Google Pay vs. Apple Pay vs. Samsung Pay, the dilemma of choosing the right mobile payment solution for users has been around for a while.
Some find Google Pay to be the best mobile wallet for its varied device support, some find Apple Pay to be more readily available and convenient for their iOS device, and for some, Samsung Pay is the ultimate choice on their Samsung device.
Mobile wallets have become widely popular over the years as a convenient and secure way to make payments using a smartphone.
It has become an essential tool for making payments conveniently and securely using our smartphones.
However, when it comes to Apple Pay vs. Samsung Pay or Google Pay vs. Apple Pay, it can be challenging to decide which mobile wallet to use, as each of them offers a smooth experience.
“Mobile payments represent the next frontier in personal finance, and it’s no surprise that tech giants like Apple, Google, and Samsung are all jockeying for position in this space.” – John Rampton.
The mobile payments market is one of the fastest-growing markets of all time. Valued at $5.12 trillion, it is expected to touch $21.79 trillion with a CAGR of 33.54%.
The market is only going to rise from here. Understandably, giant players like Google Pay, Apple Pay, and Samsung Pay have a substantial role to play in this growth.
In this blog, we will compare three of the most popular mobile wallet options available, and further, we will explore their features and compare them to help you make an informed decision on which mobile wallet is right for you.
Let’s dive into the comparison guide for Google Pay vs. Apple Pay vs. Samsung Pay.
1. Google Pay: Best Wallet App for Android
It is the best mobile wallet service by Google that allows users to make contactless payments using their smartphones.
The service was launched in 2015 as Android Pay, but it was rebranded as Google Pay in 2018.
Moreover, Google Pay allows users to store their debit or credit card information in the app and use their smartphones to make NFC mobile payments.
The best thing about Google Pay is that it offers a secure and easy-to-use interface, with biometric authentication options such as facial recognition and fingerprints.
On the other hand, when it comes to Google Pay vs. Samsung Pay, they are both mobile payment systems that allow a user to make a purchase using their smartphones.
It offers a range of features, including person–to–person payments and many more, which we will discuss further.
♦ Features of Google Pay
Features
Description
Contactless payments
It allows users to make payments using smartphones at NFC-enabled terminals.
Loyalty programs
Google Pay supports loyalty programs that allow users to store and redeem reward points
and discounts in the app.
Transit Cards
In select cities, Google Pay can be used as a transit card, allowing users to pay for public transportation using their smartphones.
Peer-to-peer payments
Users can send and receive money to friends and family using Google Pay, simply by entering the recipient’s phone number or email address.
International payments
Google Pay allows users to make international payments, although availability and fees may vary depending on the country.
Integration with Google services
The Google Pay Platform can be used to make payments within Google services, such as Google Play and YouTube, making it easy to buy apps, movies, and other content.
♦ Google Pay security
Google Pay is not just one of the best wallet apps for Android; it is a secure digital wallet service that allows users to store their credit and debit card information on their mobile devices and make payments online, in apps, and in stores using their phones.
In addition, Google Pay uses multiple layers of security to protect users’ information and transactions, like encryption, tokenization, and biometric authentication.
In the Google Pay vs. Apple Pay vs. Samsung Pay debate, Google Pay holds a special place. But it has its own pros and cons.
Here we shall be discussing the pros and cons:
♦ Pros of Google Pay
- It provides convenience to the user as the user can easily send and receive money with just a few taps on the phone.
- Google Pay uses multiple security layers to keep your payment information safe by using tokenization
- It is compatible and used on most Android devices, making it accessible to a large number of users.
- Users get rewards and cash back with every purchase.
♦ Cons of Google Pay
- Limited availability in various countries
- Compatibility issues with older versions of Android
- Technical issues
- Privacy concerns related to data collection by Google.
2. Apple Pay
Apple Pay is a mobile payment and digital wallet service by Apple Inc. It was built with the e-wallet app design in mind.
Users can easily make payments using their Apple Watch, iPhone, iPad, and Mac devices. Make it an amazing example of what you can achieve with iOS app development.
With Apple Pay, users can securely store their credit, debit, and prepaid cards on their Apple devices and use them to make digital payments in stores, in-app purchases, and online payments.
Apple Pay uses various security measures to protect users’ payment information, including tokenization, which replaces card details with a unique code, and biometric authentication, which ensures that only the authorized user can make a payment.
Moreover, the services use Near Field Communication (NFC) technology to enable digital payments.
♦ Features of Apple Pay
Features
Description
NFC Tap to Pay Option
It allows users to make payments using smartphones at NFC-enabled terminals.
Loyalty programs
Apple Pay supports card-based loyalty programs and can only be used with App Store purchases.
Send/Receive Money
Users can send and receive money to friends and family using Apple Pay, simply by entering the recipient’s phone number or Apple ID.
International payments
Apple Pay allows users to make international payments, although availability and fees may vary depending on the country.
Integration with Apple services
Apple Pay can be used to make payments within Apple services, such as App Store, Music, Arcade, and more, making it easy to buy apps, games, and other content.
The features of Apple Pay are similar to Google Pay, and it offers a range of features that make it a convenient and secure way to make payments using Apple devices.
With Apple Pay, you can make payments in stores and restaurants or make in-app purchases. In addition, users can view their transaction history and receive receipts for purchases made using Apple Pay.
When it comes to security, Google Pay vs. Apple Pay vs. Samsung Pay, Apple Pay holds a special place.
Related Blog: How Much Does It Cost to Develop an App Like Apple Pay?
♦ Apple Pay Security
Apple Pay Security uses various security measures to protect users’ payment information, including tokenization, which replaces card details with an e-wallet QR code, and biometric authentication, which ensures that only the authorized user can make a payment.
When it comes to Samsung Pay vs Apple Pay, both securely make payments, which we are going to discuss in further detail in the next section.
♦ Pros of Apple Pay
- Apple has strong security features
- We don’t share transaction information with merchants, which protects user privacy.
- Compatible with Apple devices
- Convenient to use for making payments quickly and easily
♦ Cons of Apple Pay
- Limited availability, as it is only available on Apple devices
- Incompatibility with some older versions of iPhones and Apple Watches
- It provides limited rewards.
3. Samsung Pay
Samsung Pay is a mobile payment and digital wallet service offered by Samsung Electronics.
It allows users to make payments using their Samsung mobile devices, including smartphones and smartwatches, at participating retailers and merchants.
It supports a variety of payment methods, including magnetic stripe, NFC, and MST (Magnetic Secure Transmission) technologies, which enable it to work with almost any payment terminal, regardless of whether it supports payments. Make it one of the best NFC payment apps on the market.
When we compare Google Pay vs. Apple Pay vs. Samsung Pay, Samsung Pay holds a special place due to its variety of features.
In addition, Samsung Pay offers rewards and cash-back programs for users who use the service to make purchases.
It is the most convenient and secure way to make payments using your mobile device and is widely accepted by many merchants and retailers around the world.
When it comes to Apple Pay vs Samsung Pay, both have unique features and strong security features.
In fact, Samsung Pay has served as an inspiration for a lot of people who wanted an eWallet app of their own.
♦ Features of Samsung Pay
Features
Description
App Security
When it comes to security, it uses tokenization and biometric authentication technology to protect users’ payment information.
Wide acceptance
Samsung Pay is widely accepted by various merchants and retailers around the world. It supports a variety of payment methods, including magnetic stripe, NFC, etc.
Convenience
It is easy to use and convenient for users to make payments; users simply select the card they want to use from within the app.
Rewards and cashback programs
Like every eWallet, it also offers rewards and cashback programs for users who use the service to make purchases, such as points that can be redeemed for Samsung products or services.
Integration with other Samsung services
Samsung Pay is integrated with other Samsung services, such as Samsung Rewards and Bixby, which allows users to use voice commands to make payments.
♦ Samsung Pay Security
When it comes to security, Android Pay’s Samsung Pay takes security very seriously and uses several measures to protect users’ payment information, like tokenization, biometric authentication, PIN, etc.
Let’s look at the pros and cons of Samsung Pay.
♦ Pros of Samsung Pay
- Wide acceptance, as it uses both NFC and MST technology, which allows it to be used at almost any payment terminal.
- Samsung Pay allows users to make payments quickly and easily, which makes it very convenient.
- Strong security, as it has multiple layers of security access.
- It offers good reward points for making every purchase with the app.
♦ Cons of Samsung Pay
- Limited availability, as it is only available on Samsung devices.
- Incompatibility with older Samsung devices.
- Samsung Pay collects data on transactions, including purchase history and location data, which may be a concern for some users.
An e-wallet is a profitable niche if you want to start your e-wallet app business.
Let’s look at the comparison between Google Pay vs. Apple Pay vs. Samsung Pay in the next section.
Comparison Between Google Pay, Apple Pay, vs. Samsung Pay
Google Pay vs. Apple Pay vs. Samsung Pay are all popular mobile payment services that allow users to make payments using their smartphones or smart watches.
Here is a comparison of some of their e-wallet key features.
Features
Google Pay
Apple Pay
Samsung Pay
Compatible devices
Android phones with NFC and HCE support running KitKat (4.4) or higher
Apple iPhones since the SE, Apple Watch, MacBook Pro with TouchID, iPads since the 5th generation, iPad Pro, and iPad Mini
Samsung Galaxy phones since the Galaxy Note 5, Gear Watch and Gear Watch Active, Gear S2, and Gear S3
Availability
29 countries worldwide
41 countries worldwide
24 countries worldwide
Authentication
Fingerprint, PIN, pattern, or password
FaceID or fingerprint
Fingerprint, PIN, or iris
Uses
Works with NFC terminals, in-app, and web purchases
Works with NFC terminals, in-app purchases, and web purchases in Safari
Works with NFC, magnetic stripe, EMV terminals, and in-app purchases
Cards
Credit, debit, loyalty, and gift cards
Credit, debit, and loyalty cards
Credit, debit, loyalty, and gift cards
Integration with other services
Google services such as Google Maps and Google Assistant
Apple Pay is integrated with their respective companies, such as Siri
Samsung Pay is integrated with services such as Bixby
Overall, each mobile payment service has its unique features and benefits, and the best one for you will depend on your device, preferences, and the level of compatibility with merchants and retailers in your area.
If we take a look at the facts, iOS users can use Apple Pay quite conveniently, as they have the option to choose.
This is also the reason why a lot of people often ask about the differences between Google Pay and Samsung Pay.
So what are the differences? Well, check out the following section that differentiates between the two.
Google Pay Vs Samsung Pay: The Ultimate Android Wallet
Apple Pay becomes completely out of the question when it comes to choosing the right wallet for Android users.
If you use an Android device that is not powered by Samsung, you only have the option to use Google Pay.
However, if you use a Samsung device, you have the option of choosing between Google Pay & Samsung Pay.
In such a situation, you must keep in mind the following difference between the two.
Difference #1 – Devices Supported
Google Pay can be used on a Samsung Device, but Samsung Pay cannot be used on any device other than Samsung’s.
Difference #2 – Payment Technologies
Google Pay offers NFC just like Samsung Pay; however, the older Samsung devices that support it can also use MST (not available in the latest devices).
Difference #3 – Additional Features
Samsung offers direct access to internal services like Samsung Pass, which also saves tickets, passes, and passwords for your devices. Google Pay, on the other hand, can utilize seamless integration with the apps.
Difference #4 – Reward Programs
Google Pay does have a rewards program; however, Samsung has better loyalty rewards to offer.
More importantly, since Samsung has a wider range of rewards and hardware to offer, people using Samsung Wallet are often at a benefit.
With these 4 key differences, you can identify which is a better option for you. Samsung Pay gives you the liberty to pay almost anywhere, with some devices supporting MST for older terminals.
On the other hand, Google Pay is more integrated into your Google services, making in-app purchases easier.
Here’s what we recommend –
Choose Samsung Pay: If you own a Samsung device and only upgrade to the same series/brand. Samsung Pay can be a great addition to your payment methods if you are looking for a long-term solution.
Choose Google Pay: If you are more open towards trying new devices and don’t want to keep switching your payment method as per the device/platform you are using. Google Pay can be installed and used on every device, making it highly flexible.
Google Pay Vs. Apple Pay Vs. Samsung Pay: Which of the Three Wins?
Whether you use Google Pay vs Samsung Pay, or Apple Pay, ultimately depends on the user’s individual preferences, circumstances, and mobile devices.
All three services use near-field communication (NFC) technology to make payments and offer rewards and loyalty programs for using their payment systems.
However, the main difference is that Google Pay is available on Android & iOS, Apple Pay is exclusive to iPhones, and Samsung Pay is available on a limited number of Samsung devices.
What we can suggest to you after using all three wallets extensively is that –
- Google Pay is for you if you’re flexible with devices and keep switching between multiple devices, as it offers all the basic features and works on all platforms.
- Apple Pay is for you if you are already into the Apple ecosystem and have multiple devices and services that can utilize Apple Pay. Also, Apple Pay offers some great integration features for Apple users, such as paying via iMessage & more!
- Samsung Pay is for you if you are more into Samsung devices. The experience is excellent, considering you can easily finish a payment, and Samsung Pay is widely accepted.
Considering each of them has its limitations and perks, it is difficult to decide which one wins because each service has its own personal preferences.
Conclusion
When it comes to Google Pay vs. Apple Pay vs. Samsung Pay, each one of the services is unique on its own.
You can choose them according to your device compatibility and look for privacy concerns, as each one of them has different preferences.
Looking at the market size and demand, it may also hit your mind to enter it with a mobile wallet and payment method of your own.
It is completely viable since all 3 major players, i.e, Google Pay, Apple Pay, and Samsung Pay, come with a catch.
If you have an idea to resolve it all, you must reach out to our experts at Nimble AppGenie, an eWallet app development company that can help you turn your vision into a fully functioning app.
With that said, we have reached the end of this post.
Thanks for reading, Good luck!
FAQs
Yes, Google Pay/Samsung Pay/Apple Pay are considered safer than a card as they use tokenization and work on device owner authentication. A card, when in other hands, can be simply used for contactless payments irrespective of the owner. Whereas your applications use a security protocol and require proper authentication for use.
Google Pay stands out as the ultimate way to send money efficiently. Samsung has also recently added the tap-to-pay for peer-to-peer payments; however, it is yet to be completely tested in the everyday market.
Niketan Sharma, CTO, Nimble AppGenie, is a tech enthusiast with more than a decade of experience in delivering high-value solutions that allow a brand to penetrate the market easily. With a strong hold on mobile app development, he is actively working to help businesses identify the potential of digital transformation by sharing insightful statistics, guides & blogs.
