Google Pay Ireland: Your Guide to Contactless Payments

Google PayDefinition and GPayAvailability in Ireland

Google Pay (also known as GPay) is a digital payment service for Android devices that’s been available throughout Ireland since its launch in 2018. As part of Google Wallet, it aims to revolutionise the way you pay for your purchases, allowing you to use your phone’s near field communication (NFC) capabilities to make payments by simply tapping your device against a card reader.

Thanks in part to Google Pay Ireland, 58.2% of all Irish contactless payments are now made via mobile wallets, but not everyone can use it because unlike Apple Pay, Google Pay is exclusive to Android users and won’t work on iOS devices. 

How to SetupGoogle Pay with Irish Banks

Setup Guide for Your Wallet

Download Google Wallet from the Play Store, then start the setup process by clicking “Add to Wallet”. You’ll be prompted to scan your card or to enter your details manually, and then Google sends that information off to the banks to get it verified. You’ll usually receive either an SMS or an email to confirm your ownership of the card.

To use Google Pay in Ireland, you’ll need a device running Android 7.0 or later which has NFC capability and a screen lock enabled. A number of banks are supported, including:

• AIB
• Bank of Ireland
• PTSB
• Revolut
• N26
• Wise

Checking That Your Device is NFC Compatible

Making sure your Android device has NFC capability and is therefore able to run Google Pay is super easy. Open up your Settings, then go to “Wireless & Networks” and then “More”. You should see NFC as an option.

Most modern Android smartphones are NFC-enabled and Google Pay compatible, as are many Android tablets and smartwatches. Samsung devices can use Google Pay too, but bear in mind that they may also require you to sign up to Samsung Pay alongside it.

How to Use Google Pay for Paying in Ireland

How to Carry Out Contactless Payments in Shops

If you’re wondering how to use Google Pay in shops in Ireland, we’ve got good news for you. It’s super easy!

Simply go about your shopping as usual, and then when you’re ready to make a payment, unlock your Android phone and hold it near to a contactless payment reader. There’s no need for you to open an app because your phone will do everything for you. Once the payment goes through, your phone will vibrate or make a sound to confirm it for you.

You can use Google Pay at any Irish business that accepts contactless payments, which is pretty much everywhere, including Tesco, SuperValu and Dunnes. In fact, 87.9% of all point-of-sale transactions in Ireland are made via contactless payments.

Online and In-App Payments

Shopping online or via apps? Not a problem, Google Pay has still got you covered. Simply select Google Pay during checkout and authenticate your purchase with either your fingerprint or your PIN code. The system will even help you out by filling out your shipping details automatically, making checkout faster and more secure than it is with regular card entry. Better yet, it’s supported by the majority of major Irish retailers.

Security Concerns: Is Google Pay Safe?

How Tokenization Makes Transactions Safe

If you’re asking yourself, “Is Google Pay safe?”, we’ve got good news for you. The short answer is yes. Let’s take a look at the longer answer.

This mobile payment service uses tokenization for security, which essentially means that your card numbers are never stored, either by Google or by the retailers. You’re given a virtual account number and a unique code for each transaction, making it easy to make sure that you never risk losing your money.

Better still, if you want to set Google Pay up on your phone then you need to add a screen lock, which automatically makes your device much safer. People can’t just steal your phone and start making payments, like they can with a physical card, and you can lock payments or wipe your financial details completely using Find My Device, even if you don’t have access to your phone.

Tips for Your Digital Protection in Ireland

If you’re worried about the safety of your device when using Google Pay in Ireland, there are a few simple tricks that you can follow. First and foremost, never share your passcode. Enable two-factor authentication on your Google account and avoid using public Wi-Fi. If your phone is lost or stolen, report it immediately, wipe the data remotely and look out for suspicious transactions by keeping an eye on your banking app. 

Google PayLimits and Transaction Fees for GPay Ireland

Understanding the 50 EuroLimit for Contactless Payments

Irish users have a standard limit of 50 Euro for contactless payments, but that doesn’t apply to Google Pay Ireland. In fact, there’s no upper limit for how much you can spend in a single transaction, although some terminals might enforce their own limitations. Otherwise, as long as you’ve got the funds in your account, the sky’s the limit. You can essentially use it in the same way that you’d use old-fashioned chip and PIN payments.

Bank Charges and Fees

Unlike some other digital payment options, GPay doesn’t charge its users any fees for their transactions. With that said, Irish banks like AIB and Bank of Ireland typically charge 1 cent per contactless payment on any transaction that’s made by card. This is a standard charge that applies whether you’re using Google Pay or not. If you’re paying in a foreign currency then there may also be charges for currency conversion, and if you plan to take out some cash then you should bear in mind that you can’t withdraw from ATMs using Google Pay and you’ll still need your physical card.

Google PayAcceptance in Ireland

Google Pay Ireland is so widespread that you’ll find it’s accepted in most major retailers throughout the country, including shops, restaurants, pubs, cafes, petrol stations and on public transport. That includes all of the usual suspects like Tesco, SuperValu, Dunnes, Lidl and Aldi, as well as Applegreen and Topaz, and public transport throughout Dublin. Car parks and taxis are getting in on the game, too.

In fact, there were over 454 million mobile wallet payments throughout Ireland in 2025, and that number shows no sign of slowing down any time soon. Look for the contactless symbol when you’re making your purchase; if you see it, you can use this mobile payment service.

Google Pay and Apple Pay: Ireland Comparison

The big difference between these mobile wallets is that one is only available on Android devices, while the other is exclusive to iOS devices. Both are widely accepted throughout Ireland, but Apple Pay is supported by more banks. Apple Pay is also more popular than Google Pay, but only because of how many people use Apple devices.

They both do pretty much the same thing, and so the decision of which one to use really comes down to what kind of device you’re using. Either way, they’re both free and they’re both subject to the same bank charges that apply to any card transfer. Just go with whichever one your phone supports.

Solving Google PayProblems

Struggling to get GPay working? Here are some troubleshooting tips:

• Card not supported: Not all Irish banks are compatible with Google Pay (though AIB, Bank of Ireland and PTSB are all supported).

• Payment declined: Check you have sufficient balance and that your card is active.

• NFC not working: Check that it’s enabled in your phone’s settings.

If you’re still struggling, your best bet is to contact your bank directly. For AIB, you can call 01 771 2424. For Bank of Ireland, call 1800 946 764.

Google Pay for Android Users in Ireland

Let’s recap a few of the key facts that we’ve covered in this guide, starting with the question, “Is Google Pay safe?” The answer to that is yes, thanks to the built-in security on Android devices and the tokenization that’s used to avoid storing any sensitive financial data on your phone.

Google Pay has been available in Ireland since 2018, and it’s quickly gone on to become one of the market leaders when it comes to people’s day-to-day payments, with 58.2% of all Irish contactless payments being made via mobile wallets.

To use Google Pay, you’ll need an NFC-enabled device with a screen lock and Android 7.0 or above. Once you’ve set it up, you can use it to make purchases by unlocking your phone and holding it near a terminal. You won’t have to worry about the usual 50 Euro payment limit, but bear in mind that while Google doesn’t charge you, some Irish banks charge 1 cent for every transaction you make by card, whether that’s with Google Pay or not. Happy shopping!