Google Pay vs. Samsung Pay: Which Payment Service Should You Use?
Reading Time: 5 minutesBoth work pretty much the same, but there are slight differences you may want to know about.
Though contactless credit cards are useful, there lies an even more convenient payment option in your smartphone. With contactless phone payments, you can pay for products and services without the need for cards or cash.
Two of the biggest contactless payment processors out there today are Google Pay and Samsung Pay. But out of these two options, which outshines the other, and which is best for you?
1. Google Pay vs. Samsung Pay: Ease of Use
If you want to access Google Pay or Samsung Pay, you’ll need to download the Samsung Wallet or Google Wallet app. While Samsung Wallet is a combination of Samsung Pass and Samsung Pay, Google Wallet is a combination of Google Wallet and Android Pay.
Google Wallet was formerly known as Google Pay, but the former still offers the same features as the latter.
On a Samsung phone, the Samsung Wallet app should be installed by default, but you’ll have to head to the Play Store to download the Google Wallet app.
Google Wallet and Samsung Wallet are by no means very difficult to use, but some want the most simple, convenient option, especially if you don’t consider yourself very tech-savvy. So, let’s take a look at the user interfaces of Samsung Wallet and Google Wallet to see which would suit you best.
Once you open the Samsung Wallet app, you’re given the option of protecting your account via either a password, face recognition, or fingerprint login. After setting up a login option, you’ll be met with a simple home screen with an Add button for quick access. Tap on this, and you’ll be able to add payment cards, loyalty cards, vouchers, digital keys, event tickets, and even boarding passes to your account.
Alternatively, you can tap on the Menu option at the bottom of the home screen, where you’ll be able to view the information you’ve already added to your account and check out promotions, notifications, and your settings. All in all, the app is very straightforward to use.
When it comes to the Google Wallet app, the setup is a little different, but by no means complex.
You’ll see an Add to Wallet option (which may also appear as a simple +) at the bottom right of the home screen, which you can use to add a payment card, transport pass, loyalty card, or gift card. The process of adding such data is pretty straightforward, though it differs slightly depending on what you’re adding.
The app will also request that you turn on NFC (Near-Field Communication) to enable contactless payments. If you want to use any app for contactless payments or scanning, activating NFC is essential. But note that NFC can come with certain risks, and hacks are possible through this technology.
All in all, both apps are pretty simple to adapt to and can be navigated easily.
2. Google Pay vs. Samsung Pay: Security
When it comes to the storage of your payment information and other sensitive data, it’s paramount that the app you choose is equipped with adequate security features. So, what do Google Pay and Samsung Pay offer in this respect?
First, let’s look at the login options. As previously mentioned, the Samsung Wallet app lets you sign in using a password or fingerprint, but you can activate facial recognition if your phone supports such a feature. You can also choose to sync your Samsung Wallet data with Samsung Cloud so that it can be backed up.
Samsung also encrypts your payment information when you complete a transaction, sending it via its own servers and then to the card provider for approval. Sometimes, you’ll need to enter a one-time password so that your card provider knows it’s you making the purchase.
Samsung also keeps your funds and data safe during the payment process. When you pay, the vendor will just receive a token representative of your payment, while the money itself is kept safe. Only when your payment is authenticated will the vendor receive the real funds.
But Google Wallet also has some useful features that can help protect you.
When it comes to accessing your account, Google Wallet gives you a variety of login options, including a PIN, pattern, password, fingerprint, facial recognition, and iris scan. While Google Wallet won’t make you provide your login credentials for smaller payments, you will need to do so for larger transactions.
Google also stores your payment information on its secure private servers. If you happen to lose the phone that your Google Wallet account is active on, you can lock it remotely using Google Find My Device so that no one else can get their hands on your payment methods.
3. Google Pay vs. Samsung Pay: Supported Cards
So, you want to use a contactless payment app. But does it support your payment methods?
Let’s start with Samsung Wallet. This app supports the following payment networks: American Express, Visa, MasterCard, and Discover.
When it comes to cards, Samsung supports a wide range of different providers, including:
- Capital One
- Bank of America
- Chase
- Wells Fargo
- CITI
- USAA
- PNC
- TD Bank
- BBVA Compass
- Fifth Third Bank
- Navy Federal Credit Union
- Sun Trust
- Regions
- BB&T
- Synchrony Bank
But it doesn’t stop there. Samsung Wallet lets you add loyalty cards, boarding passes (for select airlines), event tickets (for select venues), vouchers, and digital keys for your Samsung SmartThings app. So the app isn’t just useful for direct payments; it allows you to conveniently use passes and coupons, too.
Google Wallet, on the other hand, supports the following payment networks: American Express, Visa, MasterCard, and Discover.
When it comes to cards, Google Wallet supports a wide range of different providers, including:
- AMEX
- BAC
- Capital One
- Green Dot
- Barclays US
- BBVA Compass
- NFCU
- HSBC
- CITI
- PNC
- Synchrony
- Wells Fargo
- US Bank
- USAA
Like Samsung Wallet, Google Wallet supports some additional kinds of data, including transport passes for various services, loyalty cards, and gift cards. But Google Wallet does not yet accept ticket uploads.
4. Google Pay vs. Samsung Pay: Availability
Both Google Wallet and Samsung Wallet can be downloaded on the Google Play Store. However, Samsung Wallet is designed for Samsung phones, so the availability will be more limited with this application.
But both of these apps are free to download and use, so you won’t have to fork out any extra cash for convenient, seamless payments.
The Verdict
When it comes to Samsung Wallet and Google Wallet, there’s no obvious winner. Both of these apps offer solid security features and a simple user interface while also supporting a wide variety of payment methods.
However, if you’re not using a Samsung phone or smartwatch, Google Wallet may be a more suitable option for you, as it can be used across a range of different devices.
Want a Simpler Payment Method? Consider a Contactless App
If you want to streamline your payment methods, vouchers, and gift cards, without having to use multiple devices or cards, consider one of the apps discussed above. Samsung Wallet and Google Wallet can simplify your daily payments and protect your card data, without the need for additional accessories.
Reference: https://www.makeuseof.com/google-pay-vs-samsung-pay/
Ref: makeuseof