Thailand has moved quickly toward real-time, account-to-account payments. For many consumers and businesses, PromptPay now sits at the centre of everyday transactions, from retail purchases in Bangkok to invoice payments between companies. For merchants with customers in Thailand, understanding how this payment service works shapes how people expect to pay, how funds move through the banking system, and how quickly a payment reaches your account.
What is PromptPay and how does it work?
PromptPay is Thailand’s national real-time payment system. It allows fast bank transfers between accounts using simple identifiers rather than traditional bank details.
At its core, PromptPay links a bank account to an easy-to-remember proxy. When a payment is made, the payer does not need the recipient’s bank name, branch, or account number. The system resolves the proxy behind the scenes and completes the transfer in seconds.
The service is supported by major Thai banks and operates continuously, including outside standard banking hours. Once a payment is confirmed, the fund is available to the recipient almost instantly.
Supported identifiers
PromptPay supports several identifier types:
- A mobile phone number or mobile phone number linked to a bank account
- A national citizen ID number for individuals
- A business tax ID for companies and registered merchants
This flexibility allows both consumers and businesses to register for PromptPay using an identifier that fits their situation. For individuals, registration often uses a phone number. For companies, registration typically links a tax ID to a business bank account.
Channels
Thai customers can use PromptPay through multiple channels:
- Mobile banking apps, which account for the majority of usage
- Internet banking portals
- ATMs at participating banks
- QR code payments, now common at physical and online checkout
For merchants, QR-based payment flows are the most visible expression of PromptPay at the point of sale.
PromptPay adoption and usage in Thailand
PromptPay is one of the most widely used digital payment services in Thailand. Surveys of Thai e-payment users have consistently placed it among the leading payment options, reflecting strong trust in bank-backed transfers.
Transaction volume has grown at a national scale. In 2024, PromptPay transactions reached approximately 24.3 billion, a sharp increase year on year. Around 33.6 million people in Thailand were digital payment users during the same period, highlighting how deeply digital bank payments have entered daily life.
Cross-border use is also expanding. PromptPay QR payments connected to overseas schemes recorded strong growth in early 2025, with transaction value increasing by 119% compared to the previous year. This points to a broader role for PromptPay beyond domestic transfers.
In mobile payments specifically, PromptPay held an estimated 41.6% market share in 2024, leading other mobile payment instruments. For merchants evaluating Thailand, these figures underline how central PromptPay has become to the local payment mix.
How Thai customers actually pay with PromptPay
Understanding real customer behaviour matters more than understanding system design. In practice, Thai customers use PromptPay in two main ways.
Common consumer flows at checkout
Scan-to-pay using a merchant-presented QR: This is the most familiar flow in stores, restaurants, and online invoices. The merchant displays a PromptPay QR code on a screen, printed receipt, or digital invoice. The customer scans the code in their bank app, reviews the payment details, and confirms. Payment confirmation appears within seconds.
ID-based transfers: For invoices, peer-to-peer payments, or informal business transactions, customers may pay by entering a phone number, citizen ID, or business tax ID. This flow resembles a direct bank transfer but uses the PromptPay mapping instead of full bank details.
Static vs dynamic PromptPay QR codes
PromptPay QR codes fall into two categories, each with different implications for merchants.
A static QR code stays the same for every payment. The customer scans the code and manually enters the amount. This approach is simple and low effort to set up. It is common among small merchants and service providers. The trade-off is higher reconciliation effort and a greater risk of errors.
On the other hand, a dynamic QR code is generated for a specific order. It includes the amount and reference information. This reduces manual input, improves reconciliation, and supports automated reporting. Dynamic QR codes are better suited to e-commerce, invoicing, and higher transaction volumes.
Benefits of accepting PromptPay
PromptPay offers several practical advantages for merchants operating in Thailand or selling to Thai customers.
- Strong local adoption and familiarity, especially for bank-first customers
- Near-instant payment confirmation, supporting faster cash flow
- Direct bank transfer model that reduces dependence on cards for domestic payments
- Lower friction at checkout for customers who prefer mobile banking apps
- Broad applicability across e-commerce, invoicing, and pay-by-link scenarios
For many Thai customers, paying through their bank app feels routine and trusted. Merchants that align with this preference often see smoother checkout behaviour.
How to start accepting PromptPay
Most merchants accept PromptPay through a payment service provider rather than connecting directly to banks.
Role of PSPs in enabling PromptPay acceptance
Payment service providers make PromptPay accessible to merchants without requiring direct integration with multiple Thai banks. A PSP connects your checkout to the PromptPay network, manages bank connectivity, and delivers near real-time payment confirmation so you can act on a completed payment with confidence.
PSPs also handle much of the operational groundwork, including onboarding checks, transaction monitoring, and alignment with local banking rules. For cross-border merchants, this often extends to settlement handling, consolidated reporting, and support for common PromptPay flows such as QR-based checkout or pay-by-link, reducing setup effort and ongoing complexity.
Typical onboarding process for merchants
While details vary by provider, onboarding usually involves business verification and ownership checks, setting up a bank account for settlement, and choosing how PromptPay will appear in your checkout. This may include QR-based payment flows, a hosted checkout page, or other supported payment formats, depending on how you plan to accept PromptPay and how much control you want over the payment experience.
Common integration models
Merchants generally choose from:
- Hosted checkout pages that include PromptPay as a payment option
- API-based integration for deeper control over the payment flow
- QR-based acceptance for online and offline use cases
What merchants should prepare before PSP onboarding
Before onboarding, merchants should expect to provide:
- Business registration documents
- Ownership and authorised signatory details
- Information to support KYC and compliance checks
- Technical readiness for payment confirmation and reconciliation
Key considerations for international merchants
PromptPay acceptance looks different for local Thai entities and international sellers.
- Local entities often benefit from simpler settlement and domestic bank access
- Cross-border merchants must consider settlement currency and FX handling
- Reporting and reconciliation may require additional mapping for bank transfers
- Customer support processes differ from card-based dispute handling
- PSP selection plays a critical role in cross-border PromptPay acceptance
International merchants should assess whether PromptPay fits their operational model before adding it alongside other payment methods.
PromptPay limitations merchants should be aware of
- Chargeback and dispute processes are more limited than card payments
- Refund handling depends on provider workflows and bank capabilities
- Manual transfers increase reconciliation and fraud risk if not well-controlled
- Recurring and subscription billing is not a natural fit
- Cross-border acceptance depends heavily on PSP infrastructure
Conclusion
PromptPay has become a core part of Thailand’s payment infrastructure. It reflects how customers expect to move money between banks quickly, using simple identifiers and familiar mobile apps. For merchants, especially those serving customers in Bangkok and across Thailand, PromptPay offers a direct, real-time payment option that aligns with local behaviour.
The decision to accept PromptPay should sit within a broader payment strategy. When used in the right contexts, it can support smoother checkout, faster fund availability, and stronger alignment with how Thai customers prefer to pay.
