Apple Pay vs Samsung Pay: How do they compare?

Thinking of using a digital wallet? They’re an increasingly popular choice in the UK, offering a convenient way to spend using just your phone - without the need to carry bulky wallets and lots of cards around with you.

There are a few digital wallet providers available in the UK, and which one you go for may depend on which device you have.

But to help you choose, we’ve put together a comparison of two big hitters - Apple Pay and Samsung Pay. We’ll compare them on features, availability, device compatibility, security and whether there are any fees.

We’ll also show you how to use both of them with your Wise card.

Learn more about the Wise card

Apple Pay vs Samsung Pay UK Comparison

Before we dive into the Apple Pay vs Samsung Pay debate, here’s a quick comparison of all the key things that matter:

How Apple Pay works in the UK

Apple Pay is a safe, widely accepted contactless payment method that’s easy to set up. You can use it by adding bank cards to your Apple Wallet, then you can use your phone to pay wherever contactless payments are accepted.

It can be used for online and in-app purchases, as well as in real-world shops, bars and restaurants. It’s also possible to pay for public transport using Apple Pay. You won’t even need to unlock your phone or Apple Watch, just tap the card reader.

How to use Apple Pay with your Wise card

There are two easy ways you can start using your Wise card with Apple Pay. You can either do it through the Wise app, or through your Apple Wallet. You can add both physical and virtual cards.

If you’re doing it via the Wise app, follow these steps:

1. Open the Wise app
2. Tap on the Card tab
3. Select the card you'd like to add then tap on Add to Apple Wallet.

And if you’re adding your Wise card using your Apple Wallet, this is how to do it:⁵

1. Open your Apple Wallet
2. Tap the ‘+’ button
3. Tap Debit or Credit Card
4. Scan your card (by holding it close to your device) or enter the details manually
5. Verify the card with your bank or card provider.

For more details, read the instructions for using your Wise card with Apple Pay.

How Samsung Pay works in the UK

Samsung Pay works in a very similar way to Apple Pay. It’s a secure, widely accepted contactless payment method, primarily used for in-person payments.

Once you add debit and/or credit cards to your Samsung Wallet app, then you can start using your phone instead of plastic cards to make contactless payments.

It can be used for payments in shops, bars and restaurants, as well as on public transport and anywhere else that contactless payments are accepted. You can also use it online where you see the Samsung Pay option at the checkout.

Samsung Pay can only be used with compatible Samsung devices, and the Samsung Wallet app often comes pre-installed.

What’s the difference between Apple Pay and Samsung Pay?

The main difference between Apple Pay and Samsung Pay is device compatibility. Apple Pay can only be used on iOS devices such as iPhones, while Samsung Pay can only be used on compatible Samsung devices like Samsung Galaxy phones.

Apple Pay is also one of the most popular digital wallets in the UK, while Samsung Pay has much lower numbers of users.

Otherwise, they both work in a pretty similar way.

How to use Samsung Pay with your Wise card

To start using your Wise card with Samsung Pay, follow these easy setup steps:

1. Open the Samsung Pay app
2. Select the + icon in the top right corner
3. Select Add payment card
4. Scan your card or enter the details manually
5. Verify your card with an SMS code.

For more info, check out this handy guide to using your Wise card with Samsung Pay.

How safe is Apple Pay for Brits to use?

Apple says that its Apple Pay service is much safer than using a physical card. This is because your card information is never shared with the merchant when you use Apple Pay, but also due to the fact that your card numbers aren’t stored on Apple servers.⁴

When making a purchase with Apple Pay, you must use Face ID, Touch ID or your password.⁴This safeguards your account and payments from misuse, just in case someone else gets hold of your phone.

Apple Pay also uses data encryption, as well as letting you suspend Apple Pay if you lose your phone by placing your device in Lost Mode.⁴ If you find your phone, you can then re-enable Apple Pay without having to set everything up again.

How safe is Samsung Pay in the UK?

Samsung Pay and the Samsung Wallet use a number of sophisticated security measures to protect you and your money. These include the following:³

• Samsung Knox technology, which keeps card information encrypted in a secure data vault and also monitors your phone for suspicious transactions
• Tokenisation - this involves creating a unique, randomised set of numbers for each transaction, so your real card number is never used or shared with retailers and merchants.
• Access to Samsung Wallet is via Samsung Pass, which secures all your passwords and login details behind secure PIN or fingerprint access. Biometric or PIN authentication is also used to validate every transaction.
• If your phone is lost or stolen, you can lock or delete your Samsung Pay account remotely using the Find My Phone feature.

So, which is best?

Both Apple Pay and Samsung Pay work in very similar ways. They’re both easy to set up, and let you add payment cards along with public transport tickets, loyalty cards, membership cards and gift cards. Security is strong for both options, and they’re both widely accepted wherever you can use a contactless card.

So which is best for you will ultimately come down to what device you have - Apple or Samsung.

Whichever digital wallet you use, make sure your first setup step is to add your Wise card. You can use the Wise card to spend in 40+ currencies in 150+ countries, as well as online. So if you love to travel and/or shop on overseas websites, it’s an essential card to have in your digital wallet.

Sign up with Wise today

Additional FAQs

Does Apple Pay charge a fee?

No, Apple Pay doesn’t charge any fees to use either Apple Pay or the Apple Wallet.

Is Samsung Pay free to use?

Samsung Pay and the Samsung Wallet are both free to download and use, as Samsung doesn’t charge any fees.

Which payment app is mostly used in the UK?

According to data published on Statista.com, Apple Pay is the most popular mobile wallet used in the UK for Point of Sale (PoS) transactions, which are payments in real-world stores.⁶

Can you use Apple Pay on the London Underground?

Yes, you can use Apple Pay on the London Underground as well as almost all other public transport services which accept contactless payments and/or digital tickets.

It even has a special feature designed just for using public transport, called Express Mode. This lets you pay for journeys without the need to unlock your phone. Simply adjust your Express Mode settings, then hold your device to the card reader - without the need for Face ID or Touch ID.⁷

Do UK supermarkets accept Samsung Pay as a payment method?

Yes, you can use Samsung Pay as a payment method in supermarkets which accept contactless payments (or where you see the Samsung Pay logo).

Sources used:

Sources last checked on date: 12-Dec-2024