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Personal Finance · head to head

Google Pay vs Skrill

Google Pay logo

Google Pay

Personal Finance

Fast, simple and secure payments

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Skrill logo

Skrill

Personal Finance

Fast and secure money transfer

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Google Pay and Skrill actually diverge.

Attributes where Google Pay and Skrill differ
AttributeGoogle PaySkrill
Pricing modelfreetransaction
PlatformsAndroid, Chrome browserWeb, IOS, Android
Founded20152001

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

Free

No 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.
Google Pay review

Choose Skrill if

  • You need money transfers.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, IOS, Android.
  • You also want currency conversion.
Skrill review

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.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Skrill: Is Skrill free to use?

Skrill operates on a freemium model. The digital wallet is free to open and use for basic features. The site refers to a fees page where transfer, conversion, and service fees are disclosed.

Source
Skrill: What are Skrill's fees for transfers and conversions?

Skrill lists transfer, conversion, and service fees but does not display the specific amounts on the homepage. Detailed fee structures are available on Skrill's dedicated fees page at /en/siteinformation/fees/.

Source
Skrill: What services does Skrill offer?

Skrill provides international money transfers, online payment processing, cryptocurrency buying and selling, loyalty rewards through the Knect points program, and a mobile app. These services are included in the free account.

Source
Skrill: Is Skrill regulated?

Yes. Skrill Limited is authorized by the Financial Conduct Authority under the Electronic Money Regulations 2011 for issuing electronic money and payment instruments. It is also registered with the FCA as a cryptoasset firm.

Source
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