{"id":13623,"date":"2025-07-16T07:30:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-16T07:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.restroworks.com\/blog\/?p=13623"},"modified":"2025-07-21T11:41:29","modified_gmt":"2025-07-21T11:41:29","slug":"restaurant-payment-method-statistics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.restroworks.com\/blog\/restaurant-payment-method-statistics\/","title":{"rendered":"Restaurant Payment Method Statistics: Consumer Preferences, Trends & Transaction Data"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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These days, making a payment at restaurants has become way easier than deciding what to order. Instead of traditional cards or cash, customers are increasingly opting for digital wallets, QR codes, and in-app transactions to complete payments within seconds.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

What used to be a simple checkout step has become a critical touchpoint that can shape customer satisfaction, influence order value, and even determine whether a guest returns.<\/span><\/p>

However, restaurant payment behavior in 2025 is increasingly fragmented. Some customers prefer tap-to-pay for its speed, while others use stored cards in payment apps. Younger diners, meanwhile, are experimenting with in-app or loyalty-based payments. Keeping up with these shifts is important for restaurant owners to boost conversion and stay competitive.<\/span><\/p>

This blog explores the latest restaurant payment method statistics, focusing on consumer preferences, transaction trends, and adoption patterns across formats.<\/span><\/p>

The Changing Face of Restaurant Payments<\/b><\/h2>

In 2025, most diners no longer wait for the check or the card machine. Instead, they reach for their phones. Over the last few years, there\u2019s been a steady decline in cash payments across restaurants, matched by a sharp rise in contactless and mobile payments.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

According to the U.S. Federal Reserve\u2019s Diary of Consumer Payment Choice, cash accounted for just <\/span>16% of all in-person<\/span><\/a> transactions in the U.S. in 2023, down from 31% in 2017. By contrast, credit card payments increased to 32%, thanks to their convenience and the ability to be stored in mobile wallets and used via tap-to-pay or app-based platforms.<\/span><\/p>

But that\u2019s not all. The post-pandemic era is also big on more digital and more seamless payment models, such as scan-to-pay, QR codes, pay-at-table options, and in-app transactions. In fact, <\/span>63% of Americans<\/span><\/a> currently use contactless payments, while 44% do so regularly.<\/span><\/p>

As a result, these methods are being directly built into the flow of service, reducing friction for the guest and dependency on front-of-house staff.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Restaurant Payment Market Overview<\/b><\/h2>

\"Restaurant<\/p>

The broader U.S. online payment market reached <\/span>$12.38 trillion<\/span><\/a> in 2023 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 16.2% through 2032, reaching nearly $41.17 trillion, fueled by mobile wallets, BNPL, and real-time payment tools.<\/span><\/p>

When it comes to the restaurant industry, cashless payments are now dominating the market, making up about <\/span>62% of all restaurant transactions<\/span><\/a> in 2024. Consumers are actively shifting to these methods to meet their need for more convenient and seamless transactions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

This means restaurants consistently need to support these transactions to meet expectations, streamline operations, and capture a growing share of the digital payment ecosystem.<\/span><\/p>

Types of Restaurant Payment Methods in 2025<\/b><\/h2>

With convenience, security, and speed at the centre of customer payment expectations, restaurants will focus more on digital payment methods that deliver on these aspects.<\/span><\/p>

Here are the key types of restaurant payment methods and their impact on the industry-<\/span><\/p>

1. Contactless Payments<\/b><\/h3>

Contactless methods, such as tap-to-pay cards, have become the backbone of fast and convenient service in restaurants. Today, <\/span>51% of Americans<\/span><\/a> prefer using contactless or mobile payment methods as they are faster and more secure.<\/span><\/p>

No wonder, then, over <\/span>60% of in\u2011person<\/span><\/a> transactions globally now rely on contactless tech, especially in mature markets like the UK and US. Contactless payments work with NFC (Near Field Communication) and RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technologies that let devices \u201ctalk\u201d to each other over a distance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

With contactless payment options, diners don\u2019t need to remember any PINs or spend their time in the queue looking for cash. Transactions become simpler, while restaurants benefit from faster checkouts and quicker table turnovers.<\/span><\/p>

2. Mobile Apps and Wallets<\/b><\/h3>

Digital wallets, such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay, are increasingly becoming the standard in dining environments. They enable guests to pay using their smartphones or wearable devices, resulting in hassle-free checkouts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

According to recent statistics, <\/span>79% of consumers<\/span><\/a> prefer contactless or mobile payments, with 73% specifically using digital wallets in restaurants. Restaurants are also responding accordingly, with <\/span>76% adding mobile payments<\/span><\/a>, 44% offering QR codes, and 66% tap-to-pay.<\/span><\/p>

3. QR Code Payments<\/b><\/h3>

QR codes, with their scannable format, have become quite mainstream for restaurant ordering and payments. <\/span>Customers<\/span><\/a> love it \u2014 58% would like the ability to pay at restaurants and grocery stores via QR codes, while 49% prefer accessing the menu via it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Furthermore, <\/span>54.8% of U.S. restaurants<\/span><\/a> utilize multiple <\/span>QR code implementations<\/span><\/a> beyond menus, extending to payments and loyalty integrations. QR code payment is not only convenient for customers, but it also enables restaurants to manage checkouts more efficiently during peak hours.<\/span><\/p>

\"QR<\/p>

4. Integrated Payments<\/b><\/h3>

Payment embedded directly in restaurant-owned systems, such as POS systems, apps, kiosks, or smart tables, drives operational efficiency and guest loyalty. With these systems, guests can pay directly (typically using their smartphones), without the need to interact with staff or swipe cards.<\/span><\/p>

At the same time, it allows restaurants to personalize customer experiences. When you link your payment processes to kiosk or POS systems, it unlocks a range of insights such as customer data, past orders, and preferences, allowing you to customize offers and upsell smartly.<\/span><\/p>

5. Omnichannel Payments<\/b><\/h3>

Guests are interacting across multiple channels, including delivery apps, dine-in, and online ordering. So, why not offer them a unified payment experience throughout? This involves offering in-app payment options and integrating dine-in and delivery payments to easily track transactions and loyalty across payment methods.<\/span><\/p>

This allows restaurants to offer an enhanced customer experience, driven by consistent payment methods for different formats.<\/span><\/p>

6. Loyalty Programs<\/b><\/h3>

As of 2025, <\/span>68% of full-service<\/span><\/a> and 71% of quick-service restaurants have loyalty programs, with projections rising toward 80% by year-end.<\/span><\/p>

Restaurants offering loyalty program benefits to their customers can enhance the experience by connecting loyalty with payments. By integrating loyalty rewards with in-app payments or mobile wallets, guests can easily join the program, earn points, and redeem them, all through the payment system.<\/span><\/p>

Plus, it gets easy to manage payment and loyalty in one step, which streamlines the dining experience for customers and encourages participation. It pays off: loyalty members visit <\/span>20% more<\/span><\/a> often and spend more annually, while also driving higher retention.<\/span><\/p>

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Sophia Goldberg<\/span><\/a>, Cofounder & CEO, Ansa, says, \u201cIn 2025, we foresee significant developments in on and off-premise <\/span>restaurant payments<\/span><\/a>. As of 2024, over half of U.S. consumers now use digital wallets as they seek a convenient, contactless payment experience. Restaurants that merely accept this form of payment will meet customer expectations, but restaurants that truly embrace this shift will be the real winners. <\/span><\/p>

In 2025, we anticipate more restaurant brands will develop their own white-labeled digital wallets to provide customers with easy-to-use payments with the added benefit of personalized loyalty incentives.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Not only do branded digital wallets foster convenience for guests, but they also drive sales, visit frequency, and guest engagement while lowering the astronomical cost of credit card swipe fees.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Restaurant Payment Method Statistics: What Do Consumers Prefer?<\/b><\/h2>

Restaurants need to understand how different guest groups prefer to pay, whether they dine in, take out, or order delivery. Here are the latest statistics that highlight customer payment choices when they interact with a restaurant-<\/span><\/p>