Google Pay has officially launched in the Philippines, while its competitor Apple Pay is expected to arrive in 2026.

Lito Villanueva, Founding Chairman of the FinTech Alliance PH, indicated that while no specific date is finalised for Apple Pay, the industry hopes for an early launch next year.

Both entities have received clearance from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to operate. The central bank ruled that these platforms function as technology service providers rather than payment operators, as they enable transactions without directly handling funds.

Google Pay debuted on 18 November with nine initial partners. They are China Bank, EastWest Bank, GoTyme Bank, Maya Bank, RCBC, GCash, UnionBank, Zed and Wise.

The service allows users to tap and pay using Near Field Communication (NFC) enabled Android devices. Visa Country Manager Jeffrey Navarro noted that more financial institutions are expected to onboard before the year ends.

“You always start with some and a few… towards the end of next year, I think most should be or will be onboard as well,” Navarro said.

Villanueva noted the strategic advantage of Google’s early entry, stating:

“Good thing that Google Pay was able to be the first one to roll it out here in the country, given that 80% of Filipinos in the Philippines use Android”.

The arrival of these global wallets aligns with the Philippines’ shift towards a cash-lite economy. BSP data indicates that digital payments accounted for 57.4% of retail transactions in 2024, surpassing the government’s target.

Additionally, 97.2% of government payments are now processed electronically.

Navarro added that the service would also “reduce payment bottlenecks” for travellers and foreign tourists.

Featured image by myasiavision via Freepik.