With over half of all smartphones in New Zealand running the Android platform, we weigh up the advantages and disadvantages of the various Android digital wallet services on the market in 2018.

If you are an Apple user, we have a separate guide for you.

Google Pay

Launched as Android Pay in mid-2016, this app has undergone a rebrand and integrated its Google Wallet into one app. It will also be able to be used in Google Chrome.

You can use Google Pay with any Android device running KitKat 4.4 or above. This app can currently be used in NZ with BNZ —check the list to see if your card is eligible.

Google Pay also has the advantage of supporting in-app purchases for retailers such as Airbnb.

Just like Apple Pay, if you lose your phone, you can track your device and wipe the data using the Android Device Manager.

Download link

Samsung Pay

This option is not currently supported in New Zealand – but we’ll let you know when and if that changes.

Bank-specific digital wallets

These are the most restrictive of the bunch, obviously only covering certain cards at one bank, plus convenience is reduced for these applications, as for payments over $80, you still have to enter your PIN.

ANZ GoMoney Wallet

This wallet has received pretty good reception from its users.

It is built into the ANZ GoMoney app, which is the internet banking app that can be used by all ANZ customers. There is no need to download and use multiple apps on your device.

The wallet is compatible with ANZ Visa Debit and personal ANZ Visa Credit Cards. It does not currently support EFTPOS cards, MasterCard Credit Cards or Business Credit Cards.

Download link

ASB Virtual

You can add ASB Virtual to any of your ASB Visa credit cards and ASB Visa Debit cards that you have available in the cards menu of your ASB Mobile app.

Download link

Other options

If you are an ASB customer and have a Fitbit wearable device, then you can use Fitbit Pay.

Summing up

Innovation in payment via phones and wearables is exciting! We hope to see more options rolled out to New Zealand customers soon, as the reach seems to be lagging, with Westpac and Kiwibank being the big two that are not currently offering anything in this space.

A word of warning: whilst there is a high convenience factor in using your phone to pay for a lot of purchases, maybe think twice when going through a drive-thru and reaching your phone out to a terminal or cashier—it might be better to use an actual card in that case to avoid any unexpected drops.

Supplementary images courtesy respective suppliers.