Digital payments and e-commerce in Mexico: current landscape

Digital Mexico: an exploding market

E-commerce in Mexico doesn't stop growing. In the last 5 years, online sales have more than tripled and it's estimated that in 2026 they'll represent over 15% of total commerce. If your business isn't selling online, you're losing an increasingly large portion of the market.

But selling online isn't just "putting a shopping cart on your website." You need to understand how Mexicans pay, what platforms they use, and what they expect from a digital shopping experience.

How do Mexicans pay online?

This is where Mexico differs from the rest of the world. While in the US almost everything is paid with credit cards, in Mexico the reality is very different:

Debit card — The most used payment method in Mexican e-commerce. Most banked people have debit, not credit.

Credit card — Second place, but with a smaller base. Interest-free installments (MSI) are a huge differentiator in Mexico.

Bank transfer (SPEI) — Instant bank-to-bank payments. Increasingly popular for their low cost and security.

Cash at convenience stores — OXXO Pay, PayCash, and similar allow unbanked people to pay cash and receive their product online. Critical for reaching the unbanked market.

Digital wallets — Mercado Pago, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay. Growing rapidly, especially among young users.

BNPL (Buy Now, Pay Later) — Services like Kueski Pay or Aplazo allow buying now and paying later in installments. Growing aggressively.

Which payment gateway to choose?

If you're going to sell online, you need a payment gateway that accepts the methods your customers use. These are the most relevant in Mexico:

Stripe — Most popular among developers. Accepts cards, OXXO Pay, and transfers. Excellent API, easy to integrate.

Conekta — Mexican, specialized in the local market. Accepts OXXO, SPEI, cards. Good Spanish support.

Mercado Pago — MercadoLibre's digital wallet. Large user base, easy to integrate if you already sell on MercadoLibre.

PayPal — Known worldwide. Generates trust, but commissions are higher.

OpenPay (BBVA) — Good option if you already have a BBVA account. Accepts multiple methods.

Trends you should know

Social Commerce

Selling directly from social media — Instagram Shopping, TikTok Shop, WhatsApp Catalog — is growing exponentially. Users want to buy without leaving the app they're on.

Subscriptions

The subscription model isn't just for Netflix. Coffee shops, food stores, cleaning services, software — more and more businesses offer monthly plans with automatic billing.

Contactless payments

Apple Pay, Google Pay, and QR payments are replacing cash at physical points of sale. If you have a physical store, you need to accept contactless payments.

Automatic invoicing

Mexican customers increasingly request invoices (CFDIs). Having a system that generates them automatically after each purchase is no longer optional — it's expected.

Opportunities for your business

If you sell physical products: Set up an online store with Shopify, WooCommerce, or a custom solution. Integrate OXXO Pay to reach the unbanked market. Offer installments for high tickets.

If you sell services: Create an online booking system with advance payment. Use Stripe for recurring billing if you offer monthly plans.

If you already have a physical store: Add an online channel. You don't need a full e-commerce — start with a WhatsApp Business catalog or a Stripe payment link.

If you're B2B: Implement automatic invoicing, bank transfer payments (SPEI), and a client portal where they can see their history and download invoices.

Mistakes to avoid

1. Only accepting credit cards. You're excluding more than half your potential customers.

2. Not offering installments. For purchases over $50 USD equivalent, installments can be the difference between a sale and an abandoned cart.

3. Complicated checkout process. Each extra step loses 10-20% of buyers. Simplify as much as possible.

4. No SSL certificate. Without the green padlock, nobody will enter their card on your site.

5. Ignoring invoicing. If a customer asks for an invoice and you can't provide one, you lose the sale.

The future is digital

E-commerce in Mexico is no longer a trend — it's the norm. Every year, more people buy online for the first time and those who already buy, buy more.

If your business isn't ready to sell and collect digitally, it's not a question of whether you'll lose customers, but how many you're already losing.

At Nexora we develop e-commerce platforms and integrated payment systems. If you want to take your business to digital commerce, we're ready to help.