ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Google Wallet can now do much more than store cards.
- The app got some great features in 2026.
- You can give your child their allowance, go through TSA, and more.
Most people know by now that Google Wallet can do things besides store your credit cards, but you may have missed that Google added a lot to its digital wallet app in recent months.
In addition to a massive home screen and interface redesign, Google introduced some significant features in 2026 that will make the app much more useful (it’s even coming to iOS soon, according to Android Authority).
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I’ve started using Google Wallet more and more recently, and I’m consistently surprised when I find new ways to avoid reaching for my real wallet. Here’s a look at my favorite additions this year.
1. Pay attention to orders
There’s no shortage of ways to easily track your incoming packages, but now there’s another one. In June, Google rolled out the ability to view your online orders and track your packages in Wallet.
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You must have package tracking enabled in Gmail, but once you have, you can see your detailed receipts, tracking numbers and shipping status in the Wallet app.
2. Breeze through airport security
In June of this year, Google announced a partnership with the Transportation Security Administration, which made Wallet the first digital wallet compatible with the PreCheck Touchless ID program. This means that at 65 US airports, you can show your phone instead of your physical ID when you have TSA PreCheck.
Here’s how it works: When you look into the camera at the TSA checkpoint, the system compares the live image with your stored digital ID. You’ll need to set up your ID pass and store your boarding pass in your wallet, but once you’ve done that, you’ll be through airport security faster than ever.
3. Give your children money safely
August 2026 saw the rollout of a new permission feature for Google Wallet, which allows you to send money to a child’s account – either regularly or when needed. Your child can then use their phone to tap to pay.
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This is a fantastic option if you don’t want your child to carry a physical card or cash that they could lose, and it has the security that it can’t be used online at all. I tried this with my son, and this method was by far his favorite over a card.
4. Add your driver’s license
This feature is not new, but more states were added in 2026. Residents in 11 states can now use their official state driver’s license or ID card to Google Wallet: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Maryland, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, and Ohio.
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Several more states, including North Carolina, will add the capability as early as spring 2027. Adding your ID to Google Wallet isn’t a complete replacement for your physical card, but you can use the digital version for age verification at participating merchants and within select apps.
5. Transfer your transit card via NFC
Users have been able to add transit cards to Google Wallet for a while now, but a September update to the app added the ability to transfer physical transit cards (and their balances) to your wallet via NFC. Previously, you had to manually type in all the information to transfer a card.