase conversion in medium and high ticket items.

During the purchase process in an online store , the customer must complete a very important step called checkout. Knowing what it is and how it works will help optimize this stage to generate a good shopping experience and a successful sale.

What is checkout?

This is the last step of the purchase process in which the customer confirms the products he/she wishes to pay the store or e-commerce business for.

At this stage, the customer selects the payment method, confirms the shipping address and finalizes the online purchase. However, a poorly designed checkout page can lead to cart abandonment, affect the results and decrease the conversion rate of an online store.

What are the types of checkout that exist?

There are different types of checkout available for a customer to finalize their purchase:

• Traditionalcheckout: the customer has a form with step-by-step instructions on what to do, such as reviewing the cart, personal information, choosing the shipping option, payment method, confirming data and processing payment.
• Single-pagecheckout: all the information needed to complete the purchase is on the same web page, without redirection, offering a simpler and faster experience.  
• Multi-stepcheckout: the customer must go through several stages during the purchase, which implies a longer process, more clicks and a higher probability of abandonment. 
• Socialcheckout : the retailer uses social networks as a sales channel and completes the purchase process without leaving the applications. 
• Checkout APICheckout API: the buyer does not have to leave the site, since the online store has the payment provider integrated into its page. Once the customer decides to buy, the API manages the data collection. 

How does the checkout process work?

A good e-commerce checkout must follow these steps to complete a purchase: 

1. Product selection in the shopping cart: the customer checks his cart before proceeding to checkout.
2. Choice of shipping method: choose from the available options the most convenient one, depending on shipping costs and delivery times.
3. Registration of personal data and shipping address: enter in the payment page your data for the transaction and the place of reception of the product. 
4. Selection of the payment method: choose from the multiple options available such as credit or debit card, transfer or virtual wallet.
5. Confirmation of the purchase and payment experience: notifies the customer that the purchase process was successfully completed and requests the customer's evaluation of the experience to correct any errors that may have occurred in the future.

Why is security important in the checkout process?

A secure payment gateway with SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) protects the customer's personal and financial data by ensuring that it cannot be read by intruders or hackers, and that the information will not be modified during a transaction.

The security it provides to the customer reinforces trust in the online store, improves the shopping experience by offering a smooth and seamless checkout process. It also increases the conversion rate and reduces the purchase abandonment rate.

8 best practices for checkout optimization and customization

Improving the checkout of an online store is possible with these best practices:

1. Reduce form fields and use autocomplete: requesting only the basic information to make the purchase and having the function to automatically complete the text helps save time and avoids errors.
2. Offer payment options and multiple means of payment: have available as many options as possible, such as credit cards, debit cards, prepaid cards, transfers, installment payments, mobile device payments, wallets, so that the customer can choose the one that best suits him/her.
3. Show clear information on how the shipments are: clarify what the waiting times are, if there is an additional charge and the shipping method, especially if they are international.
4. Ensure transparency of personal data and use of SSL protocols: allows the information to be encrypted and guarantees its integrity during the transaction. 
5. Personalize the user experience to improve the shopping experience: each customer has their own needs, the strategy must be adapted according to their preferences and behavior in the online store.
6. Use strategies to reduce cart abandonment and recover them: simplify the checkout process, automate reminder emails, offer different payment methods. Rebill 's smart retries and automatic notifications help recover up to 71% of rejected payments.
7. Constantly test to reduce the abandonment rate and improve the conversion rate: test the page or the checkout process to verify its performance and identify errors that may interfere with the purchase.
8. Provide support in real time and guarantee attention at key times: provide immediate assistance to solve doubts or guide the customer in the final phase so that he/she has a good buying experience.

Rebill is the best payment platform for global companies, with presence in several Latin American countries. Thanks to it, customers will have a payment environment to process purchases in a secure and personalized way, with local and international options. 

Why use Rebill checkout in your business?

With Rebill checkout you will make a difference in your business and improve the customer experience thanks to these advantages:

• Hyper-customizable checkout: customize the design with your logo, colors and domain, offering an experience aligned with your brand and increasing customer trust.
• Mobile optimization and seamless experience: Rebill's one-click payments are designed for mobile and reduce friction, speeding conversion and reducing cart abandonment.
• Automatic notifications and cart recovery: reminders via WhatsApp or email help customers finalize pending payments, increasing the success rate of your transactions.
• Fast and easy integration: with modern SDKs and REST APIs, you can deploy Rebill in your business in less than an hour, without relying on complex development.
• Intelligent and multi-currency payment links: each link automatically adapts to the client's currency and country, allowing you to charge in Argentina and other LATAM markets without complications.
• Recurring and flexible billing: set up subscriptions, upgrades, downgrades and trial periods from the same payment link, ideal for recurring services or online courses.

If you want to have a secure checkout process, keep your customers on your site and reduce chargebacks in your business, contact us, we have a hyper-customizable checkout for you!

What is 7-Eleven? History and concept of 7-Eleven

7-Eleven is a multinational convenience store chain with origins in the United States. Founded in 1927, it has grown to become one of the most recognized brands in its sector worldwide, with more than 68,000 stores in 17 countries. In Latin America, 7-Eleven has established a strong presence, especially in Mexico, where it operates more than 1,800 stores.

The name 7-Eleven comes from its original hours of operation, from 7 am to 11 pm. Today, many 7-Eleven stores operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, offering a wide variety of products and services to their customers.

7-Eleven services in Latin America

Products and convenience

7-Eleven offers a wide range of products and services, including food and beverages, convenience products and financial services. In Latin America, 7-Eleven has adapted to local preferences, offering products and services that reflect the region's culture and tastes. For example, in Mexico, 7-Eleven stores sell popular local brand products as well as traditional Mexican foods and beverages.

Financial Services

In addition to convenience products, many 7-Eleven stores also offer financial services. In Mexico, customers can pay bills, recharge cell phone airtime, and withdraw cash. These services make 7-Eleven a convenient place for quick and easy financial transactions.

Online payments at 7-Eleven

In line with its goal of offering convenience to its customers, 7-Eleven has adopted online payment technology. In many countries, customers can use mobile payment applications to pay for their purchases at 7-Eleven stores. In addition, in some countries, 7-Eleven also allows customers to pay bills online through its website or mobile app.

Online payments in Latin America

In Latin America, 7-Eleven has implemented various forms of online payments to meet the needs of its customers. For example, in Mexico, customers can pay for their purchases using mobile payment applications such as BBVA Wallet and CitiBanamex Mobile. 7-Eleven has also partnered with financial technology companies to offer online payment services.

Integrate 7-Eleven as a payment method with Rebill

Like 7-Eleven, your business can expand and thrive in Latin America with the right payment solution. Rebill offers a payments platform that accepts all major payment methods in Mexico and LATAM, including cards, e-wallets, transfers and cash in all major Latin American markets. With transparent costs, no minimum fees and real human support, Rebill is the ideal partner for startups and global enterprises looking to streamline cross-border payments.

Advantages of using Rebill

Whether you need to make payments to your workforce, customers or partners, or expand your presence across the LATAM region without establishing a legal presence in each country, Rebill simplifies the process. With our fast integration through a user-friendly API and SDK, you can accelerate your launch and growth in the market.

Contact us today to find out how we can help your business reach its full potential in Latin America.