Introduction to Digital Wallets
A simple guide to storing cards, tickets and paying safely
What is a Wallet on your phone?
A digital wallet is like the wallet in your pocket — but on your phone.
It lets you store these all in one place, so you don’t always need the physical versions:
Cards
Tickets
Passes
Common Wallet Apps
Apple Wallet
Google Wallet
Samsung Wallet
Most phones already have a wallet built in:
Apple phones (iPhone): Apple Wallet
Android phones: Google Wallet
Samsung phones: Samsung Wallet
Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay
What Is a Digital Wallet?
Apple Wallet, Google Wallet & More. This video explains digital wallets in simple terms, including Apple Wallet, Google Wallet and Samsung Wallet.
How payments connect to your wallet
These are the payment features that sit inside your wallet.
Apple Pay works with Apple Wallet
Google Pay works with Google Wallet
Samsung Pay works with Samsung Wallet
Simple way to think about it:
Wallet = where your cards live
Pay = how you use those cards to pay
How it works in real life
When you tap your phone at a shop:
Your wallet opens
You choose your card (or it selects your default)
You confirm with face, fingerprint or PIN
The payment is made
It works like tap-and-go with your physical card — just using your phone instead.
Benefits and Safety features of phone payments
👍 Benefits of using phone payments
✅ No need to carry your bank card
✅ Fast and easy at checkouts
✅ Works in most places that accept tap-and-go
✅ Cards and card numbers are not physically exposed or directly shared
Are digital wallets safe to use?
In this video we explain some of these security features in simple language, including what happens to your card details when you tap to pay and why your face, fingerprint or passcode provides another layer of protection.
🔐 Safety features of Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay
These systems are designed to be secure and in many ways is safer than using a physical card
✅ ️ Your card number is not shared - Shops don’t see your real card number. Instead a secure “token” is used
✅ You must unlock your phone - Face ID, fingerprint or PIN is required
✅ Extra protection from your bank - You may receive a code when adding your card
✅ You can disable it if your phone is lost - Using “Find My” or your Google/Samsung accountGoogle Translate is one of the most useful translation tools available and works on most phones and computers.
What can you store in a Wallet?
Payment cards
Debit and credit cards
Used with Apple Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Pay
Tickets and passes
Event tickets, flights, transport
Membership and loyalty cards
Supermarkets
Cafés
Gyms
Other useful items
Some government cards (depending on location)
Health or insurance cards
Wallets inside other apps
Some apps have their own “mini-wallets”.
Examples:
Woolworths Everyday Rewards or Coles FlyBuys
Service NSW
Health fund apps like NIB, Medibank
These may:
Stay inside the app
Or give you an “Add to Wallet” option
How to add items to your phone Wallet
✅ Method 1: Look for “Add to Wallet”
When buying tickets or signing up look for:
Add to Wallet
Add to Apple Wallet
Save to Google Wallet
Steps:
Tap the button
Follow the prompts
It saves automatically
✅ Method 2: Add a payment card
Steps:
Open your wallet app
Tap Add (+)
Enter or scan your card
Confirm with your bank
✅ Method 3: Add from another app
In store and business apps like Everyday Rewards, FlyBuys, NIB, Look for:
Add to Wallet
Save to phone
Removing items from your Wallet
Steps:
Open your wallet
Tap the item
Tap:
Remove
Delete
More options (⋯)
Confirm
NOTE: Removing does not cancel the card or ticket — it just removes it from your phone.
Differences between Apple, Google and Samsung Wallets
Apple Wallet (iPhone)
Very simple to use
Works with Face ID or Touch ID
Can add:
Cards, tickets, passes
Some IDs
Payment: Apple Pay
Google Wallet (Android)
Works on most Android phones
Can add:
Cards, tickets, transport passes
Loyalty cards
Payment: Google Pay
Samsung Wallet
Designed for Samsung phones
Can add:
Cards, memberships, tickets
Some digital keys
Payment: Samsung Pay
What might NOT be able to be added
❌ Some businesses don’t support wallets
❌ Some tickets are only PDFs
❌ Some cards stay in their own apps
❌ Older phones may have fewer features
If you don’t see “Add to Wallet”, it may not be available.
Adding tickets when you buy them
Look for:
Add to Wallet
Add to Apple Wallet
Save to Google Wallet
Steps:
Buy your ticket
Tap the option
Follow prompts
Ticket is saved
Benefits of using a Wallet
✅ Carry fewer physical cards
✅ Easy to access
✅ Faster payments
✅ Less chance of losing tickets
✅ Everything in one place
🔐 Safety tips (important)
✅ Lock your phone - Use a PIN, fingerprint or face unlock
✅ Keep your passcode private
✅ Only use trusted apps
✅ Be careful on public Wi-Fi
✅ Set up “Find My” or similar