What Is Paysafecard?
LocalPaysafecard is a prepaid voucher-based payment method that allows consumers to pay online without a bank account, credit card, or personal financial information. Available at over 650,000 sales outlets in 50+ countries, users purchase vouchers with cash and redeem them using a 16-digit PIN.
How It Works
1. **Purchase**: The consumer buys a Paysafecard voucher at a retail outlet, receiving a 16-digit PIN. 2. **Checkout**: The consumer selects Paysafecard at the merchant's online checkout. 3. **PIN entry**: The consumer enters their 16-digit PIN (or multiple PINs for larger amounts). 4. **Verification**: Paysafecard's system verifies the PIN and checks the available balance. 5. **Authorization**: If sufficient funds are available, the payment is authorized and the merchant receives instant confirmation. 6. **Balance update**: The purchase amount is deducted from the voucher balance. Any remaining balance can be used for future transactions.
Key Details
Instant
2-10% for merchants; free voucher purchase
Up to €100 per voucher; up to 10 PINs per transaction
39 countries
Pros & Cons
- No bank account or card needed — consumers pay with cash-purchased vouchers, reaching the unbanked.
- Complete payment anonymity — no personal or financial information is shared with the merchant.
- Instant payment confirmation — PIN verification and authorization happen in seconds.
- Global availability — sold at 650,000+ retail outlets in 50+ countries.
- No chargeback risk — prepaid vouchers cannot be reversed or disputed.
- Higher merchant fees (2-10%) compared to bank transfers and card processing.
- Limited voucher denominations — consumers must purchase vouchers in advance, capping spontaneous purchase amounts.
- Not suitable for recurring billing — each payment requires a new voucher PIN.
- Inactive PIN fees — unused PINs are charged €2/month after 12 months of inactivity.
- Limited PSP support — fewer global PSPs offer Paysafecard compared to mainstream methods.
Use Cases
- iGaming — online casinos and betting sites accept Paysafecard for deposits, benefiting from no chargebacks and spending control.
- Gaming — video game platforms and digital marketplaces accept Paysafecard for game purchases and in-game currency.
- Streaming and entertainment — music and video streaming services accept Paysafecard for subscription payments.
- Privacy-sensitive purchases — consumers who prefer not to share financial data online use Paysafecard.
- Underbanked markets — merchants in regions with low card penetration offer Paysafecard as a cash-to-online bridge.
Paysafecard is a prepaid online payment method owned by Paysafe Group. It allows consumers to make online purchases using a prepaid voucher purchased with cash, eliminating the need for a bank account, credit card, or disclosure of personal financial information. Since its founding in Austria in 2000, Paysafecard has grown to become the world's leading prepaid online payment method, available at over 650,000 retail outlets across more than 50 countries.
## What Is Paysafecard?
Paysafecard works on a simple voucher model. Consumers visit a retail outlet (convenience store, gas station, newsstand, or supermarket) and purchase a Paysafecard voucher for a fixed amount (common denominations include €10, €25, €50, and €100). The voucher contains a unique 16-digit PIN. To pay online, the consumer selects Paysafecard at checkout and enters the PIN. The purchase amount is deducted from the voucher balance. If the purchase exceeds the single voucher's value, consumers can combine up to 10 PINs in a single transaction.
Paysafecard also offers a "my paysafecard" account, which allows users to store multiple PINs in one account, track balances, and view transaction history. This account is optional — consumers can use Paysafecard without any registration.
## How Paysafecard Works
The payment process is straightforward. At checkout, the consumer selects Paysafecard and enters their 16-digit PIN. The merchant's PSP sends the PIN to Paysafecard's system, which verifies the PIN, checks the available balance, and authorizes the payment if funds are sufficient. The merchant receives instant confirmation. Settlement to the merchant follows the PSP's standard schedule.
For consumers, Paysafecard provides complete anonymity — no personal information, bank details, or credit card numbers are required. This privacy is a key selling point, particularly for younger users, privacy-conscious consumers, and those in regions where online payment trust is low.
## Where to Buy Paysafecard
Paysafecard vouchers are sold at over 650,000 physical retail locations across 50+ countries. In Europe, common sales points include supermarkets (Carrefour, Tesco), convenience stores, gas stations, post offices, and newsagents. The Paysafecard website has a store locator that helps consumers find nearby outlets. Online purchase of PINs is also available in some markets.
Denominations vary by country but typically range from €10 to €100 (or equivalent in local currency). In some markets, custom-value vouchers are available.
## Fees
Paysafecard charges no purchase fee for vouchers in most markets. However, inactive PINs (unused for 12 months) incur a monthly maintenance fee of €2 (or equivalent), gradually reducing the balance. For merchants, Paysafecard charges a processing fee, typically in the range of 2-10% depending on the merchant category and volume. The higher end applies to industries like iGaming.
## Who Uses Paysafecard?
Paysafecard is popular among several demographics: teenagers and young adults who may not have bank accounts or credit cards; privacy-conscious consumers who prefer not to share financial data online; consumers in markets with low credit card penetration; and iGaming users who want to control spending by purchasing fixed-denomination vouchers. The iGaming vertical (online casinos, sports betting) is one of Paysafecard's largest merchant categories.
## Paysafecard for Merchants
Merchants can accept Paysafecard through PSPs like Adyen and Mollie, or directly through Paysafecard's merchant integration. The key benefit is access to consumers who would otherwise be unable to pay — no card, no bank, no problem. For iGaming merchants, Paysafecard also helps with responsible gambling, as consumers can only spend the amount they have pre-purchased.
