Google Pay and Google Wallet: What's the Difference?
                     Google Pay and Google 
Wallet: What’s the 
Difference? 

Gone are the days when we carried physical money in our wallets. 
Today, all we need is our smartphone or smartwatch to buy anything 
in seconds, be it at a mall, online, or at a local vendor. And this is all 
due to online payment apps like Google Pay.  
Launched in 2015, Google Pay has helped millions handle online 
transactions that are easier, faster, and more secure. G-Pay links to 
your bank account, and voila, you can buy anything from anywhere. 
Since we now have Google Wallet, let’s learn about that too. 
 In this blog, let’s look  into the history of Google Pay and Google 
Wallet and learn the differences between both and which is better.  
History of Google Pay and 
Google Wallet 
 Let’s start with some quick history about how Google 
started these two apps. Google Pay and Google Wallet 
have an interesting yet intertwined history: 
• 2011: Google Wallet launches as a mobile payment 
system where users could store credit cards and 
loyalty programs digitally. 
• 2015: Android Pay arrives as a separate contactless 
payment service for Android devices. 
• 2018: Google merges Google Wallet and Android Pay 
into a unified platform called Google Pay. This offered 
a one-stop shop for digital wallets and contactless 
payments. 
  There’s a twist for India, 
though: 
• 2018 (India): Google launches Tez, a UPI (Unified 
Payments Interface) based app for India.
• 2022 (India): Google rebrands Tez to Google Pay in 
India, while the global Google Pay remains the same
• 2022 (Globally): Google rebrands the global Google 
Pay app back to Google Wallet, while Google Pay in India 
stays the same. 
       So, here’s the current situation: 
• Globally: Google Wallet is the digital wallet and 
contactless payment app.
• India: Google Pay remains the UPI-based payment app.
•  When it comes to online money management, Google 
allows users to use both apps like Google Pay and 
Google Wallet. These two apps may have the same 
parent company, but let’s understand what purpose it 
serves with its distinctive features.  
What is Google Pay?
Google Pay is an online payment app on both iOS 
and Android that allows its users to pay for things online, 
in apps, with the help of a UPI ID, and even in stores 
through QR codes. It’s a modern way to spend your 
money, which is better than carrying a physical card, as it 
stores all the card-related information on the platform. You 
can even use it to pay for monthly subscription packages, 
such as Netflix and YouTube Music.  
Key Features of Google Pay:
1.Contactless Payments: To use Google Pay, all you need to do 
is tap and pay at stores that accept contactless payments. Simply 
unlock your phone, hold it near the payment area with the QR 
code, and you’re done! 
2.Online Payments: Just add the bank details, and now you can 
use Google Pay. Since most companies are accepting this form of 
payment, Google Pay is a perfect app for both online merchants 
and buyers, making it easy to pay or accept payment for all.
3.Peer-to-Peer Payments: The best part is that you can send 
money or even request money from friends and family instantly. All 
you need is their phone number! Yeah, it is that simple.
4.Ticket and Pass Storage: It’s not just about the 
payment, but you can also store boarding passes, 
event tickets, and even loyalty cards! It’s convenient, 
isn’t it? 
5.Security: Google pay used advanced security like 
encryption and tokenization. This is to protect the 
user’s personal data from card or bank details. 
 Features of Google 
Pay: 
• Google Pay makes managing your 
money a breeze. Here’s what you 
can do: 
Effortless Payments: 
• Scan any QR code: to pay instantly at shops and 
restaurants. 
• Send and receive money: easily with friends and 
family by:
• Paying contacts directly
• Using phone numbers 
• Paying UPI IDs or numbers 
• Manage bank transfers and self-transfers 
conveniently.
• Pay bills for utilities, mobile recharges, and more. 
 Quick Access to Services: 
• Recharge your mobile  phone or DTH/Cable TV on 
the go. 
• Top up your FAS Tag for seamless toll payments.
•  Discover and Save: 
1.Explore Offers & rewards section to find deals and 
discounts.
• Stay in Control: 
• Manage your money effectively with features like: 
• Applying for a loan (subject to eligibility) 
• Checking your CIBIL score for free 
• Viewing transaction history 
• Keeping an eye on your bank balance 
What is Google Wallet?
In contrast, Google Wallet is currently only 
available for Android. It does not pay, but rather 
stores important data such as digital documents 
and cards. 
 Key Features of Google 
Wallet:
1.Payment Card Storage: Just like Google 
Pay, Google Wallet stores credit cards and 
debit cards.
2.ID and Document Storage: Google 
Wallet stores your ID cards (driver’s license, 
student ID, employee ID, and other form of 
IDs). Since this feature came our recently, it 
is not available in every country.
3.Digital Keys: Since these days we have car and hotel 
room keys digitally, you can store them easily on Google 
Wallet
. 
4.Event Tickets and Boarding Passes: We did forget or 
lose our tickets from time to time, didn’t we? Google Wallet is 
great for storing your tickets and boarding passes! Just keep 
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You simply have  to click ‘Add to Wallet’ and you can add  
• Photo: Create a pass using a phone with a barcode or QR 
code. 
• Loyalty: Earn and use your rewards and points. 
• Gift Card: Shop and pay with a gift card 
• Transport Pass: Get around town with your phone. 
 In case you need help, there is a small section below that 
will give you instructions. 
How Do They Work 
Together?
Google Pay and Goole Wallet compliments each 
other. The former concentrates on secure 
payments, while the latter concentrates on 
replacing your physical wallet which is great for a 
wider range of documents and keys. 
 Integration: 
• Google Pay is for transactions! Once you do 
that your payment cards are saved in Google 
Wallet. 
• You don’t have to switch your app and can use 
them directly. 
Security Considerations:
Since we all know how secure payment is important for all of 
us, both Google Pay and Google Wallet are protected. Check out 
the features that makes them secure and better option when it 
comes to online payment. 
1.Encryption: Your payment information is all encrypted as 
each payment acts like a code that is read by only authorized 
parties.
2.Tokenization: Here, when you pay, Google Pay uses that as 
a token instead of using your card number. These tokens 
change with every transaction. Hence, if someone intercepts it, 
they can’t use it to purchase it
. 
3.Two-Factor Authentication: Both Google Pay and Google 
Wallet, provide two-factor authentication. Hence, it acts like an 
extra layer of security, more like second password. 
Choosing the Right Service for 
You:
So, should you use Google Pay or Google Wallet? The 
answer depends on what you need: 
• If your primary goal is to make quick, secure 
payments, Google Pay is likely the better option. It’s 
streamlined for transactions and works seamlessly 
in many places. 
• If you want a comprehensive digital wallet that can 
store a variety of cards, IDs, keys, and documents, 
Google Wallet offers more versatility. 
Conclusion:
Google Pay and Google Wallet are powerful tools that 
can simplify your financial and personal management. 
Google Pay focuses on making transactions easy and 
secure, while Google Wallet aims to replace your 
physical wallet with a digital solution for various cards 
and keys. Understanding the differences and how they 
can work together allows you to take full advantage of 
these services, making your life a little bit easier and 
more organized. Whether you’re shopping, traveling, 
or just trying to streamline your daily routine, these 
tools offer valuable features to help you stay on top of 
your game. 
Please reach us at: Macaw 
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