Where do Malaysians spend their e-money the most?

Spending at dining outlets posts the fastest climb, gaining 15 percentage points year on year.

E-wallets are now a regular part of daily spending in Malaysia, with most users relying on them for everyday transactions, according to a recent Ipsos Malaysia study.

The data shows that 75% of e-wallet users used them at food and beverage outlets in the fourth quarter of 2025, making it the most common use. 

This category also recorded the fastest growth, rising by 15 percentage points from 2024. Retail purchases followed at 65%, whilst 61% used e-wallets for tolls and parking.

Other uses include food delivery at 48%, online purchases at 46%, bill payments at 38%, and money transfers at 37%. 

All categories recorded moderate increases compared to the previous year, indicating continued adoption across different spending needs.

Despite wider usage, the number of e-wallets used per person has slightly declined. 

Malaysians used an average of 1.5 e-wallets in 2025, down from 1.8 in both 2023 and 2024, and 1.7 in 2022. 

This suggests users are consolidating their usage to fewer platforms.

In terms of frequency, 39% of users said they use e-wallets every day, a decrease of 3 percentage points from 2024. 

Weekly usage also dropped to 36%, down by 6 points. Meanwhile, less frequent usage is rising, with 24% saying they use e-wallets once every one to three months, up by 8 points.

The findings indicate that whilst e-wallets remain widely used, growth is stabilising as users settle into more selective and consistent habits. 

The study is based on a nationally representative sample of 1,034 Malaysians aged 18 to 74, conducted in May 2025.