Google Wallet (or simply Wallet) is a digital wallet platform developed by Google. It is available for the Android, Wear OS, and Fitbit OS operating systems, and was announced on May 11, 2022, at the 2022 Google I/O keynote. It began rolling out on Android smartphones on July 18, 2022.
History
The "Google Wallet" brand name was first used for the company's mobile payment system of the same name, which was introduced in 2011 before being merged with Android Pay into a new app called Google Pay in 2018. The old Wallet app, with its functionality reduced to a peer-to-peer payments service, was rebranded Google Pay Send before it was discontinued as well in 2020. In 2020, the Google Pay app underwent an extensive redesign based on Google's India-focused Tez app, expanding into an all-encompassing personal finance app. This replaced the Tez app on the Play Store, while the 2018 Google Pay app continued to co-exist as a separate, pre-installed app on Android smartphones.
Google Wallet (2011) launches Google demonstrated the original version of the original Google Wallet app at a press conference on May 26, 2011. The first app was released in the US only on September 19, 2011. Initially, the app only supported Mastercard cards issued by Citibank.
On May 15, 2013, Google announced the integration of Google Wallet and Gmail, allowing users to send money through Gmail attachments. While Google Wallet was available only in the United States, the Gmail integration was made available in the U.S. and the United Kingdom.
In 2015, a physical Google Wallet card was launched as an optional addition to the app, which allowed users to make purchases at point-of-sale (in stores or online) drawing from funds in their Google Wallet account, attached debit card account, or bank account. The card could also be used to withdraw cash at ATMs with no Google-associated fee, and could be used like a debit card for virtually any purpose, including such things as renting a car. The Wallet Card was discontinued on June 30, 2016, and replaced with Android Pay.
Android Pay launches Originally launched as Android Pay, the service was released at Google I/O 2015. Android Pay was a successor to and built on the base established by Google Wallet which was released in 2011. It also used technology from the carrier-backed Softcard—Google had acquired its intellectual property in February 2015. At launch, the service was compatible with 70% of Android devices and was accepted at over 700,000 merchants. The old Google Wallet still powered web-based Play Store purchases and some app-based peer-to-peer payments.
In 2016, Google began a public trial in Silicon Valley of a related mobile app called Hands Free. In this system, the customer does not need to present a phone or card. Instead, a customer announces that they wish to "pay with Google" and give their initials to the cashier, who verifies their identity with a photo previously uploaded to the system. The customer's phone will only authorize payment if its geographic location system indicates that it is near a participating store.
On September 18, 2017, Google launched a payments app in India known as Tez, utilizing the Unified Payments Interface (UPI). On August 28, 2018, Google rebranded Tez to Google Pay.
Android Pay and Google Wallet become Google Pay
On January 8, 2018, Google announced that Google Wallet would be merged into Android Pay, with the service as a whole rebranded as Google Pay. This merger extends the platform into web-based payments integrated into other Google and third-party services. It also took over the branding of Google Chrome's autofill feature. Google Pay adopts the features of both Android Pay and Google Wallet through its in-store, peer-to-peer, and online payments services.
The rebranding began to roll out as an update to the Android Pay app on February 20, 2018; the app was given an updated design and now displays a personalized list of nearby stores that support Google Pay. The rebranded service provided a new API that allows merchants to add the payment service to websites, apps, Stripe, Braintree, and Google Assistant. The service allows users to use the payment cards they have on file in their Google Account.
Google Pay becomes Google Wallet (2022) In January 2022, Bloomberg News reported that the company was planning to transform Google Pay into a "comprehensive digital wallet", following the app's reported slow growth and the shutdown of Plex. In April, it was reported that Google was planning to revive the "Google Wallet" branding in a new app or interface, and integrated with Google Pay. Google officially announced Google Wallet on May 11, 2022, at the 2022 Google I/O keynote. The app began rolling out on Android smartphones on July 18, replacing the 2018 app and co-existing with the 2020 Google Pay app in the U.S. While the app name itself was changed from Google Pay to Google Wallet, the service name of actually paying for things online or in-store remains as "Google Pay."
International deployment In its UK launch, Android Pay supported Mastercard, Visa, and debit cards from many of the UK's major financial institutions including Bank of Scotland, First Direct, Halifax, HSBC, Lloyds Bank, M&S Bank, MBNA and Nationwide Building Society "with new banks being added all the time", according to Google. NatWest, RBS and Ulster Bank launched on September 14, 2016. On September 8, 2016, it was reported that UK banks TSB and Santander would be participating in the following weeks. Android Pay was launched in Singapore on June 28, 2016 and in Australia on July 14, 2016.
Android Pay launched in Ireland on December 7, 2016, and was initially available to customers of AIB and KBC, having since been extended to Bank of Ireland and Ulster Bank. The service works with both credit and debit cards.
On December 21, 2018, Google Payment obtained an e-money license in Lithuania the license will enable Google to process payments, issue e-money, and handle electronic money wallets in the EU.
On November 17, 2020, Google Pay was enabled by Mastercard in ten new European countries: Austria, Bulgaria, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Portugal, and Romania. Cardholders of participating Mastercard partner banks for these countries will be able to use the Google Pay service through their respective mobile banking apps.
On June 30, 2022, it was announced at the Google for Mexico event that payment method Google Pay & the Google Wallet app would soon be available in Mexico. Google Wallet was introduced in India on 8 May 2024, albeit it will function in tandem with Google Pay mobile app, the main payment solution in the market.
Features Google Wallet allows users to store items such as payment cards for use via Google Pay, as well as passes such as loyalty cards, digital keys, digital identification cards, transit passes, event tickets, and health passes.
Primary digital car keys in Google Wallet on either Wear OS or Android can still be utilized when the screen is off or the battery is depleted.
Although the Wear OS and Android versions of Wallet are currently fragmented, Google has stated that its "long-term goal is for feature parity on your watch and phone," though as of 2026, new features and card schemes continue to be launched without parity on all platforms. At Google I/O 2024, Google announced that "expanded support for passes of all types" would be coming to Wear OS and Fitbit OS.
Comparison between phone and wearable versions FeatureAndroidWear OSFitbit OSNotesPay with EMV payment cards via Google PaySome payment cards are not supported on Wear OS or Fitbit OS.Pay with FeliCa payment cards via Google PayFor Wear OS: Only for Pixel Watches, Galaxy Watch Ultra, and Galaxy Watch6 or later devices purchased in Japan.Pay via QR codeFor Android: Only available in Brazil.Store passesFor Wear OS: Private passes are not supported. Smart Tap (NFC) passes only show their fallback QR code/barcode/number.Store campus identificationsStore corporate badgesStore government-issued identificationsStore hotel keysStore digital car keysFor Android: Only for select devices, most notably Pixel Fold, Pixel 6, & Pixel 6a or later devices.
For Wear OS:
Only for Pixel Watch 3 or later.Store MIFARE/ITSO/EMV transit cardsFor Android: iPASS can only be stored on select devices.
For Wear OS:
Only SmarTrip, Clipper, ORCA, PRESTO, Breeze, myki, and Sofia City are supported.
For Fitbit OS:
iPASS can only be stored on select devices.Store FeliCa transit cardsFor Android: Only for supported devices purchased in Japan.
For Wear OS:
Only for Pixel Watches, Galaxy Watch6 or later, and Galaxy Watch Ultra devices purchased in Japan.
For Fitbit OS:
Suica cards can be stored through Fitbit Wallet instead (Fitbit account region must be set to Japan.)Store FeliCa e-money cardsFor Android: Only for supported devices purchased in Japan.Store transit loyalty cards
Usage Passes and cards stored in Wallet require varying levels of authentication in order to convey to a reader. FeatureAndroidWear OSFitbit OSPay with EMV payment cards via Google PayPhone on, phone unlocked. To pay with non-default, Wallet app must be open to desired card.Watch on, watch unlocked. To pay with non-default, Wallet app must be open to desired card. (Pixel Watch 2 or later). For other devices, Wallet app must be open for any card.Watch on, watch unlocked, Wallet app open.Pay with FeliCa payment cards via Google PayPhone on, phone unlocked to pay with default iD/QUICPay card. To pay with non-default, Wallet app must be open to the desired card.Watch on, watch unlocked to pay with default iD/QUICPay card. To pay with non-default, Wallet app must be open to desired card.Pay via QR codePhone on, phone unlocked, Wallet app open & ready to scan QR.Use code-based or visual passes (excluding visual transit passes)Phone on, phone unlocked, Wallet app open & viewing desired pass.Watch on, watch unlocked, Wallet app open & viewing desired pass.Use general NFC (Smart Tap) passesPhone on, phone screen lit. Some Pixel devices will wake their own screen when presented to an NFC reader.Use private passesPhone on, phone unlocked, Wallet app open, authenticate additional time.Use government-issued identificationsPhone on, phone unlocked, verify shared info. Additional step of opening the Wallet app is required if scanning 2D code instead of NFC.Use digital car keysPhone can be on or off for use via NFC. For UWB, phone must be on.Watch can be on and unlocked or manually powered off after having been unlocked for use via NFC. For UWB, watch must be on and unlocked.Pay with EMV payment cards on transitPhone on. To pay with non-default, phone must be unlocked and Wallet app must be open to desired card.Watch on, watch unlocked. To pay with non-default, Wallet app must be open to desired card.Use MIFARE/ITSO/EMV transit cardsPhone on, phone screen lit. Some Pixel devices will wake their own screen when presented to an NFC reader.**Watch on, watch unlocked.*Watch can be on or off, depending on device.^Use FeliCa transit cardsPhone can be on or off.Watch on, watch unlocked.Use transit loyalty cardsPhone on, phone screen lit. Some Pixel devices will wake their own screen when presented to an NFC reader. * = except Clipper & myki; Wallet app must be open in those cases
** = except iPASS; phone can be off in that case
^ = iPASS only
Pass transfers When switching devices or factory resetting, passes that are limited to one device have the potential to be lost, as Android/Wear OS does not automatically remove data from Wallet when the aforementioned processes are initiated. The user must remember to clear device-specific passes, such as transit cards, IDs, and keys from their current devices.
Ecosystem