Guide
Samsung Wallet vs Google Wallet
Galaxy phones come with Samsung Wallet, but Google Wallet runs on them too. Which one should you use for loyalty cards and tickets - and if you run a business, which one should your passes support? This guide compares the two and gives a straight answer.
Last updated October 9, 2026. Facts about Apple Wallet and Google Wallet were checked against Apple’s and Google’s own documentation, linked in the sources.
The short answer
- For customers: on a Galaxy phone you can use both. Keep each card in whichever wallet the business offers it for.
- For businesses: issue Google Wallet passes. Google Wallet works on Android phones generally, including Galaxy phones, so it reaches every Android customer. Samsung Wallet is an optional extra for Galaxy users, with its own separate partner setup.
What each wallet is
Samsung Wallet
Samsung’s wallet app for Galaxy devices. It holds payment cards, boarding passes, tickets, memberships, and - depending on the country and device - digital keys, IDs and workplace credentials. It’s closely tied to Galaxy hardware and Samsung services such as Samsung Pass.
Google Wallet
Google’s wallet for Android. It holds payment cards, loyalty cards, gift cards, event tickets, boarding passes, transit cards and more, and works on Android phones from many makers, including Samsung. It can pick up some passes automatically, for example from Gmail.
Samsung Wallet vs Google Wallet, side by side
| Samsung Wallet | Google Wallet | |
|---|---|---|
| Phones | Samsung Galaxy devices | Android phones generally, including Galaxy |
| Payments | Yes | Yes |
| Loyalty cards, tickets, boarding passes | Yes | Yes |
| Digital keys and IDs | On supported devices and regions | In supported regions |
| Ecosystem | Galaxy and Samsung services | Google services such as Gmail |
| For businesses issuing passes | Samsung Wallet partner program | Google Wallet API |
Can you use both?
Yes. On a Galaxy phone, Samsung Wallet and Google Wallet can both be installed and used. Many people choose one as the default for tap-to-pay and keep passes in either. The only thing to know is that a pass lives in the wallet it was added to - a card added to Google Wallet won’t appear in Samsung Wallet, and vice versa.
Passes, loyalty cards and tickets
- Adding a business’s pass: tap “Add to Google Wallet” or “Add to Samsung Wallet” - whichever the business offers - and the pass goes to that wallet.
- Apple Wallet files: neither Android wallet opens a .pkpass file on its own; ask for the Android version. See what a .pkpass file is.
- Your own cards: both wallets have ways to add some cards yourself; in the US, Google Wallet can create a pass from a photo of a card.
Which should a business support?
If you issue loyalty cards, memberships or tickets, the goal is to reach every customer with the fewest separate setups:
| Customer’s phone | What reaches them |
|---|---|
| iPhone | Apple Wallet |
| Android (any maker, including Galaxy) | Google Wallet |
| Galaxy users who prefer Samsung Wallet | Google Wallet, or Samsung Wallet if you also join its partner program |
Apple Wallet plus Google Wallet covers iPhone and Android. Samsung Wallet is worth adding later if a large share of your customers use Galaxy phones and ask for it - it means joining Samsung’s partner program, getting your card templates approved, and integrating its APIs.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the difference between Samsung Wallet and Google Wallet?+
Samsung Wallet is Samsung’s own wallet app for Galaxy devices, with payments, passes, IDs and keys, tied into Samsung features. Google Wallet is Google’s wallet for Android phones in general, and also works on Galaxy phones.
Can I use Google Wallet on a Samsung phone?+
Yes. Google Wallet runs on Galaxy phones like any other Android phone, and you can have both Google Wallet and Samsung Wallet installed. Many people pick one as their default for tap-to-pay and use the other for passes.
Should I use Samsung Wallet or Google Wallet for loyalty cards?+
Use whichever wallet the business offers a card for. Most businesses that issue Android passes offer Google Wallet; some also offer Samsung Wallet. On a Galaxy phone you can keep both.
Does Samsung Wallet work with Apple Wallet passes (.pkpass)?+
No wallet on Android opens Apple Wallet’s .pkpass files on its own. Ask the business for its Google Wallet or Samsung Wallet version of the pass.
Do businesses need a separate setup for Samsung Wallet?+
Yes. Issuing passes to Samsung Wallet means joining Samsung’s Wallet partner program: registering on its developer portal, getting card templates approved and integrating its APIs. It’s separate from Google Wallet’s issuer setup.
Sources
Apple’s newer developer pages load dynamically, so where a number comes from Apple it is taken from its Wallet Developer Guide and support pages. If Apple’s or Google’s current documentation differs, follow theirs.
- Samsung Developer: Samsung Wallet partner prerequisites
- Android Central: Samsung Wallet vs Google Wallet
- Google: Setting up a Google Wallet API issuer account
- Google Wallet Help: Manage items in Google Wallet
More guides
- What is iBeacon? Beacons and wallet passesWhat iBeacon is, how Bluetooth beacons work, and how a beacon in your store can bring a customer’s loyalty card or offer to their iPhone lock screen - with setup steps and limits.
- Membership welcome pack: what to includeWhat to put in a membership welcome pack for a club, gym or association - from the welcome letter to the digital membership card - plus a timeline for welcoming new members.
- Loyalty cards for small businessesPaper punch cards, loyalty apps or wallet cards: how small businesses can run a rewards program, what to look for in rewards program software, what it costs and how to launch.
- Can you use Apple Wallet on Android?Apple Wallet only runs on iPhone and Apple Watch. What Android users can use instead, how to open an Apple Wallet pass on Android, and what to do when switching from iPhone.