Although contactless credit cards are useful, there is an even more convenient payment option on your smartphone. With contactless phone payments, you can pay for goods and services without the need for cards or cash.
Two of the largest contactless payment processors out there today are Google Pay and Samsung Pay. But of these two options, which one outshines the other and which one is better 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 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 previously 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 need to head over to the Play Store to download the Google Wallet app.
Google Wallet and Samsung Wallet aren’t terribly difficult to use, but some want the simplest and most 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 one suits you best.
Once you open the Samsung Wallet app, you have the option to protect your account using a password, facial recognition, or fingerprint login. After setting up a login option, you will be greeted with a simple home screen with a Add quick access button. Tap on this and you’ll be able to add payment cards, loyalty cards, coupons, digital keys, event tickets, and even boarding passes to your account.
Alternatively, you can tap on the Menu at the bottom of the home screen, where you can see the information you’ve already added to your account and review promotions, notifications, and your settings. All in all, the app is very easy to use.
When it comes to the Google Wallet app, the setup is a bit different, but by no means complex.
you will see a add to wallet option (which can also appear as a simple +) at the bottom right of the home screen, which you can use to add a payment card, transit pass, loyalty card, or gift card. The process of adding such data is fairly straightforward, although it differs slightly depending on what you’re adding.
The app will also ask you to turn on NFC (Near-Field Communication) to enable contactless payments. If you want to use any app for contactless payments or scanning, NFC activation is essential. But keep in mind that NFC can carry certain risks, and hacks are possible through this technology.
In general, both apps are fairly simple to adapt and can be easily navigated.
2. Google Pay vs. Samsung Pay: security
When it comes to the storage of your payment information and other sensitive data, it’s critical that the app you choose is equipped with the right security features. So what do Google Pay and Samsung Pay offer in this regard?
First, let’s look at the login options. As mentioned above, the Samsung Wallet app allows you to sign in with a password or fingerprint, but you can turn on facial recognition if your phone supports facial recognition. 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, sends it through its own servers, and then to the card provider for approval. Sometimes you’ll need to enter a one-time password to let your card provider know it’s you making the purchase.
Samsung also keeps your funds and data safe during the payment process. When you pay, the provider will only receive a token representative of your payment, while the money itself will be kept safe. Only when your payment is authenticated will the provider receive the actual 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 sign-in options, including a PIN, pattern, password, fingerprint, facial recognition, and iris scanning. While Google Wallet won’t ask you to 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 lose the phone your Google Wallet account is active on, you can remotely lock it with Google Find My Device so no one else can access your payment methods.
3. Google Pay vs. Samsung Pay: Cards Supported
So you want to use a contactless payment app. But is it compatible with your payment methods?
Let’s start with Samsung Wallet. This application is compatible with the following payment networks: amexpress, Visa, MasterCardY Discover.
When it comes to cards, Samsung supports a wide range of different providers, including:
- capital one
- Bank of America
- To pursue
- fargo wells
- CITI
- United States to
- PNC
- TD bank
- bbva compass
- Bank Fifth Third
- Navy Federal Credit Union
- sun trust
- Regions
- BB&T
- sync bank
But it does not stop there. Samsung Wallet allows you to add loyalty cards, boarding passes (for select airlines), event tickets (for select venues), coupons, and digital keys to your Samsung SmartThings app. So the app is not only useful for direct payments; it also allows you to conveniently use passes and coupons.
Google Wallet, on the other hand, supports the following payment networks: amexpress, Visa, MasterCardY Discover.
When it comes to cards, Google Wallet supports a wide range of different providers, including:
- AMEX
- bac
- capital one
- Green Point
- Barclays USA
- bbva compass
- NFCU
- HSBC
- CITI
- PNC
- Synchrony
- fargo wells
- US Bank
- United States to
Like Samsung Wallet, Google Wallet supports a few additional data types, including transit passes for various services, loyalty cards, and gift cards. But Google Wallet still doesn’t accept ticket upload.
4. Google Pay vs. Samsung Pay: Availability
Both Google Wallet and Samsung Wallet can be downloaded from the Google Play Store. However, Samsung Wallet is designed for Samsung phones, so availability will be more limited with this app.
But both apps are free to download and use, so you won’t have to shell out extra money for hassle-free and convenient payments.
The verdict
When it comes to Samsung Wallet and Google Wallet, there is no obvious winner. Both apps offer strong security features and a simple user interface, as well as supporting a wide variety of payment methods.
However, if you don’t use a Samsung phone or smartwatch, Google Wallet may be a more suitable option for you, as it can be used on a variety of different devices.
If you want to streamline your payment methods, coupons, and gift cards, without having to use multiple devices or cards, consider one of the apps mentioned above. Samsung Wallet and Google Wallet can simplify your everyday payments and protect your card details, without the need for additional accessories.