Comparing the two payments apps to help you pick the right one for Costa Rica.
| SINPE Móvil | Wise | |
|---|---|---|
| Description | Costa Rica's national instant payment system, run by the central bank. Locals pay everyone by phone number, from sodas and taxis to farmers markets, through their regular banking apps. | Multi-currency card that handles Costa Rica's dual pricing in dollars and colones. Withdraw colones at ATMs and tap to pay at card-friendly businesses nationwide. |
| Essential? | Yes | No |
| Pro Tip | SINPE needs a Costa Rican bank account and local phone number, so tourists cannot use it. Pay with a contactless Visa or Mastercard instead, accepted almost everywhere, and keep small colones bills for rural spots that only take cash or SINPE. | Always choose to be charged in colones, never in US dollars, when a terminal or ATM offers the choice. Dynamic currency conversion in tourist areas can quietly add several percent to every payment. |
| App Store | - | Download |
| Play Store | - | Download |
We recommend SINPE Móvil for payments in Costa Rica. SINPE needs a Costa Rican bank account and local phone number, so tourists cannot use it. Pay with a contactless Visa or Mastercard instead, accepted almost everywhere, and keep small colones bills for rural spots that only take cash or SINPE.
SINPE Móvil is our top recommendation for payments in Costa Rica. Costa Rica's national instant payment system, run by the central bank. Locals pay everyone by phone number, from sodas and taxis to farmers markets, through their regular banking apps.
SINPE Móvil vs Wise in Costa Rica