Personal Finance · head to head
Google Pay vs Skrill
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Google Pay limited to Android devices and Chrome browser; lacks native support for iOS devices; Skrill a currency conversion fee of 4.49 percent applies to most conversions
- They diverge on capability: Google Pay covers Contactless payments, Skrill covers Money transfers.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Google Pay and Skrill actually diverge.
| Attribute | Google Pay | Skrill |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | free | transaction |
| Platforms | Android, Chrome browser | Web, IOS, Android |
| Founded | 2015 | 2001 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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
- Contactless payments
- Online shopping
- P2P money transfers
- Debit cards
Only in Skrill
- Money transfers
- Currency conversion
- Prepaid card
- Web support
Both cover
- Digital wallet
- Credit cards
- Bank accounts
- Android support
- 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 Skrill
- Chrome browser users utilising payment autofill at checkoutnot Skrill
Skrill
- Sending money internationally from a prepaid digital walletnot Google Pay
- Funding and withdrawing from online merchants and gaming sitesnot Google Pay
- Buying and selling cryptocurrency inside a wallet accountnot 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
Skrill
- A currency conversion fee of 4.49 percent applies to most conversions
- An inactivity fee of EUR 5.00 is deducted monthly after six months with no login or transaction
- Card deposits carry a 2.50 percent fee
- SWIFT bank withdrawals cost 2.80 percent with a minimum fee of EUR 3.5
- Skrill to Skrill transfers cost 2.99 percent with a EUR 0.50 minimum on standard accounts, reduced to 1.45 percent only for True Skriller accounts
- Crypto trading fees are tiered by VIP status, from 1.50 percent standard down to 1.30 percent at Gold and Diamond VIP
Pricing, plan by plan
Google Pay
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Google Pay review.
Skrill
Free- Free AccountFree
- Money transfers
- Digital wallet
- Premier Account$undefined/month
- Higher limits
- Special rates
Which should you pick?
Choose Google Pay if
- You need contactless payments.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Android, Chrome browser.
- You also want online shopping.
Choose Skrill if
- You need money transfers.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, IOS, Android.
- You also want currency conversion.
Questions people ask
- Is Google Pay or Skrill better?
- Neither clearly leads. Google Pay starts at Free and Skrill at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Google Pay or Skrill?
- Google Pay starts at Free and Skrill at Free.
- Does Google Pay or Skrill run on more platforms?
- Google Pay runs on Android, Chrome browser. Skrill runs on Web, IOS, Android.
- Can I use Google Pay for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- 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 Skrill is typically brought in for.
- What can Google Pay do that Skrill cannot?
- Google Pay covers Contactless payments, Online shopping, P2P money transfers, Debit cards. Skrill covers Money transfers, Currency conversion, Prepaid card, Web support. Both handle Digital wallet, Credit cards, Bank accounts, Android support.