How to use Google Wallet in India? How is it Different from Google Pay? All Your Questions Answered!

Google recently launched its Wallet app in India. During the launch, the search giant said that the Google Wallet app would work independently from Google Pay, its digital payments platform.

So today we will explore how to download the Google Wallet app on your Android smartphone and sign up for it. Without any delays, here are all your questions about Google Wallet answered.

What is Google Wallet?

Google Wallet, an Android-based digital wallet, provides convenient access to daily necessities such as flight boarding passes, cinema and event tickets, bus tickets, brand loyalty cards, essential credentials, and more.

Google Wallet currently facilitates access to digital documents from 20 Indian brands, encompassing prominent names like the e-commerce giant Flipkart, leading airline companies such as Air India and Indigo, popular cinema multiplex chains like PVR and INOX, Shoppers Stop, and Ixigo, among others.

How to use Google Wallet?

The Google Wallet app is currently only available for Android users. The app can be downloaded from the Google Play Store, although it will come pre-installed on Pixel devices in India.

Once you've downloaded the app, all subscriptions linked to your Google account will be added to the Wallet. To manually add supported services to your Google Wallet, simply select 'Add to Wallet'. Now, let's take a look at the services you can add to your Google Wallet.

Google Wallet Features in India

Working in tandem with airlines like Air India, Air India Express, Indigo, and online ticketing platforms such as MakeMyTrip, Easymytrip, and Ixigo, Google permits Wallet users to conveniently save their mobile boarding passes for quick retrieval. Moreover, Pixel smartphone users can effortlessly add their boarding pass to Google Wallet by capturing a screenshot.

Users can also manage their loyalty points and gift cards from Flipkart (SuperCoins), Dominos, Shoppers Stop, and brands supported by loyalty program facilitators like Pinelabs, EasyRewardz, and Twid, directly within Google Wallet.

Android users can save their tickets from INOX and PVR cinemas to their Google Wallet for easy access. Google has established partnerships with Kochi Metro, Hyderabad Metro, VRL Travels, and Abhibus to grant Google Wallet users access to transit tickets when utilizing these services.

The capability to generate new passes within wallets is simplified, as users can simply capture an image of any document containing a barcode or QR code, be it luggage tags or parking receipts.

Additionally, Google automatically incorporates tickets and reservations into Google Wallet by scanning details from linked Gmail accounts, although users have the option to enable this feature through "smart personalization" within their Gmail settings.

Google Wallet vs Google Pay: What's Different?

Google Wallet will cater to the storage and access of documents and passes, while Google Pay will continue to handle UPI and contactless payments. While Google Wallet can be used to store credit and debit cards abroad, this feature isn't accessible in India.

Ram Papatla, GM & India Engineering Lead, Android at Google said, "Google Pay is not going anywhere. It will remain our primary payments app. Google Wallet is specifically tailored for non-payment use cases."

Both GPay and Google Wallet will operate independently in India with the latter complementing Google Pay, which will continue to serve the digital payment requirements of Indian users.

While Google Wallet does have its limitations in India, those limitations primarily exist as the Wallet and GPay apps operate independently. Moreover, this is just the start and Google are sure to partner with several other brands in the coming months to enhance the overall appeal of Google Wallet in the country.