Samsung Pay vs. Google Pay

When it comes to online payments, two major contenders stand out in the space: Samsung Pay and Google Pay. Although several others exist, these two global payment giants are making waves and introducing ease of payments to millions of people worldwide.

If you’re new to these options for making contactless payments, you’ve come to the right place. Here, we pit Samsung Pay and Google Pay against each other, arming you with the right information to make an informed choice.

Keep reading below to discover more about these payment giants and which is the ideal choice.

Everything you need to know

Google Pay and Samsung Pay offer a contactless payment service through a mobile payment platform. They have been on the market for many years and offer stability and reliability.

These services are mobile apps that can be downloaded on a smartphone and used to make in-person and online payments. However, there are some differences worth knowing about.

Let’s take a look at each contender in more detail below.

Samsung Pay

Samsung Pay came onto the mobile payments scene in 2015. Over the past nine years, the app has undergone some changes, the most notable being its incorporation under the Samsung Wallet umbrella.

As of 2022, Samsung Wallet incorporates Samsung Pay into its portfolio as part of a wider digital wallet. Samsung Wallet can also store digital keys and digital IDs, among other things.

Google Pay

The Google Pay app was developed in 2018 and merged with Google Wallet in 2011 and Android Pay in 2015. However, in 2022, Google Pay is, now better known as Google Wallet, which is also a digital mobile app and broader wallet that facilitates smoother transactions through a person’s smartphone.

Pros and cons of Samsung Pay

Both of these global giants have several advantages and disadvantages. Let’s take Samsung Pay as a starting point.

Firstly, and on the plus side, it offers near-field communication (NFC) or NFC technology and magnetic secure transmission (MST) technology on some of its older phones.

This means that even if a merchant doesn’t have an NFC card reader but one that accepts magnetic stripe payments, it’s possible to pay online via the Samsung Pay app.

Secondly, it offers PayPal for in-store purchases. It is also compatible with smartwatches and has a competitive rewards programme. On the flip side, however, it is only available on Samsung devices, which excludes every other Android phone from enabling usage of Samsung Pay.

Pros and cons of Google Pay

Google Pay, on the other hand, is available for both Android and iOS users and is not limited to Samsung phones. It also enables the connection of a mobile wallet account to PayPal.

Another useful feature is that it offers transaction histories and trends in spending habits. It is also often used for online shopping. However, it does place limits on transactions, and this can be limiting for specific users.

Key factors to consider

Despite their similarities, the two digital wallets have some differences. We look at a few key differentiating criteria to help you make an informed choice.

Installation and device integration

Samsung Pay only works on a Samsung phone. On the other hand, Google Pay, as part of the Google Wallet app, works on a broad range of Android devices and, ultimately, most Android phones.

Regarding installation, both Samsung Pay and Google Pay are easy to install and operate. You simply need to download the app from the respective app store and follow the instructions, such as verify your identity and add credit or debit cards.

Regional availability and local card support

Samsung Pay works in many countries.

It includes the following:

• Australia
• Brazil
• Canada
• China
• Hong Kong
• India
• Malaysia
• Puerto Rico
• Singapore
• South Korea
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Thailand
• The United Arab Emirates
• The United Kingdom
• The United States

Specifically, in the UK, Samsung Pay is supported by financial institutions, including HSBC, Nationwide, Santander, American Express, Starling Bank, and Wise.

Google Pay, on the other hand, is widely accepted and is available in a broader number of countries (around 80+). Several international banks also support it. 

Online and in-person payment options

You can usually use your digital wallet with your chosen provider to make online payments. However, when it comes to in-person payments, you need to ensure that your merchant’s payment terminal can accept NFC payments.

Some older models of Samsung phones, excluding Galaxy phones, were previously fitted with MST technology, which enabled merchants without NFC-compatible payment terminals to accept Samsung Pay payments.

Data security

Whether you have a Samsung Pay app or a Google Wallet and you’d like to make a payment, both providers offer the highest levels of security.

However, Samsung Pay takes security one step further with its Knox software, which constantly monitors your phone for suspicious transactions. It also keeps your details safe, so your payment card details are never transferred to the merchant you purchase from.

Also, with built-in authentication and data encryption, Samsung Pay offers users serious protection of their financial information.

Rewards

Whether you use Google Pay or Samsung Pay, both offer different rewards. For example, when purchasing other Samsung products, Samsung Pay provides cashback deals and discounts to select merchants. Google Pay, as part of Google Wallet, also offers specific reward programmes where users can earn rewards for spending with Google Pay. 

Which one should you use at your business?

Are you a merchant who wonders whether you should service Samsung Galaxy phones through Samsung Pay or accept a broader range of Android phones and Android devices? If yes, you need to offer a tap to pay functionality to enable you to accept a broader range of payment methods.

When you partner with the right payment service provider, you no longer have to make this choice. Instead, you can extend your payment acceptance offering to accept both Google Pay and Samsung Pay without needing to choose between the two options.

Conclusion

Both Samsung Pay as part of Samsung Wallet and Google Pay as part of Google Wallet are incredibly dynamic and popular payment options through their digital mobile wallet functionalities.

They are both highly secure and accepted at hundreds of international locations that accept NFC payments. Luckily, as a merchant, you don’t need to accept one or the other. You can easily accept both, thus casting a wider payment net and offering your customers greater ease and convenience when it comes to payments.

Each one comes with its pros and cons, but for the most part, both are highly secure and reputable digital wallets your business should accept.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which payment app is safer — Google Pay or Samsung Pay?

While some of the technologies behind each digital wallet differ in specific ways, both offer high-level data security and are, therefore, trustworthy options worth considering.

What’s the main difference between Google Pay and Samsung Pay?

While they are both digital wallets, Samsung Pay is limited to Samsung devices, while Google Pay can be used by Android and even Apple devices and those who wear OS watches. However, you can also use Samsung Pay on smartwatches that aren’t connected to a Samsung phone.

What does it cost to use Google Pay and Samsung Pay?

Samsung Pay does not charge for using the application. Meanwhile, Google Pay does charge a fee for debit card transfers. In both cases, your mobile data service provider will charge you for data used to access and use these apps.