Android’s Built-In Browser Now Lets Apps Use Google Pay At Checkout

Android’s native browser is finally getting Google Pay support. Google has announced that Android WebView, AOSP’s built-in browser that apps can use to render web content, now supports payments through Google Pay.

Unlike standalone browsers like Chrome, Android WebView is part of the OS itself, and can be used to display content from the web within other (non-browser) apps. By default, web links in apps like Instagram open in WebView. Now, these in-app interfaces can call on Google Pay directly to make payments using methods stored in your Google account.

For the change to take effect, app developers will need to add Google Pay support to their apps that use WebView, so you may not see the Pay interface in WebView right away. Google’s guidance for developers on how to do that seems straightforward enough, though, so I’d expect to see Google Pay in WebView implemented in popular apps soon.

Available with Google Play Services v25.18.30

WebView supports Google Pay payments as of Google Play Services v25.18.30, which is rolling out today. With Google Pay supported in Chrome proper, Chrome Custom Tabs, and now Android WebView, every way Google has of showing you web pages on Android allows for payments using cards stored in your Google account. Assuming developers are quick to take advantage of this new WebView functionality, that should translate to a better online shopping experience on your phone soon.