How does the EUDI Wallet compare to Apple Wallet and Google Wallet in terms of privacy, technology, and supported IDs?
Comparing the EUDI Wallet with Apple Wallet and Google Wallet requires looking at two different layers: Apple and Google make specific commercial wallet apps tied to their operating systems, whereas the EUDI Wallet is a regulated European identity ecosystem implemented through certified national and private apps.
| Feature | EUDI Wallet | Apple Wallet | Google Wallet |
| Governance & Trust Model | Public-sector & EU law (eIDAS 2.0); multi-provider, platform-agnostic | Proprietary; controlled by Apple's hardware, OS, and commercial policies | Commercial app built on open Android/Web APIs, governed by Google's policies |
| Privacy & Anti-Tracking | Legally enforced unlinkability; wallet providers are barred from tracking usage | Strong device-level privacy; Apple states it cannot see when/where IDs are presented | Privacy-focused local storage, though tied to a Google account ecosystem |
| Selective Disclosure | Core requirement across all credentials (e.g., proving "18+" without sharing birth date) | Supported for specific ISO mDL fields (e.g., age verification at supported readers) | Supported via ISO mDL and W3C Digital Credentials API standards |
| Core Technical Standards | OpenID4VC, SD-JWT, and ISO/IEC 18013-5 (mdoc) | ISO/IEC 18013-5 (mdoc) and proprietary Apple entitlements/APIs | ISO/IEC 18013-5 (mdoc), Android Credential Manager, W3C Digital Credentials API |
| Supported IDs & Credentials | National ID (PID), mDL, diplomas, health cards, e-prescriptions, legally binding e-signatures (QES) | State/national IDs & driver's licenses (mostly US states & select countries), passport-derived Digital ID (US), boarding passes/tickets | State/national IDs & driver's licenses (US states & select regions), passes, transit, payment cards |
| Acceptance Mandate | Legally mandatory for EU public services and major private sectors (banks, telecoms, VLOPs) | Voluntary; requires bilateral agreements between Apple, issuing states, and verifiers | Voluntary; relies on issuer partnerships and verifier onboarding |
1. Privacy & Data Control
EUDI Wallet: Privacy is enforced by law, not just corporate policy. Under eIDAS 2.0, wallet providers (including governments) are legally prohibited from tracking where or how you use your credentials.
Any business requesting data must register with national authorities and justify its request, and the wallet uses cryptographic unlinkability (such as salted hashes and batch issuance) to stop services from profiling you across websites. Apple Wallet: Relies on hardware-enforced privacy via the Secure Enclave. Apple does not track ID presentations and requires biometric confirmation (FaceID/TouchID) before releasing individual data fields. However, trust is anchored in Apple's closed platform rather than independent public audits.
Google Wallet: Stores ID credentials locally using Android's hardware-backed keystore and requires biometric/PIN unlock per presentation. While ID usage isn't used for ad targeting, using the app itself requires a Google account, and critics note that relying on Google Play Integrity APIs still ties ecosystem access to Google's platform rules.
2. Underlying Technology & Portability
EUDI Wallet: Built for cross-platform portability.
Because it uses open protocols (OpenID for Verifiable Credentials, SD-JWT, and ISO 18013-5 mdoc), a citizen can switch from an iPhone to an Android device—or switch from a government wallet app to a certified bank wallet—without losing their legal identity. However, EUDI apps on iOS and Android still rely on underlying OS security APIs (like Apple App Attest or Google Play Integrity) to prove the phone hasn't been tampered with. Apple Wallet: Acts as a tightly integrated carrier with its own "front door".
It uses ISO/IEC 18013-5 for tap-to-present and online verification, delivering a seamless user experience, but credentials are locked into Apple hardware and cannot be exported to non-Apple platforms. Google Wallet: Uses ISO/IEC 18013-5 alongside Android Credential Manager and the W3C Digital Credentials API.
Unlike Apple's closed wallet model, Android's underlying browser and OS APIs are designed so that third-party apps—including national EUDI wallets—can plug into the system to answer web verification requests.
3. Supported IDs & Legal Weight
EUDI Wallet: Goes far beyond a basic ID card. It holds your foundational Person Identification Data (PID), mobile driving licenses, university degrees, professional licenses, and European Health Insurance Cards (EHIC). Crucially, it includes free Qualified Electronic Signatures (QES), giving every citizen the ability to sign legally binding contracts across all 27 EU countries.
Apple & Google Wallets: Primarily focused on consumer convenience—payments, transit cards, event tickets, boarding passes, and mobile driver's licenses (mDLs) in regions where state governments have signed specific integration deals (such as various US states, Japan, or select local pilots).
Neither platform natively includes legally binding e-signatures or pan-European statutory acceptance.
How They Coexist
Rather than completely replacing Apple or Google Wallet, the EUDI Wallet handles high-assurance legal identity while commercial wallets continue to dominate payments, transit, and event ticketing.
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