The most common mobile payment tool used by young Indonesians

In Indonesia, the popularity of mobile payments has grown rapidly in recent years, especially among the younger age groups. Below are the most common mobile payment tools currently used by young Indonesians and their characteristics:

1. GoPay(under Gojek Ecology)

  • user basis: one of the largest e-wallets, relying on the super-app Gojek (taxi, takeaway, payments, etc.).
  • Usage Scenarios::
    • Gojek in-service payments (taxi, takeaway Gofood).
    • Offline code payment (convenience stores, restaurants).
    • P2P transfers and mobile phone top-ups.
  • cutting edge: Highly tied to everyday life, with lots of promotions.

2. OVO

  • user basis: An early popularised e-wallet that works closely with Grab.
  • Usage Scenarios::
    • Grab service payments (taxi, takeaway).
    • Shopping mall and chain shop spending (e.g. Hypermart, Cinema XXI).
  • cutting edge: Flexible points redemption and a wide range of offline partner merchants.

3. DANA

  • user basis: A local wallet invested in by Ant Group.
  • Usage Scenarios::
    Online shopping payments; utility bill payments; social media bonus features.
    Supports QRIS, the standard for two-dimensional codes, with strong compatibility.
    Frequent discounts to attract young people

4.ShopeePay(part of Shopee e-commerce)
With the rise of e-commerce platforms, it is particularly popular with the young online shoppers.
Main uses.
Shopee Platform Trading
Offline Loyalty Merchants (via "ShopeePay Near Me" function)
Features:Large subsidies (e.g. cashback 50%, etc.)

Other noteworthy tools:
5.LinkAja:: State-owned background, with a strong public transport scene (e.g., Jakarta Light Rail).
6.JeniusDigital Banking App with Payment Functions, Popular with Urban White Collar Workers

Selection Factors.
1) The strength of the offer: young people are highly sensitive to discounts
2) Application ecology: whether to cover high-frequency needs (e.g. travelling/takeaway)
3) Social attributes: DANA's red packets and other features increase stickiness

Based on 2023 data.GoPay and OVO still dominateHowever, DANA and ShopeePay are growing rapidly. Different cities may show differentiated preferences - Jakarta uses GoPay/OVO more; Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities may favour ShopeePay due to e-commerce penetration

Okay, let's move on to delve into other key dimensions of mobile payment use among young Indonesians:

II. Geographical and user profile differences

  1. Jakarta vs Outer Islands

    • Large cities (Jakarta, Surabaya): GoPay/OVO dominate due to high penetration of Gojek/Grab services.
    • second- and third-tier cities: ShopeePay is expanding rapidly through the e-commerce sink market, and DANA is more popular among small merchants due to QRIS versatility.

  2. Students vs Newcomers

    • Students favour ShopeePay (online shopping instalments + low price subsidy).
    • Young white-collar workers tend to use Jenius or DANA (with better financial management features).

III. Payment habits in social and entertainment scenarios

  1. Social Red Packet Culture

    • DANA's "Kirim Uang" (money transfer) and festive red packet functions are popular among family and friends.
    • GoPay's "GoTagihan" supports AA bill sharing (commonly used for dinners and travelling).

  2. Paying for games/content
    Handspring recharge mostly with OVO or DANA; TikTok live streaming rewards gradually access ShopeePay.

IV. Policy implications and technology trends

  1. QRIS National Standard QR Code: QRIS-enabled wallets such as DANA have seen an increase in small merchant coverage after the government mandated the harmonisation of standards.

  2. Bank account consolidation: Some young people are starting to use digital banking apps (e.g., BCA Mobile/Jenius) that tie directly to debit card payments to reduce e-wallet fragmentation.

V.Challenges and pain points
Despite rapid growth, young Indonesians are still apprehensive about mobile payments.

  • confidence issue:: Rural areas still have a preference for cash and fear of electronic fraud
  • network coverage:: Unstable signal in remote areas affects usage
  • Fee sensitivity:: P2P transfer fees can cause users to switch platforms

Possible future trends:
✅ 'Super App' integration (e.g. Gojek adding more financial services)
✅ Combination of Buy Now Pay Later and Payment
✅ Biometrics (fingerprint/facial) for faster verification

If a more specific aspect of the analysis is required (e.g., competitor comparison/market share data), it can be further developed~.