Thailand vs Sweden · Real-time payment systems compared
| Capability | PromptPay | Swish |
|---|---|---|
| QR Code Payments | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wallet Support | — | ✓ |
| 24/7 Availability | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cross-Border | ✓ | — |
| ISO 20022 | ✓ | ✓ |
| Request to Pay | — | ✓ |
| Open API | ◐ | ✓ |
| Alias/Proxy | ✓ | ✓ |
Thailand's national e-payment system, a core part of the government's National e-Payment Master Plan. PromptPay links bank accounts to mobile numbers or national citizen IDs for instant P2P transfers, and includes a standardised QR code system for merchant payments. Operated by NITMX under Bank of Thailand oversight, it connects all major banks with zero fees for transfers under THB 5,000. PromptPay has cross-border QR linkages with Singapore's PayNow, Malaysia's DuitNow, and other ASEAN systems.
Sweden's dominant mobile payment app used by 8M+ people (in a country of 10.5M) for P2P transfers, in-store payments, and e-commerce. Swish transactions clear through the Bankgirot Immediate Payments (BIR) real-time clearing system. Founded by six major Swedish banks, Swish has been a key driver of Sweden's shift toward a nearly cashless society. Payments are initiated via phone number and settle instantly, with merchant payments supported via QR codes and Swish for Business.