Apple Pay
Apple Pay replaces your physical cards and cash with an easier, safer, more private and secure payment method. Use it online, in apps, and in stores. It’s the simple way to pay every day.
Set up Apple Pay in seconds. Learn how
Faster and easier
than
using cards
or cash.
Pay in full or spread out payments over time.
Privacy and security
built in.
Accepted on millions
of websites and apps.
It’s ready
and set.
Just go.
Setup in seconds. Apple Pay is simple to set up. Just add your credit or debit card to the Wallet app on your iPhone and you’re ready to go. You still get all your card’s rewards and benefits — so you won’t miss out on any hard-earned points or miles.
Pay over time with Apple Pay Later. 1
Apple Pay Later allows you to split your purchase into four equal payments over six weeks with no interest, fees, or surprises. 2 Simply check out online and in apps with Apple Pay on your iPhone or iPad, then select Pay Later. You’ll find out in moments if you’re approved — with no impact to your credit score. 3 And you manage everything in Wallet, with built-in tools to help support healthy spending habits.
Use Apple Cash with Apple Pay. Apple Cash is a digital card that lives in Wallet — it stores the cash you receive or want to send. 4 You can send money right in Wallet or Messages — pay your squad for brunch or chip in for a coworker’s gift. You can also spend it in stores, in apps, or online with Apple Pay.
- Learn more about Apple Cash
- How to send money
Easy.
Does it all.
Grab from the
corner cafe. Load
up your app.
Order a new online.
Have delivered.
Subscribe to .
Get
from a
vending machine.
supermarket.
Just look
for
or when
you check out.
At stores and more. Apple Pay is accepted at over 85 percent of retailers in the U.S., so you can likely use it wherever and however you want. If you’re not sure, just ask. Apple Pay works anywhere that takes contactless payments — from vending machines and grocery stores to taxis and subway stations.
In apps and online. Use Apple Pay for purchases in Safari on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. You can skip the lengthy checkout forms and pay with just a touch or a glance. Or use Apple Pay to subscribe to services like Apple Music, Apple News+, and Apple TV+, buy apps and games on the App Store, and upgrade your iCloud storage.
Safe and
sound.
Personal data. Protected. When you make a purchase, Apple Pay uses a device-specific number and unique transaction code. So your card number is never stored on your device or on Apple servers. And when you pay, your card numbers are never shared by Apple with merchants. If you prefer not to share your email address with merchants when paying online, you can use Hide My Email to generate unique, random email addresses that automatically forward to your personal inbox.
Your purchases stay private. When you pay with a debit or credit card, Apple Pay doesn’t keep transaction information that can be tied back to you. And when you use Apple Cash, information is stored only for troubleshooting, fraud prevention, and regulatory purposes.
Tap more. Touch less. Apple Pay works right from your device, helping you avoid touching buttons and terminals, handling cards, and exchanging cash. Every purchase requires Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode — helping to keep your security in your hands.
Get started
with
Apple Pay.
Questions? Answers.
How do I use Apple Pay?
- Learn how to use Apple Pay in stores
- How to make a purchase with Touch ID
- How to make a purchase with Face ID
- Learn how to use Apple Pay on websites
- Learn how to use Apple Pay in apps
How secure is Apple Pay?
How do I set up Apple Pay?
Which banks support Apple Pay?
Apple Pay works with major credit and debit cards from banks around the world, with more added all the time. You can see all the banks that support Apple Pay here. If your card does not yet support Apple Pay, contact your bank for more information.
What is Apple Pay Later?
Apple Pay Later is a payment option that allows you to shop now and pay in four smaller installments over six weeks, with no interest or fees. 2 It’s available within Apple Pay for purchases you make in apps and online with iPhone or iPad. You can manage all your Apple Pay Later loans and payments in one organized place in Wallet — no separate apps to download, no extra passwords to remember.
Does it cost extra to use Apple Pay?
No. Apple does not charge any fees when you pay with Apple Pay — in stores, online, or in apps. And Apple doesn’t charge interest or fees when you use Apple Pay Later.
Can I use Apple Pay abroad?
Apple Pay works in countries and regions that support contactless payments. Confirm with your bank, and ask about any fees they may charge for overseas usage. Apple Pay Later is available only for eligible applicants when shopping at merchants located in the United States. 1
How can my business accept Apple Pay?
If your business already accepts credit and debit cards, simply contact your payment provider
to start accepting Apple Pay. If you want to accept Apple Pay on your website or in your app,
visit Apple Pay for developers. And Apple Pay Later is part of Apple Pay — no integration or additional steps are required.
Does my business need any special equipment to accept Apple Pay?
With Tap to Pay on iPhone, you can use an iPhone to accept contactless payments through an app supported by any of the participating payment service providers. No extra terminal or hardware is required. 5 If you already have a payment terminal, contact your payment service provider to find out if it accepts contactless payments.
How do I let my customers know I accept Apple Pay?
- Download the decal and guidelines
- View online marketing guidelines
- Order Apple Pay decals for your store
- Add Apple Pay to your Maps listing
Eligible merchants in the United States that accept Apple Pay online and in apps are automatically set up to accept Apple Pay Later — no integration work required. For more details about the merchant experience, visit Apple Pay Later for Developers.
What’s the difference between Apple Cash and Apple Pay?
Apple Cash is a digital card in Wallet that lets you send and receive money in Messages or Wallet. The money you receive appears on your Apple Cash card in Wallet. You can spend it however you like in stores, online, and in apps with Apple Pay. Apple Pay enables you to make secure, contactless purchases using Apple Cash, Apple Card, and any other credit and debit cards that you add to Wallet.
More for
your finances.
Wallet
Carry one thing.
Everything.
Apple Card
The simplicity of Apple.
In a credit card.
Apple Cash
Send it.
Spend it. Stash it.
Set up
Apple Pay
on your
Apple device.
iPhone
Open the Wallet app
and tap to add a card.
Apple Watch
Open the Apple Watch
app on your iPhone,
tap Wallet & Apple Pay,
and then tap Add Card.
iPad
Go to Settings
Wallet & Apple Pay
and tap Add Card.
Mac
On models with Touch ID,
go to System Preferences
Wallet & Apple Pay and
tap Add Card.
Apple Footer
- Subject to eligibility and approval. Available only in the U.S. May not be available in all states. Not available in U.S. territories. Loans made by Apple Financing LLC, NMLS #2154940. CA loans made or arranged pursuant to a California Financing Law license. To use Apple Pay Later, you must have an iPhone or iPad updated to the latest version of iOS or iPadOS. Update to the latest version by going to Settings > General > Software Update. Tap Download and Install. For more eligibility details, see support.apple.com/en-us/HT212967.
- Your bank may charge you fees if your debit card account contains insufficient funds to make loan repayments.
- After making Apple Pay Later purchases, your Apple Pay Later loan and payment history will soon be shared with credit bureaus. Your credit score won’t be impacted when we start reporting to the credit bureaus, but may be impacted in the future. To learn more, visit support.apple.com/en-us/HT212971.
- Apple Cash services are provided by Green Dot Bank, Member FDIC. Learn more about the Terms and Conditions. Only available in the U.S. on eligible devices. To send and receive money with an Apple Cash account, you must be 18 and a U.S. resident. If you’re under 18, your family organizer can set up Apple Cash for you as part of their Apple Cash Family account. Security checks may require more time to make funds available. Apple Cash Family accounts can send or receive up to $2000 per transaction or within a seven-day period. Sending money from Wallet requires iOS 15.5 or later.
- Requires iPhone X s or later with iOS 15.5 or later. The Contactless Symbol is a trademark owned by and used with permission of EMVCo, LLC.
- To use Apple Pay you need a supported card from a participating card issuer. To check if your card is compatible with Apple Pay, contact your card issuer.
- Apple Pay is not available in all markets. View Apple Pay countries and regions.
- Features are subject to change. Some features, applications, and services may not be available in all regions or all languages.
- Some features require specific hardware and software. For more information, see Feature Availability.
- To access and use all Apple Card features and products available only to Apple Card users, you must add Apple Card to Wallet on an iPhone or iPad that supports and has the latest version of iOS or iPadOS. Apple Card is subject to credit approval, available only for qualifying applicants in the United States, and issued by Goldman Sachs Bank USA, Salt Lake City Branch.
Apple Pay
Apple Pay replaces your physical cards and cash with an easier, safer, more private and secure payment method. Use it online, in apps and in stores. It’s the simple way to pay every day.
Set up Apple Pay in seconds. Learn how
Fast and easy
alternative
to cards
and cash.
Privacy and security
built in.
Accepted on millions
of websites and apps.
Checkout is easier
online with Apple Pay.
It’s ready
and set.
Just go.
Set up in seconds. Apple Pay is simple to set up. Just add your credit or debit card to the Wallet app on your iPhone and you’re ready to go. You still get all your card’s rewards and benefits — so you won’t miss out on any hard-earned points or miles.
Apple Pay is already on your device. Apple Pay is built into iPhone, Apple Watch, Mac and iPad. No separate app to download. No complicated processes to complete. No hassles.
An easier way to pay for public transport in the UK. With Express Mode, you don’t need to authenticate your payment with Face ID or Touch ID. So paying on trains, buses, trams and more is quick and easy. Simply tap your iPhone or Apple Watch on the card reader and go.
Easy.
Does it all.
Grab from the
corner café.
Order a new online.
Get delivered.
Subscribe to .
Get from a
vending machine.
supermarket.
Just look
for
or when
you check out.
At stores and more. Apple Pay is widely accepted, so you can most likely use it wherever and however you want. If you’re not sure, just ask. Apple Pay works anywhere that takes contactless payments — from vending machines and supermarkets to taxis and train stations.
In apps and online. Use Apple Pay for purchases in Safari on your iPhone, iPad or Mac. You can skip the lengthy checkout forms and pay with just a touch or a glance. Or use Apple Pay to subscribe to services like Apple Music, Apple News+ and Apple TV+, buy apps and games on the App Store, and upgrade your iCloud storage.
Safe and
sound.
Personal data. Protected. When you make a purchase, Apple Pay uses a device-specific number and unique transaction code. So your card number is never stored on your device or on Apple servers. And when you pay, your card numbers are never shared by Apple with merchants.
Your purchases stay private. When you pay with a debit or credit card, Apple Pay doesn’t keep transaction information that can be tied back to you.
Tap more. Touch less. Apple Pay works straight from your device, helping you avoid touching buttons and terminals, handling cards and exchanging cash. So you keep your hands clean and are less likely to pick up — and spread — germs.
Get started
with
Apple Pay.
In case you
missed anything.
How do I use Apple Pay?
- Learn how to use Apple Pay in shops
- How to make a purchase with Touch ID
- How to make a purchase with Face ID
- Learn how to use Apple Pay on websites
- Learn how to use Apple Pay in apps
How secure is Apple Pay?
How do I set up Apple Pay?
It’s simple. Just add a credit, debit or pre-paid card to the Wallet app on your iPhone. And remember to add your cards to any other Apple devices you want to use with Apple Pay. It works on iPhone, Apple Watch, Mac and iPad.
Which banks support Apple Pay?
Apple Pay works with major credit and debit cards from banks around the world, with more added all the time. You can see all the banks that support Apple Pay here. If your card does not yet support Apple Pay, contact your bank for more information.
Does it cost extra to use Apple Pay?
No. Apple does not charge any fees when you use Apple Pay — in shops, online or in apps.
Can I use Apple Pay abroad?
Apple Pay works in countries and regions that support contactless payments. Confirm with your bank, and ask about any fees they may charge for overseas usage.
How can my business accept Apple Pay?
If your business already accepts credit and debit cards, simply contact your payment provider
to start accepting Apple Pay. If you want to accept Apple Pay on your website or in your app,
visit Apple Pay for developers.
Does my business need any special equipment to accept Apple Pay?
With Tap to Pay on iPhone, you can use an iPhone to accept contactless payments through an app supported by any of the participating payment service providers. No extra terminal or hardware is required. 1 If you already have a payment terminal, contact your payment service provider to find out if it accepts contactless payments.
How do I let my customers know I accept Apple Pay?
- Download the decal and guidelines
- View online marketing guidelines
- Order Apple Pay decals for your shop
- Add Apple Pay to your Maps listing
Wallet
All your credit and debit cards,
travel cards, boarding passes
and more. All in one place.
Set up
Apple Pay
on your
Apple device.
iPhone
Open the Wallet app
and tap to add a card.
Apple Watch
Open the Apple Watch
app on your iPhone,
tap Wallet & Apple Pay,
and then tap Add Card.
iPad
Go to Settings
Wallet & Apple Pay
and tap Add Card.
Mac
On models with Touch ID,
go to System Preferences
Wallet & Apple Pay and
tap Add Card.
Apple Footer
- Requires iPhone X s or later with iOS 15.5 or later. The Contactless Symbol is a trademark owned by and used with permission of EMVCo, LLC.
- Apple Pay is not available in all markets. View Apple Pay countries and regions.
- Features are subject to change. Some features, applications and services may not be available in all regions or all languages.
- Some features require specific hardware and software. For more information, see Feature Availability.
Apple Pay: что это такое и как им пользоваться в России
4 октября в России запустили платежный сервис Apple Pay. «Афиша Daily» объясняет, как платить с помощью айфона вместо пластиковой карты.
Где и как можно платить с айфона
Apple Pay — платежная система, которая позволяет оплачивать товары в магазинах, прикладывая мобильное устройство Apple к терминалу. Система работает по протоколу NFC и только на терминалах, принимающих бесконтактные платежи (они должны иметь метку PayPass или PayWave). Система совместима только с моделями старше iPhone 6, включая iPhone SE, а также с Apple Watch. В последнем случае систему получится настроить через iPhone 5, 5s и 5c.
Чтобы заплатить, нужно поднести гаджет к терминалу, выбрать в приложении карту и приложить палец к датчику Touch ID. На Apple Watch платеж запускается двойным нажатием на кнопку питания и не требует специальной авторизации. Ни Apple Pay, ни другие платежные сервисы не берут комиссию.
Платежи через айфон принимают в магазинах «Азбука вкуса», «Атак», «Ашан», «Магнит», «М.Видео», Media Markt, re:Store, в ЦУМе, на заправках BP, в билетных кассах «Аэроэкспресса». В ближайшее время системы появятся в магазинах «Эльдорадо» и закусочных Burger King. Возможно, оплатить покупки со смартфона получится и в других магазинах, где есть терминалы с поддержкой PayPass или PayWave. Ранее «Ведомости» сообщали, что Apple Pay также тестировали в магазинах «Дикси» и «Виктория».
Как привязать карточку к Apple Pay
Для айфона карточки привязываются в приложении Wallet. Система по умолчанию подключает карты, которые были ранее привязаны к аккаунту в iTunes, но можно добавить еще до семи дебетовых или кредитных карт. Данные вводятся как вручную, так и автоматически, с помощью камеры. Для платежей через часы нужно внести данные карты в приложении «Мои часы» в пункте «Wallet и Apple Pay». Часы также разрешают платить с разных карточек.
Какие карточки можно привязать
На момент запуска Apple Pay работает только с дебетовыми и кредитными картами MasterCard, которые выпустил Сбербанк. Ранее сообщалось, что партнерами в России будут Сбербанк, Райффайзенбанк, «Яндекс.Деньги», «Тинькофф», Бинбанк, «Открытие» и «ВТБ 24». Позже в Wallet разрешат добавлять бонусные и кредитные карты магазинов. В США сервис работает и с MasterCard, и с Visa.
Как Apple Pay работает в интернете
С марта этого года Apple Pay оплачивает покупки в интернете, но только в браузере Safari на макбуках с macOS Sierra, айфонах и айпэдах (iPad Air 2, mini 3, mini 4 и Pro). Кнопка Apple Pay появится не на всех сайтах, а только на тех, которые внедрили API. Утверждение платежа также происходит или через айфон, или через Apple Watch (на них приходит запрос, который подтверждается отпечатком пальца). Поэтому пользователю следует ограничиться одной учетной записью в iCloud. Apple Pay есть в некоторых приложениях (тоже только в тех, которые внедрили API), например, в Uber.
Могут ли взломать Apple Pay
Пока о случаях взлома Apple Pay не сообщалось. При оплате смартфон не передает POS-терминалу данных карты. Вместо этого он обменивается токеном, одноразовым ключом, который генерируется для каждого платежа. Даже если мошенник перехватит токен, он не сможет использовать его второй раз. Во время платежа через банковскую карту, наоборот, происходит обмен данными, например ПИН-кодом, и этим активно пользуются хакеры. В 2013 году группа взломщиков установила вредоносный софт в магазинах сети Target и за несколько дней получила данные 70 миллионов карт. Токены не являются особенностью Apple Pay — они входят в протокол NFC и работают с другими платежными системами.
Apple Pay даже не хранит номер карты, а присваивает ей номер учетной записи, который находится на защищенном чипе, не загружается ни на серверы, ни в iCloud. Это дает дополнительную безопасность для покупок в интернете: данные карты не вводятся в браузере и не могут быть украдены отслеживающими программами.
Apple Pay
Available in dozens of countries around the world in participating retail stores, apps, and websites.
By MacRumors Staff on October 19, 2023
At a Glance
- Apple Pay is Apple’s mobile payment service, which lets users with an iPhone 6 or newer, as well as Apple Watch owners, make payments using NFC with their devices.
- Apple Pay is also available in apps and on the web on the iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
Features
- Enabled by NFC
- Touch ID or Face ID for secure authentication
- Available in more than 60 countries
- Accepted at millions of retail locations around the world
- Available on the web
- Person-to-person payments in the U.S.
Roundup Last Updated 4 weeks ago
Apple Pay Overview
Contents
- Apple Pay Overview
- Setting Up Apple Pay
- How It Works
- In More Detail
- Apple Pay on the Web
- Apple Cash
- The Apple Card
- Tap to Pay on iPhone
- Apple Pay Later
- International Expansion
- Competition
- Apple Pay Timeline
Apple Pay is Apple’s mobile payments service. As with the Apple Watch, Apple has adopted the Apple symbol «» followed by «Pay» for the service’s name, though the company also refers to it as «Apple Pay.» Apple Pay, which launched in October 20, 2014, is designed to allow iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch users across the world to make payments for goods and services directly with credit and debit cards stored in their devices.
Apple Pay also lets users make one-tap purchases within apps that have adopted the Apple Pay API, and it is available on the web on devices running iOS 10 or macOS Sierra or later. Devices capable of using Apple Pay within iOS apps or on the web include the iPhone 6 and later, iPad Air 2 and later, iPad mini 3 and later, iPad Pro models, and Macs with Touch ID. All of these devices feature Touch ID or Face ID and contain an NFC controller where the «Secure Element» of Apple Pay is located, keeping customer information private.
Apple offers person-to-person Apple Pay payments through the Messages app on the iPhone and Apple Watch. Using Apple Cash, you can send money to friends or family in the United States. Apple also introduced its own credit card, the Apple Card, which has unique perks and benefits and offers deep integration with Apple Pay and the Wallet app.
To keep transactions secure, Apple uses a method known as «tokenization,» preventing actual credit card numbers from being sent over the air. Apple also secures payments using Touch ID or Face ID on compatible iPhones and continual skin contact on the Apple Watch.
Apple is aiming to replace the wallet with Apple Pay, and the one-step payment process prevents people from needing to dig through a purse or wallet to find credit or debit cards. Because it is built on existing NFC technology, Apple Pay works anywhere NFC-based contactless payments are accepted, plus it is available on the web for online purchases.
Apple Pay is the most popular mobile payment platform in the United States, and it is on track to account for 10 percent of global card transactions by 2025.
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Setting Up Apple Pay
Apple Pay can be set up in the Wallet app. Tapping the «+» icon in Wallet lets users to add a credit or debit card to Apple Pay, either selecting a card already on file with iTunes or scanning one in with the camera. Apple Pay can also be set up by using the prompts when setting up a new iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
Credit and debit cards are verified in just a few seconds, but some cards require a phone call, app download, or an email to verify a card before it can be added to Apple Pay. Once a card is verified, it is immediately available for purchases both in stores and within apps. Up to eight cards can be registered with Apple Pay at one time.
Apple Pay can be managed in the Settings app, located in the «Wallet and Apple Pay» section. Each card added to Wallet is listed in that section, along with information like billing address, email, and phone number. Tapping on a card offers specific information like last digits of the card number, last digits of the Device Account Number that replaces the card number in transactions, and it also provides contact information for the bank that issued the card.
Some cards are also able to display transaction information, offering a list of recent transactions that have been made, with Apple Pay or with a traditional purchase via physical card.
Apple Pay How Tos
- How to Change Your Default Card for Apple Pay Purchases on Your iPhone
- How to Change Your Default Card for Apple Pay Purchases on Your Apple Watch
- How to Change Your Default Card for Apple Pay Purchases on Your Mac
How It Works
In a retail store, when approaching a point-of-sale system compatible with Apple Pay, the screen of the iPhone lights up and opens Wallet automatically, where a user can tap on a credit card to be used or pay with the default Apple Pay card.
A payment is made by holding a compatible iPhone or Apple Watch near a checkout system that includes NFC, most of which look like standard card checkout terminals within stores. A completed payment is denoted by a slight vibration, a check mark on the screen, and a beep. On devices with Face ID, a facial scan is used for authentication, and on devices with Touch ID, a fingerprint scan is required. After the scan, a double tap confirms a payment.
In some stores and in some countries, users may still be asked for a PIN code due to older point-of-sale machines, transaction limitations, and laws in certain countries, but for the most part, checking out with Apple Pay is an easy one-step process that does not require a signature or PIN.
With Apple Pay, a cashier does not see a credit card number, a name, an address, or any other personally identifying information, making it more secure than traditional payment methods. There is no need to take out a credit card or confirm the authenticity of a credit card with a driver’s license or ID card, because all of that information is stored on the iPhone and protected by several built-in security systems, including Touch ID.
Making a payment online via Apple Pay is just as simple as an in store payment because it uses the same credit card and authenticates with Touch ID in participating apps that have adopted the Apple Pay API. Using Apple Pay in an app or on a website bypasses all of the steps that are usually required when making an online purchase, including entering shipping and payment information.
After an item is added to an online cart and a user initiates the checkout process, Apple Pay can be selected as the payment method. The shipping/billing address associated with the credit or debit card on file is automatically entered, as is a user’s name, and the purchase is confirmed via Touch ID. During this process, information like shipping address can be altered, which is useful when ordering a gift. Online payments using Apple Pay for the web follow the same process.
Online and retail store payments are both limited to participating merchants. Apple Pay is only available within apps and on websites that have adopted the Apple Pay API and to make a payment in a retail location, the shop needs to support Apple Pay directly or allow NFC payments.
In More Detail
Compatible Devices
Apple Pay in stores is available for the iPhone 6 and later, including all modern iPhone models. All of Apple’s iPhones after the iPhone 6 include near-field communication (NFC) chips. Apple Pay also works with Apple Watch, the company’s wrist-worn wearable device, plus it can be used with Macs and iPads that support Touch ID or Face ID.
Security
Apple puts a heavy emphasis on security when advertising Apple Pay, to assure iPhone owners that their payment information is safe, and, in fact, safer on an iPhone than inside of a wallet. According to former credit card executive Tom Noyes, the way Apple Pay has been designed to work makes it «the most secure payments scheme on the planet.»
When a credit or debit card is scanned into Wallet for use with Apple Pay, it is assigned a unique Device Account Number, or «token,» which is stored in the phone rather than an actual card number.
The iPhone itself has a special dedicated chip called a Secure Element that contains all of a user’s payment information, and credit card numbers and data are never uploaded to iCloud or Apple’s servers. When a transaction is made, the Device Account Number is sent via NFC, along with a dynamic security code unique to each transaction, both of which are used to verify a successful payment. The dynamic security code is a one-time use cryptogram that replaces the credit card’s CCV and is used to ensure that a transaction is being conducted from the device containing the Device Account Number.
Dynamic security codes and Device Account Numbers (aka, tokens and cryptograms) are not unique to Apple and are built into the NFC specification that the company is adopting. In fact, much of the Apple Pay system is built on existing technology.
Along with Device Account Numbers and dynamic security codes, Apple also authenticates each transaction through Touch ID or Face ID. Whenever a transaction is conducted with an iPhone, a user must place a finger on Touch ID or complete a facial scan for the payment to go through.
With the Apple Watch, authentication is done through skin contact. When the watch is placed on the wrist, a user is prompted to enter their passcode. After a passcode is entered, as long as the device continues to have contact with the skin (which is monitored through the heart rate sensor), it’s be able to be used to make payments. If the watch is removed and skin contact is lost, it can no longer be used to make payments.
Both Touch ID, Face ID, and the skin contact authentication method in the Apple Watch prevent someone who has stolen an iPhone or Apple Watch from making an unauthorized payment.
Because Apple utilizes Device Account Numbers, a user’s credit card number is never shared with merchants or transmitted with payments. Store clerks and employees do not see a user’s credit card at any point, and they also do not have access to personal information like a name or address because an ID is not required for verification purposes.
Furthermore, if an iPhone is lost, the owner can utilize the Find My app to suspend all payments from the device, without needing to go through the hassle of canceling credit cards.
Banks are confident in Apple Pay’s security, and have opted to assume liability for any fraudulent purchases made both in retail stores and online using the system.
Privacy
Apple has been careful to point out the company does not store or monitor the transactions that people make with Apple Pay. Apple says it does not know what people are purchasing, nor does it save transaction information.
«We are not in the business of collecting your data,» said Eddy Cue during the keynote speech introducing Apple Pay. «Apple doesn’t know what you bought, where you bought it, or how much you paid. The transaction is between you, the merchant, and the bank.»
U.S. Partners
Compatible Credit Cards and Banks
Apple has partnered with the major credit and debit card companies in the United States: Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express. Apple has also signed deals with all major banks, including Bank of America, HSBC, Capital One, Chase, Citi, American Express, and Wells Fargo, plus it has established deals with hundreds of smaller banks across the country.
A current list of bank partners can be found on Apple’s participating banks support document.
Store Credit Cards:
In October of 2015, Kohl’s became the first retail store to allow Apple Pay to be used with its in-store credit cards. Kohl’s Charge Cards can now be added to Apple Pay and used to make purchases in Kohl’s retail stores. In May of 2016, Kohl’s also became the first retailer to support both store payments and rewards with a single tap in Apple Pay, allowing users to automatically get rewards points when using their Kohl’s cards without the need for a second Apple Pay transaction.
BJ’s Wholesale Club Credit Cards began working with Apple Pay in December of 2015. JCPenney also began supporting Apple Pay in mid-2017 for its store cards, and other stores have also been implementing rewards into Apple Pay.
Retail Partners:
Because Apple Pay is based on already existing NFC technology, the service works in hundreds of thousands of locations that accept contactless payments in the countries where Apple Pay is accepted. Apple Pay launched with a handful of partners, but over the course of the last two years, many more stores have begun accepting the payments service.
Apple Pay is accepted in more than a million retail stores, restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, and more across the United States. By the beginning of 2019, Apple Pay was available in 65 percent of U.S. retail locations. 74 of the top 100 merchants in the United States accept Apple Pay.
Some of Apple’s partners include Best Buy, B&H Photo, Bloomingdales, Chevron, Disney, Dunkin Donuts, GameStop, Jamba Juice, Kohl’s, Lucky, McDonald’s, Office Depot, Petco, Sprouts, Staples, KFC, Trader Joe’s, Walgreens, Safeway, Costco, Whole Foods, CVS, Target, Publix, Taco Bell, and 7-11.
Transit systems in Philadelphia, Portland, Chicago, New York, Boston, San Diego, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Toronto, Montreal, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, and 275 cities in China have added support for Apple Pay, with a list of states, countries, and regions that support Apple Pay for transit available here.
Apple Pay can be used to pay for transit on iPhone and Apple Watch, and in many of the above listed areas, Express Transit Mode is available. With Express Transit Mode, the iPhone and Apple Watch can be used to quickly pay for rides without having to unlock the device, open an app, or validate with Face ID/Touch ID.
Apple Pay is also available in many places outside of traditional retail stores, including universities, ballparks, non-profit organizations, Bitcoin payment providers, and even ATMs from Bank of America, Chase, and Wells Fargo.
A full list of locations where Apple Pay is accepted in the United States can be found on Apple’s Apple Pay website.
Apps:
Apple Pay support can be built into any app, and thousands of apps, representing businesses both big and small, accept Apple Pay as a payment method in their apps. When used in an app, Apple Pay payments can be made on iPhones and iPads equipped with Touch ID or Face ID.
Apple Pay Loyalty Card Integration
In the fall of 2015, Apple Pay began working with various store loyalty programs, allowing customers with loyalty cards stored in the Wallet app to use them over NFC in participating stores. Loyalty cards from eligible stores added to Wallet pop up at NFC terminals just like credit cards.
Walgreens was the first company to support the Apple Pay loyalty program. Walgreens customers can add their Walgreens rewards cards to Wallet where they can be used like any other credit or debit card during the checkout process to earn rewards points.
Checking out with a rewards card is a two-step process in most stores — first it’s necessary to activate the rewards card with a finger on Touch ID, followed by the actual payment. Kohl’s is an exception, having introduced one-touch rewards and payment integration.
Goldman Sachs Partnership
Apple and Goldman Sachs partnered to launch credit card called Apple Card that features Apple Pay branding and offers two percent cash back on Apple Pay purchases. Goldman Sachs replaced Barclays as Apple’s financing partner, and Apple Card also offers financing options for Apple products in addition to cash bonuses for Apple Pay purchases. The Apple Card is limited to the United States at the current time.
Apple’s Cut
Apple collects a fee from banks each time consumers use the Apple Pay payment solution to make a purchase. According to rumors, Apple has struck individual deals with each bank it has partnered with, including Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and more.
Apple’s cut is reportedly at approximately 0.15 percent of each purchase, which equates to 15 cents out of each $100 purchase.
Apple Pay on the Web
With iOS 10 and macOS Sierra, Apple Pay expanded to websites. Participating websites have begun offering Apple Pay as a payment option when checking out, giving Apple Pay users an alternative to payments services like PayPal. Many websites and payment providers like Stripe, WePay, and SquareSpace support Apple Pay on the web.
On Macs with a fingerprint sensor, purchases are verified through Touch ID. On other machines, purchases are verified through a connection to an Apple Watch or an iPhone, with the purchase authorized via Touch ID/Face ID, and on the iPhone and iPad, purchases are authorized through Touch ID or Face ID as normal.
Apple Cash
In iOS 11.2, Apple introduced Apple Cash, designed to allow users to send peer-to-peer Apple Pay payments using Messages on the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. Apple Cash lets you send money to friends and family with a connected debit card, similar to services like Square Cash or Venmo.
Money can be sent in Messages using standard fingerprint/face authentication (or skin authentication on the Apple Watch), and funds received are available in a new Apple Cash card that’s located in Wallet. This card can be used to make Apple Pay purchases where Apple Pay is accepted (similar to any other credit or debit card stored in Apple Pay), or it can be transferred to a bank account. Apple partnered with prepaid card provider Green Dot for the Apple Cash card.
Sending money using Apple Cash via Messages requires an Apple Pay-compatible device, which includes the iPhone SE, iPhone 6 or later, iPad Pro, iPad 5th & 6th generation, iPad Air 2, iPad mini 3 or later, and Apple Watch. Person-to-person payments are limited to the United States at the current time.
Like many peer-to-peer money transferring services, sending money is free when a debit card is used, and while Apple used to allow money to be loaded using a credit card for a small fee, you can now only add money to Apple Cash via a debit card.
Apple Cash is limited to the United States, but could soon expand to several countries in Europe.
According to a recent study by Consumer Reports, Apple Cash is the best peer-to-peer mobile payments service thanks to Apple’s robust security and privacy policies. Apple Cash beat out Venmo, Square Cash, Facebook Messenger payments, and Zelle.
The Apple Card
Apple in August 2019 introduced the Apple Card, its own credit card in partnership with Goldman Sachs and Mastercard. The Apple Card is a new physical and digital credit card that iPhone users in the U.S. can sign up for on the iPhone.
Apple Card works like a traditional credit card, but it is deeply integrated into the Wallet app, offering up real-time views of the latest transactions and a complete overview of spending organized by category along with payment options optimized for encouraging minimal interest.
Apple has a «Daily Cash» cash back program that gives you 1 percent cash back on all purchases, 2 percent cash back on all Apple Pay purchases made with Apple Card, and 3 percent on all Apple-related purchases at Apple retail stores, the App Store, iTunes, and some third-party partner stores. Daily Cash is immediately available in the Wallet app, delivered on the Apple Cash card.
Apple also offers three percent cash back when using the Apple Card with Apple Pay for Uber, Uber Eats, T-Mobile, Walgreens, Nike, and Duane Reade purchases. In the future, Apple also plans to bring three percent cash back rewards to other merchants and apps.
Customer support for Apple Card is done through the Messages app, and there are no fees associated with the card. Apple is aiming to provide low interest rates, but APR is be based on credit score and credit approval is required. Privacy is a major focus, and the physical Apple Card — made out of titanium engraved with your name — has no number on it, no signature, and no expiration date, with info instead stored in the Wallet app.
We have a full guide with everything that you need to know about Apple Card available here.
Tap to Pay on iPhone
Apple in February 2022 introduced «Tap to Pay on iPhone,» a feature designed to allow NFC-compatible iPhones to accept payments through Apple Pay, contactless credit and debit cards, and other digital wallets, without requiring additional hardware.
Tap to Pay works with the iPhone XS or later, allowing supported iOS apps to accept iPhone to iPhone payments. At checkout, a merchant is able to prompt a customer to hold their iPhone, Apple Watch, contactless credit or debit card, or other digital wallet close to the merchant’s iPhone to complete a payment over NFC.
Apple Pay Later
Apple in March 2023 began testing Apple Pay Later, a feature that allows purchases to be split into four payments. Available in the United States to iPhone users over the age of 18, Apple Pay Later is basically a loan program.
Users can split a purchase into four equal payments that are paid over six weeks, with Apple charging no interest or fees. Apple Pay Later is available for amounts ranging from $50 to $1,000, and applying to use Apple Pay Later does not impact credit.
Apple Pay Later is built into the Wallet app on the iPhone, and iPhone users can view, track, and manage their loans right in the app. The Apple Pay Later feature is not yet widely available and is still in testing.
International Expansion
Apple began expanding Apple Pay outside of the United States in 2015, launching the payment service in the UK, Australia, and Canada. From there, it expanded to dozens of other countries. Apple today is still working to expand Apple Pay worldwide, as it is not available in some major countries like India.
Apple Pay can be used with supported debit and credit cards in Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Guernsey, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Isle of Man, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jersey, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palestine, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, The United States, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Vatican City, and Vietnam.
More information on availability and participating financial institutions in each country or region can be found on Apple’s website.
Competition
Walmart, the biggest retailer in the United States has refused to implement Apple Pay and has instead rolled out its own proprietary payment system, Walmart Pay. With Walmart Pay, customers can make purchases and payments in Walmart retail locations using a QR code in the Walmart app. Walmart Pay is available nationwide at all Walmart locations.
Other Apple Pay competitors include Samsung Pay and Google Pay (formerly known as Android Pay), two mobile payment solutions created by Samsung and Google, respectively. These payment solutions are largely designed for Android devices, but even iPhone users can use Google Pay Send for sending money to friends.