Why should you use Apple Pay?
One of the main benefits of using Apple Pay is the convenience it offers. By adding your credit cards to Apple Pay, you can then use Apple Pay as your wallet. You can choose which credit card you want to use for each transaction – or alternatively, set a default card – to enjoy faster payments as you shop online and when you shop instore.
As long as you know you will be shopping at stores that accept Apple Pay, you can leave your wallet at home. This is a great option if you’re popping out the house and want to streamline what you take with you, or in situations when you want to carry as little as possible, such as going to the gym or going for a run.
In terms of online shopping, the process of buying stuff becomes so much quicker – not just because you no longer have to input all your credit card info, but also because Apple Pay will auto-fill other information such as your billing and shipping address. When shopping instore, your device interacts with the store’s contactless payment system, making payment super quick and easy.
As for security, Apple Pay offers a secure way to pay both instore and online. When communicating with the retailer’s payment system, Apple Pay uses tokenisation, which means your credit card number is never disclosed. And rewards? Yes, you will continue to earn rewards when paying with Apple Pay, just as you would when using your physical card.
Can you use Apple Pay with any credit card?
Apple Pay can only be used with compatible credit cards. And while there are loads of credit card providers that offer compatibility with Apple Pay, not all of them do. Out of the big four, only Westpac is dragging its heels, but you will also find many of the smaller financial institutions, such as credit unions and customer owned banks now offer Apple Pay as standard. To save you the hassle of working out which credit cards are compatible with Apple Pay, we’ve compiled a list of some of the credit cards that offer Apple Pay on this page.
Can you use Apple Pay with any device?
Just as you need to have a credit card that is compatible with Apple Pay, you also need to have a device that is compatible with Apple Pay. Obviously, as this is Apple’s digital wallet system, only Apple devices are compatible. If you have a Samsung or Google device, you can use their digital wallet systems, Samsung Pay and Google Pay.
In terms of compatibility, here’s what to look for:
- To use your iPhone with Apple Pay, it must be a model with Face ID or Touch ID (except for the iPhone 5s). You can use Apple’s website to check if your iPhone supports Apple Pay.
- To use your iPad with Apple Pay, it must be an iPad Pro, iPad Air, iPad, or iPad mini model with Touch ID or Face ID.
- To use your Apple Watch with Apple Pay, it must be an Apple Watch Series 1, 2 or later, or an Apple Watch (1st generation).
- To use your Mac with Apple Pay, it must be a Mac model with Touch ID, or a Mac model introduced in 2012 or later used in conjunction with an Apple Pay-enabled iPhone or Apple Watch.
What could the future hold for Apple Pay in Australia?
While Apple Pay is pretty handy, using it here in Australia doesn’t offer the same level of functionality you can get in other countries. Here are some ways to use Apple Pay elsewhere in the world, which may or may not make it over to Australia some time in the future.
Person to Person Payments: Currently available in the United States only, this allows users to send and receive money instantly using Apple Cash via Apple Pay.
Student ID: Over in the US, some educational institutions allow users to add their Student ID to Apple Wallet, which then lets them use their device around campus instead of their physical card.
Transit: In China, Japan, the US, Canada, Russia, Singapore and the UK, you can use Apple Pay within compatible transit systems, allowing you to tap-and-go as you travel.
Business Chat: Currently in beta, Business Chat offers a way for businesses to communicate with Apple and other businesses using Messages, with the option to make payments via Apple Pay.
Apple Pay Credit Cards - Frequently Asked Questions
To start using Apple Pay you will need:
- Your eligible device,
- Your compatible credit card,
- The latest version of iOS, watchOS, or macOS,
- An Apple ID signed in to iCloud.
On your device, go to the Wallet app and tap the plus symbol or ‘Add Credit or Debit Card’. You can then scan your credit card using the device’s camera or input the card details manually. After you have entered your card’s security code and agreed to the Apple Pay terms and conditions, you will then receive a prompt to verify the process either with an SMS code from your card provider, or you may need to call your provider using the phone number provided. Once your credit card is verified, tap ‘Next’ to start using Apple Pay.
If you want to use your Apple Watch with Apple Pay, first you will need to pair your Apple Watch to your compatible iPhone. Then, open your phone’s Watch app, go to the My Watch tab, and tap Wallet & Apple Pay. You can then follow the steps to add your card.
When shopping instore, make sure the retailer accepts Apple Pay. Most retailers that offer contactless payments also offer Apple Pay compatibility, but some may feature an Apple Pay logo as well.
- To pay with your iPhone using your default card, simply rest your finger on Touch ID and hold your phone close to the contactless reader. You may also authorise the purchase with Face ID or your passcode.
- To pay with Apple Watch, double-click the side button and hold your watch close to the contactless reader.
- You may be asked to enter your PIN for payments over $100.
When shopping online, tap the Apple Pay button at checkout. You can also use Apple Pay to make purchases within apps whenever you see the Apple Pay button onscreen.
And returns? When returning items instore that you purchased using Apple Pay, wait for the cashier to process the refund, then using the device you used to make the original payment, select the card you want to be refunded. On your iPhone, hold the device near the card reader and authorise the return with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode. On your Apple Watch, double-click the side button and hold the display of the watch within a few centimetres of the card reader.
Apple states Apple Pay is actually safer than using a plastic credit card. Why? Not only is every transaction verified with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode, you also benefit from tokenisation technology, which means your card number and identity are not shared with the merchant. In addition to that, your card numbers are not stored on your device or on Apple servers.
What happens if you lose your device? If your device is lost or stolen, Apple Pay cannot be used without first being authorised by Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode. You can, however, suspend or permanently remove the ability to pay from your device by going to your Apple ID account page or using the Find My iPhone app. This action will be processed even if the device is offline. You can also contact your provider to suspend or remove your cards from Apple Pay.
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