{"slug": "google-wallet", "name": "Google Wallet", "category": "other", "category_name": "Other software", "description": "", "recommenders": 3, "commenters": 14, "warners": 4, "score": 0.656, "rising": -0.98, "first": "2025-11-01", "latest": "2026-09-02", "why": "NFC payments via Google Wallet running on my Pixel Watch 3 connected to a phone running GrapheneOS works just fine.", "why_is_quote": true, "has_verdict": false, "sentiment": {"recommend": 3, "neutral": 7, "compare": 0, "warn": 4}, "spark": [1, 2, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0], "listed": true, "loved": [], "caveat": "", "short_quote": "NFC payments via Google Wallet running on my Pixel Watch 3 connected to a phone running GrapheneOS works just fine.", "kind": "", "icon": true, "domain": "blog.google", "github_repo": null, "official_url": "https://wallet.google.com", "pricing": "", "aliases": ["Google Wallet"], "verdict": null, "praise": [{"label": "", "summary": "", "quotes": [{"id": 738448848, "item_id": 46153053, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46153053", "by": "chenxiaolong", "date": "2025-12-04", "version": null, "stance": "recommend", "quote": "NFC payments via Google Wallet running on my Pixel Watch 3 connected to a phone running GrapheneOS works just fine.", "excerpt": "NFC payments via Google Wallet running on my Pixel Watch 3 connected to a phone running GrapheneOS works just fine. I use this regularly. (It doesn't require Google Wallet to be installed on the phone.) At least one of my cards required Google Play Services to have the location permission when initially adding the card though.", "context": "", "use_case": "NFC payments on smartwatch", "switched_from": "", "story": "Bootloader Unlock Wall of Shame"}, {"id": 732508496, "item_id": 45781781, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45781781", "by": "subscribed", "date": "2025-11-01", "version": null, "stance": "recommend", "quote": "it keeps the passes okay for me", "excerpt": "Close. To me it's a biggest missing feature to date (and the team brought that up with European Commission already, as there are no technical or security reasons for that). Worth noting it will work on the old, unpatched, rooted, wildly unsafe phones with the right magisk configuration. But not on the safest os. Anyway, it keeps the passes okay for me, and for the payments I use Garmin Pay.", "context": "", "use_case": "Passes and cards", "switched_from": "", "story": "Leaker reveals which Pixels are vulnerable to Cellebrite phone hacking"}]}], "caveats": [{"label": "", "summary": "", "quotes": [{"id": 789230960, "item_id": 49326935, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49326935", "by": "therein", "date": "2026-08-16", "version": null, "stance": "warn", "quote": "Every other time I open it, it shows a pop-up asking \"Can we use your payment data to show you more relevant ads?\"", "excerpt": "You know what I wish I could ditch but cannot due to their firm grip on it, Google Wallet. Every other time I open it, it shows a pop-up asking \"Can we use your payment data to show you more relevant ads?\" which is annoying but what's more aggravating is the choices: \"Yes\", \"Remind me Later\".", "context": "", "use_case": "mobile payments", "switched_from": "", "story": "How do I permanently disable Google Photos pop-up prompt to backup my photos?"}, {"id": 786318848, "item_id": 49144928, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49144928", "by": "unknown_user_84", "date": "2026-08-02", "version": null, "stance": "warn", "quote": "Google Wallet currently will not run on a fully updated grapheneOS.", "excerpt": "That is essentially it as far as my understanding goes. Google Wallet currently will not run on a fully updated grapheneOS. Specifically it complains: \"Your device doesn't meet tap to pay security standards. It may be rooted or running uncertified software.\" Which is fair. But something that actually works would be nice. I can keep extremely tight control on the NFC stack by toggling NFC with a quick access icon. Not", "context": "GrapheneOS user", "use_case": "tap to pay", "switched_from": "", "story": "A big win for Android interoperability"}, {"id": 755906259, "item_id": 47244141, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47244141", "by": "domh", "date": "2026-03-03", "version": null, "stance": "warn", "quote": "Google Wallet is not supported at all.", "excerpt": "NatWest and Monzo work fine on my Pixel 9a running GrapheneOS. Community maintained list of supported banking apps here: https://privsec.dev/posts/android/banking-applications-compatibility-with-grapheneos/#united-kingdom Google Wallet is not supported at all.", "context": "", "use_case": "", "switched_from": "", "story": "Motorola GrapheneOS devices will be bootloader unlockable/relockable"}, {"id": 752926161, "item_id": 47057885, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47057885", "by": "jcul", "date": "2026-02-17", "version": null, "stance": "warn", "quote": "The only apps that haven't worked are Google wallet for NFC payments", "excerpt": "All of my banking related apps work fine. The only apps that haven't worked are Google wallet for NFC payments and, strangely \"macrofactor\" a calorie tracking app. Google wallet works for things like library cards, tickets etc, just not NFC payment. Macrofactor since seem to have fixed their app, the features that did not work now do. Graphene used to lack android auto support but it has since been added and works pe", "context": "", "use_case": "NFC mobile payments", "switched_from": "", "story": "GrapheneOS \u2013 Break Free from Google and Apple"}]}], "who": [], "tags": [], "use_cases": ["mobile payments", "tap to pay", "digital wallet passes", "nfc mobile payments", "contactless payments and loyalty", "digital id and age verification"], "compared": [{"slug": "grapheneos", "name": "GrapheneOS", "co": 7, "switched_from": 0, "switched_to": 0}, {"slug": "curve-pay", "name": "Curve Pay", "co": 3, "switched_from": 0, "switched_to": 0}, {"slug": "apple-pay", "name": "Apple Pay", "co": 2, "switched_from": 0, "switched_to": 0}, {"slug": "longfellow-zk", "name": "longfellow-zk", "co": 2, "switched_from": 0, "switched_to": 0}, {"slug": "curve", "name": "Curve", "co": 2, "switched_from": 0, "switched_to": 0}, {"slug": "apple-wallet", "name": "Apple Wallet", "co": 2, "switched_from": 0, "switched_to": 0}], "makers": [], "threads": [{"url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49520022", "title": "AnkiDroid: Google Play no longer allowing Open Collective donation link", "mentions": 1}, {"url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49290545", "title": "How do I permanently disable Google Photos pop-up prompt to backup my photos?", "mentions": 1}, {"url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49124051", "title": "A big win for Android interoperability", "mentions": 1}, {"url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48021561", "title": "iOS 27 is adding a 'Create a Pass' button to Apple Wallet", "mentions": 1}, {"url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47659109", "title": "Age Verification as Mass Surveillance Infrastructure", "mentions": 1}, {"url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47241551", "title": "Motorola GrapheneOS devices will be bootloader unlockable/relockable", "mentions": 1}], "sentiment_by_month": {"2025-11": {"recommend": 1}, "2025-12": {"recommend": 2}, "2026-01": {"neutral": 1}, "2026-02": {"warn": 1, "neutral": 1}, "2026-03": {"neutral": 2, "warn": 1}, "2026-04": {"neutral": 1}, "2026-05": {"neutral": 1}, "2026-06": {}, "2026-07": {}, "2026-08": {"warn": 2}, "2026-09": {"neutral": 1}, "2026-10": {}}, "versions": [], "version_unnamed": 0, "family_ref": null, "runs_on": null, "lines": [], "quotes": [{"id": 792526659, "item_id": 49532916, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49532916", "by": "notpushkin", "date": "2026-09-02", "version": null, "stance": "neutral", "quote": "I really only miss Google Wallet.", "excerpt": "I\u2019m using microG without signing in. Could you tell me a bit about what apps you\u2019re using that you\u2019re having trouble with? A good way to sidestep all those issues is getting your \u201ceveryday\u201d apps from F-Droid :-) I\u2019m only using Aurora Store for things like banking, taxi, or food delivery apps, and those are usually working great. Some banks are more trigger happy (shame on you, Revolut) while others seem to be okay. I", "context": "", "use_case": "", "switched_from": "", "story": "AnkiDroid: Google Play no longer allowing Open Collective donation link"}, {"id": 789230960, "item_id": 49326935, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49326935", "by": "therein", "date": "2026-08-16", "version": null, "stance": "warn", "quote": "Every other time I open it, it shows a pop-up asking \"Can we use your payment data to show you more relevant ads?\"", "excerpt": "You know what I wish I could ditch but cannot due to their firm grip on it, Google Wallet. Every other time I open it, it shows a pop-up asking \"Can we use your payment data to show you more relevant ads?\" which is annoying but what's more aggravating is the choices: \"Yes\", \"Remind me Later\".", "context": "", "use_case": "mobile payments", "switched_from": "", "story": "How do I permanently disable Google Photos pop-up prompt to backup my photos?"}, {"id": 786318848, "item_id": 49144928, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49144928", "by": "unknown_user_84", "date": "2026-08-02", "version": null, "stance": "warn", "quote": "Google Wallet currently will not run on a fully updated grapheneOS.", "excerpt": "That is essentially it as far as my understanding goes. Google Wallet currently will not run on a fully updated grapheneOS. Specifically it complains: \"Your device doesn't meet tap to pay security standards. It may be rooted or running uncertified software.\" Which is fair. But something that actually works would be nice. I can keep extremely tight control on the NFC stack by toggling NFC with a quick access icon. Not", "context": "GrapheneOS user", "use_case": "tap to pay", "switched_from": "", "story": "A big win for Android interoperability"}, {"id": 768396752, "item_id": 48024797, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48024797", "by": "OJFord", "date": "2026-05-05", "version": null, "stance": "neutral", "quote": "I use Google Wallet", "excerpt": "Well, I don't know what it looks like in Apple Wallet, because I use Google Wallet, but for the same reason I'm struggling to imagine the problem because there the cards are pretty large \u2013 maybe \u2154 real card size on my Pixel 10 \u2013 and in a carousel at the top. So you can see clearly which one the active one is, and just swipe between them if it's not the one you want. Easier than my physical wallet tbh, where they're b", "context": "", "use_case": "digital wallet passes", "switched_from": "", "story": "iOS 27 is adding a 'Create a Pass' button to Apple Wallet"}, {"id": 762663744, "item_id": 47666484, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47666484", "by": "tzs", "date": "2026-04-06", "version": null, "stance": "neutral", "quote": "Google has a zero-knowledge proof based system in Google Wallet", "excerpt": "Yes, it can be. Google has a zero-knowledge proof based system in Google Wallet that lets you store store signed credentials such as government ID and then prove to third parties that you have such a signed ID and to disclose to them facts of your choosing from that ID, with the third party gaining no information other than that you have such an ID and that it confirms those facts. This has been running in production", "context": "", "use_case": "", "switched_from": "", "story": "Age Verification as Mass Surveillance Infrastructure"}, {"id": 755906259, "item_id": 47244141, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47244141", "by": "domh", "date": "2026-03-03", "version": null, "stance": "warn", "quote": "Google Wallet is not supported at all.", "excerpt": "NatWest and Monzo work fine on my Pixel 9a running GrapheneOS. Community maintained list of supported banking apps here: https://privsec.dev/posts/android/banking-applications-compatibility-with-grapheneos/#united-kingdom Google Wallet is not supported at all.", "context": "", "use_case": "", "switched_from": "", "story": "Motorola GrapheneOS devices will be bootloader unlockable/relockable"}, {"id": 755669664, "item_id": 47229354, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47229354", "by": "franga2000", "date": "2026-03-02", "version": null, "stance": "neutral", "quote": "Instead of Google Wallet, find a bank or card provider that has their own app.", "excerpt": "It's not about credit/debit, it's about phone/card. Americans tend to use \"credit card\" as a generic term for payment cards. And yes, phone NFC payment is one of those technically unnecessary conveniences that's really easy to get used to. You probably already have your phone out or at least accessible in like one second, paying with it instead of pulling out your wallet and finding a card or even cash is just sooo n", "context": "", "use_case": "", "switched_from": "", "story": "I've been running GrapheneOS on my Pixel Fold for over half a year"}, {"id": 755500609, "item_id": 47218788, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47218788", "by": "Andromxda", "date": "2026-03-02", "version": null, "stance": "neutral", "quote": "This is only true for Google Wallet.", "excerpt": "> Are you sure about this? It was my understanding that NFC passes for gyms and stuff worked This is only true for Google Wallet. It can be used as a normal wallet app for stuff like plane tickets, etc., but Google Pay requires the OS to be specifically whitelisted by Google. This is an incredibly anti-competitive move aimed at supporting Google's monopoly by deliberately disabling functionality on alternative (inclu", "context": "", "use_case": "", "switched_from": "", "story": "Motorola announces a partnership with GrapheneOS Foundation"}, {"id": 754051776, "item_id": 47128236, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47128236", "by": "MatteoFrigo", "date": "2026-02-23", "version": null, "stance": "neutral", "quote": "ZKP is integrated in Google Wallet and has been running in production for a few months.", "excerpt": "ZKP is integrated in Google Wallet and has been running in production for a few months. We (Google) released the ZKP library as open source last year (this is the library used in production). Announcement: https://blog.google/innovation-and-ai/technology/safety-security/opening-up-zero-knowledge-proof-technology-to-promote-privacy-in-age-assurance/ Library: https://github.com/google/longfellow-zk Paper: https://eprin", "context": "", "use_case": "", "switched_from": "", "story": "The Age Verification Trap, Verifying age undermines everyone's data protection"}, {"id": 752926161, "item_id": 47057885, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47057885", "by": "jcul", "date": "2026-02-17", "version": null, "stance": "warn", "quote": "The only apps that haven't worked are Google wallet for NFC payments", "excerpt": "All of my banking related apps work fine. The only apps that haven't worked are Google wallet for NFC payments and, strangely \"macrofactor\" a calorie tracking app. Google wallet works for things like library cards, tickets etc, just not NFC payment. Macrofactor since seem to have fixed their app, the features that did not work now do. Graphene used to lack android auto support but it has since been added and works pe", "context": "", "use_case": "NFC mobile payments", "switched_from": "", "story": "GrapheneOS \u2013 Break Free from Google and Apple"}, {"id": 748851504, "item_id": 46803219, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46803219", "by": "jabroni_salad", "date": "2026-01-28", "version": null, "stance": "neutral", "quote": "hit their toast terminal with google wallet", "excerpt": "Right.... every independent coffee shop I go to is able to credit me a loyalty point when I hit their toast terminal with google wallet. If I am filling up at Shell I get my points as long as I use the linked credit card. Any other experience is an unforced error.", "context": "", "use_case": "contactless payments and loyalty", "switched_from": "", "story": "Amazone One palm authentication discontinued"}, {"id": 739594608, "item_id": 46224663, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46224663", "by": "owisd", "date": "2025-12-10", "version": null, "stance": "recommend", "quote": "", "excerpt": "It\u2019s already a solved problem- load a digital ID into a wallet app, the operating system can then perform a zero knowledge proof for each website that the user is over 16. The government issuing the ID doesn\u2019t know which websites it\u2019s being used for and the website only gets a binary yes/no for the age and no other personal info: https://blog.google/products/google-pay/google-wallet-age-identity-verifications/", "context": "", "use_case": "Digital ID and age verification", "switched_from": "", "story": "Australia begins enforcing world-first teen social media ban"}, {"id": 738448848, "item_id": 46153053, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46153053", "by": "chenxiaolong", "date": "2025-12-04", "version": null, "stance": "recommend", "quote": "NFC payments via Google Wallet running on my Pixel Watch 3 connected to a phone running GrapheneOS works just fine.", "excerpt": "NFC payments via Google Wallet running on my Pixel Watch 3 connected to a phone running GrapheneOS works just fine. I use this regularly. (It doesn't require Google Wallet to be installed on the phone.) At least one of my cards required Google Play Services to have the location permission when initially adding the card though.", "context": "", "use_case": "NFC payments on smartwatch", "switched_from": "", "story": "Bootloader Unlock Wall of Shame"}, {"id": 732508496, "item_id": 45781781, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45781781", "by": "subscribed", "date": "2025-11-01", "version": null, "stance": "recommend", "quote": "it keeps the passes okay for me", "excerpt": "Close. To me it's a biggest missing feature to date (and the team brought that up with European Commission already, as there are no technical or security reasons for that). Worth noting it will work on the old, unpatched, rooted, wildly unsafe phones with the right magisk configuration. But not on the safest os. Anyway, it keeps the passes okay for me, and for the payments I use Garmin Pay.", "context": "", "use_case": "Passes and cards", "switched_from": "", "story": "Leaker reveals which Pixels are vulnerable to Cellebrite phone hacking"}]}