01/Glossary · Payments & Invoicing
SINPE Móvil — National Electronic Payment System (Mobile)
Instant bank-to-bank transfer system in Costa Rica tied to a phone number, with zero commission on colones-to-colones transfers.
02/Full definition
SINPE Móvil is Costa Rica's Central Bank (BCCR) instant transfer system, operated by the country's banks. It lets you send money using the recipient's phone number; transfers are instant, free for colones-to-colones, and available 24/7. It's the preferred payment method for most Costa Ricans for P2P payments and small merchants.
03/In Costa Rica context
There's no official SDK to integrate SINPE Móvil into a web store — you need a BSP provider like Tilopay, GreenPay, or ProSinpe (USD 800–2,500 setup + low commission). The main downside: UX friction that reduces conversion ~15% vs card. We recommend it as a secondary option alongside Stripe, not as the only one.
04/Related reading on the site
05/Related terms
06/Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Does SINPE Móvil have a commission?▾
Colones-to-colones transfers are free for the user. If you use a BSP provider (Tilopay, GreenPay) for web, they charge a lower commission (~1.5–2%) to process and reconcile the payment automatically.
Does it accept dollars?▾
SINPE Móvil operates primarily in colones. For dollar payments (tourists, international clients) use Stripe or BAC. Ideally offer both options at checkout.
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