Personal Finance · head to head
Google Pay vs Banktivity
The short version
- Only Google Pay has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Google Pay limited to Android devices and Chrome browser; lacks native support for iOS devices; Banktivity runs on macOS, iPhone and iPad only, with no Windows, Android or web version
- They diverge on capability: Google Pay covers Digital wallet, Banktivity covers Account tracking.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Google Pay and Banktivity actually diverge.
| Attribute | Google Pay | Banktivity |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | On request |
| Pricing model | free | subscription |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Android, Chrome browser | Mac, IOS |
| Founded | 2015 | 2007 |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Personal Finance).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Google Pay
- Digital wallet
- Contactless payments
- Online shopping
- P2P money transfers
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- Android support
Only in Banktivity
- Account tracking
- Bill management
- Investment tracking
- Budget forecasting
- Investment accounts
- Mac support
Both cover
- Bank accounts
- IOS support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Google Pay
- Android users making contactless payments at supported retailersnot Banktivity
- Chrome browser users utilising payment autofill at checkoutnot Banktivity
Banktivity
- Personal budgeting and money management on a Macnot Google Pay
- Investment and net worth trackingnot Google Pay
- Retirement planning projectionsnot Google Pay
- Connecting to over 14,000 financial institutionsnot Google Pay
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Google Pay
- Limited to Android devices and Chrome browser; lacks native support for iOS devices
- International money transfer through third-party provider (Wise Inc.) with limited details on coverage
Banktivity
- Runs on macOS, iPhone and iPad only, with no Windows, Android or web version
- Pricing is not shown on the product page and sits behind a separate plans page
Pricing, plan by plan
Google Pay
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Google Pay review.
Banktivity
On request- Monthly$4.99/month
- Full feature access
- Cloud sync
- Annual$39.99/month
- All monthly features
- Discounted rate
Which should you pick?
Choose Google Pay if
- You need digital wallet.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Android, Chrome browser.
- You also want contactless payments.
Choose Banktivity if
- You need account tracking.
- You work on Mac, IOS.
- You also want bill management.
Questions people ask
- Is Google Pay or Banktivity better?
- Neither clearly leads. Google Pay starts at Free and Banktivity at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Google Pay or Banktivity?
- Google Pay has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Google Pay and On request for Banktivity.
- Does Google Pay or Banktivity run on more platforms?
- Google Pay runs on Android, Chrome browser. Banktivity runs on Mac, IOS.
- Can I use Google Pay for free?
- Yes. Google Pay has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Banktivity starts at On request.
- What is Google Pay best used for?
- Google Pay is most often used for android users making contactless payments at supported retailers, chrome browser users utilising payment autofill at checkout. Of those, android users making contactless payments at supported retailers and chrome browser users utilising payment autofill at checkout are not what Banktivity is typically brought in for.
- What can Google Pay do that Banktivity cannot?
- Google Pay covers Digital wallet, Contactless payments, Online shopping, P2P money transfers. Banktivity covers Account tracking, Bill management, Investment tracking, Budget forecasting. Both handle Bank accounts, IOS support.