Google Pay adds new features to make online shopping less of a nightmare

What do you want to know

• Google Pay now lets you see your credit card benefits directly in the checkout process on Chrome, helping you choose the best card based on perks like cash back or travel points.
• The service is also expanding its BNPL options with Affirm and Zip, allowing you to pay in installments on more websites.
• Instead of entering security codes, Chrome and Android users can confirm their card details using biometric methods such as fingerprint or facial recognition.

Google Pay has rolled out many new features, such as showing card benefits during checkout, using “buy now, pay later” options on more websites, and securing card details with biometric data or a PIN code instead of security codes.

Google mentioned in a blog post that it’s easy to forget which credit card to use since different cards offer different benefits. Some may give you travel perks, while others are better for dining or cash back.

Now when you choose a payment method in Chrome on your desktop, a drop-down menu will appear. It lists your cards and now includes a handy description of benefits, such as cash back percentage or points multipliers for specific categories like travel.

When you check out, a card might display perks like “1.5% cash back on purchases” or “3x points on flights.” For now, this feature is only available for American Express and Capital One cards and works exclusively on the Chrome desktop browser.

Additionally, Google Pay is expanding its Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) feature to more websites. You can select a third-party provider like Affirm or Zip to split your payment into multiple installments. But be careful: Missing payments can result in collection action or hurt your credit score.

Finally, Google simplifies the process of confirming your card without needing the security code. Now Chrome and Android users can check their card details using the same method they use to unlock their Android phones, whether it’s a fingerprint, scan face or screen lock PIN code. Users can also configure an option that requires them to unlock their device before their card details are displayed.

These updates aim to improve the way consumers use Google Pay, making it a more attractive choice over other payment methods, like those built into retailers’ systems.