Google Wallet Loyalty Cards for Businesses: Complete Setup Guide
Jan 28, 2026
If you're considering digital loyalty for your business, you've probably come across Apple Wallet. It's well-known. It gets most of the attention in articles and case studies.
But here's the thing: in the UK, roughly 50% of smartphone users have Android devices, not iPhones. That's half your customer base.
If your loyalty solution only works for iPhone users, you're excluding millions of potential loyalty members before you even start. And if you assume Google Wallet loyalty is complicated, expensive, or somehow inferior to Apple Wallet, you're missing the full picture. And if you've already figured out how to add loyalty cards to Apple Wallet, you're only solving half the equation.
The reality: Google Wallet loyalty cards work just as seamlessly as Apple Wallet cards. Same one-tap setup. Same lock screen access. Same push notifications. Same frictionless customer experience.
This guide explains exactly what Google Wallet loyalty cards are, how they work for businesses, what the customer experience looks like on Android devices, and why a unified approach (Apple Wallet + Google Wallet) is the only sensible strategy for small businesses in 2026.
What Google Wallet Actually Is (And Why It Matters)
Let's start with the basics.
Google Wallet (formerly Google Pay) is the pre-installed digital wallet app on Android devices. It's Android's equivalent of Apple Wallet.
Just like iPhone users store bank cards, boarding passes, event tickets, and loyalty cards in Apple Wallet, Android users store the same items in Google Wallet.
The app is free, pre-installed on virtually every Android phone sold in the UK, and used daily by millions of people for:
Contactless payments (tap-to-pay)
Public transport tickets
Event tickets and boarding passes
Gift cards and vouchers
Loyalty cards
When you create a loyalty card for Google Wallet, you're putting your digital stamp card, points card, or membership card directly into the wallet app that Android users already rely on every day.
Why This Matters for UK Businesses
Android's UK market share hovers around 50%. That means roughly half the people walking into your café, salon, barbershop, or shop have Android phones.
If your loyalty program only supports Apple Wallet, you're telling half your customers: "Sorry, this isn't for you."
Even if those customers are willing to participate, they'll need a workaround — usually a separate app download or a web-based interface. Both options introduce friction that kills adoption.
The smart approach: support both Apple Wallet (for iPhone users) and Google Wallet (for Android users) from day one. Modern loyalty platforms handle both automatically, so you don't need to create separate systems or learn different tools.
How Google Wallet Loyalty Cards Work for Businesses
Here's what you need to understand about creating and managing Google Wallet loyalty cards.
You Don't Create Separate Systems
This is the key insight most business owners miss: you don't build an "Apple Wallet version" and a "Google Wallet version" of your loyalty program.
You create one loyalty program through a platform like Perkstar. The platform automatically generates wallet-compatible cards for both Apple Wallet and Google Wallet.
Same design. Same reward structure. Same dashboard. Same scanner app. The platform handles the technical differences between iOS and Android behind the scenes.
From your perspective, there's no additional work. You design one card, and it works for everyone.
The Customer Experience Is Nearly Identical
iPhone users add your card to Apple Wallet.
Android users add your card to Google Wallet.
Both experiences take one tap. Both cards live in the customer's wallet app. Both update in real-time. Both support push notifications.
The visual presentation might differ slightly (Apple and Google have slightly different design standards), but the core functionality is identical.
Setup Requires Zero Technical Knowledge
Just like with Apple Wallet, you don't need coding skills or technical expertise to create Google Wallet loyalty cards.
Modern platforms use visual builders where you:
Upload your logo
Choose your brand colours
Set your reward structure (stamps, points, discounts)
Generate a QR code or shareable link
The platform handles all the Google Wallet technical requirements automatically: the API connections, the pass formatting, the security protocols.
You just design. The platform does the rest.
It's Included in Your Loyalty Platform Cost
Good loyalty platforms don't charge extra for Google Wallet support. It's standard functionality, included in your monthly subscription.
If a platform charges separately for "iOS support" and "Android support," you're using the wrong platform. For cafés specifically, a full café loyalty program cost breakdown shows that wallet-based platforms typically run £15–£60/month with both Android and iOS support included as standard.
Platforms like Perkstar include both Apple Wallet and Google Wallet integration in all plans (starting at £15/month), along with unlimited push notifications, automations, and analytics.
The Customer Experience: Adding and Using a Google Wallet Loyalty Card
Let's walk through exactly what happens from an Android user's perspective, because understanding this will help you see why Google Wallet loyalty is just as frictionless as Apple Wallet. If you're unfamiliar with how digital stamp cards work in general, the process below will make it concrete — it's the same simple concept as paper stamps, just executed on a phone.
Step 1: Customer Discovers Your Loyalty Program (In-Store)
An Android user visits your coffee shop. At the counter, there's a small sign with a QR code: "Join Our Digital Loyalty Program."
They pull out their Android phone and open the camera app (or Google Lens, which many Android phones have as a default feature). They point it at the QR code.
A notification appears: "Add to Google Wallet" or "Save to Google Pay" (the wording varies slightly depending on Android version, but the action is the same).
They tap once.
The loyalty card is added to their Google Wallet instantly.
Step 2: What the Card Looks Like in Google Wallet
Once added, the customer opens Google Wallet (which is typically on their home screen or accessible via quick settings).
They see your loyalty card displaying:
Your business name and logo
Current stamp or points balance (starting at zero)
The reward they're earning toward ("Buy 9 coffees, get the 10th free")
Your brand colours and design
The card sits alongside their bank cards, train tickets, and any other passes they've saved.
Step 3: First Stamp Application (Real-Time Update)
The barista makes their coffee. At checkout, you ask: "Did you add our loyalty card?"
The customer opens Google Wallet, selects your card, and either:
Shows you the QR code on the card (which you scan with your scanner app)
Or taps their phone if you're using NFC scanning
You tap to apply the stamp.
Instantly, the customer sees their card update on their screen. The stamp count increases from 0 to 1. The visual feedback is immediate and satisfying — they can see the reward system working in real-time.
Step 4: Subsequent Visits
Every time the customer returns, the process is identical:
Open Google Wallet
Show the loyalty card
Staff scan it
Stamp/points update in real-time
No paper card to remember. No separate app to open. No account login. The card is always there, always accessible, always accurate.
Step 5: Push Notifications (Lock Screen Delivery)
After the customer's eighth visit, your loyalty platform sends an automated notification:
"Just 1 more coffee and your next one's free! Come see us this week."
This notification appears directly on the customer's Android lock screen. Beyond scheduled reminders, some businesses use this same notification channel for surprise and delight loyalty moments — unexpected rewards that create emotional responses far stronger than predictable stamp completions. It comes from Google Wallet (not some random business app), so it feels legitimate and trusted.
The customer sees it immediately. They think: "Oh, I should stop by tomorrow."
Step 6: Reward Redemption
On their tenth visit, when you scan their card, the system automatically recognizes they've completed the stamp card. The free coffee is applied. The card resets to zero stamps.
The customer sees the reward credited on their phone in real-time. No disputes. No confusion. The system just works.
Apple Wallet vs Google Wallet: What's Actually Different?
From a business perspective, almost nothing.
What's the Same:
One-tap customer sign-up
Real-time stamp/points updates
Push notification support
Lock screen accessibility
No app download required
Same backend management system
Same scanner app for staff
Same pricing (included in platform cost)
What's Slightly Different:
Visual design standards: Apple and Google have slightly different design guidelines, so cards may look marginally different, but both are professional and branded to your business
Wording: Apple says "Add to Apple Wallet," Google says "Add to Google Wallet" or "Save to Google Pay"
Access method: iPhone users swipe from lock screen or use the Wallet app icon; Android users open Google Wallet app or access from quick settings
These differences are trivial from your perspective. Both systems work seamlessly. Both deliver high adoption rates. Both integrate with the same loyalty platform.
The takeaway: You don't choose between Apple Wallet and Google Wallet. You support both.
Why Unified Wallet-Based Loyalty Is the Only Sensible Approach
Here's the strategic reality:
If you only support Apple Wallet, you exclude ~50% of UK smartphone users (Android).
If you only support Google Wallet, you exclude ~50% of UK smartphone users (iPhone).
If you require customers to download a separate app, you exclude 80–90% of everyone regardless of device (because app adoption is terrible for small businesses).
If you support both Apple Wallet and Google Wallet, you provide a seamless experience for 100% of smartphone users.
This isn't complicated math. The right approach is obvious: support both.
The good news: you don't have to do anything special to make this happen. Wallet-based loyalty platforms like Perkstar automatically generate cards for both Apple Wallet and Google Wallet from the same design.
You create one loyalty program. It works for everyone. Problem solved.
Real-World Example: A Salon in Manchester
Let's ground this in a practical scenario.
You own a hair salon in Manchester. Your customer base is roughly split: about half use iPhones, half use Android phones (Samsung, Google Pixel, OnePlus, etc.). If you're running a similar setup, a detailed barber and salon loyalty guide covers the retention economics specific to appointment-based businesses, where repeat cycles of 4–8 weeks make loyalty programs disproportionately effective.
You've been using paper stamp cards: get 5 haircuts, 6th is half-price. Customers lose them constantly. You have no data on who's close to rewards or who's stopped coming.
Decision Time
You decide to switch to digital loyalty. You research options and realize you need a solution that works for both iPhone and Android users.
You choose a wallet-based platform that supports both Apple Wallet and Google Wallet (like Perkstar).
Setup (45 Minutes)
You log into the platform and design your digital stamp card:
Upload your salon logo
Choose your brand colours (matching your existing aesthetic)
Set the reward: 5 stamps = 6th haircut half-price
Generate a QR code
You print a small sign for the reception desk: "Get Your Digital Loyalty Card — Scan Here"
Week 1: Mixed Adoption
Customers start scanning the QR code while waiting for appointments.
iPhone users: The prompt says "Add to Apple Wallet." They tap once. Done.
Android users: The prompt says "Add to Google Wallet." They tap once. Done.
From your perspective, there's no difference. Both types of customers sign up the same way, using the same QR code.
Within the first week:
28 iPhone users add the card to Apple Wallet
24 Android users add the card to Google Wallet
Total: 52 digital loyalty members (roughly 50/50 split)
Week 2: Real-Time Scanning
Staff use the same scanner app for all customers. The app doesn't care whether it's an Apple Wallet card or Google Wallet card — it just scans and applies stamps.
Zero customer confusion. Zero staff training issues. It just works.
Month 2: First Push Notification
You send a targeted message to customers who have 4 stamps (one away from the reward):
"You're so close! One more haircut and the next is half-price."
The notification appears on:
iPhone users' lock screens (from Apple Wallet)
Android users' lock screens (from Google Wallet)
Same message. Same delivery. Same immediate visibility. Both groups respond equally well.
Month 6: Balanced Growth
Your loyalty program now has 215 active members:
108 iPhone users (Apple Wallet)
107 Android users (Google Wallet)
The platform tracks all of them in the same dashboard. You see the same data regardless of device type: visit frequency, redemption rates, lapsed customers.
The result: By supporting both wallets from day one, you captured your entire customer base. If you'd only supported Apple Wallet, you'd have missed roughly half your potential loyalty members.
That's the difference between thinking about "iPhone users" versus thinking about "all customers."
Modern Take: Android Loyalty Has Finally Caught Up
Five years ago, Android loyalty was genuinely behind Apple Wallet in terms of polish and adoption. Google's wallet product (then called Google Pay) went through several rebrandings and iterations, and the developer experience was clunky.
That's no longer true.
In 2026, Google Wallet loyalty is functionally equivalent to Apple Wallet loyalty. Same capabilities. Same customer experience. Same adoption rates.
The infrastructure has matured. The platforms have streamlined. The customer familiarity is high (people use Google Wallet for payments, tickets, and transit daily).
If you're still operating under the assumption that "Apple Wallet is the serious option and Android is the afterthought," you're working with outdated information.
Modern wallet-based loyalty platforms treat Apple and Google as equals — because they are.
This matters for UK businesses, where Android market share is roughly 50%. You can't afford to ignore half your customer base based on device preference.
What to Look for in a Google Wallet Loyalty Platform
If you're evaluating loyalty platforms specifically for their Google Wallet support, here's what matters:
1. Native Google Wallet Integration (Not a Workaround)
Some platforms claim Android support but actually use web-based Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) that mimic wallet functionality. These are okay, but they're not the same as true Google Wallet integration.
Look for platforms that explicitly support Google Wallet (or Google Pay) as a native feature. If you're narrowing your shortlist, a Loopy Loyalty vs Perkstar comparison breaks down how two of the most popular wallet-based platforms handle native Google Wallet integration differently. This ensures proper lock screen notifications, seamless updates, and compatibility with Android's system-level wallet features.
2. Automatic Card Generation for Both Platforms
The platform should create Apple Wallet and Google Wallet cards automatically from the same design. You shouldn't need to manage separate systems or create two versions of your loyalty program.
3. Single QR Code for Universal Sign-Up
The best platforms generate one QR code that works for both iPhone and Android users. When scanned:
iPhone users see "Add to Apple Wallet"
Android users see "Add to Google Wallet"
This universal approach eliminates confusion and simplifies your in-store signage. You don't need separate QR codes for different devices.
4. Unified Dashboard for All Customers
You should manage all loyalty members (iPhone and Android) in the same dashboard. Filtering by device type isn't necessary — you're managing customers, not devices.
5. Push Notifications to Both Platforms
Make sure the platform supports push notifications to both Apple Wallet and Google Wallet, with unlimited sends included in your subscription. Notifications should appear on lock screens for both device types.
6. Consistent Scanning Experience
Your staff scanner app should work identically for Apple Wallet and Google Wallet cards. Staff shouldn't need to know which device the customer is using — the scanner just works.
7. Transparent Pricing (No Device-Based Charges)
Avoid platforms that charge extra for "Android support" or tier features by device type. Both Apple Wallet and Google Wallet support should be included in the base price.
Getting Started: Launch Wallet-Based Loyalty for All Customers
If you're ready to implement Google Wallet loyalty (alongside Apple Wallet), here's your action plan:
1. Choose a Platform That Supports Both Wallets (15 Minutes)
Look for:
Apple Wallet + Google Wallet integration (both included)
Flat monthly pricing (£15–£60/month range)
Free trial (14 days minimum, no credit card required)
UK-based or UK-friendly support
Platforms like Perkstar tick all these boxes.
2. Design Your Loyalty Card (30 Minutes)
Use the visual builder to:
Add your logo
Choose brand colours
Set your reward structure (stamps, points, or discounts)
Write a short descr If you run a café, it's worth reviewing how to design a successful stamp card before you start — the reward threshold and stamp count you choose have a measurable impact on redemption rates.iption
The platform automatically generates cards for both Apple Wallet and Google Wallet from this single design.
3. Generate Your Universal QR Code (2 Minutes)
The platform creates one QR code that works for both iPhone and Android users. Print it for your counter or reception desk.
Your signage can simply say: "Join Our Digital Loyalty Program — Scan Here"
No need to explain device types or wallet apps. Customers scan, and the right prompt appears automatically based on their device.
4. Train Your Team (5 Minutes)
Show staff how to:
Use the scanner app
Pull up customer cards by phone number (if needed)
Apply stamps/points with one tap
Training is identical regardless of whether customers use Apple Wallet or Google Wallet.
5. Promote to Your Entire Customer Base (Ongoing)
Don't segment your promotion by device type. Just promote your digital loyalty program universally:
Print the QR code for in-store sign-up
Add it to your Instagram bio
Mention it at checkout
Include it on receipts
iPhone and Android users both sign up the same way.
6. Send Your First Campaign (Week 2)
Send a welcome message or limited-time offer to all members. The platform delivers notifications to Apple Wallet users and Google Wallet users automatically.
You write one message. It reaches everyone.
Addressing Common Concerns About Android Loyalty
Let's tackle the questions business owners often have about Google Wallet loyalty: If you're still unclear on the underlying mechanics, a breakdown of how loyalty apps actually work covers the technical side without the jargon.
"Is Google Wallet as reliable as Apple Wallet?"
Yes. Google Wallet is a mature, stable platform used by hundreds of millions of people worldwide. It's backed by Google's infrastructure and updated regularly. Reliability is equivalent to Apple Wallet.
"Will Android users understand how to use it?"
Absolutely. Android users already use Google Wallet for payments, event tickets, and transit passes. Adding a loyalty card works exactly the same way. There's no learning curve — it's the same interface they use daily.
"Do I need to do anything different for Android users vs iPhone users?"
No. From your perspective, the experience is identical. Same QR code. Same scanner app. Same dashboard. Same push notifications. The platform handles device-specific differences automatically.
"What if an Android user doesn't have Google Wallet?"
Google Wallet is pre-installed on virtually every Android phone sold in the UK. If someone somehow doesn't have it, it's a free download from Google Play (and takes 10 seconds). In practice, this is extraordinarily rare — Android users already have Google Wallet.
"Can Android users still receive push notifications?"
Yes. Push notifications work exactly the same on Google Wallet as they do on Apple Wallet. Messages appear on the lock screen, are highly visible, and have strong engagement rates.
"Is there a quality difference between Apple Wallet and Google Wallet cards?"
No. Both look professional, support full branding (logos, colors, images), and provide the same functionality. Design standards differ slightly between Apple and Google, but both result in polished, professional cards.
Final Thoughts: Support Everyone, Exclude No One
The worst loyalty strategy is one that only works for half your customers.
If you're running a small business in the UK, roughly 50% of your customers use Android devices. Excluding them isn't just leaving money on the table — it's actively signaling that you don't value them as much as iPhone users.
The good news: in 2026, supporting both Apple Wallet and Google Wallet isn't complicated, expensive, or time-consuming. Modern loyalty platforms handle both automatically, from the same design, using the same tools, at the same price.
You create one loyalty program. It works for everyone. That's the only sensible approach.
If you've been hesitating to implement digital loyalty because you weren't sure how to serve Android users, you now have your answer: choose a wallet-based platform that supports both Apple Wallet and Google Wallet from day one.
Start your free 14-day trial with Perkstar — no credit card required. Create loyalty cards that work for both iPhone and Android users, test the system with real customers from both platforms, and see how universal wallet-based loyalty drives adoption across your entire customer base.
The best loyalty program is one that includes everyone. Make it easy for all your customers, regardless of what phone they carry.
