Google Pay (mobile app)

Google Pay
Developer(s)	Google
Initial release	September 18, 2017; 7 years ago (as Tez)
Operating system	Android, iOS
Successor	Google Wallet (U.S.)
Type	Mobile payment app
License	Proprietary
Website	pay.google.com

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.

History

Tez and Rebranding

Google Pay was originally launched in India as Tez in September 2017, built on the UPI system. In August 2018, it was rebranded as Google Pay to unify Google's payment platforms across global markets. The new app retained UPI features while adding broader payment capabilities.

Expansion

After 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 September 2024, the app remains active in India and Singapore.

Features

UPI Integration (India)

Google 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.

PayNow Integration (Singapore)

In Singapore, the app integrates with PayNow, allowing users to send and receive funds via mobile numbers or NRIC/FIN.

NFC and QR Payments

Google Pay supports QR code payments and NFC-based contactless transactions in supported regions. In Singapore, QR payments are enabled through PayNow and FavePay.

Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Transfers

Users can send or receive money from contacts. In India, this is powered by UPI, and in Singapore by PayNow.

UPI Circle (India)

Introduced in 2024, this feature allows a user to delegate payment access to trusted secondary users with either full or partial control.

UPI Vouchers (India)

UPI vouchers let users send prepaid monetary value via mobile numbers, redeemable even without linking a bank account.

ClickPay QR (India)

Google Pay supports ClickPay QR for bill payments by scanning QR codes generated by billers through NPCI Bharat BillPay.

Prepaid Utilities (India)

Users can add prepaid utility services like electricity or maintenance bills and recharge them directly from the app.

Tap & Pay with RuPay Cards (India)

Google Pay allows NFC-based Tap & Pay using RuPay credit/debit cards linked with the app.

Autopay for UPI Lite (India)

Automatically tops up a user’s UPI Lite balance when it falls below a set threshold, for small-value offline transactions.

FavePay Integration (Singapore)

In partnership with Fave, Google Pay supports cashback-enabled QR payments via the SGQR system at various retail outlets.

UPI International (Singapore)

Google Pay supports international UPI QR payments, allowing Indian tourists to pay local Singaporean merchants directly via UPI without currency exchange.

Security

Google Pay uses device-level security such as PIN, fingerprint, or face unlock. Transactions are encrypted, and the app employs fraud monitoring to detect suspicious activity.

Availability

As of 2024, Google Pay is available in the following countries:

India: Full UPI support and features.
Singapore: PayNow, FavePay, and international UPI acceptance.

Google Pay was formerly available in the United States but was phased out in June 2024 in favor of Google Wallet .

References