Vipps is the most common payment app in Norway. You send and receive money with just a mobile number, split the bill with friends and pay in shops. Over 4 million people in Norway use Vipps. Here's how to get started, and how to avoid fraud.
What is Vipps?
Vipps is an app on your phone for paying and sending money. It is owned by Vipps MobilePay, a company backed by Norwegian banks and Danske Bank. Over 4 million people in Norway use it, and more than 12 million across the entire Nordic region.
With Vipps you can:
- send money to a friend using just their mobile number,
- split the bill after dinner,
- pay in shops and online,
- pay a club, association or fundraiser using a Vipps number.
Norwegians often ask "can you Vipps?". It means "can you pay with Vipps?". The app is part of everyday life here.
How to get Vipps
To use Vipps you must be 15 years or older and have a few things in place:
- a Norwegian social security number or d-number,
- a Norwegian mobile number,
- a Norwegian bank account and a debit card,
- BankID to verify who you are,
- an email address.
Here's how to set up Vipps:
- Download Vipps from the App Store or Google Play.
- Enter your mobile number and verify with BankID.
- Add your debit card to the app.
- Now you can send and receive money.
If you don't have BankID yet, you need to arrange that first – see the guide on getting BankID and digital ID in Norway. You also need a Norwegian bank account. Children under 15 can only use Vipps if both parents have an active Vipps profile.
Pay and split the bill
Sending money to a private person in Norway is free up to 5,000 kroner to the same person within 24 hours. If you send more than that to the same person, it costs 1 percent. Paying shops, online shops and associations is always free.
If you want to split a bill, each person sends their share to whoever paid. You find the recipient using their mobile number. If you send money as a gift in the app, it costs a small fee.
Transfer to abroad
After Vipps merged with MobilePay, you can now transfer to Sweden, Denmark and Finland just as easily as in Norway. It costs 4 percent of the amount, and your bank can add a small currency markup. Receiving money is free.
Vipps only works in the Nordic region. If you want to send money to a country outside the Nordic region, you need to use a bank transfer or a service designed for that. Read more about sending money home from Norway.
Vipps to clubs, associations and bills
Vipps is not just for friends. You can also:
- pay membership fees or training fees to your children's sports club using a Vipps number,
- give to fundraisers, flea markets and community work,
- pay some bills and fixed amounts,
- shop in online stores by selecting "Pay with Vipps".
Many clubs, associations and small businesses accept Vipps, so it's useful to have for the whole family.
Beware of fraud
Vipps, the police or your bank will never ask you to move money to a "safe account" or give codes, PINs or passwords. Scammers call and pretend to be Vipps, your bank or the police, create stress and ask you to transfer money. Then you should hang up.
Never share BankID codes or one-time codes with anyone. If you're unsure, hang up and call back to a number you've found yourself. Read more about BankID fraud and how to protect yourself.
Understanding banking, BankID and digital services is part of everyday life in Norway – and part of the civics knowledge you encounter on the civics exam. On SamfunnPrep you can practice for free. Ready to practice? Try SamfunnPrep for free.
