Paying in the UK · Digital wallets
PayPal, Apple Pay and Google Pay
Digital wallets keep your card number away from the store and make checkout quicker. Where they are accepted varies a lot, and they change how much protection you get if something goes wrong.
Last checked 24 September 2026
Where each one works
| Store | PayPal | Apple Pay | Google Pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam | Yes | No | No |
| PlayStation Store | Yes | YesWeb and Apple devices | No |
| Xbox and Microsoft Store | Yes | No | No |
| Epic Games Store | Yes | PartlyCheck at checkout | PartlyCheck at checkout |
| GOG | Yes | PartlyDevice dependent | PartlyDevice dependent |
| Riot Games | Yes | Partly"Digital wallets" listed | |
| Apple App Store | Yes | Yes | No |
| Google Play | Yes | No | Yes |
PayPal
PayPal is the most widely accepted alternative to a card on game stores. For a UK personal account buying in pounds there is no fee. Costs appear when currencies differ: PayPal's own conversion is set at a margin above the base exchange rate, around 3% on its UK fees page. Where a checkout offers it, choosing to let your card issuer convert is often cheaper.
- PayPal's own buyer protection lets you open a dispute for up to 180 days after payment.
- Because PayPal sits between your card and the seller, section 75 credit card protection usually doesn't apply. Chargeback on the underlying card may still be possible.
- Microsoft requires the PayPal account to be backed by a card or a confirmed bank account for Xbox purchases.
Apple Pay
Apple Pay charges the card stored in your Wallet, so the protection is the protection of that card, including chargeback. It works across the App Store and on PlayStation Store purchases made on the web or an Apple device. Steam, Xbox and Google Play don't accept it.
Google Pay
Google Pay, now part of Google Wallet, pays with cards saved to your Google account. It is the natural choice on Google Play, where games on Android are billed. Most console and PC stores don't accept it directly.
Which to choose
- For small in-game purchases, any of them is fine. Choose the one that keeps card numbers off shared devices.
- For anything over £100, a credit card paid directly usually gives more protection than PayPal.
- On phones, the app store bills the purchase. Ask to Buy on iPhone and approvals in Google Family Link work whichever wallet is used.
Sources: payment method pages of Steam, PlayStation, Microsoft, Epic, GOG, Riot, Apple and Google, and PayPal's UK fees page, checked 24 September 2026.