MobilePay is a mobile payment app that lets customers in Denmark and Finland pay for purchases, in-store and online, without entering card details. As cash use decreases in Nordic countries, digital payment solutions such as MobilePay enable convenient contactless payments in store and online. Businesses that accept MobilePay can create a faster, more secure checkout process while demonstrating to customers that they understand the local market.

In 2022, MobilePay merged with Vipps, a Norwegian digital wallet, to form the parent company Vipps MobilePay. At the end of 2025, the two apps collectively had 12.4 million users.

This guide will cover how MobilePay works, where it’s used, and how businesses can start accepting MobilePay transactions.

What's in this article?

• What is MobilePay?
  
• How does MobilePay work?
  
• Where is MobilePay used?
  
• Who uses MobilePay?
  
• Benefits of accepting MobilePay
  
• MobilePay security
  
• How to accept MobilePay
  
• Alternatives to MobilePay
  
• How Stripe Payments can help
  
• FAQs about MobilePay
  

What is MobilePay?

MobilePay is a mobile payment app that lets customers in Denmark and Finland pay for purchases in-store and online without entering card details, functioning similarly to a digital wallet. Users link a bank account or payment card to the app and authorise each transaction via QR code scan (in-store) or in-app redirect (online).

Owned by parent company Vipps MobilePay, formed through a 2022 merger with Norway's Vipps, the app also supports peer-to-peer money transfers between users.

How does MobilePay work?

MobilePay works like a digital wallet: customers link a credit or debit card to the app and authorise the payments with a tap or swipe—no card details required at checkout. Users download the MobilePay app, register by linking their phone number to a bank account or payment card, and verify their identity through SMS, email, or a digital ID.

In-person payments

For in-person payments, customers scan a QR code generated by the business, then MobilePay opens and asks the customer to approve the payment. After the customer does so, the app shows them an order confirmation.

Online payments

For online payments, MobilePay redirects customers from the business’s website to the app, where they can authorise the payment. MobilePay then sends the card data to the business’s payment gateway to complete the transaction. Certain cards or banks might require an additional card authentication step to process the MobilePay transaction.

MobilePay enables peer-to-peer transfers, allowing users to send or accept funds using their phone numbers. The app sends the recipient a notification to approve the request.

Where is MobilePay used?

MobilePay is a mainstay and of the Nordic payments market, where cashless payments are the norm. It primarily serves Denmark and Finland. Danske Bank first launched MobilePay in Denmark in 2013, and it entered the Finnish market soon after. MobilePay later launched in Greenland in 2020. By late 2025, MobilePay had 4.74 million users in Denmark and 2.86 million in Finland. MobilePay discontinued its service in Norway in 2018; Norwegian users are served by Vipps, MobilePay's sister app under the Vipps MobilePay parent company.

Who uses MobilePay?

While people of all ages use MobilePay, the app is especially popular among younger people with 99% of Danish people ages 20–39 using the app as of October 2022, the latest data available.

On the business side, these types of businesses and institutions accept this payment method:

• E-commerce businesses: Online businesses integrate MobilePay into their checkout processes to give customers a quick, contactless payment option.

• E-commerce platforms: E-commerce platforms such as Shopify and Shopware accept MobilePay as a payment option.

• Brick-and-mortar shops: Retailers with physical stores use MobilePay to collect in-store payments using QR codes.

• Subscription businesses: Businesses using a subscription model allow customers to make recurring payments through MobilePay.

• Non-profits: Non-profit organisations and charities collect donations through MobilePay so that people can donate spontaneously.

• Event organisers: Fairs, markets, and entertainment event organisers use MobilePay to handle ticket and merchandise sales.

• Educational institutions: Many schools accept MobilePay for payments related to school activities, meals, and fundraisers.

Benefits of accepting MobilePay

Accepting MobilePay provides multiple benefits to businesses in the Nordic markets, where it’s widely used. Here’s how businesses can benefit:

• Faster transactions: ​​MobilePay reduces wait times at checkout and can improve the customer experience.

• Higher conversion rates: Accepting MobilePay can help generate more sales. Online marketplace HandyHand reported 10%–20% higher conversion rates after integrating MobilePay payments through Stripe.

• Better cash flow: MobilePay quickly transfers payments to the business’s bank account.

• Predictable costs: Unlike payment methods that charge a percentage-based fee per transaction, MobilePay charges businesses registered in Denmark a fixed monthly membership fee, which can make costs easier to forecast for high-volume merchants. Stripe bills this monthly fee by deducting the amount from the business’s Stripe balance.

• Real-time reporting: Businesses can track payments in real time for insight into daily sales and financial planning.

• Secure transactions: MobilePay uses strong encryption and security protocols to reduce the risk of fraud.

• Competitive advantage: Accepting MobilePay signals local market fluency—an important differentiator in Denmark and Finland, where it's the dominant payment method.

• Loyalty integration: Loyalty programs can integrate with MobilePay to let customers earn and redeem rewards during the payment process.

MobilePay security

MobilePay uses multilayer security including biometric authentication, end-to-end encryption, and automated fraud detection. It also complies with EU regulatory standards such as General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and revised Payment Services Directive (PSD2).

• Payment authorisation: The user must authorise every MobilePay transaction. The app also requires the user to verify their identity through a personal identification number (PIN) or fingerprint when logging into their account, which reduces the risk of fraudulent transactions.

• Encryption: MobilePay encrypts the sensitive data transmitted between the user's device and its servers. It uses industry-standard encryption protocols such as Transport Layer Security (TLS). This ensures that fraudulent actors can't use any intercepted personal and financial information.

• Automated fraud detection: Advanced algorithms detect potential fraudulent transactions. If MobilePay detects suspicious activity such as increased spending volume from a particular user, it will temporarily block the transaction or account until the user verifies the activity.

• Regulatory compliance: MobilePay complies with GDPR and PSD2 to securely handle users' personal data and electronic payments. These requirements include implementing Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) protocols and keeping the minimum amount of personal data required to complete transactions.

How to accept MobilePay

Businesses that want to accept MobilePay should first ensure they don’t belong to one of MobilePay’s prohibited business categories, such as adult entertainment and cryptocurrency trading companies. Eligible businesses can sign up on the MobilePay website.

To integrate MobilePay with a payment-service provider (PSP) or e-commerce platform:

1. Log in to the platform's dashboard or admin panel.
   
2. Navigate to the settings section where payment methods are managed.
   
3. Locate MobilePay in the list of available payment methods.
   
4. Add and enable MobilePay as an accepted payment method.
   
5. Complete any additional setup steps required by the platform, such as linking a MobilePay merchant account.
   

Stripe offers a simpler path for businesses already using its platform:

1. Log in to the Stripe Dashboard.
   
2. Go to the payment methods settings.
   
3. Enable MobilePay with a single toggle.
   

Alternatives to MobilePay

There are several popular alternatives to MobilePay, each with similar mobile payment services customised for different markets and user needs.

• Vipps: Vipps is a Norwegian payment method that supports peer-to-peer transfers and payments to businesses. It uses strong authentication methods including BankID for secure transactions. Accepting Vipps can help businesses broaden their appeal in the Norwegian market. (Note: Vipps and MobilePay operate as separate apps under the same parent company, Vipps MobilePay. Businesses targeting Norwegian customers should consider Vipps; those in Denmark and Finland should use MobilePay.)

• Swish: Swish is a Swedish mobile payment solution that enables both peer-to-peer transfers and payments to businesses. It’s integrated with Swedish banks and supports real-time payments. Swish uses BankID for secure authentication to keep transactions safe and verified.

• Apple Pay: Apple Pay allows users to make contactless payments with their Apple devices. It uses Face ID, Touch ID, and device-specific codes for authentication, as well as tokenisation for transaction security. However, the fact that Apple Pay is only available on Apple devices limits its reach compared to competitors such as Google Pay and PayPal.

• Google Pay: Google Pay allows users to make payments through their smartphones or other devices with near-field communication (NFC) capabilities. Google Pay uses multilayered security, including encryption, tokenisation, and biometric or PIN-based authentication.

• PayPal: PayPal handles online payments and peer-to-peer transfers internationally. Its mobile app allows users to pay in store, send money, and manage their accounts. PayPal is a useful payment method for businesses looking to accept international payments.

How Stripe Payments can help

Stripe Payments provides a unified, global payments solution that helps any business accept digital wallet payments online, in person and around the world.

Stripe Payments can help you:

• Optimise your checkout experience: Create a frictionless customer experience and save thousands of engineering hours with prebuilt payment UIs, access to 100+ payment methods, including more than a dozen digital wallet payment methods and Link, a wallet built by Stripe.

• Expand to new markets faster: Reach customers worldwide and reduce the complexity and cost of multicurrency management with cross-border payment options, available in 195 countries across 135+ currencies.

• Unify payments in person and online: Easily track and reconcile digital wallet payments across online and in-person channels.

• Improve payments performance: Increase revenue with a range of customisable, easy-to-configure payment tools, including no-code fraud protection and advanced capabilities to improve authorisation rates.

• Move faster with a flexible, reliable platform for growth: Build on a platform designed to scale with you, with 99.999% historical uptime and industry-leading reliability.

Learn more about how Stripe Payments can power your online and in-person payments or get started today.

FAQs about MobilePay

Here are answers to some common questions about how MobilePay works for both consumers and businesses.