08 Jan 2025
As the world witnesses impressive technological advancements, basic human life tasks have profoundly transformed. Almost everything is done through digital platforms, from buying groceries and communicating with others to entertaining oneself and managing personal finances. Perhaps we are turning into human cyborgs but for now, let’s stick to discussing how Google Pay has become a go-to platform for ex-pats who regularly send money back home and what is the Google Pay contactless limit.
This guide is perfect for you if you are an expat who wishes to send remittances through Google Pay and you’re wondering what the limit on Google Pay is when it comes to money transfer amounts.
Google Pay became all the rage, especially during COVID-19, when everyone was worried about coming into contact with unhygienic hands or cash laced with the deadly virus. So what is Google Pay anyway? It is a mobile payment solution that lets you make contactless payments online, in-app or in-store. It’s perfect for people who think paying through physical cash is no longer convenient, but the catch is that a Google Pay limit accompanies it.
You must download the Google Pay app on your Android phone, enter your phone number, sign in with your Google Account, and add your bank account, debit, or credit card details. The last but essential step is to add a good password or PIN to secure your Google Pay app, as it will be required if you want to exceed your Google Pay limit.
Although they sound identical, these digital payment services serve different purposes. A Google Wallet allows you to store your debit and credit cards, boarding passes, event tickets, loyalty cards, etc. You can also pay or receive money from friends and family through Google Wallet and make online or in-store purchases with it. As far as Google Wallet limits are concerned, there are none, but your bank’s transaction limits will apply.
Google Pay is pretty much the same, but it does not offer peer-to-peer payments and will not store your digital items like cards, tickets, etc. Google Pay’s primary purpose is to allow contactless and online payments, but there is also a Google Pay contactless limit.
Is there a limit on Google Pay? Like every other digital money transfer or payment solution, Google Pay has limits regarding how much money you can transfer in one day or at a time. These limits are based on various factors, such as the country where you reside, the type of payment you’re making, and your chosen payment method (e.g., in-app purchases or contactless purchases).
Google Pay is generally flexible, but it is still a good idea to be aware of its limitations to avoid unpleasant consequences such as declined transactions or unforeseen issues. So, what is the limit on Google Pay? Let's look at some common types of limits in Google Pay:
So, there are certain limits on how much money you can spend through Google Pay in a single financial transaction or within a day (24 hours). You will not be allowed to exceed those limits regardless of whether you have the funds for it or not. Just like that, your Google Wallet limits pose the same restrictions.
Sometimes, it's not the Google Pay limit stopping you from exceeding a specific transaction limit; it is your bank. Check with your bank to see whether they have set a particular limit on the amount you can spend through Google Pay daily or on a per-transaction basis.
Because of security protocols, contactless payments might have limits on how much you can spend in a day or per transaction. This Google Pay contactless limit protects your funds from being stolen in case of a security breach.
When you send money to or from Google Wallet, it might involve certain Google Wallet limits regarding how much you can transfer. Also, Google Wallet is available for payments in limited countries. To find out whether your country supports this feature, visit the Google Support website to see if your country is on the list.
As discussed above, the limits may vary depending on your location and the bank you’re associated with. Consider the following examples to get a general idea of what a Google Pay limit variation based on location means:
In India, no matter what UPI (Unified Payment Interface) you use, including Google Pay, there is a set limit on the amount you can spend or pay daily, which is 100,000 INR. If you are a new user, your Google Pay limit is as low as 5000 INR for the first 24 hours. In terms of the number of transactions, you can make only 20 per day across all UPIs, including Google Pay.
What is the limit on Google Pay in the US? In the United States, you can make a single transaction for a maximum of USD 2000. You cannot exceed the 2500 USD daily transaction limit; the maximum number of transactions you can do within a day is 15.
Expats who live in the UK often worry about the Google Pay maximum limit in the UK. Well, these limits are influenced by the banking policies of the bank you’re associated with and the local regulations in the UK. For example, the standard limit for each transaction is £100, but your bank might have an even lower limit per transaction.
If you make an online or in-store purchase using Google Pay, the limit is set by your card’s spending cap rather than Google Pay itself. These limits can vary but typically stay between £1000 and £10,000, depending on the bank card.
Just for security reasons, if you exceed the £100 Google Pay limit in the UK, you will need to authenticate your transaction using your security PIN or through your phone.
It may seem like this feature has a broader reach, but Google Pay’s remittance feature is primarily functional in limited markets. When offering their remittance feature, Google Pay predominantly focuses on regions with well-established digital payment infrastructure and significant user bases. This service is primarily available in the United States, India, and Singapore.
These countries are the main hubs where Google Pay has partnered with remittance companies like Wise and Western Union. This partnership aims to facilitate a global money transfer flow to more than 200 destinations worldwide.
Google Pay users in these countries can send money online to countries like Mexico, the Philippines, India, and others. This is a great money transfer method because of the user-friendly interface and competitive exchange rates.
If your friends and family use PayNow, they can quickly receive remittances from you in a few seconds without you having to pay any extra fees. All you need to do is click on “People” in your Google Pay app, add a new payment, and simply send whatever amount you want.
Remember that your bank might have imposed certain limits on the amount you can send through Google Pay, and your PayNow account might also be subject to a Google Pay limit.
Suppose you are in a country that’s eligible for the remittance feature. In that case, you can consult the bank or payment processor you’re associated with to ask about any specific remittance limits that may apply to you. Often, the terms and conditions of the remittance partner clearly outline the particular limits or any fees included with the remittance service.
If you’re still confused about the Google Pay limit, you might want to refer to the Google Pay help centre for specific information regarding your region, such as the Google Pay limit in the UK. There are other sources for you to grab information from, like the Google Pay Terms of Service document, which might also help you figure out general limits or restrictions, such as the Google Pay maximum limit in the UK.
As of 2022, ACE money transfer has allowed its customers in 26 countries to send international remittances through ACE using Google Pay. The countries include the UK, Canada, Australia, and the European region. This is just to facilitate customers who want to use Google Pay to shop online and send money to their loved ones.
If you frequently hit your Google Pay limit, you must figure out ways to increase that limit. There are a couple of steps you can take for that purpose:
Go to the Google Pay app and complete all the required verification steps to unlock higher thresholds and increase your Google Pay contactless limit.
You can also request that your issuing bank raise the spending limit on your card so you can make more significant transactions through Google Pay.
If you add more than one card to your Google Pay account, you can distribute your purchases and payments across all of those cards’ transaction limits.
When you hit the contactless limit, biometric authentication or typing in your PIN usually allows you to make more significant transactions.
As an expat, convenient payment solutions like Google Pay are essential and convenient, especially if one has a busy schedule and wants to make managing finances a little easier. This is why understanding “what is the limit on Google Pay” is crucial to avoid awkward or inconvenient situations like a declined online money transfer.
It depends on the type of transaction. Contactless payments have a lower cap, while your bank’s policy limits in-app purchases.
Yes, the contactless limit is £100 per transaction, while online and in-app transactions follow your bank’s spending cap.
Complete identity verification, contact your bank, or use authenticated payment methods for higher thresholds.
Yes, Google Wallet limits apply to peer-to-peer transfers, with daily and monthly caps varying by region.
Using a bank transfer or specialized remittance service for high-value transactions is better than using Google Pay.
