Even though you probably dont have to worry about catching the coronavirus from touching cash , it certainly doesnt hurt to avoid physical currency if possible. The same goes for handling your wallet and credit cards.

With several contactless payment options available, theres really no need for many people to expose themselves to the coronavirus by touching these objects unnecessarily.

According to a survey by The Ascent , 55% of U.S. consumers are worried about handling cash, while about three-quarters of respondents said they plan to continue using contactless payments once the pandemic is over. Eighty percent of contactless payments are for transactions under $25, a range usually dominated by cash, according to the report.

Contactless payment was growing in popularity even before the pandemic, but its clear that now, more than ever, consumers are eager to embrace any options that align with social distancing guidance, said Anna Barker, a personal finance expert and founder of LogicalDollar . The benefits extend beyond health considerations, she added. This method of payment has been shown to be far quicker than using a card or cash, mainly as its usually much easier to find your phone compared to digging around for a wallet.

However, Baker noted that some apps are less widely accepted by retailers than others. Its also important to make sure that you understand the fees involved in paying contactlessly to avoid any unwelcome surprises that may not make it worthwhile to use this technology, she said.

Best Apps For Contactless Payment

If you want to pay for items in stores without touching your wallet or cash, you have a couple of options. One is using a mobile wallet, which requires your device and the payment terminal to be within close proximity for the transaction to occur.

Mobile wallets, also called digital wallets, are apps for your smartphone that can store your credit and debit card information, allowing you to pay at checkout with just a tap, explained Greg Mahnken, an industry analyst for Credit Card Insider . The biggest benefit to mobile wallets is that they effectively turn any debit or credit card into a contactless card, he said. Even if the card your bank gave you doesnt have tap-to-pay, you can still keep checkout contactless by using the card on a mobile wallet.

You can also use individual mobile payment apps, which can send and receive money from anywhere. Simply create an account and link a bank account, debit card or credit card to make payments.

Regardless of which you prefer, theres a contactless payment app that fits your spending habits. Below is a look at eight popular options to choose from.

Google Pay

Google Pay , the mobile wallet app formerly known as Android Pay, allows Android users to pay for purchases using their phones anywhere that supports near field communication (NFC) payments. Users can also perform peer-to-peer transactions using Google Pay, as well as pay for in-app and online purchases.

Google Pay is accepted at almost all major retailers, and supports credit cards from most major issuers including American Express, Chase and Discover. If your card isnt supported, you can link the app with your PayPal account instead, Barker said. Just keep in mind that while debit card payments are free, credit payments incur a fee of 2.9%, she added.