PayPhone
PayPhone is an Ecuador-based mobile payments platform that lets individuals, freelancers, and small merchants accept Visa, Mastercard, Diners, and Discover card payments via Android NFC tap, QR codes, and payment links — without POS hardware, bank accounts, or subscription fees, earning a 5% + VAT commission per transaction.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersCuenca, Ecuador
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingSoftware
What PayPhone does
PayPhone (legal entity ECUAPAYPHONE C.A., with US parent PAYPHONE GLOBAL, INC) is a mobile payment and digital wallet platform headquartered in Cuenca, Ecuador and founded in 2014. The platform enables individuals, freelancers, informal merchants, and small businesses to accept Visa, Mastercard, Diners, and Discover card payments without traditional POS hardware by converting Android smartphones into contactless card readers (TAP via NFC), generating QR codes or payment links (Link y QR) for remote collection, and providing a physical co-branded Mastercard Payphone prepaid card for global spending. The architecture pairs a consumer-facing mobile app (iOS and Android) with a Payphone Business web portal for merchants and a suite of transactional APIs (API Link, API Sale, and a Lifestyler Hospitality API) for e-commerce and hospitality integrations, all built on PCI DSS 4.0 certified infrastructure with VPN-based service architecture.
PayPhone operates a product-led growth model with no subscription, monthly, or setup fees, charging only a flat 5% + VAT commission on card payment transactions received through the platform; P2P transfers between users and cash-out to linked bank accounts are free. The platform is regulated in Ecuador as both a SEDPE (Sociedad Especializada en Depósitos y Pagos Electrónicos) by the Central Bank and a Payment Aggregator by the Superintendency of Banks, making it the only entity with this dual authorization in the country. Customer segments include individuals and personal users (primary), entrepreneurs and small businesses (primary), and migrants (secondary), with all named reference customers being SMBs or solo entrepreneurs across food service, retail, freelance services, healthcare, and market vending.
The go-to-market relies on self-serve app downloads, YouTube tutorials, a help center, developer documentation, social media, Google and Meta paid acquisition, and referral/word-of-mouth among informal merchant networks. Recent product activity in 2026 includes the launch of editable-amount QR codes and a Global Report dashboard for Payphone Business users. Geographic expansion to Central America, the United States, and other Latin American countries is stated, supported by the US corporate entity in Boca Raton, FL.
PayPhone firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- PayPhone
- Legal name
- ECUAPAYPHONE C.A.
- Website
- https://payphone.app
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- PayPhone is an Ecuador-based mobile payments platform that lets individuals, freelancers, and small merchants accept Visa, Mastercard, Diners, and Discover card payments via Android NFC tap, QR codes, and payment links — without POS hardware, bank accounts, or subscription fees, earning a 5% + VAT commission per transaction.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
PayPhone industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Mobile Payment Processing
- NAICS
- Credit Card Issuing (52221)
- SIC
- Finance Services (6199)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Mobile Wallets (NFC Tap-to-Pay / HCE) (FSAMAEAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- QR Code Payments Wallets (FSAMAEAC), Mobile POS (mPOS) Devices & Handheld Terminals (HDACAKAB), Request-to-Pay (R2P) & Pay Links (FSAMAFAE)
Keywords
Where PayPhone is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cuenca
- HQ country
- Ecuador
- HQ region
- Latin America
Offices2 records
Markets served
PayPhone business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Transaction Commission (Card Payments): Payphone charges a flat commission of 5% + VAT on the transaction amount for every card payment received through the platform (TAP, QR link, or payment button). This is the primary revenue stream. The commission is deducted at settlement, with funds credited to the user's digital wallet net of the fee. Weekly cash-out to linked bank accounts.
- P2P Transfers (Free for Users): Transfers between Payphone users are free of charge, generating no direct revenue but serving as a retention and engagement mechanism to grow the user base and network effect.
- Mastercard Payphone Prepaid Card: Users can request a physical Mastercard Payphone prepaid card usable globally. While no explicit issuance or maintenance fee is stated, the card facilitates spending of Payphone balance at any Mastercard merchant worldwide, potentially generating interchange revenue for Payphone.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Card Payment Commission |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | P2P User Transfers |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Cash-out / Withdrawal |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Multi-year contract | Preferred Rate (Reactivation Program) |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Multi-year contract | Sports Betting Segment Guarantee |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Multi-year contract | Payment Aggregator Guarantee |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels10 records
PayPhone product offering
Product offeringCore offering
PayPhone is a mobile payment platform that enables individuals and merchants in Ecuador to accept card payments (Visa, Mastercard, Diners, Discover) directly on their smartphones without traditional POS terminals. Its proprietary TAP technology converts Android phones into NFC contactless card readers, while Link y QR enables remote payment collection via payment links and QR codes. The platform also offers free P2P transfers, a co-branded Mastercard Payphone prepaid card for global spending, and dedicated merchant/business tools (Payphone Business portal and transactional APIs) for reporting, management, and e-commerce integration.
Product overview
Payphone is a mobile payment and digital wallet platform that operates as a unified ecosystem of products designed for individuals, entrepreneurs, and businesses in Ecuador and Latin America. The platform architecture consists of a mobile application (iOS/Android) as the core consumer interface, paired with specialized payment products including TAP (contactless card reader for Android phones), Link and QR codes (remote payment collection), physical payment solutions like Cajita de Pagos, and an e-commerce integrable Botón de Pagos. The Mastercard Payphone prepaid card extends global acceptance, while Diners Club integration expands accepted card networks. For developers and businesses requiring technical integration, Payphone offers a suite of APIs including API Link, API Sale, and a specialized Lifestyler Hospitality API, all accessible through its developer documentation portal. The platform also provides a web-based business portal for transaction management and reporting.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- TAP de Payphone: Contactless payment solution that converts Android phones into card readers
- Mastercard Payphone
- Cajita de Pagos
- Payphone Personal
- Payphone Business
Products and services
- TAP de Payphone Contactless payment solution that transforms Android smartphones into card readers, enabling merchants and individuals to accept Visa, Mastercard, Diners, and Discover payments by tapping cards against the phone without needing a traditional POS terminal.
- Link y QR Payment links and QR codes that allow merchants and individuals to collect card payments remotely by sharing a link or displaying a QR code that customers scan to pay from anywhere. Supports editable-amount QR codes for flexible billing.
- Mastercard Payphone Prepaid Card Physical prepaid Mastercard card that allows users to spend their Payphone balance at any merchant worldwide wherever Mastercard is accepted; activated digitally in-app and delivered to users' homes upon request.
- Cajita de Pagos Payment box solution for merchants to facilitate in-person card payment acceptance as part of the Payphone Business offering.
- API Link API solution for generating and managing payment links, allowing businesses and developers to programmatically create and track Payphone payment link transactions for remote collections.
- API Sale Transactional API for processing sales payments, enabling secure integration for merchants and e-commerce platforms to accept card payments through redirect flows without capturing sensitive card data on their servers.
- Lifestyler Hospitality API Specialized API solution designed for the hospitality industry, enabling hotels, restaurants, and related businesses to integrate Payphone payment processing directly into their management systems.
- Payphone Mobile App (Payphone Personal) Mobile application for iOS and Android that enables individual users and merchants to accept card payments, send and receive money via P2P, manage a digital wallet, and request the Mastercard Payphone prepaid card.
- Payphone Business Portal Dedicated web portal for business users to manage transactions, generate and share QR codes and payment links, access the Global Report unified dashboard, set up the payment button, and integrate the API into their e-commerce websites.
Quantifiable outcome
- Registration completed in as little as 3 minutes (reported by VAPE ON STORE merchant)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use PayPhone
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
PayPhone technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature8 records
PayPhone partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- MastercardcorePayphone issues a co-branded prepaid Mastercard (Mastercard Payphone) that allows users to spend their Payphone balance anywhere Mastercard is accepted globally. The card is delivered to users upon request via the app and activated digitally. This partnership enables Payphone to offer global spending capabilities to its user base.
- Meta Platforms (Facebook)minorMeta's Facebook pixel and advertising infrastructure (including _fbp cookie) is used for audience targeting, advertising personalization, and conversion tracking across Meta's advertising network for Payphone's user acquisition campaigns.
- LinkedInminorLinkedIn's marketing and advertising infrastructure (lidc, bscookie, bcookie cookies) is used for B2B audience targeting and professional advertising, particularly for merchant and business user acquisition. LinkedIn also appears as a recruitment channel.
- Central Bank of EcuadorcoreThe Central Bank of Ecuador authorized ECUAPAYPHONE C.A. as a SEDPE (Sociedad Especializada en Depósitos y Pagos Electrónicos) under Ecuador's Fintech Law, making Payphone a regulated electronic deposit and payment services entity. This regulatory authorization is foundational to Payphone's legitimacy and market position.
- Superintendency of Banks of EcuadorcoreThe Superintendency of Banks of Ecuador authorized Payphone as a Payment Aggregator under the Organic Monetary and Financial Code. This dual regulatory authorization (alongside the SEDPE status from the Central Bank) allows Payphone to operate as a regulated payment aggregator in Ecuador.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves1 record
Expansion highlights6 records
PayPhone competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Kushki: Ecuador-founded LATAM payment processor offering online and in-person payment acceptance with API integrations. Directly comparable to Payphone as a domestic-origin payment platform now expanding across Latin America, competing for the same merchants and developers.
- MercadoPago: LATAM's largest digital wallet and payment acceptance platform, part of Mercado Libre. Comparable as a mobile wallet and QR-based payment acceptance network serving both consumers and SMBs across Spanish-speaking Latin America.
- dLocal: Uruguay-headquartered cross-border payment processor enabling global merchants to accept payments in LATAM, Africa, and Asia. Comparable as a LATAM payment-rails infrastructure provider serving emerging markets.
- SumUp: Global mPOS provider offering smartphone-based card readers and payment acceptance aimed at micro-merchants and SMBs. Directly comparable to Payphone's TAP and Link/QR acceptance products.
- PagSeguro: Brazilian mPOS and digital payments provider offering card machines, digital wallets, and acceptance tools for SMBs. Comparable as a LATAM mPOS + wallet competitor with a similar SMB focus.
- Clip: Mexico-based mPOS provider offering mobile card readers and digital acceptance solutions to SMBs and informal merchants. Comparable as a Spanish-speaking LATAM mPOS competitor targeting micro-merchants.
Broad incumbents
- Block (Square): Pioneer of smartphone-based mPOS and integrated payments/commerce for SMBs. Operates broadly in payments (Cash App, Square Seller) and competes with Payphone's TAP/QR-based acceptance, though at a much larger global scale.
- PayPal: Global digital wallet and online payment acceptance platform. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering wallet, P2P, and merchant acceptance — overlapping with Payphone's consumer wallet and merchant acceptance products.
- Adyen: Global payment processor serving enterprise merchants with unified online, in-store, and platform payments. Comparable as a broad payments incumbent that merchant-side customers may choose over Payphone's e-commerce APIs.
Emerging players
- Conekta: Mexico-based online payment processor with QR and card acceptance APIs for merchants. Comparable as a LATAM-focused payment platform with developer/API-first integration and SMB targeting.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
PayPhone social profiles
Digital presencePayPhone compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
PayPhone financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
PayPhone leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
PayPhone funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
PayPhone M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about PayPhone
What does PayPhone do?
PayPhone is a mobile payment platform that enables individuals and merchants in Ecuador to accept card payments (Visa, Mastercard, Diners, Discover) directly on their smartphones without traditional POS terminals. Its proprietary TAP technology converts Android phones into NFC contactless card readers, while Link y QR enables remote payment collection via payment links and QR codes. The platform also offers free P2P transfers, a co-branded Mastercard Payphone prepaid card for global spending, and dedicated merchant/business tools (Payphone Business portal and transactional APIs) for reporting, management, and e-commerce integration.
Is PayPhone a public or private company?
PayPhone is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was PayPhone founded?
PayPhone was founded in 2014. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is PayPhone based?
PayPhone is headquartered in Cuenca, Ecuador, in the Latin America region.
How does PayPhone make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Transaction Commission (Card Payments) is the primary driver. The others are P2P Transfers (Free for Users) and mastercard Payphone Prepaid Card.
Who are PayPhone's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Kushki, MercadoPago, dLocal, SumUp, PagSeguro and Clip. Broad incumbents are Block (Square), PayPal and Adyen. Conekta is listed as an emerging player.
Does PayPhone have an API?
Yes. PAYPHONE provides a transactional API for secure integration through redirection or components that do not capture sensitive data on the User's servers. The API allows developers to integrate payment processing capabilities into e-commerce websites and applications. The platform includes API Link and API Sale solutions, as well as a Lifestyler Hospitality API for the hospitality industry. Developer documentation is at docs.payphone.app.
What industry is PayPhone in?
PayPhone's product category is Mobile Payment Processing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAMAEAB, Mobile Wallets (NFC Tap-to-Pay / HCE), with a secondary code of FSAMAEAC, QR Code Payments Wallets. Its NAICS code is 52221 and its SIC code is 6199.