| Study Period | 2019 - 2030 |
| Base Year For Estimation | 2024 |
| Forecast Data Period | 2025 - 2030 |
| Historical Data Period | 2019 - 2023 |
| CAGR | 8.12 % |
| Market Concentration | Medium |
Major Players*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order |
Canada Real-Time Payments Market Analysis
The Canada Real Time Payments Market is expected to register a CAGR of 8.12% during the forecast period.
- Real-time payments have been available in Canada since Interac e-Transfer in 2002. The adoption and use of real-time payments steadily gained traction over the last few years, thanks to the wider participation by more than 250 financial institutions as of December 2021 and a continued preference for electronic payments among consumers.
- However, real-time payments still accounted for a smaller share of 4.9% in volume in 2021, compared to 77% of the non-instant electronic payments. This is due tcountry'sntry's high adoption and usage of payment cards. The increased contactless payments limit amid the COVID-19 outbreak has pushed their use for day-to-day, low-value transactions.
- Meanwhile, Payments Canada is developing a new and advanced real-time payments system known as Real-Time Rail (RTR), which is expected to go live in 2022. The launch of this new system is anticipated to accelerate real-time payments growth over the next few years.
- Net benefits of real-time payments for consumers and businesses hit $204 million in 2021, mainly due to the reduction of failed transactions, contributing to half of these savings ($102 million). Failed transactions generate an associated annual cost of $118.5 billion globally, borne by financial institutions, consumers, and other businesses across the globe.
- Consumers expect merchants and businesses to provide payment options to meet their preferences, whether at the point of sale, for online purchases, or to pay their bills and taxes. Speed, security, convenience, traceability, and payment options are all key factors that iCanadians'dians' payments experience - and that can make the difference between a frictionless experience and creating frustration.
Canada Real-Time Payments Market Trends
Increasing Requirement for Convenient Payment Options
- The primary payment method in Canada today is bank-to-bank transfers using Interac, which does not offer a digital user experience to consumers. The rising popularity of Square's Cash App, PayPal's Venmo app, and others in the United States market.
- Peer-to-peer payment is a natural extension of the digital platform and will complement and seamlessly integrate with consumers' payment behavior. Canadians relied primarily on Interac e-transfers for peer-to-peer payments1. In 2019, more than 486 million of these transactions total $169 billion.
- As more aspects of consumers' lives go digital, these numbers will continue to grow and form a larger part of Canada's almost $10 trillion payments landscape. Canadians prefer to electronically pay government taxes through their online banking account using bill payment, a pre-authorized debit, or a credit card.
- Nowadays, Canadians can sign up for a free account through the payment app and get convenient access to products that can help them achieve their financial goals and have a positive impact on the planet, including a digital spending account with any Debit or Credit Card featuring automatic carbon offsetting, free monthly credit score monitoring, ID fraud protection, bitcoin trading, and personal loans.
- There were 800 million transactions worth $249 billion in 2020. Online transfers continued their growth in 2020, increasing significantly by 48 percent in volume and 40 percent in value and representing four percent of the total payment volume in Canada (compared to two percent in 2019).
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Growing e-commerce environment
- Canada E-commerce payments are made through merchant-provided online storefronts and applications via computers or mobile devices (e.g., tablets, smartphones). In 2020, e-commerce payment transactions totaled 477 million transactions worth $56 billion in Canada, up 13 percent in volume and 20 percent in value from 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic helped fuel sharp growth in e-commerce payments in 2020. Due to lockdown and emergency stay-at-home orders, consumers replaced in-store with online shopping.
- According to Statistics Canada, in May 2020, e-commerce sales were double that of May 2019. Canadians will likely continue to leverage online platforms for everyday needs, even after the COVID-19 pandemic.
- A PayPal Canada survey revealed that Canadians generally spend $178 each month online, an increase of $69 from pre-pandemic, even as Canadians emerge from lockdown. Overall, this increase represents an increase of more than $2 billion in monthly online spending.
- Many businesses transformed by moving to e-commerce sales platforms for the first time. Canadian retail merchants' new online store creation increased 20 percent year-over-year during the last two weeks of March 2020. This contributed to the rise in online purchases, as Canadians had more choices for online shopping.
- The COVID-19 pandemic also changed the online shopping patterns of consumers. The product categories that experienced the greatest year-over-year decline were traveling, memberships (e.g., fitness, social clubs), and entertainment events. In contrast, home entertainment (i.e., movies/music, games), personal beauty products, and gift cards experienced year-over-year growth.
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Canada Real-Time Payments Industry Overview
The Canadian real-time payments market is moderately concentrated. The competitive rivalry in the market is moderate. Due to several companies operating in the market, firms must keep innovating their products to gain a sustainable competitive edge over their rivals and provide product differentiation.
- In September 2021, Mastercard Canada extended its capabilities deep into the digital assets field with an agreement to acquire CipherTrace, a leading cryptocurrency intelligence company with insight into more than 900 cryptocurrencies. The integrated offering will build on CipherTrace's suite of digital assets and Mastercard's cyber security solutions to provide businesses with greater transparency to help identify and understand their risks and manage their digital asset regulatory and compliance obligations.
- August 2020: Mogo in Canada announced plans to launch a mobile peer-to-peer (P2P) payment solution that will enable users to quickly and easily make and share payments with friends and family through Mogo's mobile app. Mogo's peer-to-peer payment solution will be accessible through the Mogo mobile app. Users can quickly link their bank account or debit card and send and receive money instantly through the app.
Canada Real-Time Payments Market Leaders
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Google LLC (Google Pay)
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Apple Inc. (Apple Pay)
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Samsung Electronics Limited (Samsung Pay)
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Mastercard Inc.
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VISA Inc.
- *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
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Canada Real-Time Payments Market News
- June 2022: In Canada, Apple's 'Pay Later' service will reportedly use Apple IDs to help detect fraudulent transactions and minimize the chance of losses. Most financial firms that provide "buy now pay later" services use third-party credit reports to judge whether they can afford to offer credit to new and existing customers. For Apple Pay Later, a subsidiary called Apple Financing LLC has been created, giving Apple more direct control over the service.
- June 2022: ACI Worldwide announced a definitive agreement to divest its corporate online banking solutions to One Equity Partners ("OEP"), a middle-market private equity firm. Marketed as ACI Digital Business Banking, the leading technology platform provides solutions for commercial and business banking customers through an API-driven interface. This divestment aligns with ACI's three-pillar strategy - fit for growth, focused on development, and step-change value creation - aimed at short- and long-term shareholder value creation.
Canada Real-Time Payments Industry Segmentation
Real-time payments are instant or immediate payments and are defined by the Euro Retail Payments Board (ERPB) as electronic retail payment solutions that are available 24/7/365. Immediate payments enable businesses and consumers to make and receive payments in real-time, providing convenience, speed, and faster availability of funds.
The Canadian real-time payments market is Segmented by Transaction Types (P2B, B2B, and P2P)
| By Type of Payment | P2P |
| P2B |
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Canada Real-Time Payments Market Research FAQs
What is the current Canada Real Time Payments Market size?
The Canada Real Time Payments Market is projected to register a CAGR of 8.12% during the forecast period (2025-2030)
Who are the key players in Canada Real Time Payments Market?
Google LLC (Google Pay), Apple Inc. (Apple Pay), Samsung Electronics Limited (Samsung Pay), Mastercard Inc. and VISA Inc. are the major companies operating in the Canada Real Time Payments Market.
What years does this Canada Real Time Payments Market cover?
The report covers the Canada Real Time Payments Market historical market size for years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. The report also forecasts the Canada Real Time Payments Market size for years: 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030.
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Canada Real Time Payments Industry Report
Statistics for the 2025 Canada Real Time Payments market share, size and revenue growth rate, created by Mordor Intelligence™ Industry Reports. Canada Real Time Payments analysis includes a market forecast outlook for 2025 to 2030 and historical overview. Get a sample of this industry analysis as a free report PDF download.
