How to Sell in Brazil with Pix: A Guide for Foreign Companies

To sell in Brazil today, you need to accept Pix. Pix is the instant payment system created by the Central Bank of Brazil in 2020: the customer pays in their banking app by scanning a QR code or pasting a code, and the money arrives in seconds, 24 hours a day, every day. In 2025 there were about 80 billion transactions, and in e-commerce Pix accounted for 42% of purchase value, ahead of credit cards. A foreign company can accept Pix without a company in Brazil, using a payment processor that collects in reais and transfers the money abroad.

Pix in numbers

Indicator	Number	Source
Transactions in 2025	About 80 billion (+25% in one year)	Central Bank, via BMC News
Adults who used Pix in April 2026	142 million (93% of adults)	Central Bank, via Let's Money
Transactions in August 2026	7.37 billion in the month (+18.1% in 12 months)	Central Bank, via Let's Money
Share of e-commerce value in 2025	42% (credit cards: 40%)	Global Payments Report 2026, via Poder360

In a few years, Pix went from novelty to national habit. To compare it with other methods, see the most used online payment methods in Brazil.

How Pix works in an online purchase

1. At checkout, the customer chooses Pix.
2. The store shows a QR code and a "copia e cola" (copy and paste) code, with the amount and an expiry time.
3. The customer opens their banking app, scans the QR code (or pastes the code) and confirms.
4. The payment settles in seconds and the store receives automatic confirmation.

No card terminal and no card number. For individuals, sending a Pix is free; companies pay the fees agreed with their bank or processor, usually lower than card fees.

Pix keys

For transfers between people, Pix uses "keys": CPF or CNPJ, email, mobile number or a random key. In e-commerce, the most common is the dynamic QR code, generated for each order, which already identifies the sale.

The Pix features that matter to sellers

• Dynamic QR code Pix: the standard for online stores, one code per order.
• Pix Cobrança (with due date): works like a boleto, with a due date, late fees and interest, but paid via Pix. Useful for invoices. Compare with the boleto bancário.
• Pix Automático: launched by the Central Bank in 2025, it lets customers authorize recurring charges (subscriptions, monthly fees) without a credit card. Very relevant for SaaS in Brazil.
• Contactless Pix: paying by tapping the phone, like a card, through digital wallets.
• Pix in installments: offered by banks and fintechs; the customer pays their bank in installments, and the seller receives the full amount instantly. See installments in Brazil.

Why offer a Pix discount

Pix costs sellers less, has no chargebacks like cards and the money arrives immediately. That is why Brazilian retailers usually offer 5% to 10% off for Pix payments. Customers understand the logic and often choose Pix because of it. See how to fit this into your price table in how to price in Brazilian reais.

Security and refunds

• Banks apply configurable value limits to Pix, especially at night.
• In cases of fraud or operational failure, there is the Special Return Mechanism (MED), regulated by the Central Bank.
• For ordinary refunds (exchanges, withdrawals), the store sends a Pix return to the payer. Remember that the Consumer Defense Code guarantees 7 days to withdraw from online purchases.

How a foreign company accepts Pix

Only institutions authorized in Brazil take part in Pix directly. A foreign company has two paths:

1. Without a company in Brazil: hire a payment processor that serves foreign sellers, collects Pix in reais and settles in foreign currency to your account. It is the fastest way to test the market. See can you sell in Brazil without a local company?.
2. With a company in Brazil: open an account with a Brazilian bank or payment institution and receive Pix directly, like any local company. See how to open a company in Brazil as a foreigner.

When choosing a processor, compare: fee per Pix, settlement time abroad, foreign exchange cost, support for Pix Automático, refunds and integration with your checkout.

Checkout best practices

• Show Pix as the first option, with the discount highlighted.
• Display the QR code and the "copia e cola" code side by side (on mobile, copy and paste is used most).
• Set a short expiry (for example, 30 minutes) and show a countdown.
• Confirm payment on screen automatically, without asking the customer for a receipt.
• If the Pix is not paid, send a reminder with the code by email or WhatsApp to customers who opted in. See WhatsApp for business in Brazil.

Summary

Pix changed how Brazil pays and is now the most used method in e-commerce. Offering Pix, ideally with a discount, is mandatory for anyone who wants to sell here, and a foreign company can do it from day one through a processor. If you want help choosing a processor and setting up checkout, talk to BrazilDoor.