NFC allows wireless data exchange between two devices, which are kept at least 20 cm apart. This technology is already being used in Asia and Europe, and NFC is now becoming more popular in North America. This blog will discuss NFC, its popularity, and the top NFC payment apps that are making payments simpler.
What is NFC?
Near Field Communication also known as NFC is a method that allows users to securely process transactions within a very short distance (around 4 cm), using their smartphone. This payment option is available to a wide range of businesses, including restaurants and stores. Businesses prefer NFC-enabled financial software development to enable wireless payments.
Your smartphone acts like a credit card when you use an NFC payment app for physical store purchases. NFC is a better option than traditional payment methods because you don’t have to verify your PIN or pass a credit card. Simply place your smartphone near the terminal to process any transaction. NFC is a new technology that combines the reader and smartcard interface. It’s an improvement on the RFID technology.
How does NFC Work?
NFC payment apps include an NFC-enabled reader. This helps in transferring a signal to locate the NFC-enabled payment device. The enabled reader receives payment information from the smartphone or payment device whenever a customer initiates payment.
With the help of precise frequency, the smartphone and reader exchange encrypted information between themselves, and then the payment is executed. NFC is a simple-to-use app that makes payment easy and has gained approval.
Also read: Payment Gateway vs. Payment Processor: What Is the Difference?
Advantages of NFC Payments Apps
Wireless payment apps offer many benefits. These are just a few of the many benefits that wireless payment apps offer.
1. Suitability and Ease of Use
Consumers are always looking for an easy way to do things. The NFC app’s simplicity and ease of use are one of its major strengths. It doesn’t require any technical knowledge, unlike EMV (Europay), MasterCard(r), and Visa(r), which require people to understand the process. NFC apps are easy to use. Simply place your NFC-powered smartphone close to the reader or tap on the NFC card.
2. Enhanced Operational Competence
NFC makes it possible to complete transactions in a short time. It has made it possible to do transactions without having to wait in a queue or use your phone’s camera. Customers can avoid the long line by using NFC-enabled payment methods. It’s convenient and increases customer satisfaction.
3. Improved Security
We want to have the best security possible when it comes to money and wallet. For NFC protection from tokenization of private and personally-identifying apps to transferring payments, it provides two-factor authentication to provide more security such as passwords and biometrics to save you from theft and control fraud.
Top 10 NFC Payment Apps
Many NFC payment apps have been developed over the years and have attracted customers’ attention. Let’s now talk about these apps, and how they integrate with multiple features to make it easy for customers to use them.
1. Google Pay
Google Pay was launched in 2018 and has been used by users as a personal bank system. It enables secure transactions across all devices with end–to–end encryption. Google Pay was created by the merger of Android Pay and Google Wallet.
It is now easy to send and receive money thanks to mobile payment apps such as Google Pay. Statista reports that GPay has over 150 million monthly users in 42 countries. Today, millions of physical stores have used NFC payment technology.
Do you know how Google Pay works? How fast can payments be made with it? The dashboard displays several payment options when the user opens the Google Pay app. You can request the UPI, Barcode, Contacts, and Banking details of any person to send or receive money. You will need to choose a bank account to send the money to. The app will clear the payment by sending information back to its backend.
Benefits:
- It helps you quickly send and receive money.
- Numerous cashback benefits and rewards.
- Just one click to pay rent, electricity and utility bills
- The app is free to use
- API integration is simple and free of charge.
- Multiple security and encryption from the end to the end
- This product is suitable for both individuals and businesses.
Also read: Top 10 Mobile Payment Apps for Small Businesses
2. Apple Pay
American Express partnered with Apply Pay to launch the payment system in November 2015. Its features are one of its main reasons for popularity. Apply Pay allows you to create virtual accounts instead of saving your real credit card or debit card numbers. They won’t save any personal information within the iOS NFC Payment app.
Although Android NFC payment app features are limited, Apple Pay allows you to enjoy in-app purchases from your iPhone or iPad. You must pay more attention to the integrated features of your business as they can impact your mobile app development.
Benefits:
- Contact-less payments.
- The app does not share your personal information with merchants.
- Every transaction is subject to tokenization.
- If your device is lost, you can disable the app via Apple Pay’s “find my” feature.
- Security is made easier with two-factor authentication
- If they feel that their account is not secure, users can disable Apple Pay via the iCloud service.
3. PayPal
PayPal is an NFC app for payments that was launched in 1998. It has been around since then. The NFC app has been improved over time and is a popular choice. PayPal is the most popular method of international payment app for freelancers. It has been proven safest in the majority of cases. It works on both iOS AND Android.
It is also compatible with Apple pay and GPay, so users can send $10,000 immediately after opening an account. Today, there are 426 million PayPal users. PayPal’s success is due to its free use and no annual fee.
The PayPal network extends the existing financial structure of credit cards and bank accounts to provide a global, real-time payment option. Anyone with an email address can send and receive payments online quickly and easily.
Benefits:
- Get Global Payments
- Multilingual support
- Transfers instantaneously and securely
- There are no additional fees
- Tap to pay
- Widely used online and in-person payment solutions
- Interactive and user-friendly UI
4. Samsung Pay
Samsung Pay is another popular NFC payment apps that allow users to pay for Samsung phones and compatible handsets. NFC-enabled cards allow multiple cards to be used. To complete the transaction, card magnetic stripe data is sent via MST (Magnetic Secure Transactions). 100 million people worldwide use Samsung Pay.
The service can be used with both magnetic strips and frictionless NFC technology. This allows customers to make purchases at a wide range of locations. Samsung Pay currently allows you to make payments using PayPal, pre-paid, and transit cards. You can also withdraw cash from ATMs and deposit cash.
Benefits:
- You can send money by using the mobile number in your wallet.
- To make payments, scan QR codes securely.
- For merchant payments, create one-time codes.
- To send money from your wallet, use your mobile number
- Samsung Pay allows you to access deals, gift cards, and promotions from thousands of local and national retailers.
- Samsung Pay adds an extra layer of security with biometrics, PIN, and fingerprint.
5. Square Wallet
Square Wallet can be used on both Android and iOS devices. It is a contactless payment application. It can be linked to credit cards and is location-based. It will notify the business you are trying to pay that you have initiated a payment using your square account.
The program allows you to bookmark your shipper with the option of a portable check-out. All you need to do at checkout is give your name. Points can be earned by shopping at these establishments.
Benefits:
- In-Built and customer-driven checkout
- Multiple payment methods
- App for contactless payments
- Multiple layers of security
- Save your favorite or regular shipper as a bookmark
- Rewarding customers with discounts
6. Visa payWave
It’s the most advanced NFC cardless payment app, and it uses a computer chip to send and receive payments. Visa PayWave cards are as safe and secure as any other card. You can save time by making quick payments at the counter. Visa payWave’s contactless technology allows users to make payments by simply waving their smartphone or card.
Visa payWave uses an integrated computer chip to transmit payment data to a secure reader at point of sale. You can make payments by waving your card or device between 2.5 cm and 5 cm (1-2 in) from the reader.
Benefits:
- Please refer to the range restrictions.
- Real-time monitoring of fraud.
- Consumers are responsible for zero-tolerance fraud.
- A pin is not required for transactions below a certain threshold.
- The consumer is in control
- Enhanced security to reduce fraud
7. Venmo
Venmo is a contactless payment app that allows you to send money through peer-to-peer exchange owned by PayPal. Venmo is similar to other apps such as Apple pay, Google, and Samsung pay. After you’ve downloaded the app and installed it, you can link it with a debit card or your wallet and then you’re ready to make and receive payments.
Venmo allows you to start your crypto purchases. Venmo is a great option for crypto payments. It is easy to send money to friends and family. You can even add personal notes to your payments. Venmo has 70 million users by 2021, which is a good sign for the company.
Benefits:
- Payments by ACH are being processed
- Customer interaction.
- Data Protection
- Data synchronization
- Processing of debit/credit card transactions
- Online payments
- In-Person Transactions.
- Mobile access
Also read: What is Facebook Pay: A Complete Guide?
8. Zelle
Zelle is the best contactless app for sending money to someone and receiving money from someone else. It’s a fast, secure, and reliable P2P payment network. Fast transaction completion is possible only if the sender AND recipient are Zelle registered. This platform has quickly surpassed Venmo, a PayPal service, in terms of the user base.
Because it has strong interactions with banks, it is popular for its ability to make payments faster. The app requires a U.S. account in order to be used.
Benefits:
- Transfer money quickly and easily
- Supports peer-to-peer payment
- There are no additional fees
- Zelle allows you to earn interest on money that is kept in a savings or checking account.
- User-friendly Interface
- It offers convenience to customers because it has support from almost 10,000 banks and credit
- cooperatives in the U.S.
9. Xoom
PayPal acquired Xoom in 2015, making it easier to send money around the world. This app allows you to send money and pay others in over 160 countries. Xoom’s reliability, service guarantee, and partnership with PayPal have earned it a solid reputation.
Unlike PayPal. Xoom allows money transfers domestically and internationally. You can also open an account with PayPal to access the money transfer service on XOOM. Xoom is used by over 250 million people every day and protects their transactions.
Benefits:
- Different delivery options
- You can pay for delivery and pickup.
- International bill payments
- Send money to the recipient’s bank account, wallet, or card.
- Prepaid mobile recharges can be purchased by paying.
10. Cards- Mobile Wallet
Cards is a mobile wallet that stores all your important items in one place, such as tickets, cards, passes, and key cards. This app makes it easy to find items on your phone without having to think. Your belongings are kept cluttered by cards, which makes them safer and faster.
You can use the cards app to pay for payments, book your flight, order from your favorite restaurant, and track your courier parcels. It is very user-friendly. Cards have been downloaded thousands of times from the Google Play store around the world. It also gets a 4.3 Google Play rating.
Benefits:
- Keep your loyalty cards/Identity/tickets/Key cards.
- Verified and authenticated transactions
- Easy user interface
- Rewarding Customers with Discounts
- End-to-end encryption
- Two-factor authentication
- You can send cards with barcodes
Conclusion — Tpp NFC Payment Apps
Below is a list of top NFC payment apps. Increasing demand for NFC means that many merchants are beginning to recognize the value of these apps. People are now using NFC payments in their daily lives thanks to digital advances. Businesses are realizing the benefits of investing in eWallet application design and development.
However, recent data privacy breaches have led to fraud and robbery. Businesses are now focusing on improving security features for NFC payment apps.
