Google Pay vs Samsung Pay: Which is better?

Samsung Pay and Google Pay are both digital wallets, which enable easy mobile payments online, in apps and in stores. When you’re out and about you can use your mobile phone to pay for goods and services by simply tapping it against the merchant’s payment terminal as you would a contactless card - simple.

Here’s a summary of the two services, to bring you up to speed.

What is Google Pay?

Google Pay is a digital wallet, or mobile payment platform, which allows you to add your card details, and use them to pay in stores, online and using apps. You can use Google Pay in the UK on most Android phones.

How to use Google Pay?

To use Google Pay:

1. Download the Google Pay app.
2. Add the cards you want to use to fund payments.
3. Then you’ll be able to spend with just a tap of your mobile phone.

Wise debit MasterCard with Google Pay

Google Pay is here at Wise to make spending simple and fast!

You can easily add a Transferwise debit MasterCard to Google Pay, so it’s simple and cheap to spend.

You’ll get a Wise card when you open a multi-currency account. It lets you hold and send multiple currencies, and if needed, switch between them cheaply and easily using the real exchange rate.

It’s easy to add Wise debit MasterCard to Google Pay. You’ll also be able to use your Wise card with Garmin Pay and Fitbit Pay. And, you can even use Google Pay to cover the costs of transfers with Wise.

Want to shop in places where Mastercard isn't accepted? Use the Wise virtual debit card feature to add a free Visa debit card to your account. Use it with Google Pay just as you would any other card.

What is Samsung Pay?

Samsung Pay is the digital wallet provided by Samsung, and works on most recent Samsung devices. You’ll be able to add credit and debit cards, and spend easily while collecting loyalty points on any store cards you’ve added to the wallet.

How does Samsung Pay work?

Samsung Pay works in a similar way to Google Pay. You’ll download the app, confirm all your security details, and add the cards you want to use. You can then use your phone instead of a card when you shop.

Samsung Pay vs Android Pay

You may be wondering is Google Pay the same as Android Pay? If you’ve been researching digital wallets, you might have also come across reference to Android Pay. Google Pay was created by bringing together Android Pay and Google Wallet, and is now the most up to date offering for customers. You’ll no longer be able to set up Android Pay but will be directed to Google Pay instead.

Apple Pay

If you’re a fan of Apple devices, you might be trying to decide which digital wallet will work for you. While Google Pay and Samsung Pay probably won’t suit, Apple Pay - available on iOS and Mac systems - just might.

Apple Pay works in a similar way to both Samsung Pay and Google Pay, making it easy to pay for things without having to find your wallet every time.³

Google Pay or Samsung Pay

Whether you choose Google Pay or Samsung Pay is largely down to the device you have, and your personal preference. If you have a Samsung device, you can choose either system - for all other Android phones, you’ll need to use Google Pay. The functionality of the two systems is similar, so if you have a choice you might want to try both and see which user experience works best for you.

Samsung Pay and Google Pay are similar in many ways, including the basic functionality: swipe your phone at the register to pay, but the main differences between the two are: Samsung Pay is available only on Samsung devices. You can use Google Pay only on terminals that accept contactless payments over NFC.

Remember - it’s simple and fast to start using a Wise debit MasterCard with Google Pay. Get a Wise account and start saving.

Sources used:

Sources checked on: 22-January 2020.