The digitalization of payments has radically transformed the way consumers interact with commerce, driving the need for companies to offer a broader range of options. Convenience and immediacy have become basic expectations for users, who demand smooth and secure payment experiences.
In this context, PaynoPain —a payment solutions provider— conducted the 2025 survey “Payment Methods: The Ultimate Decision”, which revealed significant generational differences in the use of payment systems. Fifty percent of Gen Z prefers digital wallets, while 63% of Millennials choose cards.
Generation Z stands out for its preference for electronic wallets, surpassing cards (35%). In contrast, Millennials favor cards, used by 63% of them, followed by cash (19%) and wallets, which are used frequently by only 15% of this group.
Despite their digital inclination, 42% of Gen Z say they still carry cash —though never more than 20 euros. However, 31% avoid it altogether and prefer to pay digitally. Meanwhile, nearly half of Millennials (50%) also carry less than 20 euros, while 32% carry more. Both generations agree that the main use of cash is for payments in small local shops.
Generation Z prefers to shop online (50%), and a considerable portion (35%) research in physical stores before buying online. Their least preferred channel is in-person shopping (4%). In contrast, Millennials show a stronger preference for shopping in-store (37%). Although they also lean toward online shopping (40%), the difference between the two is minimal —just 2.65 percentage points— suggesting that both options are almost equally important for Millennials.
When facing payment issues on an online store, Gen Z is less patient: 46% would abandon the purchase in less than five minutes. Meanwhile, most Millennials (45%) are willing to wait at least five minutes before giving up on the purchase process.
“The survey data clearly reflects an evolution in payment habits. Generation Z, being digitally native, adopts innovative payment methods such as wallets more quickly, while Millennials feel more comfortable with the familiarity of bank cards. This trend shows that the future of the financial sector must focus on offering seamless, fast, and secure solutions —tailored to the demands of a new generation of consumers who value immediacy above all,” says Jordi Nebot, CEO and founder of PaynoPain.
