Apple’s Tap to Pay for iPhone is coming — how it will change the way you pay

Tap to Pay for iPhone with contactless credit card
(Image credit: Apple)

Anyone with an iPhone will soon be able to accept contactless payments directly on their device. Apple just announced Tap to Pay on iPhone, a feature that leverages NFC technology to support transactions between an iPhone and Apple Pay, contactless credit cards or other digital wallet platforms.  

According to the press release, Tap to Pay will roll out for payment platforms and app developers in an upcoming iOS 15 software beta. American Express, Discover, Mastercard and Visa credit cards with contactless payment options will all be Tap to Pay eligible, as will the Stripe-owned Shopify Point of Sale app starting sometime this spring.

This means no additional hardware or payment system will be needed for small business owners and large retailers alike to carry out transactions. A merchant can prompt a customer to hold a contactless payment method close to the merchant's iPhone to complete a payment. 

Again, the payment method could be another iPhone or an Apple Watch with Apple Pay, as long as you know how to use Apple Pay with your iPhone or how to use Apple Pay on Apple Watch. An NFC-equipped credit card or an alternative digital wallet will work too.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who previously reported plans of such a feature for iPhone, dubbed Tap to Pay the "Square killer." For several years now, Square's payment terminals offered a bridge between contactless payments and mobile devices such as iPhones and iPads. But Tap to Pay eliminates the middleman, allowing iPhones to accept payments directly.

As for privacy, Apple's press release says that "customers’ payment data is protected by the same technology that makes Apple Pay private and secure." Transactions will be encrypted, so Apple will have no way of knowing what is purchased or who is doing the purchasing.

“As more and more consumers are tapping to pay with digital wallets and credit cards, Tap to Pay on iPhone will provide businesses with a secure, private, and easy way to accept contactless payments and unlock new checkout experiences using the power, security, and convenience of iPhone,” said Jennifer Bailey, Apple’s vice president of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet in the press release announcing Tap to Pay.

Kate Kozuch

Kate Kozuch is the managing editor of social and video at Tom’s Guide. She writes about smartwatches, TVs, audio devices, and some cooking appliances, too. Kate appears on Fox News to talk tech trends and runs the Tom's Guide TikTok account, which you should be following if you don't already. When she’s not filming tech videos, you can find her taking up a new sport, mastering the NYT Crossword or channeling her inner celebrity chef.

Read more
All three Galaxy S25 models with a close-up of their cameras
Samsung Wallet is getting two big upgrades for Galaxy phones — including this Apple Wallet feature
iPhone paying for something using Apple Pay at a card reader
I’ve finally used Apple Wallet for mobile payments — here’s what I learned
A render of the iPhone 17 Pro Max
iPhone 17 Pro rumor says Apple will finally steal this feature from Samsung Galaxy phones
A close up image of the Apple Wallet app
iOS 18.4 adds a new way to track your spending — but I think Apple can go even further
iPhone 16 Pro Max shown in hand
Apple and SpaceX just added Starlink connectivity for select iPhone users
iPhone 16 next to samsung galaxy watch 7 and bose wireless earbuds on a composite image
Apple's walled garden is crumbling — EU orders iOS to open up to third-party devices
Latest in iPhones
iPhone 16 with Apple Intelligence logo for iOS 18.1
iOS 18.4: All the newest Apple Intelligence features coming to your iPhone
Apple maps logo on iPhone screen
I avoided Apple Maps for trip planning — but these iOS 18 features are changing my mind
New emojis with iOS 18.4 beta release.
iOS 18.4 beta brings 8 new emoji to your iPhone — here's all the new options
An image of an iPhone screen showing the Safari app icon in the center
I got tired of Safari revealing my web searches in iOS 18.4 — this setting fixes that
iPhone Flip Concept
Foldable iPhone delays — there’s a bigger problem going on at Apple
iPhone 17 Air render
iPhone 17 Air — new survey could be bad news for Apple's super thin iPhone
Latest in News
iPhone 16 with Apple Intelligence logo for iOS 18.1
iOS 18.4: All the newest Apple Intelligence features coming to your iPhone
Maria Debska in "Just One Look" now streaming on Netflix
3 best Netflix shows in March you haven't watched yet
Split image featuring the Galaxy S25 Edge (left) and Galaxy S25 Ultra (right)
Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge just tipped for two Galaxy S25 Ultra-level features
Wolfenstein: The Old Blood
Amazon is giving away a ton of free games for its Big Spring Sale — here’s how to claim yours
A TV with the Netflix logo sits behind a hand holding a remote
Netflix is rolling out a big video quality upgrade — what you need to know
Choi Hyun-Wook, Hong Kyung, and Park Ji-hoon in "Weak Hero Class 1" now streaming on Netflix
This action-packed K-drama is now streaming on Netflix — and now’s the time to binge-watch before season 2