Apple Pay has officially arrived in India. From today, iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch users can pay with their cards through Apple’s contactless payment service. Mac support is expected soon.
Who can use it at launch
At launch, only Axis Bank customers are covered. Users with an Axis Bank-issued Visa or Mastercard credit card can add it to Apple Pay and start paying right away. Other banks and card types have not been announced yet.
Where it works
Apple Pay works in stores, online, and anywhere that accepts NFC (tap-to-pay) transactions. Launch merchants include Apple Store locations, Blinkit, Chaayos, Croma, Ixigo, Reliance brands, Tata 1mg and Zomato.
How secure is it?
Payments run on card-network tokenisation. Instead of your actual card number, each transaction uses a unique, cryptographically secured token. Mastercard’s India and South Asia chief said this protects every transaction. Visa’s country manager described the launch as Apple’s user experience combined with Visa’s tokenisation capabilities.
What it means for UPI users
India’s digital payments habit is built on UPI, and Apple Pay does not replace it. It targets a different group: iPhone owners who pay by credit card and want a one-tap experience in stores and apps. Card rewards and EMI options continue to work, which UPI does not offer in the same way. How much Apple Pay grows will depend on how quickly more banks and merchants join.
What to watch next
- Whether more banks, and debit cards, are added
- When Mac support goes live
- Whether small merchants and offline stores accept it widely
Source: Business Standard, 30 September 2026.
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