Personal Finance · head to head
Google Pay vs Quicken
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; Quicken quicken Simplifi (cloud version) costs $3.99 annually if billed yearly, but renews at full price $6.99/month unless cancelled before renewal
- They diverge on capability: Google Pay covers Digital wallet, Quicken covers Budget creation.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Google Pay and Quicken actually diverge.
| Attribute | Google Pay | Quicken |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | $3.99/month |
| Pricing model | free | subscription |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Android, Chrome browser | Web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS |
| Founded | 2015 | 1983 |
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
- Debit cards
- Android support
Only in Quicken
- Budget creation
- Bill management
- Investment tracking
- Tax planning
- Investment accounts
- Windows support
- Mac support
Both cover
- Credit cards
- 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 Quicken
- Chrome browser users utilising payment autofill at checkoutnot Quicken
Quicken
- Individuals managing personal finances via Quicken Simplifi cloud app for budgeting and savings trackingnot Google Pay
- Freelancers and self-employed managing business and personal finances via Quicken Business & Personal plannot Google Pay
- Users preferring local data storage via Classic desktop editionsnot 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
Quicken
- Quicken Simplifi (cloud version) costs $3.99 annually if billed yearly, but renews at full price $6.99/month unless cancelled before renewal
- Renewal pricing significantly higher than introductory rate; annual cost jumps from $47.88 (promotional) to $83.88 (regular renewal)
Pricing, plan by plan
Google Pay
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Google Pay review.
Quicken
$3.99/monthNo published plan breakdown. See the Quicken review.
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 Quicken if
- You need budget creation.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS.
- You also want bill management.
Questions people ask
- Is Google Pay or Quicken better?
- Neither clearly leads. Google Pay starts at Free and Quicken at $3.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Google Pay or Quicken?
- Google Pay has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Google Pay and $3.99/month for Quicken.
- Does Google Pay or Quicken run on more platforms?
- Google Pay runs on Android, Chrome browser. Quicken runs on Web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS.
- Can I use Google Pay for free?
- Yes. Google Pay has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Quicken starts at $3.99/month.
- 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 Quicken is typically brought in for.
- What can Google Pay do that Quicken cannot?
- Google Pay covers Digital wallet, Contactless payments, Online shopping, P2P money transfers. Quicken covers Budget creation, Bill management, Investment tracking, Tax planning. Both handle Credit cards, Bank accounts, IOS support.