Here are the top mobile-payment apps and wallets in 2025 (US-focused with a note about global leaders), plus why each matters and who they’re best for:

Top mobile-payment apps in 2025

• Apple Pay / Apple Wallet — The dominant mobile wallet for iPhone users: broadly accepted in U.S. retail, integrated into iOS devices, strong biometric/token security, and a leading share of U.S. mobile-wallet taps. (capitaloneshopping.com)

• Google Pay / Google Wallet — Google’s wallet for Android: wide international reach, deep Google-service integration (loyalty cards, transit, passes) and large active user growth in 2024–25. Best choice for Android users. (coinlaw.io, oberlo.com)

• PayPal — Global payments giant for online and cross-border payments, huge merchant footprint and several hundred million active accounts; often the go-to for e‑commerce and international transfers. (sec.gov)

• Venmo (PayPal) — The U.S. peer-to-peer/social payments leader for splitting bills and casual payments; expanding “Pay with Venmo” in-store/online and growing commerce features. Good for younger users and social P2P. (newsroom.paypal-corp.com)

• Cash App (Block) — Popular U.S. P2P wallet with debit-card integration plus investing/crypto features; widely used especially among younger adults. (backlinko.com, en.wikipedia.org)

• Zelle — Bank-backed real-time P2P network used through banking apps (very large volumes and enrollment in the U.S.); best for instant bank-to-bank transfers. (zellepay.com)

• Samsung Wallet / Samsung Pay — Strong on Samsung devices (NFC and legacy-MST tech where supported); important for Galaxy users though much smaller U.S. share vs Apple Pay. (coinlaw.io, sammobile.com)

• Alipay & WeChat Pay — The dominant super‑apps in China and critical for travel/commerce across Asia; globally huge transaction volumes and near‑ubiquitous acceptance in China. (If you travel to or do business in China, these are essential.) (scmp.com, coinlaw.io)

Which to pick (quick guidance)

• iPhone user buying in-store or online: Apple Pay/Apple Wallet. (capitaloneshopping.com)
• Android user: Google Pay / Google Wallet. (coinlaw.io)
• Split bills/social P2P: Venmo or Cash App. (newsroom.paypal-corp.com, backlinko.com)
• Instant bank transfers: Zelle (through your bank’s app). (zellepay.com)
• Cross‑border / merchant checkout: PayPal (or Alipay/WeChat Pay when dealing with China/Asia). (sec.gov, coinlaw.io)

If you want, I can:

• Rank these by U.S. market share or active-user numbers with the latest figures, or
• Recommend the best option based on how you plan to use mobile payments (everyday purchases, P2P, international transfers, or business).