Google Pay, which used to be called Android Pay, came out for the first time in 2015. It is owned and made by Google. It is a digital wallet platform and an online payment system that lets you buy things in apps and with a tap on your phone. Also, this lets people pay for things with supported Android phones, tablets, or smartwatches that use NFC. Google Pay is an online payment platform that lets you pay with just one tap on a number of different devices. Also, the Google Pay Android app was updated in 2020 with new features that look good.
Google Pay is built with multiple layers of encryption to make sure that NFC is safe. To use Google Pay on your Android phone, though, you need to set up a secure lock screen or biometrics like fingerprint scanning. This makes your transactions safer. So, whether or not you use mobile payments, we think you should have these features on your Android phone. Tap your phone on the payment terminal after you’ve unlocked it, and your preferred card will beam over.
Google Pay is made to work with both Android and Apple, so both iPhone users and Android users can enjoy how easy it is to use. But Google Pay has one drawback: it only works in stores where the payment terminals have NFC. This used to be very rare, but in the last few years, especially during the pandemic, it has become more common. Samsung Pay is an app for paying for things that only works on Samsung phones. The app lets you swipe up to pay right from your home screen or lock screen, so you can pay right away while you’re on the go.
One of the best things about Samsung Pay is that it comes with Samsung Rewards. With every purchase you make using the app, you can earn points. Once you have enough points, you can use them to buy anything else through the Samsung app or the company’s website. When you go shopping, this kind of feature can help you save money. Users have talked about one of the problems with Samsung Pay, though. The app can be very slow when recognizing NFC readers, which can be annoying for some. This is different from Google Pay, which almost always works right away when you hold it up to a terminal.
Google pay vs Samsung pay Comparison Table
| Aspect | Google Pay | Samsung Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Payment Methods | Supports payments through mobile apps, online, and in-store using NFC technology | Supports payments through mobile apps, online, and in-store using NFC and MST technology |
| Cross-platform | Available for Android and iOS devices | Available for Android and select Samsung Galaxy devices |
| Digital Wallet | Offers a digital wallet for storing payment methods and loyalty cards | Provides a digital wallet for storing payment methods, loyalty cards, and other membership cards |
| Payment Technology | Relies on NFC (Near Field Communication) for contactless payments | Utilizes both NFC and MST (Magnetic Secure Transmission) for contactless payments, allowing compatibility with older card readers |
| Security Features | Utilizes tokenization and biometric authentication for secure transactions | Incorporates tokenization, biometric authentication, and Samsung Knox security for enhanced security |
| Rewards and Offers | Offers loyalty programs, rewards, and promotional offers through integration with various merchants | Provides access to exclusive offers, discounts, and rewards through partnerships with participating retailers |
| Availability | Widely available in multiple countries | Available in select countries, primarily on Samsung Galaxy devices |
| Integration with Services | Integrated with Google services and apps, allowing easy access to payments | Seamlessly integrates with Samsung devices, Samsung Pay-enabled apps, and Samsung services like Bixby |
| Compatibility | Compatible with a wide range of NFC-enabled Android devices | Compatible with select Samsung Galaxy devices, including older models with MST support |
| Official link | Visit Website | Visit Website |
Google pay vs Samsung pay Ease of Use
You’ll need to download the Samsung Wallet or Google Wallet app to use Google Pay or Samsung Pay. Google Wallet is a combination of Google Wallet and Android Pay, while Samsung Wallet is a combination of Samsung Pass and Samsung Pay. Google Wallet used to be called Google Pay, but it still has all the same features as Google Pay. The Samsung Wallet app should already be on your Samsung phone. To get the Google Wallet app, you’ll need to go to the Play Store.
Google Wallet and Samsung Wallet aren’t hard to use by any means, but some people want the easiest and most convenient option, especially if they aren’t very tech-savvy. So, let’s look at how Samsung Wallet and Google Wallet are used to see which one would be best for you.
When you open the Samsung Wallet app, you can choose to protect your account with a password, your face, or your fingerprint. After setting up a login option, you’ll see a simple home screen with an Add button for quick access. If you tap on this, you can add payment cards, loyalty cards, vouchers, digital keys, event tickets, and even boarding passes to your account. You can also tap the Menu button at the bottom of the home screen to see the information you’ve already added to your account as well as deals, notifications, and your settings. In general, the app is very simple to use.
Google pay vs Samsung pay Data security
Despite what you may have heard, NFC payments are very safe. NFC is safer than using a physical credit card as long as your phone is locked with a code or biometric method. With NFC payments, your credit card number is never stored on your phone. This isn’t just because of the extra layer of security. Instead, you are given a virtual card number that the card reader sees when you use tap-to-pay. This makes it harder for your real card number to be stolen at the point of sale.
But Samsung Pay might have a better way to protect your data than Google Pay. Both services encrypt data and have authentication built in, but Samsung’s solution is more secure because it uses Knox, the company’s mobile security platform and strong encryption solution. Knox is built into all Samsung phones, from the Galaxy S10 and Galaxy Note 10 to the Galaxy S22 Ultra. It’s also on some Galaxy Tab tablets, phones in the M series, and phones in the A series.
Google pay vs Samsung pay Paying in-store
Google Pay and Samsung Pay both use NFC technology, which lets you pay in stores by tapping your phone on the card reader if the terminal is compatible. Since iPhones use Apple Pay, Google Pay iPhone users can’t use contactless payments in person. NFC-compatible payment terminals are becoming more common at checkout, but not all stores have upgraded their systems yet, so Google Pay isn’t always an option.
But Samsung Pay has a secure magnetic transmission that lets people use their phones to pay at older terminals that don’t have NFC. When the phone is held up to the terminal, it sends out a signal that looks like a card swipe. I’ve found that this feature isn’t as reliable as NFC because the terminal doesn’t always read it. However, it works most of the time and is a great option that, in my opinion, makes Samsung Pay more versatile than Google Pay.
Google pay vs Samsung pay Regional availability and local card support
Both apps are only available in a small number of countries, but Google Pay is available in more places. Samsung Pay is only available in 13 countries, while Google Pay is in over 50. But both companies are always expanding their reach and number of products. Google Pay can be used with almost any credit or debit card in the U.S. Most of the new banks are smaller local networks and credit unions, and more are being added all the time.
There are so many supported banks now that it’s getting hard to find ones that aren’t on the list. Google Pay also works in some places with membership cards, gift cards, and transit passes. Some airlines have also started selling plane tickets. But it’s annoying that the app needs your phone number to let you in.
Google pay vs Samsung pay Rewards
There are a lot of benefits to using Samsung Pay and Google Pay. The first one gives cash back on some purchases, which you can find in the app and then use anywhere that accepts Samsung Pay. Google Pay has a wider range of offers, such as rewards and cash back from different stores and coupons that you can activate and use in-store or online. The Google Pay app also lets users keep track of their banking transactions. When a bank account is linked, the Google Pay app shows the available balance and lets you see what you’ve spent in the last month or three months.
Google pay: Pros and Cons
Pros
- Wide availability across multiple countries.
- Cross-platform compatibility for Android and iOS devices.
- Integration with Google services and apps.
- Convenient digital wallet for storing payment methods and loyalty cards.
- User-friendly interface and easy setup process.
Cons
- Limited availability of certain features in some regions.
- May not be as widely accepted in some stores compared to Samsung Pay.
- Limited compatibility with older card readers that do not support NFC.
Samsung pay: Pros and Cons
Pros
- Compatibility with a wide range of Samsung Galaxy devices.
- Support for both NFC and MST technologies, ensuring broader acceptance at various card readers.
- Enhanced security features, including Samsung Knox.
- Integration with Samsung services and apps, such as Bixby.
- Access to exclusive offers and rewards through partnerships with participating retailers.
Cons
- Limited availability primarily to Samsung Galaxy devices.
- Availability may vary across countries.
- Limited compatibility with non-Samsung devices and older phone models lacking MST support.
Which one should you consider?
There is no clear winner between the Samsung Wallet and the Google Wallet. Both of these apps have good security features and an easy-to-use interface, and they can be paid for in many different ways. But if you don’t have a Samsung phone or smartwatch, Google Wallet might be a better choice because it can be used on many different devices.
FAQs
No, there are no costs to join Samsung Pay or use it to pay. To sign up for Mobile Wallet and pay with it, your device must have an active data plan, and you may have to pay extra for data and/or text messages.
When you add a payment card to Samsung Pay, the information is encrypted and sent to Samsung servers. From there, it is sent to the card issuer’s payment network (Visa, MasterCard, or American Express) for approval. The card issuer may ask for a one-time password (OTP) to make sure you are the owner of the card.
