When did Apple Pay and Google Pay come to Denmark?
Timeline of phone payments in Denmark.
Short answer
Apple Pay was launched in Denmark in 2017, Google Pay in 2018 and Samsung Pay in 2022. MobilePay came earlier, in 2013, and instant payments between accounts have been possible since 2014. In 2019 only 12 % of people had linked a payment card to a mobile wallet, while 51 % had a wallet on their smartphone in 2025. That year card-based wallets were used for almost 1 in 3 payments in physical shops (32 %).
Why
- MobilePay was the first big phone payment app in Denmark, from 2013.
- Wallet use grew from 12 % in 2019 to 51 % in 2025.
- Phone wallets are now a normal way to pay in shops.
Details
Between 2023 and 2025 the share of wallet payments more than doubled among people aged 30–60 and over 70.
Tip
If your card from home works with Apple Pay or Google Pay, add it before you travel and keep the physical card as a backup.
What may differ
The shares come from the payment habits survey in autumn 2025 and will change in the next survey.
Common misconception
Apple Pay only arrived in Denmark recently.
What actually happens
Apple Pay has been available in Denmark since 2017.
People also ask
- How common are Apple Pay and Google Pay in Denmark?
- Can you add Dankort to Apple Pay?
- How many people use MobilePay in Denmark?
Sources
This answer is for reference only. Payment rules, limits and fees change, so check the official sources or your bank before you pay.
Practical infoRelated questions
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What is the Danish Payments Council?
The Danish Payments Council is a forum for cooperation on retail payments in Denmark, set up by Danmarks Nationalbank in 2012.
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Can you pay by card in Denmark if the payment system goes down?
Often yes.
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How much of Danish card spending is online?
In 2025 e-commerce accounted for 30 % of total card turnover in Denmark, up from 22 % in 2019.
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How common are instant payments in Denmark?
Instant payments have been available in Denmark since 2014 and work 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.