Guide to Samsung Pay in Canada

Samsung Pay is a mobile payment service that lets you make secure, contactless purchases in-store, online and in apps. Here’s how to set up and use Samsung Pay in Canada.

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Rebecca Low

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Tim Falk

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Samsung Pay lets you make secure, quick and easy payments using just your smartphone or smartwatch—no debit or credit card required. Plus, unlike Google Pay and Apple Pay, Samsung Pay is available even where contactless payments aren’t.

Keep reading for step-by-step instructions on how to set up and use Samsung Pay in Canada.

What is Samsung Pay?

Samsung Pay is a mobile payment service within the Samsung Wallet app that lets you make payments inside stores and online with your Samsung phone, instead of using your physical debit or credit card. Samsung Wallet securely stores digital copies of your cards, allowing you to hit the shops without your physical wallet and without carrying cash.

How does Samsung Pay work?

Samsung Pay uses near field communication (NFC) technology. This enables your Samsung smartphone or smartwatch to communicate with a payment terminal when used to tap and pay, and it’s similar to how a traditional debit card chip operates.

The debit or credit card details are securely transferred to the card reader using NFC, allowing the transaction to take place without the need to swipe a physical card.

Both Google Pay and Apple Pay also rely on NFC technology.

Where can you use Samsung Pay?

Samsung Pay is accepted at millions of locations worldwide in almost all stores that already accept payments with traditional debit and credit cards. It’s also accepted online and in apps anywhere you see the Samsung Pay logo.

Compatible devices

Samsung Pay is compatible with the following devices:

  • Galaxy S24
  • Galaxy S23
  • Galaxy S22
  • Galaxy S22+
  • Galaxy S22 Ultra
  • Galaxy S21
  • Galaxy S21+
  • Galaxy S21 Ultra
  • Galaxy S20
  • Galaxy S20+
  • Galaxy S20 Ultra
  • Galaxy S10
  • Galaxy S10+
  • Galaxy S10e
  • Galaxy S10 5G
  • Galaxy S9
  • Galaxy S9+
  • Galaxy S8
  • Galaxy S8+
  • Galaxy S7
  • Galaxy S7 Edge
  • Galaxy S7 Active
  • Galaxy S6
  • Galaxy S6 Edge
  • Galaxy S6 Edge+
  • Galaxy S6 Active
  • Galaxy Note20
  • Galaxy Note20 Ultra
  • Galaxy Note10+
  • Galaxy Note10 5G
  • Galaxy Note9
  • Galaxy Note8
  • Galaxy Note5
  • Galaxy Fold
  • Galaxy Z Flip
  • Galaxy Z Flip 5G
  • Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
  • Galaxy Z Fold3 5G
  • Galaxy Z Flip3 5G
  • Galaxy A50
  • Galaxy A51
  • Galaxy A51 5G
  • Galaxy A71 5G
  • Galaxy A52 5G
  • Galaxy A42 5G
  • Galaxy A32 5G
  • A53 5G
  • A13 5G
  • Gear S2 Sport
  • Gear S2 Classic
  • Gear S3 Frontier
  • Gear S3 Classic
  • Gear Sport
  • Galaxy Watch
  • Galaxy Watch3
  • Galaxy Watch4
  • Galaxy Watch5
  • Galaxy Watch6
  • Galaxy Watch Active
  • Galaxy Watch Active2

Which banks and credit unions offer Samsung Pay?

Many of the best banks and credit unions in Canada offer Samsung Pay.

How to set up Samsung Pay on your smartphone

Set up Samsung Pay in a few easy steps and start making contactless payments right away.

  1. Ensure you have an eligible device and debit card, credit card or loyalty card. Check you have an eligible Samsung device from the list above, and that your bank supports Samsung Pay.
  2. Download the app. Your device may already have the Samsung Wallet app installed. If not, download it for free from Google Play to use Samsung Pay.
  3. Complete the setup process. Sign into the app and add your Samsung account details. Select which verification you’d like from either fingerprint login, iris scan or PIN.
  4. Add your cards. You can now add your credit, debit and loyalty card details and start using the app.

If you want to add a debit card but don’t have a chequing account yet, explore some of the best chequing accounts in Canada to find a suitable option.

How to set up Samsung Pay on your smartwatch

To get started, you’ll need the Galaxy Wearable app on your smartphone. Here’s what you need to do.

  1. Download the app. If you haven’t already, download the Galaxy Wearable app on your smartphone and connect it to your smartwatch.
  2. Install the Samsung Wallet plug-in. Tap “Watch settings,” “Apps,” “App settings,” and then “Samsung Pay.” Tap “Install” to install the Samsung Pay plug-in.
  3. Add your cards. Tap “Samsung Pay” again and follow the prompts to complete the setup process. You can then tap “Add card” to connect a debit or credit card to your account.
  4. Set a security lock. You will also need to set a security lock on your watch by tapping “Set lock” and following the on-screen instructions.

Features of Samsung Pay

Magnetic secure transmission

Older Samsung devices are equipped with magnetic secure transmission (MST) technology, which is the technology used when you swipe your card. This means that you can use Samsung Pay even at card readers that aren’t equipped for contactless payments. However, MST support has been discontinued for newer smartphones beginning with the Galaxy S21.

Contactless payments

Make secure in-store purchases by tapping your Samsung phone or smartwatch at payment terminals using NFC technology (or even those without if you have an older device that supports MST technology).

Online and in-app purchases

Use Samsung Pay to check out quickly in supported apps and websites without entering your card details for every purchase.

Digital card storage

Securely store your debit, credit and loyalty cards in your Samsung Wallet to forego a physical wallet entirely.

Biometric authentication

Protect your transactions with fingerprint, iris scan or PIN verification to ensure only you can authorize payments.

Device compatibility

Use Samsung Pay across a wide range of Samsung smartphones and smartwatches for flexible payment options.

Transit payments

In supported regions, you can upload your transit card to Samsung Wallet and use it to pay for public transportation.

Loyalty and rewards cards

You can also add your loyalty and rewards cards from participating retailers to your Samsung Wallet and easily access them during checkout by tapping or scanning your device.

Is Samsung Pay available in Canada?

Yes, Samsung Pay is available in Canada and works with many major banks and credit unions, allowing users with compatible Samsung smartphones and smartwatches to make secure, contactless payments in-store, online and in apps.

For those looking to explore their banking options to link their debit or credit card with Samsung Pay, check out the latest bank account offers in Canada to find one that suits your needs.

Where can you use Samsung Pay?

Samsung Pay is accepted at millions of locations worldwide in almost all stores that already accept payments with traditional debit and credit cards. It’s also accepted online and in apps anywhere you see the Samsung Pay logo.

How do I use Samsung Pay in Canada?

To use Samsung Pay to make a payment in-store, you need to unlock your phone by using your fingerprint, PIN or iris (eye) scan. This will ensure it’s you making the payment. Then, simply hold the smartphone over the card reader as you would when using your debit card for a tap-and-go payment.

If you’re making a purchase within an app, for example a food delivery app, just select the Samsung Pay option when checking out to avoid manually entering your card details.

To pay using your Samsung smartwatch, hold the back key and enter your PIN or pattern when prompted to do so. Swipe left or right to switch cards and tap the card you want to use. Then hold your watch over the card reader to pay. You’ll feel a buzz or slight vibration on the watch when the payment has been approved, which only takes a couple of seconds.

What are the Samsung Pay supported cards in Canada?

Samsung Pay has partnered with major payment networks Visa, Mastercard, Interac and American Express. To find out whether your card supports Samsung Pay, check the list higher up this page of banks and credit unions that are supported on Samsung Pay.

Is Samsung Pay safe?

When using Samsung Pay to make payments with your phone, you’re still covered by the same fraud and security protections that your bank normally offers. The app doesn’t store your payment information, nor does it share your bank account details with merchants when you make a payment. When you make a purchase, the app generates a random unique number for the transaction instead of your real card number.

If you happen to lose your phone and someone finds it, they won’t be able to use it to make purchases. This is because every transaction made using Samsung Pay requires you to enter a PIN code or use your fingerprint or iris scan to verify it’s actually you first. Plus, if you lose your phone, you can also delete the details in your Samsung Pay account remotely.

Pros and cons of using Samsung Pay

Pros

  • Shop how you want. You can use Samsung Pay to make purchases in-store, within apps and online.
  • Safe payment method. Samsung Pay is a safe and secure way to pay, and your card details aren’t shared with merchants.
  • No need to carry your wallet. You don’t have to bring cash or your debit card when you’re out and about.
  • Supported devices. This payment method is supported by a range of Samsung smartwatches as well as phones.

Cons

  • Samsung only. You need an eligible Samsung device to use Samsung Pay, so it’s more limiting than Google Pay which works on a large range of Apple and Android devices.
  • Not supported by all banks. Not all banks offer Samsung Pay yet, and major banks like National Bank don’t support it.

Samsung Pay vs Google Pay and Apple Pay

While Samsung Pay is for Samsung devices, Apple Pay is the contactless payment app for Apple devices. Apple Pay can be used on a range of eligible iPhones as well as compatible Apple Watches. Apple Pay is just as secure and it requires users to either enter a PIN or use their face scan or fingerprint to verify a payment.

Google Pay is the digital wallet solution developed by Google and is the consolidation of Android Pay and Google Wallet. Google Pay is somewhat less limiting than both Apple Pay and Samsung Pay, as it’s supported by a large range of Android devices and is also available on iPhone.

Bottom line

Samsung Pay is best for those who have a Samsung device and would like an alternative option to making online and in-store purchases without having to directly share debit or credit card details.

But it’s not available across all banks.

Check out our guide on how to compare virtual debit cards to learn more about finding the right digital payment solution for you.

Frequently asked questions

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Rebecca Low is a writer for Finder. She has contributed to a range of digital publications, including Wise, income.ca and Indeed, writing on topics like personal finance, career development, and travel. See full bio

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Tim Falk is a freelance writer for Finder. Over the course of his 20-year writing career, he has reported on a wide range of personal finance topics. Whether you're investing in stocks and ETFs, comparing savings accounts or choosing a credit card, Tim wants to make it easier for you to understand. When he’s not staring at his computer, you can usually find him exploring the great outdoors. See full bio

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