Pix has transformed how Brazil makes payments. In just over three years, it has established itself as the primary means of transfer between individuals, surpassing wire transfers (TED and DOC) and even the use of cash. Now, with the launch of Pix Automático, scheduled for June 2025, the Central Bank is taking a decisive step towards the digitalization of recurring billing—a territory still dominated by traditional methods like the boleto bancário (bank slip) and direct debit.
Pix Automático was created with a clear purpose: to increase the efficiency and convenience of recurring payments, promoting competition, inclusion, and expanding the use of Pix by companies and users. And it’s not hard to understand why.
The Current Landscape: Friction and High Costs
Today, companies that work with recurring billing—such as schools, gyms, healthcare providers, SaaS, and subscription services—face a tough choice:
- The boleto, which requires customer action, is subject to forgetfulness and late payments.
- Direct debit, although more efficient, is restricted to banks and imposes high costs and bureaucracy for companies to access this infrastructure.
This dynamic negatively impacts the customer experience and the predictability of a company’s cash flow.
What Changes with Pix Automático?
With Pix Automático, the customer provides a one-time authorization to allow scheduled recurring debits from their account. The charge is then made automatically, with instant settlement, the possibility of setting limits, cancellation at any time, and full transparency in the process. In practice, Pix Automático democratizes access to automated billing, allowing companies of all sizes—not just large players integrated with banks—to operate efficiently.
Why is the “Boleto” Likely to Die Out?
The boleto bancário, created in 1993, was an innovative solution for its time. But in 2025, it represents more friction than convenience. The payer needs to receive the boleto, remember the due date, open an app or go to the bank, and type in codes or scan QR codes. Pix Automático reduces this process to a single consent step—after which, everything runs automatically. The customer experience improves, late payments decrease, and companies gain operational efficiency.
Economic Opportunity and Innovation
Brazil already has over 150 million Pix users. In 2024, there were more than 63.5 billion transactions, moving R$26.4 trillion, according to Central Bank data. The expectation is that Pix Automático will expand this volume even further, entering areas previously little explored by Pix—such as education, healthcare, public utilities, and digital subscriptions.
Furthermore, it creates a new territory for innovation: recurrence dashboards, automated retries, smart reconciliation, and personalized billing experiences can be developed by fintechs and infrastructure providers, increasing competitiveness in the sector.
Pix Automático is not just a new feature—it is a structural move towards the end of analog payment methods. If the boleto is still breathing, it won’t be for long.
