November 24, 2025 · 9 mins read
Santosh Kumar
India has seen a rapid digital transformation in recent years with initiatives such as the Digital India Program, Unified Payments Interface (UPI), etc. This is evident by the rising number of internet users in both urban and rural India. The majority of Indians are switching to digital payment methods using BHIM UPI or Google Pay for their transactions.
People prefer digital transactions over cash transactions as they are easy, fast, contactless, user-friendly, convenient, and time-saving. People no longer have to carry cash with them for their day-to-day transactions. One swipe is enough to send money anywhere and anytime.
This has resulted in an increasing number of UPI users all over the world, with India being the leader in digital payments according to recent data. Two of the pioneers in UPI apps in India are BHIM UPI and Google Pay. One may wonder if BHIM UPI and Google Pay are the same.
BHIM UPI and Google Pay, though have many features in common, are not the same and have their own set of differences.
BHIM UPI, or Bharat Interface for Money UPI, is a government-owned, standalone mobile app that enables users to transfer money instantly but securely to others. This app is developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). It is named in honour of B.R. Ambedkar. BHIM UPI clearly has a winning edge over other UPI apps like Google Pay, as it is backed by the Government and has easily won the trust of many in no time. Not just money transfer, BHIM UPIs can also be used to pay electricity bills, credit card bills, and other bills in no time. The BHIM app helps users to check the balance of linked bank accounts as well as their transaction history. The BHIM app is available in all major languages, making it easily accessible to all. The BHIM app also allows users to switch between bank accounts for users who have multiple bank accounts. BHIM users can also send money by scanning a QR code or to a bank account using the account number and IFSC code of the bank.
Google Pay, on the other hand, is a mobile-based app developed by Google. Google Pay is the simplest and easiest way to send or receive money to anyone, near or far, and that too with zero fees. Google Pay allows users to do online transactions using UPI IDs, QR codes, or even mobile numbers linked with bank accounts. Transactions using Google Pay are secure, as it uses biometric authentication or PINs for each and every transaction. Google Pay can be considered an advanced mobile payment app, as it can be auto-set to make default payments, and reminders can also be set for future transactions.
1: Both BHIM UPI and Google Pay are digital payment apps that provide 24/7 convenient and secure transactions that are accessible to people of all ages.
2: BHIM UPI and Google Pay use UPI as an interface for all their transactions and follow NPCI rules.
3: Both BHIM UPI and Google Pay enable secure transactions for their users as they require two-step authentication and other strict security measures.
4: Transactions through both BHIM UPI and Google Pay are fast, smooth, and cashless transactions and can be done any time, including bank holidays or weekends.
5: Apart from transferring money, both of them can be used for utility bill payments, checking bank balance, transactions, and many more.
6: One cannot perform more than 20 transactions per day using both BHIM UPI and Google Pay. The upper daily limit for transactions using BHIM UPI and Google Pay is Rs. 100,000. The limit may, however, be lower for new users in the first 24 hours.
7: Most banks do not charge for any BHIM UPI or Google Pay transactions.
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Both BHIM UPI and Google Pay can be linked to credit cards from all leading financial institutions to make payments more convenient, easier, faster, and secure. This way, users get all the benefits, like rewards and cashback. The SBM ZET credit card is one such UPI-enabled RuPay card that is offered against fixed deposits, and the credit limit is set at 90% of the fixed deposit amount. The ZET credit card is a lifetime free card that can be started with fixed deposits as low as Rs. 5000.
ZET credit cards are a boon to those who do not have a fixed income but are interested in building up their credit history and creditworthiness. To link the ZET credit card to one’s favorite UPI, one has to simply follow these steps.
1: Open the UPI app of our choice.
2: Go to the Add New Credit Card section.
3: Enter the details of the ZET credit card.
4: The ZET credit card is linked with our favorite UPI and can be used just like a normal debit card or credit card, and we can enjoy the host of benefits that come with it, like cashbacks, discounts, etc.
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The answer to whether BHIM UPI and Google Pay are the same is no, they are not the same.
1: BHIM UPI is a simpler version of UPI-based apps, ideal for those users who just want to use only UPI for digital transfers. Google Pay is comparatively complex and loaded with more features that make it a top choice for digital users across the world.
2: BHIM UPI offers a simple, basic interface for its users, while Google Pay offers a multitasking interface where users can use Google Pay for almost all their cashless transactions.
3: BHIM UPI has the added advantage of being backed by the government, so it is regarded as safer and secure compared to Google Pay. Though Google Pay has enhanced security features like biometric authentication as well as PIN or pattern, extensive data syncing makes it less secure.
4: The BHIM app uses the receiver’s Aadhar card linked with a bank account to make payment, whereas Google Pay uses the receiver’s QR code or mobile number to make payment.
5: Google Pay has a wide range of payment features, including mobile recharges, setting default payments, and setting up reminders for future payments. Some of these features are not enabled in BHIM UPI.
6: Google Pay is a widely recognized UPI app compared to BHIM UPI, which has much fewer merchant acceptances.
7: Google Pay, in an attempt to attract more customers, rewards its customers with cashbacks, discount vouchers, passes, free gifts, etc., with each and every transaction. BHIM app users, unfortunately, do not enjoy any such features.
8: Google Pay is a faster UPI interface compared to BHIM, as it is much slower.
9: While BHIM is not a digital wallet, Google Pay can be perceived as a digital wallet where we can store details of cards, tickets, phone numbers, etc., so that we do not have to enter the same information repeatedly during transactions.
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Recent data shows that a total of 56 banks support UPI-based payments, which clearly indicates that India’s future in digital payments is very bright, with more and more people already opting for cashless payments rather than cash payments. A recent study also shows that more than 90% of both the rural and urban populations are already dependent on the internet for their payments. While BHIM UPI is a simpler and easier-to-use interface for the not-so-tech-savvy people, Google Pay may be a game-changer for the modern tech-savvy people. The BHIM app, being supported by the government, offers a trustworthy, simple, ad-free, and clutter-free experience for its users. Google Pay has a more sophisticated but rewarding platform for its users. So though both BHIM UPI and Google Pay have many similar features, with questions such as Is BHIM UPI and Google Pay the same, the answer is no.
Some of the commonly used UPI-based interface apps in India are BHIM UPI, Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm, etc.
Yes, it is absolutely safe to use BHIM UPI as it is owned by the government and developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). It also uses two-factor authentication for the security and privacy of its users.
No, both BHIM UPI and Google Pay are not the same. They, in fact, have many differences between them. It depends on UPI users which UPI app they favour over the other.
Yes, a person can use both BHIM UPI and Google Pay; however, in such cases, users have to make unique IDs for each app. Both BHIM UPI and Google Pay can be used interchangeably.
As BHIM UPI and Google Pay are different UPI apps, they need different UPI IDs. Hence, a person can send money from BHIM UPI to Google Pay in a safe and fast manner.
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