Android Pay vs Samsung Pay: Key Differences

Android Pay and Samsung Pay are both mobile payment systems, but they differ in how they work with merchants, which devices support them, and the technology they use to communicate with payment terminals. Android Pay (now Google Pay) works on most Android phones and uses NFC, while Samsung Pay works only on Samsung devices and adds Magnetic Secure Transmission (MST) to work with older card readers.

Background: Two Mobile Wallets, One Goal

Mobile wallets let you pay in stores with your phone instead of a physical card. They store your card details securely and transmit a one-time code to the payment terminal, so the merchant never sees your actual card number. Android Pay launched in 2015 as Google’s answer to Apple Pay, and Samsung Pay launched the same year as Samsung’s own system. Both were designed to make checkout faster and more secure, but they took different technical paths to reach that goal.

In 2018, Google rebranded Android Pay as Google Pay and merged it with Google Wallet. The name change caused some confusion, but the core technology remained the same. Samsung Pay continues to operate under its original name, though it also integrates with Samsung Wallet for passes and boarding tickets.

How They Work: NFC vs. MST

The biggest technical difference is the way each system talks to the payment terminal.

Android Pay / Google Pay uses Near Field Communication (NFC) only. You hold your phone near a contactless reader, and the two devices exchange data over a short-range wireless signal. This works at any terminal that accepts contactless payments, including Apple Pay and most modern card readers.
Samsung Pay uses both NFC and Magnetic Secure Transmission (MST). MST mimics the magnetic stripe on a physical card by generating a changing magnetic field that the card reader’s swipe head can read. This means Samsung Pay works even at older terminals that only accept swipes or dips, not just contactless ones.

MST was a major selling point when Samsung Pay launched, because it worked almost anywhere a card could be swiped. However, as contactless terminals have become more common, the practical advantage of MST has shrunk. Many newer Samsung phones, like the Galaxy S21 and later, no longer include MST hardware, so Samsung Pay now relies primarily on NFC on those devices.

Device Compatibility and Availability

Android Pay / Google Pay is available on any Android phone running Android 5.0 (Lollipop) or later, as long as it has NFC. That includes Samsung, Pixel, OnePlus, Motorola, and many other brands. It is also available on Wear OS smartwatches. In some countries, Google Pay works on iOS devices through the Google Pay app, but you cannot use it for in-store contactless payments on an iPhone—that is reserved for Apple Pay.

Samsung Pay is exclusive to Samsung devices. It works on Samsung Galaxy phones and smartwatches, but not on other Android brands. It also requires the phone to have the necessary hardware (NFC and, on older models, MST). Samsung Pay is available in fewer countries than Google Pay, and its availability has changed over time. As of 2024, Samsung Pay is supported in about 20 countries, while Google Pay is available in more than 60.

Setting Up and Using Each Service

Both services require you to add a credit or debit card to the app. The setup process is similar:

Download the app (Google Pay or Samsung Pay) from the Play Store or Galaxy Store.
Open the app and sign in with your Google or Samsung account.
Tap “Add Card” and either scan your card with the camera or enter the details manually.
Verify the card with a one-time code sent by your bank, or through your bank’s app.

To pay in a store, you unlock your phone and hold it near the terminal. On Android Pay, you usually need to have the app open or the screen on, depending on your settings. On Samsung Pay, you can swipe up from the bottom of the screen to launch the payment screen, then authenticate with your fingerprint, PIN, or iris scan. Both systems require authentication for each transaction, which adds a layer of security.

Security and Privacy

Both services use tokenization to protect your card details. When you add a card, the service creates a unique digital token that is used for transactions. The merchant receives the token, not your actual card number, so your real card details are never exposed. Both also require biometric or PIN authentication before each payment.

One difference is that Samsung Pay’s MST technology broadcasts a magnetic signal, which some security researchers have noted could theoretically be intercepted by a device placed near the terminal. However, the signal is encrypted and changes with each transaction, and there are no known real-world attacks exploiting this. Google Pay’s NFC is similarly secure, with the added benefit that the short range makes interception harder.

Both services also let you remotely lock or erase your wallet if your phone is lost, through Google’s Find My Device or Samsung’s Find My Mobile.

Fees and Costs

Neither Android Pay nor Samsung Pay charges you any fees to use the service. There are no monthly charges, transaction fees, or setup costs. The cost of the transaction is the same as if you used the physical card—your bank or card issuer may charge foreign transaction fees or other standard card fees, but those are not related to the mobile wallet.

Banks and card networks pay a small interchange fee to the mobile wallet provider, but that is not passed on to you. Some merchants may offer discounts or rewards for using mobile payments, but those are promotions, not standard fees.

Common Problems and How to Avoid Them

Users often run into a few issues with both services:

Terminal not accepting the payment: If you are using Android Pay, make sure the terminal has the contactless symbol (the sideways Wi-Fi icon). If it does not, you cannot pay with Android Pay. With Samsung Pay on older phones, try holding the phone near the card swipe slot if the terminal does not support NFC.
Card not supported: Not all banks and card issuers support mobile wallets. Check with your bank to confirm your card is eligible. Some prepaid and corporate cards may not work.
Phone not unlocking: Both services require your screen to be on and unlocked. If you have a PIN or biometric lock, you must authenticate before holding the phone to the terminal.
Battery dead: Neither service works when the phone is off. Some phones have a power-saving mode that keeps NFC active, but it is not guaranteed.

If a payment fails, first check that the terminal supports your payment method, then try again with the phone closer to the reader. If it still fails, contact your bank or card issuer.

How to Choose Between Them

Your choice largely depends on your phone and where you shop.

If you have a Samsung phone, Samsung Pay offers the widest compatibility with old terminals (on models with MST) and is tightly integrated with Samsung’s ecosystem. It is the better choice if you want maximum acceptance at merchants that have not upgraded their card readers.
If you have a non-Samsung Android phone, Android Pay / Google Pay is your only option among these two. It is also a better choice if you travel internationally, because it is available in more countries and works with any NFC terminal.
If you use a smartwatch, both services support payments on their respective watches, but Google Pay works on more watch brands (Wear OS), while Samsung Pay works only on Samsung watches.

If you already use Google services heavily, Google Pay integrates with your Google account for loyalty cards and transit passes. Samsung Pay integrates with Samsung Wallet for boarding passes and membership cards.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Android Pay the same as Google Pay?

Yes, Android Pay was rebranded as Google Pay in 2018. The service is essentially the same, but the name and some features changed. Google Pay also includes a peer-to-peer payment feature and a rewards system, which Android Pay did not have.

Can I use Samsung Pay on any Android phone?

No, Samsung Pay is only available on Samsung devices. It requires Samsung’s software and hardware, including the MST coil on older models. Other Android phones cannot use Samsung Pay.

Does Samsung Pay work without NFC?

On older Samsung phones with MST, yes—Samsung Pay can work at terminals that only have a magnetic stripe reader, because MST simulates the swipe. On newer Samsung phones without MST, NFC is required, so the terminal must be contactless-enabled.

Which is more secure: Android Pay or Samsung Pay?

Both are highly secure, using tokenization and requiring authentication for each transaction. The security difference is negligible in practice. Samsung Pay’s MST has a slightly larger theoretical attack surface, but there are no known real-world exploits.

Can I use Android Pay on an iPhone?

You can install the Google Pay app on an iPhone, but you cannot use it for contactless payments in stores. Apple restricts NFC access to Apple Pay on iOS. You can use Google Pay for online purchases and peer-to-peer transfers, but not for tap-to-pay.

Will Samsung Pay work in countries where it is not officially supported?

Officially, Samsung Pay only works in countries where Samsung has launched the service. However, some users have reported that it works with cards from other countries if the phone is set to a supported region. This is not guaranteed and may violate Samsung’s terms of service.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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