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Brazil’s landmark instant payment system, Pix, has already revolutionised the way millions transact, serving as a vital driver of financial inclusion.
Pix Automático launch
Now, its evolution takes a major leap forward with the launch of Pix Automático, a feature set to transform the country’s long-overlooked recurring payments landscape.
Until now, recurring payments in Brazil have relied almost exclusively on credit cards or complex direct debit arrangements – mechanisms that exclude a large swathe of the population.
Around 60 million Brazilians do not hold a credit card, and many face hurdles accessing direct debit due to the fragmented nature of bank-to-merchant agreements.
This has left consumers struggling to automate routine payments for everything from utilities to streaming subscriptions.
Pix Automático
Pix Automático, launched on 16 June, aims to eliminate this bottleneck.
The new feature enables any Pix user – regardless of credit card ownership or banking institution – to authorise recurring payments directly through their bank or digital wallet.
It offers a simple, secure alternative to legacy billing systems and promises to extend automated payment capabilities to millions of previously underserved individuals.
“This is a paradigm shift,” said Ralf Germer, CEO of PagBrasil, one of the companies pioneering the rollout. “Pix Automático will be accessible to all Pix users without restrictions.”
For consumers, this means greater control and transparency: recurring payments can be configured with parameters such as frequency, duration, amount caps for variable charges, and revocation rights—cancellable up to one minute before execution.
For merchants, the implications are far-reaching.
Not only does Pix Automático reduce costs compared to card-based transactions, but it also eliminates chargeback risks – a common pain point in credit card processing.
Businesses benefit from predictable cash flow and lower administrative overheads, while consumers gain confidence through transparent mandates embedded in their mobile banking apps.
PagBrasil is already offering Pix Automático to its domestic and cross-border merchants, with international businesses expected to go live by Q3 2025.
The company will also facilitate cross-border settlement, converting Pix revenues into USD or EUR for global merchants.
While marginally more expensive than standard Pix transfers, Pix Automático remains significantly cheaper than card payments.
More importantly, it opens access to vast new market segments – particularly digital-native consumers and those without formal banking infrastructure.
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