Multibanco and MB WAY are today the two most widely recognised payment methods among Portuguese consumers, but they don’t serve exactly the same purpose.
Confusing the two, or assuming that one replaces the other, can lead to the wrong decisions when setting up an online store’s checkout, which in turn can affect your business’s revenue.
In this article, find out how each one works, the main differences between Multibanco and MB WAY, and when it makes sense to use each one, or both together, in your business.
What is Multibanco and how does it work?
Multibanco is the most traditional payment reference in Portugal, linked to the national ATM network.
In an online store, it works by generating a reference (entity, reference and amount) that the customer pays later at a Multibanco ATM, through online banking or in a banking app, with no need to enter card details.
What is MB WAY and how does it work?
MB WAY is SIBS’s mobile payment app, linked directly to the user’s mobile phone number.
It lets customers pay in seconds, both in online and physical stores, simply by confirming the payment in the app with a PIN or biometrics, with no need for references or physical cards at the time of purchase.
Multibanco vs MB WAY: key differences
| Multibanco | MB WAY | |
| How it’s paid | Reference generated, paid later at an ATM, via online banking or in an app | Direct confirmation in the app, linked to the mobile phone number |
| Confirmation speed | Can take anywhere from minutes to hours for the payment to be confirmed | Instant |
| Reference validity | Usually between 24 hours and a few days, depending on the business | Not applicable, as payment is immediate |
| Device required | ATM, online banking or app | Smartphone with the MB WAY app installed |
| User profile | Broad, including those who prefer not to pay straight away | Mobile-first, valuing speed |
| Typical use cases | Higher-value purchases, invoices and payments the customer wants to confirm at their own pace | Quick purchases, especially on mobile, and online store payments |
When should you use Multibanco in your online store?
Multibanco remains essential when your audience includes customers who prefer not to enter payment details immediately, for example, to confirm the purchase later, or because they don’t have MB WAY set up.
It’s also the most familiar option for building trust with customers who are less used to shopping online, and it works well for higher-value purchases, where the customer may want to “take their time” before completing the payment.
When should you use MB WAY in your online store?
MB WAY is the right choice when the goal is to reduce friction at checkout, especially for purchases made on a smartphone, which already account for a significant share of any online store’s traffic in Portugal.
According to the Banco de Portugal, instant transfers grew in 2025 by around 17 times in volume and 5 times in value compared with the previous year, driven by the entry into force of the European Instant Payments Regulation. This growth shows why it is now practically essential to have this option available at checkout.
Why does it make sense to offer both together?
Multibanco and MB WAY don’t compete with each other; they respond to different buying behaviours.
A customer buying on impulse on their phone prefers to complete everything in seconds with MB WAY. A customer making a higher-value purchase, or who simply prefers to confirm later, will prefer Multibanco. That’s why limiting your checkout to just one of the two means losing part of the audience that is only comfortable with the other, one of the factors that most affects the conversion rate of an online store.
For a broader view of all the methods worth offering, see the best payment methods for e-commerce.
Activate Multibanco and MB WAY with easypay
With easypay, you can activate Multibanco and MB WAY, as well as all the other payment methods relevant to the Portuguese market, in a single integration, without having to manage each one separately.
What you get by choosing easypay:
- Multibanco and MB WAY active from day one, alongside cards and digital wallets;
- A single checkout, with no need for separate integrations for each method;
- References and confirmations managed automatically, with no manual work.
Request a commercial proposal from easypay today and offer your customers the right payment method at the right time.