Apple Pay vs. Google Pay vs. Samsung Pay: Mobile payments compared

So how do Apple Pay, Samsung Pay and Google Pay compare, and which one is more widely accepted right now? Mobile payments could soon make your wallet obsolete by allowing you to pay with just the tap of your phone or smartwatch. But they’ve had a slow roll-out and not all options are made equal. The three most established systems are from Apple, Samsung and Google, although some wearables from brands such as Garmin and Fitbit also offer their own payment systems.

MOBILE PAYMENTS COMPARISON

	Samsung Pay	Apple Pay	Google Pay
Compatible devices	Samsung Galaxy phones since the Galaxy Note 5, Gear Watch and Gear Watch Active, Gear S2 and S3	Apple iPhones since the SE, Apple Watch, MacBook Pro with TouchID, iPads since 5th generation, iPad Pro and iPad Mini	Android phones with NFC and HCE support running KitKat (4.4) or higher
Availability (see note below)	24 countries worldwide	41 countries worldwide	29 countries worldwide
Authentication	Fingerprint, PIN or iris	FaceID or fingerprint	Fingerprint, PIN, pattern or password
Where can you use?	Works with NFC, magnetic stripe or EMV terminals, in-app purchases	Works with NFC terminals, in-app purchases and web purchases in Safari	Works with NFC terminals, in-app and web purchases
Cards	Credit, debit, loyalty and gift cards	Credit, debit and loyalty cards	Credit, debit, loyalty and gift cards
Which banks?	Wide variety of banks: full list here; PayPal	Wide variety of banks: full list here	Wide variety of banks: full list here; PayPal

With regards to availability, once you’ve added your cards to one of these mobile wallets you should be able to use them in any country that accepts contactless payments, as long as you would normally be able to use your physical card in that location. In the case of Samsung Pay, that also includes any terminal with a magnetic card reader.

Technology and availability

Apple Pay and Google Pay use NFC, or near-field communication, to power contactless payments. Just tap your phone to a compatible terminal and the transaction is complete.



Samsung Pay uses NFC and a technology called magnetic secure transmission (MST). When you hold the phone against any terminal, it emits a signal that simulates the magnetic strip on a card.

This means it works with pretty much all terminals, without the merchant having to update their point of sale systems. The one situation where MST won’t work is when you need to insert a card into a slot, like at a gas station.

Offline payments are also supported on all three platforms, so you can make a limited number of transactions if you have no cell or Wi-Fi signal.

You are also able to use these mobile wallets to tap and go on public transit systems in various cities around the world.

Advantage: Samsung Pay

Security

Mobile payment systems use a method called tokenization to keep card details secure. Once you add your cards to the app, it generates a virtual account number and your real card number is never given to the merchant. When you tap your phone to make a payment, it sends the tokenized card number and a cryptogram that acts like a password. The card network then verifies and processes the payment.

Apple requires you to authenticate using TouchID (fingerprint), FaceID or PIN before a payment can go through.

Samsung requires an iris scan, fingerprint or PIN to confirm purchases.

But Google Pay only needs your phone to be unlocked with fingerprint, password, pattern or PIN before transactions can go through.



If you lose your phone, all three allow you to remotely wipe the device which will also remove all your card details.

Advantage: Apple Pay (though TouchID is still more convenient than FaceID)

Other ways to pay

You’re not only tied to the phone. Here’s how you can also use them:

• Apple Pay: Apple Watch (in stores); on the iPad and Mac (for online purchases).
• Google Pay: on some Android Wear watches.
• Samsung Pay: Galaxy Watch, Galaxy Watch Active, Gear Sport, S2 and S3 (but MST support is only available on the Gear S3).

Apple Pay is available for browser payments in Safari, and you’ll need to authenticate with your fingerprint or FaceID. You can do this from an iPhone or iPad; a MacBook Pro with fingerprint support; or a Mac and verify with an iPhone or Apple Watch.

Google Pay offers browser payments as well in Chrome, Safari and Firefox, but not many online stores use it yet.

Samsung Pay and Google Pay work on the 340,000 sites that use Visa Checkout, if you’re shopping from your phone. Chase Pay users also have the option to link their wallets with Samsung Pay.

All three services also work when checking out in several apps.

Advantage: All three

Peer-to-peer payments

Apple Pay and Google Pay are the only two services that let you pay friends. Samsung Pay does not currently have a peer-to-peer option.

With Apple Pay Cash, you can send money to contacts with Apple IDs through iMessage. Unfortunately, that means you’re cut off from anyone who doesn’t have an Apple device. Money can be stored on your virtual card in the Wallet app or you can withdraw to your bank account. Apple Pay Cash is only available in the US for now.

You can pay any phone number or email address from the Google Pay app on iOS, Android or from the desktop interface. (This was previously found in the Google Pay Send app.) Like Apple Pay, you can keep a balance or withdraw to your bank account.

Paying friends through Google Pay is available in the US and coming soon to UK users.

Advantage: Google Pay

Which one wins?

Ultimately, choosing one of these payment systems is tied to your ecosystem and availability in your location. For Apple users, your only choice in the real world is Apple Pay, while Android users must use Google Pay. Samsung owners can choose between Samsung Pay or Google Pay — you can have both on your phone, but you will need to set one as the default and change that setting if you want to use the other.

For sheer compatibility across the widest range of terminals, Samsung Pay wins because of MST technology. But paying in supported apps and websites is most seamless with Apple Pay, and Google Pay offers the most flexible way to pay friends, regardless of what phone they use.

Editors’ note: This article was previously published on June 12, 2018. It is consistently updated with new information.

 

 

Source:www.cnet.com