Google Pay Shutting Down in US on June 5th
Google Pay has largely been replaced by Google Wallet in 2022 but still operates in many countries including the United States. Now, the search giant has announced that payments will be discontinued in the US on June 5th, 2024 in an attempt to streamline its payment apps.
1. Simplifying Payment Offerings
After the discontinuation, Google Pay will only remain available in Singapore and India due to the “unique needs in those markets,” as Google wrote in a blog post. The move helps consolidate Google’s fractured payments history under one core wallet app.
2. Stripping Out Peer-to-Peer Payments
As part of the discontinuation, Google will remove peer-to-peer (P2P) payments, balance management, “finding deals and offers,” and recommends using the new shopping destination in Search instead. Users will still be able transfer their Google Pay (GPay) balance to a bank account after June 5th, 2024 using the Google Pay website.
3. Google Wallet Replacement Ramped Up
The company stated Google Wallet has now largely replaced GPay, with 5X the number of users in 180 countries, since it can handle more than just payments. In addition to credit and debit cards, it stores transit cards, state IDs, driver’s licenses, virtual car keys, and more.
4. Years of Payment Confusion
Google’s payment system has been in a state of chaos over the years, originally starting as Google Wallet launched in 2011. At the time, the tap-to-pay system debuted years before Apple Pay (2014), with support from Mastercard and retailers like Macy’s.
5. Branding Flip-Flops Over Time
Concurrently, Android Pay launched in 2015 before being merged with Google Wallet in 2018 and rebranded to Google Pay. Additionally, the company originally had a Google Wallet Card (discontinued in 2016) which was actually a prepaid debit card usable with any retailer accepting Mastercard.
Now everything has come full circle back under the Google Wallet umbrella, unless the company changes its mind once again. As consumer reach expands, the consolidated app aims to provide a singular pay experience across devices.
