Mobile apps allow people to make payments without making contact. They have become common since the introduction of Near Field Communication (NFC) and have turned smartphones into an electronic bank card. Just like with debit and credit cards, the mobile payments also have limits and have fees too. These may not always be known to the client beforehand. Mobile apps deliver on the promise of a digital wallet and they are changing the way that we pay for things on a daily basis. They are becoming popular as more and more people do not want to carry their cards around, or cash, and can be applied to the purchase of everyday items.
Mobile payment apps are also great for sending money to people that you know, such as friends and family, or even traders.
Which are the best mobile payment apps?
- Apple Pay
- Google Pay
- Samsung Pay
- PayPal
- Venmo
- Apple Pay – Apple likes making things simple and easy for their users. Their mobile payment app offers easy payment and does not require an app to be downloaded as it works on all iPhones and can also be used for online purchases on Mac. The user must provide their credit card information to their Apple account and thereafter they can use their iPhone to do their payments. You can also use Touch ID or the Face ID to verify your identity. Cash can be sent easily via an iMessage or simply by asking Siri.
- Google Pay – Google Pay is an Android payment app that is preloaded on Android smartphones. It is accepted at most retail stores and online services as well. It is believed to be more secure that using your credit card as the credit card number is not sent directly but is protected via a security encryption. Google Pay supports many different credit cards like America Express, Chase, Citi and Discover.
- Samsung Pay – The Samsung Galaxy is the leading model of smartphone among Samsung users. Samsung now offers a mobile payment app known as Samsung Pay. Samsung Pay works with conventional credit card readers and is very simple to use. With Samsung Pay you have much more flexibility and this app is so versatile and user friendly that it will replace all the credit cards you have piled up in your wallet.
- PayPal – PayPal has been around for many years and is something that people are familiar with. They are striving to deliver person-too-person payments and have entered the retail space but have received very little support for NFC. PayPal has fees and this may be the reason people do not want to transact with them, however these do not apply when purchasing a product online or transferring funds to someone. However, there is a fee when transferring from a linked debit card.
- Venmo – Venmo works via a mobile app on your smartphone and you can sign up using your Facebook account if you want. All you need to do is link your bank account or your credit card. You can then use the app to send or receive money from other people using the Venmo app as well. You may also send money via a phone number or email as the app is able to locate your Facebook or phonebook contacts. If the recipient is not a Venmo user, they will be prompted to sign up to receive the funds you are sending. Few retailers use the Venmo app and it is much better suited for online purchases. Among those that accept it are Forever 21 and Foot Locker.
These apps make it so much better when shopping, transferring money, receiving money or just doing daily activities like grabbing a Starbucks. It is especially useful for people who don’t enjoy fumbling through their bags or wallets, trying to locate their bank cards.
