Samsung Wallet and Google Wallet, formerly known as Samsung Pay and Google Pay, are both digital wallets. They 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.
Here’s a summary of the two services, to bring you up to speed.
Quick summary: Google Wallet (Google Pay) vs Samsung Pay
| Google Wallet (Google Pay)1 | Samsung Wallet (Samsung Pay)2 |
|---|---|
| Available on Android devices in the UK, including Samsung phones. | Available on recent Samsung devices including Samsung Galaxy phones. |
| Add cards to your digital wallet to pay for goods and services in stores, online and in apps. | Store credit, debit and loyalty cards in your digital wallet for easy access. |
| Use to pay for some UK public transport. | Uses NFC (Near-field communication) technology, making it widely accepted. |
| Advanced security to keep your card and details safe. | Use to pay for some UK public transport.3 |
| Link your Wise card to make simple, cheap and safe payments as you travel - more on that in a moment. | Advanced security to keep your card and details safe. |
What is Google Wallet (formally Google Pay)?
What used to be Google Pay is now Google Wallet. If you already had the Google Pay app on your phone before, there’s no need to download the Google Wallet app.4
Google Wallet is a digital wallet which gives you quick access to different forms of payment, tickets, passes or IDs. You can use it for contactless payments and for carrying boarding passes, to name a few things.5
Is Google Wallet the same thing as Google Pay?4
This is best explained by Google directly. They say the following:
“The Google Pay app is now the Google Wallet app. This change simplifies how you store and use cards and passes”.
Google Pay is a mobile payment service used for paying in person, online and through different apps. Google Wallet is a digital wallet that lets you store different forms of payment, passes, tickets, keys, or IDs. You can use Google Wallet for paying wherever you see a Google Pay logo.
Some of Google Wallet’s many features are paying for public transport and carrying boarding passes, as well as storing your digital car keys and proof of vaccination.1
How to use Google Wallet?6
Before getting started with Google Wallet, make sure you have a valid Google account. Then take the following steps:
- Download the Google Wallet app (if you don’t already have the Google Pay app)
- Add the cards you want to use to fund payments (enter details manually or scan your cards)
- Turn on NFC
- Spend with just a tap of your mobile phone
Using the Wise card with your Google Wallet
You can use your Wise card inside the Google Pay app for simple and safe spending.
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 mid-market exchange rate*.
Adding your Wise card to Google Pay is fast and easy. You’ll also be able to use your Wise card with Garmin Pay and Fitbit Pay.
There’s also the Wise virtual card which adds a free Visa debit card to your account. Use it with Google Pay just as you would any other card.
Get your virtual card 💳
What is Samsung Wallet (aka Samsung Pay)?2
Samsung Wallet, formerly known as Samsung Pay, is the safe digital wallet provided by Samsung. It can hold your credit and debit cards, boarding passes, health passes and different membership cards. You can even add digital car keys if you drive either a BMW, Genesis or a Hyundai.
Samsung Wallet also has a cash back award programme when you buy from certain merchants using qualifying Visa, Mastercard, or American Express cards.
Was Samsung Pay replaced by Samsung Wallet?7
As explained by Samsung:
“Samsung Pay is now part of Samsung Wallet. With Wallet, you get the features and benefits of Samsung Pay, plus Samsung Pass, digital home and car keys, digital asset management, and more”
In short, Samsung Wallet includes Samsung Pay, along with features from Samsung Pass and various others. Samsung Pass is a biometric authentication service which lets you use fingerprint or iris recognition for verification.2
Is Samsung Pay the same thing as Android Pay?8
In short - no, they’re not the same.
If you’ve been researching digital wallets, you might have also come across Android Pay. Android Pay was launched by Google in 2015 but then merged with the Google Wallet app into what was then Google Pay. Today, this is all known as Google Wallet.
How does Samsung Pay work?9
If you have a phone that supports Samsung Wallet, it should already be installed on it. In case you can’t find it, make sure your phone has the latest software installed.
Here’s how to use Samsung Wallet, formerly Samsung Pay:
- Open the app and update it if needed
- Create a Samsung account or sign into it if you already have one
- Choose a verification method - PIN code, fingerprint or iris (you’ll have to set up a PIN code whichever method you choose)
- Create a Samsung Wallet pin
- Add your credit or debit cards
Using the Wise card with your Samsung Wallet
Your Wise card is compatible with Samsung Wallet and its quick and safe payments.
When you open a Wise account you’ll also get a Wise card. It allows you to hold and send multiple currencies and convert them using the mid-market exchange rate for only a small, transparent fee*.
You can also use the Wise virtual card with Samsung Pay just as you would any other card.
Google Wallet or Samsung Wallet?
Whether you choose Google Wallet or Samsung Wallet is largely down to the device you have and your personal preference.
If you have a Samsung device, you can choose either service. For all other Android phones, you’ll only be able 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 Wallet and Google Wallet are similar in many ways, including their basic functionality.
They can both store boarding tickets and health passes, along with being used for payments. They also both support the Wise card, so that won’t be an issue.
Ready for your Wise card? 💳
Related articles
Here are some additional articles you might find helpful:
- How do I use my Wise card with Samsung Pay?
- How do I use my Wise card with Google Pay?
- Google Pay is here!
- Google Pay limit: how much can you send?
- Virtual debit cards you can open in the UK
- How does contactless work?
- How do I use my Wise card with Apple Pay?
- Apple Pay vs PayPal in the UK: the full comparison
- How do I use my Wise card with Garmin Pay or Fitbit Pay?
Digital wallet comparison FAQs
Here are some common questions about digital wallets:
Does Google Wallet or Samsung Pay work without WiFi?
Samsung Pay requires internet connection only for adding or removing a card or downloading transaction history.10
It’s the same with Google Pay - you can use it offline as well.11
Can you use both the Samsung and Google Wallet apps on the same phone?
Yes, but only if your device supports it. If you have a Samsung, you can pick whether you’ll use Samsung Wallet or Google Wallet. If you have another Android phone, you can’t use Samsung Wallet.
Can I use Apple Pay on an Android phone?
You can’t use Apple Pay on an Android phone, it’s only compatible with Apple devices.12
Sources used:
Sources last checked on date: 13-Jun-2024
*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information. This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional. We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.
