Google has announced that it will be ceasing operations in the US for Google Pay to focus and accelerate its Google Wallet offering further.
Google is aiming to streamline and simplify its payment services for users by axing Google Pay in the US and focus on building upon the success of Google Wallet, which has overtaken Pay as the go-to payment method for users.
Google Pay will be removed for usage in the US on 4 June this year but operations for the payment method, such as checking out online or tapping out in stores, will remain the same in the meantime.
A Google blog statement read: “To simplify the app experience, the US version of the standalone Google Pay app will no longer be available for use starting June 4, 2024.
“You can continue to access the most popular features — tapping to pay in stores and managing payment methods — right from Google Wallet, which is used five times more than the Google Pay app in the US.”
Despite its exit from the US, Google Pay will remain in countries such as India and Singapore in order for Google to serve “unique needs in those countries”.
Google Wallet will now become the predominant payment method for Google users which enables them to securely store payment cards used for tap and pay in stores.
The digital wallet also allows users to store personal information and data, such as drivers licences, state IDs, transit cards and more.
“We’ve invested in making payments as fast and seamless as possible — like improving Google Pay autofill in Chrome, making it easy to pay for public transit and expanding the types of passes you can store in Wallet. And looking ahead, we’ll continue improving payment experiences like these,” said Google.
According to Google, millions of people in more than 180 countries use Google Pay as a preferred payment method when shopping in-store or online.
