Google has made the announcement that it will be sunsetting the Google Pay app in the United States later this year. As the standalone app has been largely replaced by Google Wallet, this move is intended to streamline the company’s payment apps. After the shutdown in the US, the app will only be available in Singapore and India.
While this change may come as a surprise, it is a strategic decision for Google to consolidate and simplify its payment apps. This will make the experience less confusing for its users, as the company promotes Google Wallet as the primary and comprehensive app for all payment features.
According to Google, users will still be able to access the most popular features of the Google Pay app through Google Wallet, which is five times more popular among US users.
Starting on June 4, sending, requesting, and receiving money through the US version of the Google Pay app will no longer be possible. Until then, users can transfer their Google Pay balance to their bank account using the app. If there are still funds in the account after the shutdown, they can be transferred through the Google Pay website.
For those who used the Google Pay app to find offers and deals, Google states that this can now be done through the new deals destination on Google Search.
Google Wallet will continue to be the primary mobile payment platform in the United States. With this app, users can pay in stores, board planes and transit, store loyalty cards, save driver’s licenses, and even start cars with a digital key.
The company claims that over 180 countries and millions of people use Google Pay to make payments on desktop, mobile, and in-store.
