The global contactless payment terminals market is projected to grow from USD 36.6 billion in 2024 to USD 85.5 billion by 2030, reflecting a healthy 15.2% CAGR for the 2026–2030 period as tap?and?go payments become a mainstream preference worldwide.
Contactless payment terminals use Near Field Communication (NFC) technology to process payments when a customer taps a card, smartphone, or wearable on a compatible reader. Market growth is underpinned by consumer demand for speed and convenience at checkout, rising awareness of hygiene and touch-free interactions, expanding mobile wallet usage supported by high smartphone penetration, and policy support from governments and regulators promoting digital payments.
A core demand driver is the preference for fast, frictionless, and hygienic transactions, especially in high-volume environments such as supermarkets, quick-service restaurants, and transit systems. As more consumers embrace cashless lifestyles and as central banks and regulators push for digital payments to improve transparency and efficiency, merchants increasingly deploy contactless-capable terminals to meet expectations and avoid losing sales.
These behavioral and policy shifts translate into strong growth in contactless transaction volumes worldwide, with a rising share of in?person payments now completed via tap rather than cash, chip, or magnetic stripe. Seasonal peaks, such as major shopping periods, show especially strong momentum for contactless adoption, underscoring the role of these terminals in supporting high-throughput retail operations and modern payment experiences.
However, security concerns remain a notable restraint on market expansion. High-profile data breaches and cyberattacks in the broader payments ecosystem can undermine public confidence, even when contactless technology itself is secure. Consumers may fear that tapping exposes them to skimming, cloning, or unauthorized transactions, and such perceptions can slow adoption or limit transaction size and frequency.
Merchants and payment providers also face heightened anxiety over financial losses, regulatory penalties, and reputational damage stemming from potential security incidents. As a result, they demand stronger, often more expensive, security measures and may delay or stagger terminal upgrades, which can moderate the pace of market growth despite strong underlying demand.
A prominent trend reshaping the market is the rise of Soft POS or Tap?to?Phone solutions, which turn NFC-enabled smartphones into full-featured payment terminals via software alone. This dramatically lowers the barrier to entry for small and micro?merchants, street vendors, and service professionals by eliminating the need for dedicated POS hardware and enabling rapid onboarding into the digital payments ecosystem.
Another key trend is the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning into contactless payment systems to enhance both security and customer engagement. Advanced analytics enable real-time fraud detection by spotting anomalous patterns, while the same data can be used to deliver personalized offers, loyalty rewards, and targeted promotions at the point of sale, increasing value for both merchants and customers.
Within the overall market, the healthcare segment is emerging as one of the fastest-growing users of contactless payment terminals. Hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies are adopting tap?to?pay to reduce physical contact, speed up billing, and streamline front-desk workflows, improving both patient experience and revenue cycle efficiency.
Patients increasingly expect the same level of digital payment convenience in healthcare that they encounter in retail and hospitality, prompting providers to modernize their payment infrastructure. By doing so, healthcare organizations enhance hygiene, reduce cash handling, accelerate check?out and discharge processes, and align their services with broader trends toward digital, contactless financial interactions.
By Technology
Bluetooth
Infrared
Carrier-based
Wi-Fi
Other
By Payment Method
Account-based
Credit/Debit Card
Stored Value
Smart Card
Other
By End User Industry
Retail
Transportation
Banking
Government
Healthcare
Other
Key Companies
Thales Group
On Track Innovation Ltd. (OTI)
VeriFone Inc.
Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
Ingenico Group SA
Visiontek Products LLC
PayPal Holdings Inc.
Castles Technologies
ID Tech Solutions Inc
NEC Corporation
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USD 36.6 Billion
Europe
Healthcare
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