Curve Pay vs Apple Pay vs Google Pay: The Ultimate Comparison

If you're using a mobile wallet in 2025, chances are it's Apple Pay, Google Pay, or—if you’re ahead of the curve—Curve Pay.

They all let you tap and go. But not all wallets are built the same.

Some just digitise your card. Others give you a whole new level of control, rewards, and protection.

In this guide, we’ll break down how Curve Pay compares to Apple Pay and Google Pay across everyday use, travel, rewards, safety, and flexibility. If you’re looking to get more from your money without switching banks, this one’s for you.

At a Glance: Wallet Comparison Table (2025)

What They Have in Common (and Where Curve Goes Further)

All three wallets offer some core protections:

• Secure tap-to-pay via NFC
  
  

• Biometric security (Face ID, fingerprint)
  
  

• Tokenised payments to hide your real card number
  
  

• Device authentication and instant freeze options
  
  

• Instant spend notifications from your bank (if supported)
  
  

But here’s the difference:

Curve Pay offers all of that—and works across every card and bank.

Then it goes further with cashback, flexibility, and powerful control features built in.

1. Everyday Spend: One Tap, Total Control

With Apple Pay or Google Pay, you're limited to the cards your phone supports.
With Curve Pay, you can link most debit and credit cards you have from any UK or EEA bank—and spend from them all in one digital wallet.

One tap. One app. In one digital wallet.

2. Go Back in Time: Fix Spend Mistakes Instantly

Only Curve Pay lets you move a payment from one card to another—after it’s been made.

Paid for groceries with your business account? Move it to your personal.
Bought flights with the wrong rewards card? Reassign in seconds.

With Go Back in Time, you get up to 120 days to fix a payment mistake.

Apple Pay and Google Pay? No undo. No switch. No second chance.

3. Exchange Rate Savings: Travel Smarter

Using Apple Pay or Google Pay abroad? You’re still paying your bank’s foreign exchange fees (typically 2.5–3%)—and often a poor exchange rate too.

Curve Pay helps you avoid those fees and travel smarter

• Avoid foreign transaction charges
  
  

• Real-time interbank exchange rates (via Mastercard)
  
  

• Full visibility and control in-app
  
  

Spend abroad like a local—not like a tourist.

4. Cashback & Rewards: Only Curve Pays You Twice

Neither Apple Pay nor Google Pay offers cashback or rewards natively. Some bank cards do—but that’s on them.

Curve Pay lets you Double Dip on your cashback & rewards:

• Earn cashback through Curve Rewards (up to 20%)
  
  

• Stack that on top of your card’s own rewards
  
  

• Spend it instantly via your Curve Pay wallet
  
  

• Track everything in one place
  
  

5. Curve ReFi: Move Balances. Free Up Cash. Save on Interest.

Curve Pay isn’t just a digital wallet—it’s a smarter way to manage your money. With Curve ReFi, you can instantly move balances between cards inside your wallet to reduce costs and stay in control.

Here’s how it helps:

• Move past purchases from your current account to a credit card – avoid overdrafts and unlock up to 30 days interest-free
  
  

• Shift balances from one credit card to another – take advantage of grace periods or reduce your interest rate
  
  

• Move from credit card to debit card – repay with ease and avoid late payment fees
  
  

All in one tap. No paperwork. No phone calls. Just financial breathing room—on demand.

6. Curve Flex: Split Payments After You Spend

Curve Flex gives you the power to split past purchases into instalments—even after you’ve paid.

• Split a single transaction into 3, 6, 12 or 24 months
  
  

• Choose the account it comes from
  
  

• No need to apply for another credit product
  
  

It’s like a credit card built into your wallet—and ready when you need it.

7. Section 75: Credit Card Protection—Even on Debit

Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act only applies when you use a credit card directly. Google Pay and Apple Pay pass the payment to your card, so your eligibility depends on the underlying card type.

But here’s the Curve Pay difference:

Curve Pay is a credit card. So:

• Even if your underlying card is a debit card, purchases over £100 you could still be protected
  
  

• You get legal protection if a merchant goes bust or fails to deliver
  
  

It’s credit-level protection on eligible transactions.

TL;DR – Curve Pay vs Apple Pay vs Google Pay 

• Apple Pay and Google Pay digitise your cards. Curve Pay gives you more control, rewards, and protection.
  
  

• Curve Pay links to all your cards—and lets you undo, split, or redirect transactions
  
  

• You get cashback, exchange rate savings, and even credit card protection on debit cards
  
  

• All with one tap, one app, in one digital wallet
  
  Read more about Curve Pay Plans