The Top Apps That Accept Apple Pay

Troy Reeder

iphone screen showing icons on screen

Apple Pay has become a popular payment method for iPhone users. Many top apps now accept Apple Pay, offering a convenient and secure way to make purchases. The App Store features thousands of compatible apps across various categories, including lifestyle, productivity, and entertainment.

Popular apps like Starbucks, Postmates, and the Apple Store itself support Apple Pay. This integration allows users to make quick transactions without entering card details repeatedly. The widespread adoption of Apple Pay by major retailers and service providers enhances its utility for iOS users.

Apple Pay’s security features make it an attractive option for mobile payments. It uses device-specific numbers and unique transaction codes, reducing the risk of fraud. As more apps incorporate Apple Pay, users can enjoy a seamless payment experience across different platforms and services.

Top Apps That Accept Apple Pay

Here are the most popular Apps in the App Store that accept Apple Pay (Source: Apple.com)

App NameDescriptionCategoryApple Pay
Apple StoreShopping designed around youShoppingYes
Best Buy: Tech drops & dealsShop. Explore. Track. Save.ShoppingYes
TargetShop and save from anywhere.ShoppingYes
Temu: Shop Like a BillionaireShop incredible deals on Temu!ShoppingYes
Fandango – Get Movie TicketsBrowse Rotten Tomatoes ReviewsEntertainmentYes
Ticketmaster-Buy, Sell TicketsConcerts, Sports & BroadwayEntertainmentYes
StubHub: Event TicketsEvery Ticket is GuaranteedEntertainmentYes
TouchTunes: Control Bar MusicPlay your tunes on the jukeboxEntertainmentYes
NFLStream Live Games with NFL+EntertainmentYes
Gametime – Last Minute TicketsSports, Concerts, & TheaterEntertainmentYes
Regal: Movie Tickets Made EasyMovies, Times, Food & RewardsEntertainmentYes
TickPick: No Fee TicketsSports, Concerts, & TheaterEntertainmentYes
SeatGeek – Buy Event TicketsSports, Concerts, & BroadwayEntertainmentYes
Atom – Movie Tickets & TimesShowtimes, Trailers & RatingsEntertainmentYes
Vivid Seats | Buy TicketsConcerts, Sports & TheaterEntertainmentYes
Showpass DashboardManage your Showpass eventsEntertainmentYes
RA GuideDJs, clubs & ticketsEntertainmentYes
TablelistMaking nightlife simpleEntertainmentYes
MLB BallparkTickets, Offers, Info & MoreEntertainmentYes
Uber – Request a rideRideshare, taxi cabs and moreTravelYes
LyftPublic Ride Sharing & TravelTravelYes
Expedia: Hotels, Flights & CarTrip planner & travel dealsTravelYes
Hotwire: Last Minute HotelsCheap Hotel & Car DealsTravelYes
Flywheel – The Taxi AppTravelTravelYes
United AirlinesTravelTravelYes
AirbnbVacation Rentals & ExperiencesTravelYes
HotelTonight – Hotel DealsAmazing deals at great hotelsTravelYes
Orbitz Hotels & FlightsTravel & Car rental dealsTravelYes
Turo — Car rental marketplaceSkip the rental car counterTravelYes
Headout: Travel ExperiencesTop Tours, Events & TicketsTravelYes
Exxon Mobil Rewards+The seamless way to pay & saveTravelYes
Hotels.com: Travel BookingFind Hotels & Vacation RentalsTravelYes
Mr & Mrs Smith boutique hotelsTravel Club for Hotel LoversTravelYes
SpotHero: #1 Rated Parking AppFind Garage & Airport ParkingTravelYes
PayByPhone ParkingThe best way to park.TravelYes
ParkWhiz – #1 Parking AppBest parking app! Find & bookTravelYes
Sailo – Boat Rentals WorldwideAnd Yacht Charters WorldwideTravelYes
EmiratesFly BetterTravelYes
FXAIRPremium Charter On DemandTravelYes
easyJet: Travel AppSearch, Book & Manage FlightsTravelYes
Postmates – Food DeliveryEats, groceries, and more.Food & DrinkYes
StarbucksOrder, pay, and earn Stars.Food & DrinkYes
Grubhub: Food DeliveryRestaurant Takeout & GroceryFood & DrinkYes
DoorDash – Food DeliveryFood & Groceries, deliveredFood & DrinkYes
Instacart: Groceries & FoodShop Grocery Delivery ServicesFood & DrinkYes
Vivino: Buy the Right WineScan, Rate, Cellar & LearnFood & DrinkYes
Seamless: Local Food DeliveryOrder from nearby restaurantsFood & DrinkYes
Ritual – Order Local TakeoutOrder ahead food and coffeeFood & DrinkYes
OpenTableFind Restaurant ReservationsFood & DrinkYes
Blue Apron: Meal KitsHome Cooking Delivery ServiceFood & DrinkYes
Yelp: Food, Delivery & ReviewsDiscover Restaurants Around MeFood & DrinkYes
ChowNow: Local Food OrderingTakeout That’s Fair For All.Food & DrinkYes
Jimmy John’s SandwichesDelivery, Pickup, & RewardsFood & DrinkYes
Thrive MarketSave on Organic GroceriesFood & DrinkYes
Panera BreadOrder Ahead, Pick-Up, RewardsFood & DrinkYes
Dunkin’Order ahead and earn rewardsFood & DrinkYes
Slice: Pizza Delivery/Pick UpOrder From Pizzerias Near YouFood & DrinkYes
Chick-fil-AOrder ahead. Redeem rewards.Food & DrinkYes
Omaha SteaksShoppingFood & DrinkYes
White Castle Online OrderingFood & DrinkFood & DrinkYes
Good Eggs – Grocery DeliveryLocal Grocery & Meal DeliveryFood & DrinkYes
Domino’sFood & DrinkFood & DrinkYes
McDonald’sFood & DrinkFood & DrinkYes
Taco BellFood & DrinkFood & DrinkYes
Groupon – Local Deals Near MeActivities, Discounts, CouponsFood & DrinkYes
Etsy: Shop & Gift with StyleShop Unique & Custom GiftsFashion & StyleYes
Macy’s: Online Shopping & SaveShop: Clothing, Gifts & SalesFashion & StyleYes
Nike SNKRS: Sneakers & ApparelUnlock & Shop Nike and JordanFashion & StyleYes
Warby ParkerRx glasses, contacts, and moreFashion & StyleYes
Rue La La – Shop Top FashionClothing, Home, Travel & MoreFashion & StyleYes
Gilt – Shop Designer SalesClothing, Home & MoreFashion & StyleYes
Sephora US: Makeup & SkincareShop Inclusive Beauty BrandsFashion & StyleYes
Abercrombie & FitchShop Style & Fashion ApparelFashion & StyleYes
ZulilyShoppingFashion & StyleYes
Kohl’s – Shopping & DiscountsGet rewards & access deals.Fashion & StyleYes
HBX | Globally Curated FashionShop Latest Fashion & ClothingFashion & StyleYes
Under ArmourShop Athletic Clothing & ShoesFashion & StyleYes
FARFETCH – Shop Luxury FashionDesigner clothing shopping appFashion & StyleYes
ZARAShoppingFashion & StyleYes
Ulta Beauty: Makeup & SkincareTop brand haircare & fragranceFashion & StyleYes
Wishi – Premium StylingPersonal Styling ServiceFashion & StyleYes
Lilly PulitzerResort & Beach Wear for WomenFashion & StyleYes
Wish: Shop and SaveFashion, Decor & ElectronicsFashion & StyleYes
Poshmark: Buy & Sell FashionShop & make money from homeFashion & StyleYes
GOAT – Sneakers & ApparelPast, Present, FutureFashion & StyleYes
Skechers: Shop Shoes & ClothesShop with RewardsFashion & StyleYes
ClassPass: Fitness, Spa, SalonFitness, yoga, boxing & moreMore to ExploreYes
Houzz – Home Design & RemodelRemodeling Ideas & Local ProsMore to ExploreYes
Taxfyle: Taxes Done For YouLicensed tax professionalsMore to ExploreYes
PayRangeUtilitiesMore to ExploreYes
TurboTax: File Your Tax ReturnE-file Taxes & Get Your RefundMore to ExploreYes
Social Print StudioPhoto Prints, Books, CalendarsMore to ExploreYes
Soothe: Wellness On DemandRelax with in-home spa serviceMore to ExploreYes
Felt: Greeting Cards & Giftsbirthday, thank you, holidayMore to ExploreYes
KickstarterBring Creativity to LifeMore to ExploreYes
LiquidSpaceProductivityMore to ExploreYes

Apple Pay Compatible Apps by Category

Here are some of the most popular app categories and some well-known examples that accept Apple Pay, grouped by category:

CategoryApps
ShoppingApple Store, Macy’s, Nike SNKRS, Warby Parker, Rue La La, Gilt, Sephora US, Abercrombie & Fitch, Zulily, Kohl’s, HBX, Under Armour, FARFETCH, ZARA, Ulta Beauty, Wish, Poshmark, GOAT, Skechers
Food & DrinkStarbucks, Postmates, DoorDash, Instacart, Vivino, Seamless, Ritual, OpenTable, Blue Apron, Yelp, ChowNow, Jimmy John’s Sandwiches, Thrive Market, Panera Bread, Dunkin’, Slice, Chick-fil-A, Omaha Steaks, White Castle Online Ordering, Good Eggs
TravelLyft, Expedia, Hotwire, Flywheel, United Airlines, Airbnb, HotelTonight, Orbitz, Turo, Headout, Exxon Mobil Rewards+, Hotels.com, Mr & Mrs Smith, SpotHero, PayByPhone Parking, ParkWhiz, Sailo, Emirates, FXAIR, easyJet
EntertainmentFandango, Groupon, Uber, Ticketmaster, StubHub, TouchTunes, NFL, Gametime, Regal, TickPick, SeatGeek, Atom, Vivid Seats, Showpass Dashboard, RA Guide, Tablelist, MLB Ballpark

For Shopping:

  • Retail giants: Many major retailers like Target, Best Buy, Nike, Sephora, and Macy’s accept Apple Pay within their apps. This allows for quick and secure checkout without manually entering card details.
  • Fashion: Apps like ASOS, Adidas, and Lululemon offer Apple Pay for easy purchasing of clothing and accessories.
  • Marketplaces: Etsy, for unique and handmade items, and StockX, for sneakers and streetwear, both support Apple Pay.

For Food and Delivery:

  • Food delivery: Apps like DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub, and Instacart allow you to pay for your food and grocery deliveries with Apple Pay.
  • Quick service restaurants: Starbucks (as we discussed), Dunkin’, and Panera Bread are examples of places where you can use Apple Pay within their apps.

For Travel and Transportation:

  • Ride-hailing: Uber and Lyft both accept Apple Pay for convenient payment of rides.
  • Travel booking: Apps like Expedia, Booking.com, and Airbnb may offer Apple Pay as a payment option.

For Entertainment:

  • Ticketing: Fandango for movie tickets, Ticketmaster and StubHub for event tickets often have Apple Pay integration.

Other Notable Apps:

  • Eventbrite: For purchasing tickets to events and festivals.
  • Groupon: For deals and discounts on various services and experiences.

How to find if an app accepts Apple Pay:

  • Look for the Apple Pay button: During checkout, many apps will display the Apple Pay logo as a payment option.
  • Check the app’s settings or FAQ: Some apps may mention Apple Pay support in their settings or help sections.

Keep in mind that this is not an exhaustive list, and many other apps across various categories support Apple Pay. As it becomes an increasingly popular payment method, more and more apps are likely to integrate it.

Key Takeaways

  • Thousands of apps on the App Store now support Apple Pay for easy, secure transactions
  • Major retailers and service providers have integrated Apple Pay into their apps
  • Apple Pay offers enhanced security features for mobile payments

Using Apple Pay Across Different Devices

Apple Pay works seamlessly on iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Apple Watches. Each device offers unique features for secure, contactless payments in stores, apps, and online.

Apple Pay on iPhone and iPad

iPhones and iPads with Face ID or Touch ID support Apple Pay. Users set up their cards in the Wallet app. To pay in stores, double-click the side button on iPhones with Face ID or use the home button on devices with Touch ID. Hold the device near the payment terminal.

For in-app purchases, tap the Apple Pay button at checkout. Confirm with Face ID, Touch ID, or passcode. On websites in Safari, look for the Apple Pay button. Select it and complete the purchase with biometric authentication.

NFC technology enables contactless payments at millions of stores worldwide.

Apple Pay on Mac

Macs with Touch ID built into the keyboard allow easy Apple Pay use. Click the Apple Pay button on supported websites in Safari. Authenticate with Touch ID to complete the purchase.

On Macs without Touch ID, users can still use Apple Pay. They need an iPhone or Apple Watch nearby to confirm payments. When checking out, a notification appears on the linked device. Authenticate there to finish the transaction on the Mac.

This seamless integration lets Mac users enjoy secure Apple Pay transactions across the web.

Apple Pay on Apple Watch

Apple Watch brings convenience to wrist-based payments. Double-click the side button to activate Apple Pay. Hold the watch near the payment terminal to complete the transaction.

No iPhone is needed for in-store payments once cards are set up. This makes Apple Watch ideal for quick purchases during workouts or when carrying a phone is impractical.

For app purchases, tap the Apple Pay button and double-click the side button to confirm. The watch’s passcode protects against unauthorized use if the device is lost or stolen.

Does Amazon Accept Apple Pay?

No, Amazon does not accept Apple Pay directly on their website (Amazon.com) or through the official Amazon App. You can use Apple Pay on 3rd-party merchant websites that have an Amazon Pay option enabled, but that is not the same as shopping on Amazon.com.

Does Walmart Accept Apple Pay?

No, Walmart does not accept Apple Pay in its stores or in the App. Instead, Walmart uses its own mobile payment system, Walmart Pay, which is integrated into the Walmart app. With Walmart Pay shoppers create an account and present a scannable barcode at checkout (or link it to the App for use directly on your phone).

Walmart accepts other payment methods, including: 

  • Credit cards
  • Debit cards
  • Cash
  • Gift cards
  • Store credit cards
  • Affirm
  • PayPal
  • HSA and FSA cards
  • State EBT cards for buying EBT-eligible items

Wide Acceptance of Apple Pay

Apple Pay has become widely available across various sectors, from retail stores to mobile apps. Its adoption continues to grow, offering users convenient and secure payment options in numerous places.

Apple Pay in Retail Stores and Supermarkets

Many major retailers and supermarkets now accept Apple Pay. Walgreens and Rite Aid were early adopters, integrating the payment system into their checkout process. Large chains like Target, Walmart, and Costco have also embraced Apple Pay, making shopping easier for iPhone users.

Grocery stores such as Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, and Safeway accept Apple Pay. This allows customers to make quick purchases without fumbling for cash or cards. Some stores even offer special promotions or rewards for using Apple Pay, encouraging its use.

Apple Pay in Restaurants and Hotels

Restaurants have increasingly adopted Apple Pay. Fast food chains like McDonald’s, Burger King, and Subway allow customers to pay with their iPhones or Apple Watches. Many sit-down restaurants also accept Apple Pay, streamlining the bill-paying process.

Several hotel chains have integrated Apple Pay into their payment systems. Marriott, Hyatt, and Hilton accept Apple Pay for room bookings and on-site purchases. This is particularly useful for travelers who prefer not to carry cash or multiple cards.

Apps and Online Stores Supporting Apple Pay

Numerous apps have incorporated Apple Pay as a payment option. Popular ride-sharing apps like Uber and Lyft allow users to pay for their trips using Apple Pay. Food delivery services such as DoorDash, Grubhub, and Postmates also support this payment method.

Online retailers have embraced Apple Pay for its ease of use and security features. The Apple Store, Nike, and Best Buy are among the many e-commerce sites that accept Apple Pay. This integration simplifies the checkout process, reducing cart abandonment rates.

Gas Stations and Public Transit Systems

Many gas stations now accept Apple Pay at the pump. ExxonMobil, Chevron, and Shell have updated their payment systems to include this option. Some stations even allow users to activate the pump and pay through their mobile apps using Apple Pay.

Public transit systems in several cities have adopted Apple Pay. Users can tap their iPhone or Apple Watch to pay for bus or train fares in places like New York, Chicago, and London. This eliminates the need for separate transit cards or tokens, making commuting more convenient.

Frequently Asked Questions

Apple Pay is widely accepted by various retailers, stores, and apps. Many consumers have questions about where and how they can use this convenient payment method.

Which online retailers accept Apple Pay for purchases?

Many major online retailers accept Apple Pay. These include Best Buy, Target, Etsy, and Staples. Apple’s website has a list of popular online stores that support this payment method. Users can look for the Apple Pay logo during checkout on compatible websites.

Can I use Apple Pay at grocery stores, and if so, which ones?

Yes, Apple Pay is accepted at numerous grocery stores. Major chains like Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, and Costco support it. Many regional supermarkets also allow Apple Pay transactions. Customers can check with their local stores or look for contactless payment symbols at checkout.

Are there shopping apps that support transactions through Apple Pay?

Many shopping apps integrate Apple Pay for easy transactions. Popular examples include the Nike app, Instacart, and Etsy. The App Store features thousands of apps that accept Apple Pay across various categories like lifestyle, entertainment, and productivity.

What major clothing stores accept Apple Pay for online shopping?

Several clothing retailers support Apple Pay for online purchases. These include Macy’s, J.Crew, and Gap. Shoppers can also use Apple Pay on fashion apps like ASOS and Zara. This option often appears during the checkout process on compatible websites and apps.

How can I find local merchants who accept Apple Pay?

The Maps app on Apple devices can help locate nearby businesses that accept Apple Pay. Users can search for a specific store or browse categories like restaurants or gas stations. The Apple Pay symbol in the business listing indicates acceptance of this payment method.

Is Apple Pay an accepted payment method on Amazon?

As of December 2024, Amazon does not directly accept Apple Pay on its website or mobile app. However, some Amazon-owned subsidiaries like Whole Foods accept Apple Pay in their physical stores. Amazon customers can use other payment methods like credit cards or Amazon’s own digital wallet.