You can now Send and Receive Money Through Your Gmail App on Android

Are you owing someone money? Google wants to make it a little easier for you to settle your debt. Google will now allow you to easily attach payments to Gmail messages. The tech giant has integrated Google Wallet into Gmail app for Android, to enable users send or request money with anyone, including those who don’t have a Gmail address, with just a tap, as you can already do via Gmail on the Web.

"Whether you're splitting a dinner bill or planning a group trip, you now have a fee-free way to work out the details and settle up without ever leaving the Gmail app on Android," Google Product Manager Sam Kansara wrote in a blog post.

However, the feature has been available in the Gmail web client for some years but it’s new as a mobile app. The good news is that it is not limited to your contacts that have a Gmail address, nor do they need to the Google Wallet app. As Google explains, “Recipients are able to receive or request money right from the email itself—without having to install another payment app. They can even arrange for money they receive to go directly into their bank account. Either way, it’s completely free for both of you.”

To get started on the new feature, tap the paper clip icon as if you were attaching a file and you’ll see two new options: Send money and Request money. Tap the one you want and you can select an amount, payment source, and write a note, which will then attach to the body of your message. Then you can simply send your message as you normally would. After the email has been sent, you and the recipient will both receive an email confirmation from Google Wallet containing the amount, the payment method, the recipient, the note and the transaction ID.

On the receiving end, you’ll simply tap the Claim money link and it will transfer the funds directly into your Google Wallet account. However, if you don’t have an account you’ll need to go through the sign-up process. Also, recipients can arrange for any money they receive to go right into their bank account. The advantage here is that this service is completely free for both the sender and the recipient. 

From the look of things, the goal of introducing this new feature to Gmail is to take on quick payment apps like PayPal, Venmo or Square Cash, by offering a feature to move money right within Gmail’s app. This could be useful for those times where the money is already a topic of an email conversation.

For now, the feature is only available in the U.S. via Gmail on Android or the Web and there’s no word on when it will come to iOS or international users.