Yes, you can pay for things in shops with your phone using services like Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay, which allow for secure, contactless "tap-to-pay" transactions by holding your phone near a payment terminal, using Near Field Communication (NFC) technology. You set these up by adding your debit/credit cards to a digital wallet app, and then simply unlock your phone and tap it to the contactless reader to complete purchases at millions of locations worldwide.
You have 2 ways to tap to pay in a store:
Tap to Pay is our quick and easy feature that allows you to make contactless payments with just a tap of your Android phone. It uses Near Field Communication (NFC) technology for secure and instant transactions, so you can say goodbye to carrying cash or cards.
Payments in shops
Google Pay works anywhere that accepts contactless payments. Just wake up your Android phone or smartwatch and hold it near the reader until you see a tick. You don't even need to open the app.
You can use Google Pay (now integrated into the Google Wallet app) for tap-to-pay in millions of physical stores where you see the contactless or Google Pay logos, online at websites/apps like Uber, Airbnb, DoorDash, and Instacart, and for public transit in many cities. It works globally in supported countries for in-store payments and online purchases by securely using your linked cards and payment methods.
To pay with your phone, set up a digital wallet like Apple Pay (iPhone) or Google Wallet/Pay (Android), add your debit/credit cards, ensure your phone's NFC is on, then simply unlock your phone and hold the back near a contactless payment terminal (look for the symbol) to tap and pay.
Instead of using your card, you can also tap your phone to pay and use your card with Google Pay. Check for the contactless symbol on card reader machines.
A digital wallet is an app that stores your credit, debit and gift card information so you can make purchases with your mobile device. You can use digital wallet apps like PayPal™, Google Pay™, Samsung Pay™ or Apple Pay® on phones and smartwatches.
Most modern smartphones, including iPhone (iPhone 6 and later) and many Android devices (Google Pixel, Samsung Galaxy, newer OnePlus, etc.), support tap-to-pay via NFC, using digital wallets like Apple Pay, Google Wallet, or Samsung Pay for contactless payments, with specific model compatibility depending on the app and carrier. The key is an NFC chip and a compatible digital wallet app for seamless, card-free transactions.
How it works
At the bottom right of your phone's lock screen, tap Wallet . Unlock your phone. You can find and use debit and credit cards or passes that you've added. To find everything that you added to Google Wallet, at the bottom of the screen, tap Show all.
Quick Steps
You can pay with Google Wallet wherever you find the contactless or Google Pay symbols on the payment terminal screen or cash register.
Yes, tapping your card is generally considered safer than inserting it because it uses tokenization and encrypted one-time codes, preventing your actual card details from being exposed to the terminal and reducing the risk of skimming, keeping your card in your possession at all times, and often requiring biometric authentication with mobile wallets, though both methods are secure due to EMV technology. While both tap and insert (chip) use strong EMV security, tapping avoids physical contact with potentially compromised readers and keeps your data encrypted for each transaction, making it a superior choice for security and hygiene.
Hold your Android device near the card reader and wait for the checkmark. Pay with your default card or select another. Google Pay will handle the rest. Order free stickers for your business to let customers know you accept Google Pay.
PayPal is famous for this, but Google Wallet and Venmo have web interfaces, too. Samsung Pay can only make web payments if you link a Visa Checkout account, but it works on the company's phones and (very well) on its smartwatches. Apple Pay works on the Apple Watch, as you might expect.
You have two ways to pay contactless in a shop: Unlock your phone and hold it near the reader: You can tap the terminal when your phone is unlocked, even when the Google Wallet app is not open. If prompted, use your Android screen lock to verify the payment.
Enabling contactless payments allows you to use your phone to pay everywhere Google Pay or contactless payments are accepted. To make contactless purchases with Google Wallet, you must have an Android phone with Near Field Communication (NFC).
Walmart unfortunately does not accept Apple Pay or even Google Pay. Instead, the retailer offers its own mobile payment solution called Walmart Pay, which is built into the Walmart app.
The most famous ones are PayPal, Apple Pay and Google Pay. The basic functionality of these payment apps tends to be similar. You load them with funds from your bank account and/or receive funds from other sources. You then use these funds to make purchases and/or transfer them to your bank account.