Google’s answer to Apple’s payment service “Apple Pay” is “Google Pay”, which has recently also integrated PayPal. We show you how the service works and whether you can use it, too.
Android Pay was launched in the USA with the release of Android M in autumn 2015. In the meantime, the service has been renamed Google Pay and has also been available in Germany since the end of June 2018.
All Android smartphones from version 5.0 Lollipop onwards are supported. To make contactless payments on the spot in the shop, your smartphone also needs integrated NFC. This is usually the case with newer models.
–App Download: To use the service, you first need to download and set up the free Google Pay app for Android. The app is linked to your Google account. Furthermore, you need to provide a delivery and billing address
- Select payment method: Finally, you need to add your preferred payment method. Until now, you could only enter a credit card here, and only if it belonged to one of the credit institutions that have entered into a cooperation with Google. Currently, these are Commerzbank, Comdirect, Landesbank Baden-Württemberg, N26, the payment service provider Boon and Revolut.
- Alternative PayPal: Now, however, you can also deposit your PayPal account as a payment method and thus also use Google Pay if your house bank does not have a cooperation with Google.
To add a payment method, open the app and tap on “Add payment method”. Now you can add a payment method of your choice by clicking on either “Credit or Debit Card” or “Link PayPal Account”.
Where and how you can pay with Google Pay
In principle, you can pay your bill with Google Pay wherever contactless payment is possible. This is possible at many supermarkets, for example. You can also pay with Google Pay at some online shops and apps. You can find out which ones on the Google Pay website.
- If you want to make a cashless payment with your smartphone in a shop, simply place it on the usual payment terminal at the checkout. The transfer is already done.
- However, if the value of the goods exceeds 25 euros, you must also unlock your mobile phone to release the payment.
- Your data is always transmitted in encrypted form and therefore remains secure with Google. Sellers receive the money from Google, your bank details are not transmitted. Google then debits the amount from your Visa credit card, bank account or PayPal account
- Two icons (see picture) show where you can use Google Pay as a payment method in the shop. If you have linked your PayPal account, you can also pay wherever Mastercard is accepted.
Google Pay promises to use data only for checkout
Of course, when it comes to bank data, the issue of data protection is particularly important.
- According to a statement by DPA, Google Pay discloses less data during a transaction than a regular credit card. The data of the credit cards deposited with Google Pay are neither stored on your smartphone nor with the seller.
- Transactions are always encrypted and are processed via a virtual number, a so-called token.
- In addition, Google promises not to use the data for advertising purposes, but only to process purchases and provide Google Pay services.
- And unlike other payment services, no percentage of the transaction amount goes to Google. Partners also say they don’t pay a fee for using Google Pay.
