Paying at the grocery store or at a restaurant has come a long way. Just a few years back, one would take out their wallet and get the dollars out to pay for their meal or grocery shopping.
However, that has absolutely transformed nowadays for any payment that we need to do.
We now pay with apps or devices and have something that we call âcontactless paymentâ which is becoming more and more popular.
This new era of contactless payment raises two questions:
- Which are the best apps and devices for contactless payment?
- Are these new payment methods better than traditional ones?
We will explore these two questions and beyond that, and weâll offer comprehensive answers in this article today. So, buckle up and letâs dive in!
What Is Contactless Payment?
As the name itself suggests, payment is done differently than cash being involved. So instead of handing out cash and possibly getting change in return, you pay through wireless routes.
Hence, the name contactless. But what are the top contactless apps and devices? Here is few of them:
- Google Pay
- Apple Pay
- Samsung Pay
- PayPal
- Venmo
- Cash App
- Zelle
- Square
- Visa Contactless
These are just some of the most popular ones that people use on their daily basis, however the list goes on and on.
Similarly, increasing popularity of wearable technology has called on business companies a demand to develop more advanced devices that support contactless payments.
Some of the most popular contactless wearables include:Â
- Apple Watch Series 8
- Samsung Galaxy Watch5 Pro
- K Ring Powered by Mastercard
- Fitbit Versa 4
- Payment Implant
Similar to the apps presented above, there are many more devices that support this form of payment, but these are the most famous ones.
Now from this list, there are watches, like the Apple, Samsung and Fitbit one. Further on, Mastercard came up with a ring that serves as a wearable that you can pay with.
However, the last option might be something that you havenât heard about yet as it is an entirely new concept.Â
Walletmore is biotechnology from London, which designed and developed a chip that can literally be implanted in your wrist.
Crazy, isnât it? Well, this goes to show that technology is ever-evolving, and we never know what might come next in the market.
The Safety Of Contactless Payment Apps And Devices
One thing is clear for everyone, contactless payment apps and devices save us much more time than paying in cash, for instance.
You simply present the app or your device in front of the ATM and in a matter of seconds, your transfer is complete.
So, they are definitely time-saving. But there is one bigger concern that people usually have, and that is the safety of these apps and devices.Â
That leads us to the next question:
1. Are Contactless Payment Apps And Devices Safe?
Short answer: Yes!
Long answer: Well, there are a lot of things to take into consideration. For example, most people are worried that maybe somebody is going to steal their data if they put it on their phone.
On one hand, which is always plausible if we are not careful in cases of frauds and frauds on our phones.Â
But on the other hand, realistically speaking, people can plausibly also steal your bag or your wallet and take the cash or your cards and misuse them.
So, there are âifâ scenarios for every context, but the idea is that if we are vigilant and careful in both real life and the smartphones, we are able to avoid such situations happening.Â
One last point on what people appreciate contactless payments more because they are on the safer side, is the inability to transmit any virus or bacteria by touching the cash, coins or the credit cards.
This has become prominently important after the 2020 pandemic situation where people were trying to have less and less contact with each other because of the virusâ contagious nature.Â
How To Choose The Best Contactless Payment App Or Device?
We presented a few of the most famous apps and devices that people use nowadays for contactless payment and stated that there are even more options on the market.
Now, this surplus of options has two sides to it:Â
- Yaaaaayyy! There is so much to choose from!
- But wait! Which one do I choose with so many available options?
Choosing what app or device to use depends on a lot of things but letâs see how one can make this choice easier. Keep reading and find out more!
How To Choose A Contactless Payment App?
For instance, depending on what phone you use, you choose the respective payment app.
That means, if you use an Android, you will have Samsung Pay available, while if you are an iOS user, you have Apple Pay on your phone.
These two apps are widely accepted and cannot be used interchangeably in different phones with different software systems.
However, the other apps such as Google Pay, Venmo, Cash App and so on can be used within any software system. And this is where things get crazy.
Apart from having different designs, these apps have different features incorporated too.
Although their main purpose is to successfully complete a transaction or payment, they all have different features, availabilities and policies.
So, we recommend you explore them as much as you can before using them and decide which one fits you and your needs best.Â
How To Choose Contactless Payment Device?
It might be easier when it comes to choosing a payment device because people have different tastes.
For example, if one is more into wearing watches then they can opt for a smart watch that supports contactless payment.
On the other hand, if somebody likes wearing rings more, then they can opt for the K Ring which is powered by Mastercard.
Lastly, those for the more extreme tastes can go for the payment implant provided by Walletmore.Â
The main thing you have to keep in mind whenever choosing a payment device or app is the PCI compliance and SSL certificates.
This can show you how safe and secure the app or device is and how it is using your data.
So, before using it, check the PCI compliance and SSL certificates and if they are there, you are generally safe to put in your credit card information.
