- Peer-to-peer upgrades: Samsung Wallet now supports NFC-powered P2P transfers via a new “Tap to Transfer” feature, letting users send money with just a tap – even to friends using Google Wallet or a physical card [1] [2].
- Google Pay pivot: Google discontinued in-app P2P payments in the U.S. as of June 2024 [3], creating a gap that Samsung’s new feature fills.
- Digital ID and integration: Samsung Wallet (rebranded from Samsung Pay in 2024) supports a wide array of digital IDs, car keys, tickets and loyalty cards, and is tightly integrated with Galaxy devices [4] [5].
- Google Wallet updates: Google Wallet is also adding handy features like custom pass nicknames and location-triggered “Nearby Passes,” and even new kid-friendly payment controls through Family Link [6] [7].
- Real-world adoption: Governments are embracing both wallets – for example, Arkansas now lets citizens load a state-issued mobile driver’s license into either Samsung Wallet (on Galaxy phones) or Google Wallet [8] [9].
In the smartphone era, digital wallets are replacing traditional ones. Android users have two big options: Google Wallet (formerly Google Pay) and Samsung Wallet (which merged Samsung Pay and Samsung Pass in 2024). Both apps can store credit/debit cards, tickets, loyalty cards and even government IDs [10] [11]. But recent updates highlight a growing feature war. Samsung has rolled out new capabilities (especially its “Tap to Transfer” P2P payments) that some experts say outshine what Google offers, while Google continues to refine its own wallet features. This report digs into the latest news, expert comments and real-world examples.
Samsung Wallet’s New P2P Payments and Features
Samsung introduced a peer-to-peer “Tap to Transfer” payment feature in mid-2025. This NFC-based function lets you tap two Galaxy phones (or even tap a Galaxy phone to a contactless debit card) to instantly send money using a Visa or Mastercard debit card stored in Samsung Wallet [12] [13]. Users do not need to open a separate app or set up accounts – the transfer happens directly through Samsung’s Wallet using NFC, similar to a contactless payment at a register. As 9to5Google explains, “This new feature allows users to make peer-to-peer payments through their mobile wallet without any accounts needed” [14]. In other words, tapping phones (or cards) replaces apps like Venmo or Zelle for quick splits and reimbursements.
Samsung partnered with payments firms Visa and Mastercard (via Green Dot) to power Tap to Transfer. A Samsung blog post notes: “Through Samsung’s collaboration with Visa and Mastercard, you can use a debit card stored in your Samsung Wallet to send money to friends and family members’ bank accounts without needing to download an additional app” [15]. If the recipient has no Samsung Wallet, the sender can tap their card or find the recipient by phone number to complete a remote transfer. Initially launched in the U.S. in late May 2025, Tap to Transfer will reach all Samsung Wallet users soon. Samsung Electronics says Galaxy phones with Samsung Wallet installed will get the feature after an update, making transfers as easy as contactless payments [16] [17]. Even South Korea saw a similar rollout in October 2024, with Samsung announcing “tap transfer” by tapping two Galaxy devices together [18].
Samsung executives are bullish about this update. Drew Blackard, Senior VP of Mobile Product Management at Samsung Electronics America, says:
“Samsung Wallet is a powerful tool readily available on millions of Galaxy smartphones, and with this update, we’re taking the experience to the next level” [19].
He added that “Samsung Wallet will help make payments to friends and family quick and convenient” [20]. In short, Samsung is emphasizing ease of use and convenience for everyday money transfers – a gap that Google Wallet left open when Google Pay stopped supporting P2P in the U.S. [21].
Indeed, Google itself acknowledged that change. Google’s official help pages note that “as of June 4, 2024, you will no longer be able to send, request or receive money from others” in the U.S. Google Pay app [22]. In effect, Google shifted focus to payment cards and passes in Google Wallet, leaving Samsung to handle direct person-to-person transfers. Now, Samsung’s Tap to Transfer even works across platforms: transfers can target friends on Apple Wallet, Google Wallet or plain tap-to-pay cards [23]. FinTech Magazine explains that Samsung’s P2P can send funds “within minutes to other digital wallets or contactless debit cards” [24].
Green Dot – the banking-as-a-service partner behind Samsung’s P2P system – also touts the innovation. The interim President of Green Dot, Chris Ruppel, says:
“We are thrilled to partner with Samsung to bring seamless and affordable financial services to their Samsung Wallet users… starting with Tap to Transfer, with more value-driven and user-focused innovations to come” [25].
Another Green Dot executive, Crystal Bryant-Minter, adds that the collaboration represents an “enormous opportunity to bring convenient and instant peer-to-peer payments to Samsung’s vast user base”, highlighting the potential impact of this rollout [26].
Aside from P2P, Samsung Wallet packs other modern wallet features. Since rebranding in 2024, it has added digital IDs and keys, loyalty cards, event tickets and more in one place. For example, in South Korea Samsung Wallet introduced mobile driver’s licenses and a “veterans ID” with the same legal validity as paper IDs [27]. (In fact, over 17 million South Koreans were using Samsung Wallet by late 2024 [28].) Samsung Wallet also supports car keys for certain vehicles, QR-code tickets, and even cryptocurrency wallets. All this data is secured by Samsung Knox (a hardware security framework), ensuring fingerprint or PIN protection for each credential [29].
Industry analysts note that Samsung’s wallet shines in ecosystem integration. For Galaxy owners, Samsung Wallet ties deeply into the phone’s UI and settings. It offers intuitive loyalty card management and quick access to cards right from the lock screen or quick-settings panel. By contrast, some Google Wallet users have reported hiccups, like needing extra taps at checkout [30]. As WebProNews summarizes: “Samsung Wallet excels in ecosystem integration, particularly for Galaxy device owners… Google Wallet users often report frustrations with inconsistent performance” [31]. In other words, when using Samsung hardware, Samsung Wallet often feels smoother and more “tailor-made.”
Google Wallet’s Recent Updates
Google has also been evolving its Wallet app, though in different ways. Without P2P transfers, Google is focusing on making cards and passes easier to manage. A late-2025 update now lets users add nicknames to their loyalty cards or tickets (up to 25 characters). Tom’s Guide explains that you can tap the menu on any pass and choose “Add a nickname” to label it for quick identification [32]. Google is also rolling out a “Nearby Passes” feature (previewed at I/O 2025) that automatically pulls up the relevant card or ticket when you approach a location. For instance, your transit pass could pop up when you get near a subway turnstile [33].
Google isn’t ignoring security or family features either. In March 2025 Google announced a new Family Link mode for Wallet. Now parents in the U.S., U.K., Australia, Spain and Poland can allow a supervised Google Wallet account for a child. Under this scheme, children can tap to pay and store approved passes on their Android devices, but with parental controls: parents must consent to any added payment card, and they receive notifications of purchases and can review or remove cards at any time [34]. In Google’s words, “Google Wallet now gives parents and guardians… a way to allow their children to access digital payments… with appropriate supervision” [35].
Importantly, Google is still the universal Android solution. Google notes that Wallet is not limited to Samsung phones – it works on any modern Android device. In fact, Google reported that Google Wallet has become “the primary place for people to securely store payment cards”, and it’s used roughly five times more than the old standalone Google Pay app in the U.S. (since many users shifted to Google Wallet instead) [36]. That ubiquity means features like Tap-to-Pay, boarding passes or loyalty cards in Google Wallet work on Pixels, OnePlus phones, etc. Samsung Wallet, by contrast, is only available on Samsung Galaxy models. Tech guides generally advise: if you own a Samsung device, Samsung Wallet can offer extra perks; if you have a non-Samsung Android (Pixel or other), you’ll rely on Google Wallet [37].
Google has also quietly kept the wallet secure. It continues to support NFC transactions and securely stores any new card or pass added to Wallet. Though Google removed peer-to-peer from its Pay app in the U.S., it still enables contactless payments at millions of terminals worldwide via Google Wallet. (Globally, Google Pay/Wallet still supports P2P in some countries, but not in the U.S. native app.) In summary, Google’s strategy has been to polish the core wallet experience – pass organization, deals, and integration with Android – while Samsung is pushing into new payment frontiers.
Industry Reaction and Usage
Experts say this competition is good for users. Samsung’s aggressive additions, like Tap to Transfer, could push Google to innovate faster. As one fintech analyst put it, Samsung’s new offerings “address pain points long plaguing its Google counterpart”, potentially “setting new standards for mobile payments” [38]. If users come to expect on-the-fly money transfers in a wallet app, Google may have to consider adding something similar or partnering with other services.
On the security front, both Google and Samsung use tokenization (so your real card numbers aren’t exposed) and biometrics for authorization. Samsung highlights its Knox security framework as a strength for protecting Wallet data [39]. Google relies on its own encryption and also offers the option to lock Wallet behind the device PIN or passcode. So while Google Wallet remains broadly secure, Samsung emphasizes the added hardware-backed security and physical integration of its devices.
In real-world adoption, both wallets are being embraced beyond just credit cards. A good example is government-issued IDs. In October 2025, the state of Arkansas announced that its official mobile ID (a digital driver’s license) can now be loaded into both Samsung Wallet (on Galaxy phones) and Google Wallet [40] [41]. The Arkansas Department of Finance & Administration says about 40,000 residents downloaded the mobile ID app (launched March 2025) by October, and travelers can even use it at airport TSA checkpoints [42] [43]. Apple Wallet support is planned for 2026. This shows government confidence in the technology, and it means Samsung Wallet users aren’t left out – even if a state app rolled out on Android, it’s available on whichever wallet the user prefers.
Similarly, public transit and travel companies are expanding wallet support. For instance, many transit agencies now allow monthly passes in Google Wallet, and airlines support boarding passes in both apps. Samsung’s tie-ups can also include exclusive perks – some carriers and card issuers offer Samsung Wallet users special coupons or rewards. Between loyalty programs, contactless transit and IDs, digital wallets are becoming the standard hub for one’s mobile identity and finances.
What This Means for Consumers
For everyday users, the bottom line is: use the wallet that best matches your device and needs. If you have a Samsung Galaxy phone, Samsung Wallet is increasingly compelling. It not only stores all your credit cards and digital passes, but now also lets you instantly send money to friends with a tap. Samsung’s executives argue this adds real convenience: “Many users want the flexibility to accomplish their most frequent tasks on their mobile device,” says Drew Blackard. “Samsung Wallet will help make payments to friends and family quick and convenient.” [44]
If you have a non-Samsung Android (Pixel, OnePlus, etc.), Google Wallet remains your all-in-one choice. Google is updating Wallet too – adding features like custom pass nicknames, auto-prompting tickets when you arrive at venues, and parental controls for kids [45] [46]. Google Wallet works everywhere on Android and benefits from Google’s ecosystem (such as Gmail auto-adding tickets). One tech guide succinctly advises: “If you have an Android that’s not a Samsung… use Google Wallet. If you have a Samsung Galaxy, then you should probably use Samsung Wallet” [47].
Both wallets continue to evolve. Samsung’s bold moves (like P2P payments) may spur Google to add features or expand services of its own. Google, in turn, is likely to keep leveraging its software ecosystem and wide device support. For consumers, this rivalry is good news – mobile payments and digital credentials will only get smoother, secure and feature-rich.
Sources: Tech news and official announcements from Samsung and Google [48] [49] [50] [51], industry analysis [52] [53] and recent media reports [54] [55] were used to compile this overview.
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