Digital Wallets Go Beyond Payments as Global Usage Grows

Digital wallets are no longer just tools for quick tap and go purchases. They are becoming central to how consumers manage a growing number of financial tasks. According to a global report from PYMNTS and Google Wallet, nearly 40 percent of consumers have used a digital wallet to pay bills within the past year.

The study surveyed over 12,000 consumers across Brazil, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States. While recognition of digital wallets is high in these markets, how consumers are actually using them shows differences by region and level of adoption.

Global Trends with Local Differences

The most well-known platforms across the study include Google Wallet, Apple Wallet, and Samsung Wallet. However, usage patterns vary by country. In the United States, 74 percent of Google Wallet users primarily use their wallet-stored cards for online shopping. In contrast, in-store use is more popular in other markets.

In the United Kingdom, 86 percent of consumers correctly identified Google Wallet as a digital wallet. That is significantly higher than in France and Brazil, where recognition rates were 57 and 50 percent, respectively. Interestingly, Brazil showed higher overall digital wallet usage, and Google Wallet had the strongest presence there.

Across all five countries, roughly two-thirds of consumers said they used their digital wallets for in-store purchases in the last year. That trend held steady among users of Google Wallet, Apple Wallet, and Samsung Wallet alike.

Expanding Use Beyond Payments

The report also examined how consumers are using digital wallets beyond transactions. Many have started storing credentials such as IDs, transportation passes, and event tickets digitally. However, only a smaller percentage use the top three wallets for this purpose. In the United Kingdom, 30 percent of users store credentials digitally, which is the highest rate among the five countries studied.

There is significant room for growth in these areas as providers improve the tools and promote the full capabilities of digital wallets. Satisfaction levels are already high, particularly among Google Wallet users, which could encourage broader adoption as features expand.

Highlights from the Study

• 40 percent of consumers have used a digital wallet to pay bills in the last year.
• Google Wallet leads in satisfaction scores, though Apple Wallet has higher overall usage at 5.9 percent compared to 2.6 percent for Google Wallet.
• Consumers in the United Kingdom show the highest recognition of digital wallet platforms and the highest adoption for storing credentials.

The findings suggest that digital wallets are evolving beyond basic payments into more comprehensive digital tools. As consumers explore new features and providers continue to innovate, the future of digital wallets appears to be one of continued growth and expanding value.

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