Samsung phones may not be as common, but Samsung Pay has far more features than Apple Pay and Android Pay. If you use it well, it’s not unreasonable to earn back the cost of a phone in just a few months. Today I’ll give you a detailed introduction to Samsung Pay and how to use it.

【2/13 Update】 Samsung Pay quietly raised the points redemption rate to 12,500 points for $50 (it used to be 10,000 points for $50, and at one time as low as 5,000 points for $50). On top of that, the points earned per transaction were cut in half. Still, Samsung Pay remains the only mobile payment system that gives extra point rewards, and the only one you can use on nearly all card readers. So call this devaluation just a step from fly-leg meat to mosquito-leg meat.

Samsung Pay Introduction

Samsung Pay is a mobile payment solution from Samsung that lets you pay by tapping your phone directly at a store checkout. Like Apple Pay, Samsung Pay works like Android Pay: you just tap your phone on a terminal that can process card payments, so there’s no need to upgrade the terminal. So you can use Samsung Pay at basically any merchant in the U.S. that accepts cards.

Supported Samsung Pay devices are: Samsung Galaxy S6, S7, Note5, and Edge versions.

Sign Up and Sign-Up Bonus

If you use one of those Samsung models, the Samsung Pay app should already be installed. When you open Samsung Pay, it will prompt you to log in or register for a Samsung account. After registration, you can log in and use it.

[Limited-time bonus], before your first purchase with Samsung Pay, enter our referral code: E0B149, and you’ll receive an extra $5 reward after a purchase. The referral code entry points are:

  • Samsung Pay>Promotions->Refer a Friend/Enter Promo Code->Enter E0B149
  • Or tap directly from your phone at https://smsng.us/payreferral, tap detail, and select enter referral code

Using Samsung Pay

This is the main interface of the Samsung Pay app.

How to use Samsung Pay

Add Credit Card

  • Tap ADD to add a credit card, either scan the front of your card or enter the number manually. You may need to enter the bank verification code to complete the add process.
  • You can add up to 10 regular cards plus 1 Samsung Rewards Card; almost any credit card is supported, including Chase, AMEX, Discover, Citi, Capital One, etc. Full list here: Samsung Pay Compatible Credit Cards

In-Store Use

  • When paying, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and select the card you want to use. Or open the Samsung Pay app and choose it there.
  • Enter your PIN or use your fingerprint, then hold your phone near the payment terminal to complete checkout. Terminals that accept cards support Samsung Pay.

Use in Apps

Samsung Pay also works in some apps now. It’s also very convenient to use in Raise, where you can pick up extra Rewards on the side (more on that later).

Other Features

Add Loyalty Cards: In Samsung Pay, you can also add store loyalty cards, such as Plenti, Best Buy, Costco, and Sam's Club. Scan your corresponding card and Samsung Pay will store the barcode. Just tap your phone at checkout to use it.

Gift Cards: You can pay directly with Samsung Pay in the app to buy gift cards from many merchants, including Amazon and Best Buy. Sometimes there are 20% off gift-card promotions, which are often worth it. Samsung Pay also allows you to add the gift cards you already have; you’ll need to enter the card number and PIN.

Deals: This section provides merchant coupon codes. Check them when shopping—there might be a promo waiting for you.

Promotions: A roundup of current campaigns you can check often. 4x points events and gift-card discount promotions are both good examples.

Samsung Pay Features

  • Does not change the merchant code and does not affect card multipliers: Using a card directly and using Samsung Pay gives the same result, and any card rewards/cash-back multipliers still apply.
  • Supports AMEX Offer activation: If you have several AMEX cards, Samsung Pay lets you handle AMEX Offers without carrying a stack of cards.
  • Works without network/SIM: It has been tested with no 4G, no Wi-Fi, and no SIM card, and checkout still works normally.

Samsung Pay Rewards Introduction

Apple Pay and Android Pay do not have rewards systems, while Samsung Pay is ahead here. Using Samsung Pay normally earns bonus points, which can be redeemed for a variety of gift cards. With the right Samsung Pay promotions, it can be very worthwhile.

Membership Levels

Samsung Pay has several levels that are based on how many times you use it. Once you level up, you keep that level for the rest of the month and all of the next month. After you clear 30+ transactions, 4x points are quite good.

Earning Rewards Points

You can earn points by making purchases with Samsung Pay, whether it’s tapping your phone in-store, buying gift cards in the Samsung Pay app, or using it in the apps mentioned above. Each valid purchase earns a base 10 points, and your membership level and ongoing campaigns can multiply your reward amount. See the details below:

Other bonus multipliers can stack with your membership multiplier. For example, in December, a 4x points event and the top-tier 4x bonus can stack, allowing up to 160 points for a single transaction.

Keep in mind:

  • Points are independent of transaction amount.
  • Two purchases made within five minutes count as only one set of points, so spread transactions apart.
  • You can earn reward points for up to 50 transactions per month, so the max is 2,000 points (8,000 points during 4x events).

Redeeming Rewards Points

Samsung Pay rewards points can be redeemed for many gift cards and can also be used for prize draws. Some options are shown below:

The best redemption is usually the $50 Samsung Rewards Visa gift card. During promotions, 1 point can be worth 1 cent. The Rewards Visa is basically a debit card you can use inside Samsung Pay. The Visa you redeem is automatically loaded onto this card, and when you spend, you can use it like any other card in Samsung Pay at almost any merchant, which makes it very convenient.

Of course, redeeming gift cards from other merchants, such as Best Buy and Sephora, is also a good option. In short, it’s best to wait and redeem during a promotion; otherwise member points are only worth 0.5c.

Samsung Pay Promotions

Besides the rewards-based member points program, Samsung Pay also has various limited-time promotions. If used well, they can net you a little extra. A few common ones are below:

Chase Card Promotion (Expired)

You can now find an offer in the app where the Chase card gives 500 points. After enrolling, using your Samsung Pay Chase credit card or debit card for 3 transactions earns an extra 500 points. The offer dates were 6/15-7/15. Samsung Pay is widely accepted, so it should be easy for most people to complete 3 transactions.

20% Off Gift Card Promotion (No Current Offer)

There are now gift-card deals in the Samsung Pay app with up to 20% off. The discount list is shown below:

Month-End 4x and Sunday 2x Bonus Promotions

Based on the past few months, there are two 4x bonus days at the end of each month, and every Sunday has a 2x bonus. This bonus can stack with the higher-tier 4x bonus, so one swipe can earn either 160 or 80 points (with a maximum value of $0.8-$1.6). Still pretty good.

Pairing with Visa Checkout

You can now pay on your phone via Visa CHECK OUT + Samsung Pay, and on first use you can immediately get 2500 points (worth at least $12.5). First, link your Visa Checkout account in Samsung Pay. Then your cards in Samsung Pay will show which ones can be used for Visa Checkout. At checkout at a store that accepts Visa Checkout, payment will automatically route through Samsung Pay. To activate this 2500-point bonus, the easiest method is to buy a $5 gift card on walmart.com and pay with V+S.

This payment method may look complicated, but there is still some room to play:

  • Some online shopping can earn Samsung Pay points, and in the past there were very few online/app merchants that supported Samsung Pay.
  • You can convert any online-shopping category to Mobile Payment, so if you have a card with a Mobile Payment bonus, you can effectively cover all online shopping.
  • Some merchants sell gift cards online, so you can indirectly use the mobile payment category to buy those gift cards. For example, Walmart.

Bottom Line

Samsung Pay has broad compatibility and works on every card-present machine, with no card-count limit. Its member points system gives you some reward on almost every everyday purchase. Combined with discounted gift cards and multiplier promotions, it is possible to earn about $100 in a month. Although Samsung phones are, frankly, less smooth than Apple devices, getting a Samsung phone to use just as a wallet is still a solid option.

If you want to play with Samsung Pay, keep an eye on used or refurbished Samsung phones on eBay. If you play it smart, a few tries could get you back to break-even.