Apple Wallet vs Google Pay
Apple Wallet
apple.comGoogle Pay
pay.google.comSide by side
| Figure | Apple Wallet | Google Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | — | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Digital Wallet Apps | 8.0 (#20) | 8.6 (#8) |
| Payments | Apple Pay lets users pay in stores, apps, and online, including in third-party browsers with participating merchants. | Google Pay supports online checkout, in-store tap to pay, and autofill for saved payment details. |
| Privacy | Apple says order tracking information is stored locally on devices and synced in encrypted form that Apple cannot access. | Google Pay states that it will never sell personal information or transaction history and lets users choose privacy settings. |
| Security | Apple Pay uses a device-specific number and unique transaction code instead of sharing the actual card number with merchants. | Google describes built-in authentication, transaction encryption, and fraud protection for payments. |
| What it does | Apple Wallet is an app on iPhone and Apple Watch that organizes eligible payment cards, transit passes, boarding passes, tickets, IDs, keys, rewards cards, and order details. | Google Pay lets customers pay online or in apps with payment methods saved to their Google Account. |
Plans
In their own words
Apple Wallet
Apple Wallet has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.
Google Pay
Google Pay lets customers pay online or in apps using payment methods saved to their Google Account. On Chrome and Android, Autofill can enter saved card details at checkout, while the Buy with Google Pay button lets shoppers choose a payment method and shipping address. Android users can tap at store card readers and transit gates or stations, using saved cards, tickets, and other items. Google Wallet can hold credit, debit, loyalty, and travel cards for Google Pay use. Eligible cards may use virtual card numbers to conceal actual card details from merchants during online purchases. At checkout, users may also choose providers such as Affirm, Klarna, or Zip, subject to eligibility. Businesses can add Google Pay API checkout to an app or website, and Google says it charges no additional fee to accept Google Pay, though payment provider processing fees still apply. Google describes payment data as end-to-end encrypted and says it will not sell personal information or transaction history. Google Pay is free, but feature availability depends on region and device; contactless payments require an Android phone with NFC.