Google Pay
Google's UPI payments app for India: send money, pay shops and settle bills from your bank account.
Updated · AppBreakup editorial · Android, iOS
Is Google Pay free?
Yes, free to use
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About Google Pay
Google Pay is Google's payment app for India, built on the country's UPI system. It links directly to your bank account, so there's no wallet to top up: you can send money to contacts, scan QR codes at shops, pay bills and recharge your phone, and pay at online stores that accept UPI. Sending and receiving money is free, and it works with every bank that supports BHIM UPI. Rewards come as scratch cards and offers rather than points. Google has also added credit products, including personal loans from partner lenders and a co-branded card, all applied for inside the app. Setup takes a phone number, a screen lock and a linked bank account, and the app runs on Android and iOS. Outside India, Google replaced its Pay app with Google Wallet, so this entry is specifically about the Indian UPI app. Compared with Paytm or PhonePe it's plainer, with fewer extra services but a less cluttered home screen.
Best for: People in India who want a simple, clutter-free UPI app tied directly to their bank.
Pros and cons
What works
- Free bank-to-bank transfers over UPI
- Works with every bank that supports BHIM UPI
- Simpler, less cluttered than super-app rivals
Why people leave
- India only; other countries use Google Wallet instead
- No travel or movie ticket booking like Paytm
- Rewards are scratch cards, not predictable cashback
Google Pay vs WhatsApp, CRED and MobiKwik
From each app's listing and the prices verified on its own site. A dash means we haven't verified it yet.
Top Google Pay alternatives
See all 5- 1
WhatsApp67.6WhatsApp's built-in UPI payments in India let you send money inside the chats you already use, without a separate app.
- 2
CRED64.8Better for credit card holders who want bill reminders and rewards on card and UPI payments.
- 3MoMobiKwik61.8
Lets you pay via UPI from a wallet balance without linking a bank account.
- 4
PhonePe42.3India's most used UPI app, with bills, investments and travel booking built in.
- 5
BHIM37.8NPCI's own UPI app, with even fewer offers and upsells.
Why people left Google Pay
In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.
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Google Pay: common questions
What is Google Pay?
Google Pay: Google's UPI payments app for India: send money, pay shops and settle bills from your bank account. Best for people in India who want a simple, clutter-free UPI app tied directly to their bank. Available for Android and iOS.
Is Google Pay free?
Yes, Google Pay is free to use.
Is Google Pay open source?
No, Google Pay is not open source.
What platforms does Google Pay run on?
Google Pay is available for Android and iOS.
What are the best alternatives to Google Pay?
The highest-ranked Google Pay alternatives right now are WhatsApp, CRED and MobiKwik. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.
Google Pay vs WhatsApp: what's the difference?
Both Google Pay and WhatsApp are free to use. Only WhatsApp runs on Web, Windows and macOS.