Payment methods in Algeria

Africa

6methods

2banks

Cash dominates retail transactions, with the informal economy representing a large share of overall economic activity.

Market takeaways

Cash dominates retail transactions, with the informal economy representing a large share of overall economic activity.
Baridi Pay (Algerie Poste) is the most-used digital payment in Algeria, with millions of active users linked to postal savings accounts.
SATIM runs the national interbank card network; the EDAHABIA card (La Poste Algeria) is the main domestically issued payment card.
Foreign exchange controls and import restrictions make cross-border e-commerce and international card payments difficult.
E-commerce is nascent but growing, driven by young consumers and increasing smartphone penetration.

Population

~45M

Online population

~28M

Banked population

~50%

Credit card population

~5%

Payment method breakdown

Cash75%
E-Wallet / Mobile Payment12%
Card8%
Bank Transfer4%
Other1%

Card scheme breakdown

Local Schemes (EDAHABIA/CIB)60%
Visa25%
Mastercard14%
American Express1%
Other0%

Cross-border e-commerce

Market data coming soon.

Featured payment methods in Algeria

Popular options based on coverage and prominence in this market.

Edahabia

Edahabia is Algeria's national payment card issued by Algérie Poste, routed through SATIM, usable for online purchases, ATM withdrawals and in-store payments. Est. users: Millions of cardholders (2023).

CIB Card

The CIB (Carte Interbancaire) is Algeria's interbank card scheme operated by SATIM, the main domestic card accepted for online e-commerce payments in Algeria. Operator: SATIM (Société d'Automatisation des Transactions Interbancaires et de Monétique). Est. users: Millions of interbank cardholders (2024).

JumiaPay

JumiaPay is the embedded wallet and checkout solution for the Jumia marketplace and bill payments across several African markets. Operator: Jumia Technologies AG. Est. users: ~5.4M Jumia active customers (2024).

Cash on Delivery

Cash on Delivery (COD) is the dominant payment method for Algerian e-commerce, reflecting low consumer trust in online payment systems and limited access to cards or digital wallets. Customers pay the delivery agent in cash when goods arrive. Nearly all Algerian e-commerce platforms offer COD as their primary or only payment option. The widespread reliance on COD is both a symptom of underdeveloped payment infrastructure and a barrier to merchant cash flow, as returned goods result in no payment.

Baridi Pay

Baridi Pay is the QR-code-based mobile payment service operated by Algerie Poste, Algeria's state postal service. It is linked to the Baridi Mob postal savings account and allows users to pay merchants, transfer money P2P, and pay bills without cards or cash. Baridi Pay is the most widely used digital payment method in Algeria, with millions of registered users, and is accepted at an expanding network of physical and online merchants. It is the primary on-ramp to digital payments for the large portion of the population that holds a postal savings account rather than a bank account.

Cash on Delivery (COD)

The single most-used payment method, with approximately 45-47% of e-commerce orders still settling in cash at delivery. Consumer distrust of online payments remains the primary driver. Most major Serbian logistics providers (Post of Serbia, DExpress, etc.) offer COD collection.