Summary
Apple Pay is now available in India, giving iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch users a new way to make payments in stores, apps and on the web.
At launch, customers with eligible Axis Bank Visa and Mastercard credit cards can add their cards to Apple Wallet and use Apple Pay at supported merchants across India.
Apple says the service is designed to make card payments easier while keeping payment information secure and private. Users can pay at contactless terminals without entering a card PIN or OTP during checkout.
Support for Mac is also planned for a later date.
What Happened?
Apple has officially launched Apple Pay in India, bringing its contactless payment service to one of the world’s largest digital payment markets.
The service is available on compatible iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch devices. Users can add an eligible Axis Bank credit card to Apple Wallet and use it at thousands of participating merchants.
Apple Pay can be used both in physical stores and for online purchases where the service is supported.
The launch brings another payment option to Indian consumers who already use cards and digital payment services regularly.
Which Cards Work With Apple Pay in India?
At launch, Apple Pay supports Axis Bank-issued Visa and Mastercard credit cards.
Eligible customers can add their cards to Apple Wallet and continue receiving the rewards and benefits associated with their cards when making purchases through Apple Pay.
Apple says support for more cards and payment partners could expand over time.
How Apple Pay Works in Stores
Using Apple Pay at a contactless payment terminal is designed to be simple.
On an iPhone, users can double-click the side button or Home button, authenticate using Face ID, Touch ID or their device passcode when required, and then hold the device near a contactless payment reader.
Apple Watch users can similarly use their watch at supported contactless terminals.
This means customers do not have to take out their physical card or manually enter card details at supported checkout terminals.
Apple Pay Also Works for Online Payments
Apple Pay isn’t limited to physical stores.
Users can also make payments on their iPhone and iPad when Apple Pay is offered by a participating app or website.
Instead of repeatedly entering card information, billing details and other payment information, customers can use Apple Pay to complete the transaction more quickly.
Apple says Mac support is coming soon.
Security and Privacy Are a Major Focus
Apple is positioning security and privacy as important parts of Apple Pay.
The actual card number is not stored on the user’s device or Apple’s servers, and Apple does not share the card number with merchants.
Instead, Apple Pay uses a unique Device Account Number that is encrypted and stored securely in the device’s Secure Element.
This means merchants do not receive the customer’s actual card number when a payment is made through Apple Pay.
According to Apple, transaction information that can be linked back to the user is not retained by the company. Payment activity remains between the customer, merchant and card issuer.
What Happens If the iPhone Is Lost?
Apple Pay also includes protections for lost or stolen devices.
If an iPhone is lost or stolen, users can use Apple’s Find My service to locate the device, lock it or suspend payments associated with it.
This can provide an additional layer of protection compared with carrying a physical card.
Where Can Apple Pay Be Used in India?
Apple says Apple Pay is accepted by millions of merchants across India at launch.
Participating businesses include:
- Apple Store
- Blinkit
- Chaayos
- Comet
- Croma
- Interflora
- Ixigo
- Le15 Patisserie
- Reliance brands
- Tata 1mg
- Zomato
The company says more merchants and apps are expected to support Apple Pay over time.
Apple has also worked with payment service providers including BillDesk, Cashfree, Juspay, Mswipe, Paytm, PayU, Pine Labs and Razorpay to bring Apple Pay to their merchant networks.
How to Set Up Apple Pay
Eligible Axis Bank customers can add their cards directly through the latest version of the Axis Bank app.
Another option is to open the Wallet app on an iPhone, tap the plus (+) button and follow the instructions to add an eligible card.
Once the card has been added and verified, users can begin using Apple Pay at supported locations.
Why Apple Pay’s India Launch Matters
India already has a highly developed digital payments ecosystem, with consumers widely using cards, mobile wallets and instant payment services.
Apple Pay enters this market with a different focus: combining contactless card payments with Apple’s hardware, authentication and security features.
For iPhone and Apple Watch users, the ability to tap a device at a compatible payment terminal could make card payments more convenient.
The launch could also encourage more Indian merchants and apps to support contactless payments.
Apple Pay Is Available in More Than 90 Countries
Apple Pay is not a new payment service globally.
Apple says the service is now available in more than 90 countries and regions and works with more than 11,000 bank and network partners worldwide.
Its arrival in India therefore represents an expansion into another major market rather than the launch of an entirely new service.
What Comes Next?
Apple is expected to expand Apple Pay’s availability among Indian merchants and apps over time.
The company also says Mac support is coming, which will extend the service to another category of Apple devices.
The bigger question will be how quickly additional banks and card networks become available to Indian customers.
For now, the service is starting with eligible Axis Bank Visa and Mastercard credit cards.
Conclusion
Apple Pay has officially arrived in India, giving eligible Axis Bank credit card users another way to make payments using their Apple devices.
With support for iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch at launch, users can pay at participating stores and make purchases through supported apps and websites without repeatedly entering their card information.
The service also puts a strong emphasis on security, using tokenisation and Apple’s Secure Element rather than sharing the user’s actual card number with merchants.
For Apple’s growing user base in India, Apple Pay could make contactless card payments more convenient. Its long-term impact, however, will depend on how quickly more banks, cards, merchants and apps join the platform.