Comparing the two payments apps to help you pick the right one for Uruguay.
| Mercado Pago | Prex | |
|---|---|---|
| Description | Uruguay's dominant digital wallet. Locals pay by QR code in supermarkets, restaurants, and street fairs from Montevideo to Punta del Este, and send instant transfers between friends. | Uruguayan prepaid Mastercard and wallet holding both pesos and dollars. One of the few local accounts that some non-residents can actually open, popular with visiting Argentines. |
| Essential? | Yes | No |
| Pro Tip | Sign-up needs a Uruguayan ID and local phone number, so visitors cannot join. Pay with a foreign-issued card instead: Uruguay automatically refunds 9 VAT points at restaurants and car rentals on foreign cards, making them cheaper than cash. | Worth the setup only for longer stays, since you need a local phone number and identity checks. Short-term visitors get better value simply tapping a foreign card, which also triggers Uruguay's automatic tourist VAT discounts. |
| App Store | Download | Download |
| Play Store | Download | Download |
We recommend Mercado Pago for payments in Uruguay. Sign-up needs a Uruguayan ID and local phone number, so visitors cannot join. Pay with a foreign-issued card instead: Uruguay automatically refunds 9 VAT points at restaurants and car rentals on foreign cards, making them cheaper than cash.
Mercado Pago is our top recommendation for payments in Uruguay. Uruguay's dominant digital wallet. Locals pay by QR code in supermarkets, restaurants, and street fairs from Montevideo to Punta del Este, and send instant transfers between friends.
Mercado Pago vs Prex in Uruguay