Software · head to head
Quicken vs Google Pay
The short version
- Only Google Pay has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Quicken quicken Simplifi (cloud version) costs $3.99 annually if billed yearly, but renews at full price $6.99/month unless cancelled before renewal; Google Pay limited to Android devices and Chrome browser; lacks native support for iOS devices
- They diverge on capability: Quicken covers Budget creation, Google Pay covers Digital wallet.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Quicken and Google Pay actually diverge.
| Attribute | Quicken | Google Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $3.99/month | Free |
| Pricing model | subscription | free |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS | Android, Chrome browser |
| Founded | 1983 | 2015 |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
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 Quicken
- Budget creation
- Bill management
- Investment tracking
- Tax planning
- Investment accounts
- Windows support
- Mac support
Only in Google Pay
- Digital wallet
- Contactless payments
- Online shopping
- P2P money transfers
- Debit cards
- Android support
Both cover
- Bank accounts
- Credit cards
- IOS support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
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
Google Pay
- Android users making contactless payments at supported retailersnot Quicken
- Chrome browser users utilising payment autofill at checkoutnot Quicken
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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)
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
Pricing, plan by plan
Quicken
$3.99/monthNo published plan breakdown. See the Quicken review.
Google Pay
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Google Pay review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Quicken if
- You need budget creation.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS.
- You also want bill management.
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.
Questions people ask
- Is Quicken or Google Pay better?
- Neither clearly leads. Quicken starts at $3.99/month and Google Pay at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Quicken or Google Pay?
- Google Pay has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $3.99/month for Quicken and Free for Google Pay.
- Does Quicken or Google Pay run on more platforms?
- Quicken runs on Web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS. Google Pay runs on Android, Chrome browser.
- 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 Quicken best used for?
- Quicken is most often used for individuals managing personal finances via quicken simplifi cloud app for budgeting and savings tracking, freelancers and self-employed managing business and personal finances via quicken business & personal plan, users preferring local data storage via classic desktop editions. Of those, individuals managing personal finances via quicken simplifi cloud app for budgeting and savings tracking and freelancers and self-employed managing business and personal finances via quicken business & personal plan are not what Google Pay is typically brought in for.
- What can Quicken do that Google Pay cannot?
- Quicken covers Budget creation, Bill management, Investment tracking, Tax planning. Google Pay covers Digital wallet, Contactless payments, Online shopping, P2P money transfers. Both handle Bank accounts, Credit cards, IOS support.