By visiting our website, entering and storing your credit card information, and purchasing products, so Old fashioned – or companies like Google and Apple want you to think.
Services like Meta Pay and Amazon Pay store your payment and shipping information so you can log in to online retailers and autofill your information so you don’t have to store it on those sites. Additionally, some payment apps, such as Apple Pay and Google Wallet, have mobile or wearable apps that allow you to tap and pay at participating physical retailers.
All of this can be useful, but you need to know how different payment apps compare so you don’t have to constantly update your credit card information across a series of services. So, we analyze how the best Pay apps compare in terms of service, security, support for physical and digital shopping, and other areas.
How to use each app
Amazon Pay
The beauty of Amazon Pay is that you can take your Prime payment and shipping data and automatically apply it to participating online retailers. By actively shopping on Amazon, you can keep your address and cards up to date. So with the Amazon Pay button, you can pay without any special setup, just by selecting the usual information. Amazon login required.
apple pay
apple pay (opens in new tab) Probably the most complicated payment tool on this list. For starters, you need an iPhone, iPad, or Apple computer to store and access your Apple Wallet. Apple Wallet can be used in physical stores and when making payments in the iOS app or Safari.
Apple also has Apple Cash that you can send via Messages, the Apple Cash family. (opens in new tab) Tools to send money to kids and teens, monitor purchases, and even a physical Apple credit card (opens in new tab) You can use it anywhere with cashback benefits. If you’re an iOS user, keep things simple with Apple Pay or take advantage of all the other services.
Google Pay
A Google account is required to use Google Pay.Once you are done with the settings, open your account settings and click payment and subscription (opens in new tab)You have the option to add a credit card associated with your account. Your credit card can be accessed at participating sites or automatically when you make a payment in your Chrome browser.
You can also download the Google Wallet app. This app has replaced the Google Pay app, but performs the same functions. Add credit/debit cards, loyalty cards, IDs, and other information for easy access via the Android smartphone app or mobile Chrome browser.As a side note, another Google Pay app still exists
Metapay
Formerly Facebook Pay, Meta Pay allows you to send and receive money via Facebook Marketplace, Messenger, Instagram, or WhatsApp, or use the “Meta Pay” option on participating websites . You can access the Facebook Pay hub (opens in new tab) To add a payment method, you have to associate it with different metaapps.
samsung pay
Like Google, Samsung rebranded its Samsung Pay service to Samsung Wallet to emphasize stored information such as digital identities and cryptocurrencies. However, this is still a payment app and requires a compatible Samsung Galaxy phone to access. I mainly use it for face-to-face payments, but you can use your saved payment information to pay directly on Samsung’s website.
Although more limited than what Google Pay offers, the two services are fairly similar. See our Google Wallet vs Samsung Wallet guide for a more detailed comparison of the two.
digital availability
Most of these payment apps work in a similar way for digital payments, but you need to support retailers to use them. Otherwise, access to a browser or device is required for the payment method to work. It is not possible to cover all use cases for each app, so only the most important or common use cases are listed below. I’ll pick it up.
Amazon Pay: You can check it in Amazon Pay “For shoppers” (opens in new tab) A page displaying a list of retailers accepting the platform, spanning fashion, technology and entertainment, home and garden, sports and outdoors, beauty and wellness, gift shops, and other categories. Stores that accept Amazon Pay display a distinctive yellow button on the checkout page.
Apple Pay: One of the most popular options, Apple Pay is available in iOS apps from Airbnb, DoorDash, Etsy, Groupon, Instacart, Lyft, Postmates, Ticketmaster, Uber, and more. iGeeks Blog (opens in new tab) We have a pretty comprehensive list of other sites and platforms (aka Squarespace, Shopify, etc.) that support it. If you’re using Safari, you can also autofill credit card information for Apple Pay.
Google Pay: If you remember the 3-digit security code, your saved card will autofill into your payment fields in Chrome. Otherwise, like Apple, Google has a huge number of partner websites and platforms (listed here). (opens in new tab)) including most of the same apps like Instacart and Postmates. Basically, either Apple or Google gives you the widest range of options, so the choice comes down to whether you prefer iOS or Android.
Metapay: As mentioned earlier, Meta Pay is primarily applied to P2P payments on Messenger, donations on Instagram, or purchases of Marketplace items, games, tickets, etc. on Facebook apps. Third-party apps also accept Meta Pay, but I couldn’t find a real list anywhere.
Samsung Pay: The service is largely restricted to physical tap-to-pay locations, but you can withdraw money from your bank and send it directly to your contacts with the Samsung Pay Cash option. You can use these saved cards to make payments with your Samsung. digital storefront.
Pay with a tap in store
Ignore Amazon Rewards credit cards and primarily use Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay to make in-store purchases. On an iPhone or Android/Galaxy phone, you typically find a shortcut that allows you to withdraw a stored card, then use some form of authentication such as a PIN or fingerprint to unlock the payment method.
These tools are also accessible on NFC-enabled wearables like the Apple Watch, Google Pixel Watch and Samsung Galaxy Watch 5, so you can tap to pay while your phone is in your pocket.
Generally speaking, anywhere that accepts one Depending on your country, the Pay app accepts all of them, as they work with most of the same contactless payment systems. Google Wallet is currently accepted in 56 countries. (opens in new tab)Apple Pay in 74 countries (opens in new tab)and Samsung Pay in 14 countries (opens in new tab).
It is impossible to list all the stores that support digital payments in one country, let alone dozens. So we will focus on some of the most popular US stores that support these apps in different categories.
grocery store: Albertsons, Bevmo, BJs, Costco, CVS, Lucky Trader Joe’s, Walgreens, Whole Foods
Retail company: Best Buy, Crate&Barrel, GameStop, Kohl’s, Macy’s, Office Depot, Petco, Staples, Target
gas station: 76, Arco, Chevron, Exxon, Shell, Texaco, Valero
restaurant: Burger King, Dunkin’, Fadlacker’s, Jamba Juice, KFC, McDonald’s, Panera, Subway
safety
Compared to smaller retailers with less security, any of these five major technology brands can ensure greater security for stored payments and customer information. Also, when paying from a third party, retailers typically do not receive credit card information. We only receive essential details such as your name and shipping address.
So, in theory, using one of these should make your online shopping safer.
Amazon Pay: Amazon says, “We do not share your complete credit card, debit card, or bank account number with sites or charities that accept Amazon Pay.” Amazon uses SSL to encrypt information and he supports 2FA before making payments with Amazon Pay if required.
Apple Pay: Apple stores your credit card information in an encrypted form in a “secure element” so we cannot actually access your information. Store only the 4 digit part and the card description so that the wallet can recognize it. When you make an in-app or in-store payment, Apple does not access that encrypted information and sends it to the retailer.
In theory, anyone who steals your phone can’t access your Apple Wallet, as you’ll need to authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode to make payments in stores. You can log in to iCloud and use Find My Phone to mark your phone as lost. This will permanently disable Apple Pay for her on the device.
Google Pay: Google uses a virtual card number and encrypts your payment information so that it cannot be accessed in the event of a breach. Unlock your card on your Android phone using your PIN, passcode, or fingerprint. You’ll also receive automated alerts if you’re considering using our person-to-person payment system to respond to phishing attempts.
You can also use Google’s Find My Device tool to disable Google Pay or remove payment methods directly from your Google account if someone steals your phone.
Metapay: Meta promises that “payment card numbers are securely stored, encrypted and kept separate from profile data,” and anti-fraud technology will alert you if any unusual activity is detected. . You can also require Metaapp to use her PIN, fingerprint, or face ID before authorizing the payment, but that’s optional.
samsung pay: Like other mobile options, Samsung Wallet can encrypt your credit card information and use 2FA to verify digital payments from certain banks or cards to prevent fraud. Samsung Knox stores card tokens and biometric data securely and locally.
Only Samsung phones can access Samsung Wallet, so if your phone is stolen, you should use Find My Device to lock Samsung Pay. Otherwise, fraudulent payments cannot be stopped. However, you must use a PIN, fingerprint, or iris scan to verify your payment.
Which should I use?
Choose Google, Apple, or Samsung Pay, and it’s tightly integrated with your favorite device, giving you the option to pay in stores while leaving your physical wallet at home. Samsung allows card access on Galaxy phones and tablets, but Apple Pay is strictly limited to his iPhones, iPads, and MacBooks. If you switch from iOS to Android (or vice versa), you’ll need to keep that payment method and transaction history.
Google Pay is compatible with any Android smartphone and technically works on iOS, but you can only use it to send money to friends. And whether you’re using a Chromebook or MacBook, you can access online payments through Chrome. Choosing Google Wallet is therefore one of the safest options in terms of longevity and access to a wide range of storefronts.
Amazon Pay and Meta Pay are rarely seen in digital stores and cannot be used for in-store payments at all. At the very least, Amazon Pay uses Prime data, so it requires little investment, so if you find the button on your favorite retail site, you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Meta Pay is great for those who use Facebook Marketplace and Groups a lot, but it otherwise lacks some of the usefulness of competing payment apps.
