Apple Pay is now available in India, giving iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch users a new way to pay with eligible cards. The company launched the service in India on 30 September 2026, initially supporting eligible Axis Bank Visa and Mastercard credit cards.
The bigger question is where Apple Pay fits into a country where UPI is already part of everyday life. The answer is simple: Apple Pay is primarily a card-based contactless payment service, while UPI moves money directly through bank accounts.
That difference makes Apple Pay less of a UPI replacement and more of another payment option for Indian consumers.
Key Takeaways
- Apple Pay officially launched in India on 30 September 2026.
- Initial card support covers eligible Axis Bank Visa and Mastercard credit cards.
- iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch support is available at launch; Mac support is coming.
- Apple Pay uses device-specific tokenisation rather than exposing the actual card number to merchants.
- Users can authenticate payments with Face ID, Touch ID or a device passcode.
- Apple Pay works at compatible contactless terminals and supported online/in-app checkouts.
- UPI and Apple Pay use different payment models.
- UPI remains a bank-account-based payment infrastructure, while Apple Pay primarily digitises eligible cards.
- NPCI recorded more than 24.5 billion UPI transactions in August 2026.
- Additional Apple Pay bank partnerships may expand India’s Apple Pay ecosystem over time.
What Is Apple Pay in India?
Apple Pay is Apple’s digital payment service that lets users add eligible cards to Apple Wallet and pay using compatible Apple devices.
- Available in India from 30 September 2026
- Works on iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch at launch
- Mac support is coming
- Launch support is for eligible Axis Bank Visa and Mastercard credit cards
- Payments can work in stores, apps and online
- Apple Pay uses contactless NFC for compatible in-store transactions
Apple Pay essentially puts a supported credit card inside the Apple ecosystem. Instead of pulling out a physical card, users can authenticate on their device and tap it at a compatible payment terminal.
Apple says the service is accepted at millions of merchants in India, including brands such as Blinkit, Croma, Zomato, Tata 1mg, Reliance brands and others.
How Does Apple Pay Work in India?
Apple Pay works by replacing the physical card number used during a transaction with a device-specific payment credential.
The process is straightforward:
- Add an eligible card to Apple Wallet.
- The card is verified by the issuing bank.
- Apple Pay creates a device-specific payment credential.
- At a contactless terminal, authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID or a passcode.
- Hold the iPhone or Apple Watch near the payment terminal.
- The transaction is processed through the card network and issuing bank.
The important part is what happens behind the scenes.
Apple says the actual card number isn’t stored on Apple’s servers or shared with merchants. Instead, a unique Device Account Number is encrypted and stored in the device’s Secure Element.
This is also consistent with India’s broader card-tokenisation framework, under which actual card details are replaced by tokens for supported transactions.
Which Cards Support Apple Pay in India?
At launch, Apple Pay in India supports eligible Axis Bank-issued Visa and Mastercard credit cards.
| Apple Pay India card support | Current status |
|---|---|
| Axis Bank Visa credit cards | Supported, subject to eligibility |
| Axis Bank Mastercard credit cards | Supported, subject to eligibility |
| Axis Bank debit cards | Not listed by Apple at launch |
| HDFC Bank cards | Not currently listed |
| ICICI Bank cards | Not currently listed |
| SBI cards | Not currently listed |
| RuPay cards | Not currently listed for Apple Pay India |
| Other banks | May be added later |
The distinction between Visa/Mastercard credit cards and other card types matters. Having a card from a supported bank does not automatically mean every card issued by that bank will work.
Apple’s current India bank list specifically identifies Axis Bank’s Visa and Mastercard credit cards. The company also says the list will be updated as additional banks are added.
So, before planning to use Apple Pay, check the exact card and issuer eligibility rather than assuming that every Axis card qualifies.
How to Set Up Apple Pay in India
Eligible users can add their supported card through Apple Wallet or the Axis Bank app.
The basic process is:
- Open the Wallet app on your iPhone.
- Tap the + button.
- Select the option to add a payment card.
- Scan or enter the card details.
- Complete the verification process requested by the bank.
- Once approved, the card becomes available in Apple Pay.
Apple also says eligible cards can be added through the latest version of the Axis Bank app.
Once the card is active, users don’t need a separate payment application just to make an Apple Pay transaction.
How to Pay Using Apple Pay
In a store, Apple Pay turns a compatible iPhone or Apple Watch into a contactless payment device. So how exactly does it work?
On an iPhone with Face ID:
- First, double-click the side button.
- Then authenticate using Face ID or the device passcode.
- Next, hold the top of the iPhone near the contactless reader.
- Finally, wait for the confirmation.
On Apple Watch:
- First, double-click the side button.
- Then select the required card, if necessary.
- Next, hold the display near the contactless terminal.
- Finally, wait for the confirmation.
So what really sets this apart from traditional card payments? Simply put, you never need to hand over the physical card or type the card number into the checkout terminal.
What Are the Main Apple Pay Features in India?
Apple Pay’s main advantage is combining contactless card payments with Apple’s hardware, authentication and tokenisation.
1. Contactless payments
Users can tap their iPhone or Apple Watch at compatible NFC terminals.
2. Face ID and Touch ID authentication
Transactions can be authenticated through Apple’s biometric security or device passcode.
3. Online and in-app payments
Apple Pay can also appear as a checkout option in supported apps and websites, reducing the need to repeatedly enter card details.
4. Device-specific tokenisation
The merchant doesn’t receive the user’s actual card number during an Apple Pay transaction.
5. Existing card rewards continue
Apple says users continue to receive the rewards and benefits associated with their eligible cards.
6. Lost-device protection
If an iPhone is lost, users can use Find My and Lost Mode to suspend Apple Pay on the device.
7. No separate Apple Pay fee
Apple says it doesn’t charge users a fee for making Apple Pay purchases. Normal card issuer charges or terms can still apply.
Apple Pay vs UPI in India
Apple Pay and UPI solve different payment problems, even though both can make digital payments feel nearly instant.
| Feature | Apple Pay | UPI |
|---|---|---|
| Primary payment source | Eligible credit or debit card | Bank account |
| Main technology | Card networks, tokenisation and NFC | UPI account-to-account infrastructure |
| Typical in-store method | Tap or contactless payment | QR code, UPI ID or supported methods |
| Authentication | Face ID, Touch ID or passcode | UPI PIN and app authentication |
| Separate payment app required | No separate Apple Pay app | Usually a UPI-enabled app |
| Credit card support | Depends on eligible card issuer and network | RuPay credit cards for eligible merchant payments |
| P2P payments | Not the core India use case | Major UPI use case |
| International use | Available where supported by card and merchant | UPI Global at selected international merchants |
The scale difference is also significant. NPCI recorded 24,508.96 million UPI transactions worth ₹29.82 lakh crore in August 2026, across 752 live banks.
That doesn’t mean Apple Pay needs to replace UPI. For many users, the two can simply coexist.
For example, someone may use UPI to send money to a friend or pay a QR code, while using Apple Pay when they want to tap an iPhone or Apple Watch with an eligible credit card.
India’s digital-payment ecosystem is also creating opportunities beyond payment apps themselves. This connects with FounderPin’s coverage of Top Startup Trends in India 2026, including the growing role of fintech and digital infrastructure.
Is Apple Pay Better Than UPI?
There isn’t one universal answer because Apple Pay and UPI are built around different payment rails.
Apple Pay is particularly relevant to users who:
- Already prefer credit-card payments
- Own compatible Apple devices
- Want contactless payments
- Value device-based authentication
- Want to keep using their card’s rewards
- Shop at merchants that support Apple Pay
UPI remains useful for users who need:
- Bank-account payments
- Person-to-person transfers
- QR-based payments
- Broad interoperability across UPI apps
- Payments without relying on a supported credit card
In other words, the interesting development isn’t simply “Apple Pay vs UPI.” It is the addition of another payment experience to India’s already crowded digital payments ecosystem.
Can You Use Apple Pay for UPI Payments in India?
Short answer: no. Apple Pay doesn’t currently support UPI payments in India.
Here’s what it does support, and what it doesn’t:
- Eligible Axis Bank Visa and Mastercard credit cards work with Apple Pay right now
- UPI payments still need a UPI-enabled app to go through
- You can’t add a UPI ID or bank account directly into Apple Pay
- At its core, Apple Pay is built for card-based contactless payments, not UPI
So think of it this way: Apple Pay and UPI run as two completely separate systems in India.
Say you’ve got an eligible Axis Bank Visa credit card. You can load it into Apple Wallet and tap to pay at any supported contactless terminal. But walk into a shop with a standard UPI QR code, and you’ll need to pull up a UPI-enabled app instead — Apple Pay won’t help you there.
Apple’s own India launch documentation backs this up. It lists Axis Bank-issued Visa and Mastercard credit cards as supported, but UPI doesn’t appear anywhere on that list.
Can Apple Pay Replace UPI?
Not right now. Apple Pay can sit alongside UPI, sure, but it doesn’t come close to covering the same ground.
UPI handles a lot more:
- Person-to-person transfers
- Bank-account payments
- Merchant QR payments
- UPI IDs
- Recurring and other supported payment services
Apple Pay’s India rollout, on the other hand, sticks to card-based payments through compatible Apple devices — nothing broader than that, at least for now.
So here’s the practical takeaway: reach for Apple Pay when you want to pay with a supported card on an Apple device, and reach for UPI when you need to make a UPI payment. Both can live comfortably on the same iPhone without stepping on each other’s toes.
What Does Apple Pay’s India Launch Mean?
Apple Pay’s India launch gives consumers another card-based digital payment option while expanding Apple’s financial-services footprint in one of the world’s largest digital payments markets. For more context on the digital payments opportunities emerging in India, see FounderPin’s guide to PhonePe Success Story
The initial rollout is deliberately limited by card and issuer support. That means adoption will depend partly on how quickly Apple expands bank partnerships and how widely merchants support contactless payments.
For Indian consumers, the immediate proposition is straightforward: if you have an eligible Axis Bank card and a compatible Apple device, you can now leave the physical card in your wallet and pay by tapping your device.
And yes, your wallet may finally get a little lighter. Your iPhone probably won’t.
FounderPin Perspective
Apple Pay’s arrival in India is less about replacing UPI and more about adding another layer to the country’s evolving payment ecosystem.
The real test will be scale: more supported banks, more eligible cards and consistent merchant acceptance. If Apple expands those three areas, Apple Pay could become a meaningful part of India’s premium and contactless payments segment.
Apple Pay in India: FAQs
1. Which iPhones support Apple Pay in India?
Apple Pay requires iPhone XR or later running iOS 18 or later. Compatible Apple Watch models can also be used for payments.
2. Can Apple Pay be used for online shopping in India?
Yes. Apple Pay can be used for supported purchases in apps and on websites, allowing users to pay without repeatedly entering card and billing details.
3. Does Apple Pay charge a fee in India?
Apple does not charge users an additional fee for making Apple Pay purchases. Normal charges or terms from the card issuer may still apply.
4. Is Apple Pay secure for payments in India?
Yes. Apple says the actual card number isn’t stored on the device or Apple servers. Instead, a unique Device Account Number is securely stored in the device’s Secure Element.
5. Can Apple Pay be used without an internet connection?
For compatible contactless payments, an active internet connection is generally not required at the moment of payment because the transaction uses the device’s stored payment credentials and NFC.
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