Google Wallet may launch soon in India: What is it, how is it different from Google Pay

Google Wallet may finally launch in India, almost two years after its relaunch as a digital wallet in the global markets. The wallet app was spotted on Android’s Play Store with screenshots showcasing Indian brands. However, soon, after, the listing was replaced with screenshots showing the US brands. Now, the listing isn’t visible in India and you cannot install it here.

Google Wallet is coming, but Pay may stay

Google Wallet’s India listing almost confirmed the presence of the app in India. As per TechCrunch, the listing had screenshots showcasing the usage with local brands like Air India, State Bank of India, and PVR. The former two confirmed that you’ll be able to store your flight tickets and store loyalty points. The third screenshot revealed that you can keep your movie and event tickets in the app. Unfortunately, the listing has now been removed and you can’t directly access it on the Play Store on Android.

Although the Google Wallet app may arrive soon in India, Google Pay may continue to work. Google has hinted at the same saying that it will continue to ‘invest in the Google Pay app to give people easy, secure access to digital payments’.

Now, that’s an unusual move, as globally Google has merged Pay with the Wallet experience in the Wallet app. However, that’s probably not the case. One probable reason for the same could be that Google Pay has a massive audience in India and it’s the second-largest payment app in the country after PhonePe. Having said that, it may want to continue the Pay app in India alongside Wallet.

If that happens, we might see a different version of Google Wallet in India. Google Wallet may let users store tickets and passes, and allow for one-tap payment. On the other hand, Google Pay may let people do UPI transactions, bank transfers, check their bank balance, etc.

Google Wallet’s fate in India remains unclear for now, but we should learn more soon.

Google Wallet vs Google Pay

Google Wallet was launched back in 2011, as its first payment service, allowing users to store their credit cards and other payment information digitally. Google Pay was launched in 2018 as a replacement for Wallet, letting people send and receive money, pay their bills, and do other things that the Wallet app allowed.

Almost two years back, Google relaunched Wallet with better features, and this time, it was for Android phones, WearOS devices, and Fitbit OS. Finally, earlier this year in February, Google announced that it would replace Google Pay with Wallet in the US.