Google Pay (payment method)

Google Pay
Developer(s)	Google
Initial release	May 26, 2011; 13 years ago (as Google Wallet); September 11, 2015; 8 years ago (as Android Pay); January 8, 2018; 6 years ago (as Google Pay);
Stable release(s) [±]
Operating system	Android 9 or later; Wear OS 2 or later; Fitbit OS;
Platform	In store:; Android phones or Wear OS/Fitbit OS smartwatches with NFC; On the web:; Android, ChromeOS, Windows, macOS, iOS, iPadOS, and Linux using Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera, Samsung Internet, or Safari;
License	Proprietary
Website	pay.google.com/about/

Google Pay (formerly Android Pay) is a mobile payment service developed by Google to power in-app, online, and in-person contactless purchases on mobile devices, enabling users to make payments with Android phones, tablets, or watches. Users can authenticate via a PIN, passcode, or biometrics such as 3D face scanning or fingerprint recognition.^[1]

As of 2024^[update], it is currently available in 79 countries.^[2]

Service

2006–2013

2011–2015

2015–2018

2015–2018

2017–2018

2018–2022

2018–2020

2018–2020

2022–present

2020–present

See also: Google Pay (payment method)

Google Pay uses near-field communication (NFC) to transmit card information facilitating funds transfer to the retailer. It replaces the credit or debit card chip and PIN or magnetic stripe transaction at point-of-sale terminals by allowing the user to upload these in Google Wallet. It is similar to contactless payments already used in many countries, with the addition of two-factor authentication. The service lets Android devices wirelessly communicate with point of sale systems using a near field communication (NFC) antenna and host-based card emulation (HCE).

When the user makes a payment to a merchant, Google Pay does not send the actual payment card number. Instead, it generates a virtual account number representing the user's account information.^[3]

Google Pay requires that a screen lock be set on the phone or watch.^[4] It has no payment card limit.^[5]^[6]^[7]

Users can add payment cards to the service by taking a photo of the card, or by entering the card information manually. To pay at points of sale, users hold their authenticated device to the point of sale system. The service has smart-authentication, allowing the system to detect when the device is considered secure (for instance, if unlocked in the last five minutes) and challenge if necessary for unlock information.^[8]

Technology

Google Pay uses the EMV Payment Tokenization Specification.^[9]

The service keeps customer payment information private from the retailer by replacing the customer's credit or debit card Funding Primary Account Number (FPAN) with a tokenized Device Primary Account Number (DPAN) and creates a "dynamic security code [...] generated for each transaction". The "dynamic security code" is the cryptogram in an EMV-mode transaction, and the Dynamic Card Verification Value (dCVV) in a magnetic-stripe-data emulation-mode transaction. Users can also remotely halt the service on a lost phone via Google's Find My Device service.

To pay at points of sale, users hold their authenticated Android device to the point-of-sale system's NFC reader. Android users authenticate unlocking their phone by using biometrics, a pattern, or a passcode, whereas Wear OS and Fitbit OS users authenticate by opening the Google Wallet app prior to payment.^[10]

Consumer Device Cardholder Verification Method (CDCVM)

In EMV-mode transactions, Google Pay supports the use of the Consumer Device Cardholder Verification Method (CDCVM) using biometrics, pattern, or the device's passcode. The use of CDCVM allows the device itself to provide verification for the transaction and may not require the cardholder to sign a receipt or enter their PIN.^[11]^[12]

Security

Payments for supported transit networks are available to skip verification, either via a payment card or transit card. Though the phone screen needs to be on and is not available when the battery is low, unlike Apple Pay's Express Mode.

On Wear OS and Fitbit OS, this option is not available. All transactions on wearable devices must be authenticated by opening the Wallet app prior to tapping.^[13]

Since 2022, the functionality of adding NFC bank cards in Google Wallet requires devices to pass Play Integrity API checks. This implies having a device with locked bootloader and no rooting. ^[14]

Availability

Google Pay is available in all the same regions that Google Wallet is.

Supported networks

Visa / Visa Debit / Visa electron (Android, Wear OS, Fitbit OS)
Mastercard / Debit Mastercard (Android, Wear OS, Fitbit OS)
American Express (Android, Wear OS, Fitbit OS)
Discover (Android & Wear OS)
Diners Club (Android & Wear OS)
JCB (Android only)
Maestro (Android & Wear OS)
Elo in Brazil^[15] (Android & Wear OS)
PayPal in the US, Germany (Android only)
EFTPOS in Australia^[16] (Android & Wear OS)
Interac in Canada^[17] (Android & Wear OS)
QUICPay [ja]^[18] (Android & Wear OS)
iD [ja]^[18] (Android & Wear OS)
WAON (Android only)
Edy (Android only)
nanaco (Android only)

References

^ "Set up screen lock to make contactless payments - Android". Google Inc. Archived from the original on July 10, 2020. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
^ "Find supported payment methods for contactless purchases - Android". Google Inc. Archived from the original on June 11, 2020. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
^ "Google introduces Android Pay, a replacement for its wallet app on mobile". The Verge. May 28, 2015. Archived from the original on May 28, 2015. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
^ "Set up Google Pay". Archived from the original on June 4, 2018.
^ "Google Pay". HSBC. HSBC UK. Archived from the original on June 4, 2018. Retrieved June 4, 2018. There is no limit to the number of cards you can add to your device.
^ "Android Pay Frequently Asked Questions" (PDF). CO-OP Financial Services. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 4, 2018. Retrieved June 4, 2018. How many cards can the Android Pay app store? As many as you would like! There is no limit on the number of cards storable in the Android Pay app.
^ "Google Pay Frequently Asked Questions -". Institution for Savings. Archived from the original on June 6, 2017. Retrieved June 4, 2018. How many cards can I use with Google Pay? As many as you would like! There is no limit on the number of cards storable in the Google Pay app.
^ "Fingerprint and payments APIs (100 Days of Google Dev)". Google Developers. 2015. Archived from the original on August 26, 2016. Retrieved December 2, 2016 – via YouTube.
^ "Payment Tokenisation". EMVco. March 1, 2014. Archived from the original on October 14, 2016. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
^ "Pay with your smartwatch". Google Pay Help. Google Inc. Archived from the original on August 1, 2020. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
^ "Set up screen lock to make contactless payments – Android – Google Pay Help". Google Inc. Archived from the original on July 10, 2020. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
^ "CDCVM – Google Pay Merchant Help". Google Inc. Archived from the original on July 8, 2020. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
^ "Verify it's you to make a purchase - Google Wallet Help". support.google.com. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
^ "Some people aren't able to tap and pay with Google Wallet right now". androidpolice.com. April 16, 2024.
^ "GooglePay | Elo". www.elo.com.br. Archived from the original on February 28, 2023. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
^ "eftpos & Google Pay™ FAQ | eftpos Australia". www.eftposaustralia.com.au. Archived from the original on February 28, 2023. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
^ "Interac Debit on Android Pay launches in Canada". Interac. May 31, 2017. Archived from the original on February 28, 2023. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
^ ^a ^b 順（管理人）, 作成者石井 (July 22, 2023). "キタ？！Google Pixel Watch「iD/QUICPay」決済解禁". Jetstream BLOG (in Japanese). Retrieved July 25, 2023.