Google Pay, also known as GPay, is a mobile payment application developed by Google. It allows users to make payments via smartphones using methods such as the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in India and PayNow in Singapore. The app supports peer-to-peer (P2P) transfers, in-store payments via NFC, online purchases, and bill payments.
| Google Pay | |
|---|---|
.svg){kind=logo} | |
| Developer | |
| Initial release | September 18, 2017 (as Tez) |
| Operating system | Android, iOS |
| Predecessor | Tez |
| Successor | Google Wallet (U.S.) |
| Type | Mobile payment app |
| License | Proprietary |
| Website | pay |
History
editTez and rebranding
editExpansion
editAfter success in India, Google Pay expanded to countries including Singapore and the United States. A revamped app was launched in the U.S. in 2020 but was later discontinued in June 2024 in favor of Google Wallet. As of May 2026, the app remains active in India and Singapore.[2]
Features
editNFC and QR payments
editPeer-to-peer (P2P) transfers
editUsers can send or receive money from contacts. In India, this is powered by UPI, and in Singapore by PayNow.[3]
UPI integration (India)
editGoogle Pay in India operates on the UPI infrastructure, enabling instant money transfers between linked bank accounts. Users can pay using UPI IDs, QR codes, or mobile numbers.[5]
Several related features were introduced in 2024: the UPI Circle feature allows a user to delegate payment access to trusted secondary users with either full or partial control, UPI vouchers let users send prepaid monetary value via mobile numbers, redeemable even without linking a bank account, and Autopay for UPI Lite tops up a user's UPI Lite balance when it falls below a set threshold for small-value offline transactions. Users can add prepaid utility services like electricity or maintenance bills and recharge them directly from the app.[6]
Google Pay supports international UPI QR payments, allowing Indian tourists to pay local Singaporean merchants directly via UPI without currency exchange.[5]
ClickPay QR (India)
editPayNow integration (Singapore)
editFavePay integration (Singapore)
editIn partnership with Fave, Google Pay supports cashback-enabled QR payments via the SGQR system at various retail outlets.[7]
Security
editAvailability
editAs of 2024, Google Pay is available in the following countries:
The Google Pay app was formerly available in the United States, but was phased out in June 2024 in favor of Google Wallet.[2]
See also
editReferences
edit- ↑ Khoury, Rita El (August 30, 2018). "[Update: APK Download] Tez, Google's mobile payment platform in India, gets rebranded to Google Pay". Android Police. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
- 1 2 Pothen, James (February 23, 2024). "Google Pay app to be retired in US this year | Payments Dive". www.paymentsdive.com. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
- 1 2 3 "OCBC brings Google Pay P2P payments to Singapore". Finextra Research. April 15, 2020. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
- ↑ "Google Pay now supports payments by RuPay credit cards on UPI: How to use and what it means for users". The Times of India. May 23, 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
- 1 2 PYMNTS (January 17, 2024). "Google Aims to Take UPI Payments Beyond India's Borders". PYMNTS.com. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
- 1 2 "Google Pay Introduces UPI Circle, ClickPay QR, and more features". thepaypers.com. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
- ↑ Reporter, Staff (September 22, 2021). "FavePay teams up with Google Pay to offer cashback to Singapore users | Asian Banking & Finance". asianbankingandfinance.net. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
- ↑ "Google Pay adds biometrics for digital payments". India Today. October 29, 2019. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
- ↑ "This is how Google is planning to keep you safe from fraud transactions on Google Pay". The Times of India. December 19, 2022. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved June 3, 2025.