Google Play adds Venmo payments in US, tests cash elsewhere

Venmo is now a supported payment method on Google Play across the United States. Users can connect their Venmo account directly through the payment settings menu, then use their Venmo balance, linked bank accounts, or attached cards to buy apps, games, subscriptions, or send tips to creators within eligible apps. This expansion places Venmo alongside PayPal, Cash App, and the standard card networks such as Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, and JCB. For anyone who already relies on Venmo daily, this removes the friction of entering another card number into yet another digital storefront.

The move comes as the app economy continues to scale rapidly. According to Sensor Tower, global consumer spending on in-app purchases across iOS and Google Play exceeded $167 billion in 2025, representing a 10.6% jump from the prior year. Google has steadily broadened its payment ecosystem since adding PayPal in 2014, introducing UPI in India and carrier billing through more than 170 telecom providers worldwide. Each new option is aimed at eliminating a common barrier: the moment a potential buyer hesitates and abandons a purchase because checkout feels cumbersome.

A more significant shift is happening outside the US. Google is testing a feature called Pending Transactions in select markets, allowing users to pay for digital goods with cash, bank transfers, or direct debit. The process works differently from card payments. A shopper selects an alternative payment method at checkout, receives a payment code, brings it to a participating physical store, and settles the amount in cash. Delivery of the purchased item typically takes about 10 minutes, though it can stretch to 48 hours in some cases. Refunds are issued as Google Play credit, not as cash returned to the user.

This system is built for the large share of internet users worldwide who do not hold credit cards. While Google’s Play billing policies have drawn criticism over fees and restrictions on third-party payment options, the push toward more inclusive payment methods signals the opposite of a closed system. Enabling cash transactions for digital content is a far more complex challenge than integrating Venmo, yet it carries greater long-term potential. Google is not merely adding payment methods. It is working to remove payment itself as a reason for someone to walk away from a purchase.