Apple Pay Finally Launches in India With Axis Bank: How It Works, Supported Cards and More

After years of waiting, Apple Pay has officially arrived in India. Apple has launched its contactless payment service in the country with Axis Bank as its first banking partner, allowing eligible customers to make payments using their Apple devices at supported stores, apps and websites.

At launch, Apple Pay supports Axis Bank-issued Visa and Mastercard credit cards. Users can add their eligible cards to Apple Wallet and make contactless payments without entering their card details, PIN or OTP at checkout.

Apple says Apple Pay is now available across iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch, while Mac support is coming later. The service is already available in more than 90 countries and regions worldwide.

Apple Pay India: Supported Cards and Devices

For now, Apple Pay's India rollout is limited to eligible Axis Bank Visa and Mastercard credit cards. Customers can add their cards through the latest Axis Bank app or directly through the Wallet app on their iPhone.

According to Apple, compatible devices include:

iPhone XR or later running iOS 18 or newer
Apple Watch Series 6 or later running watchOS 11 or newer
Compatible iPhone required for Apple Watch setup
iPad support is available for purchases in apps and on the web
Mac support is coming soon

At present, Apple has not announced support for other Indian banks or additional card networks.

How to Set Up Apple Pay in India

Setting up Apple Pay is relatively straightforward for eligible Axis Bank customers.Users can add their supported card through the latest Axis Bank app or open the Wallet app on their iPhone, tap the + button and follow the on-screen instructions.Once the card has been added and verified, it can be used for Apple Pay transactions.

How to Use Apple Pay at Stores

Apple Pay works through contactless payment terminals using NFC.

To make an in-store payment:

Double-click the iPhone's side button, or the Home button on compatible models.
Authenticate using Face ID, Touch ID or the device passcode.
Hold the top of the iPhone near the contactless payment terminal.
Wait for the payment confirmation.

Apple Watch users can similarly authenticate and hold the watch near a compatible contactless reader.

Apple says users can also continue receiving the rewards and benefits associated with their eligible cards.

Where Can Apple Pay Be Used in India?

Apple says Apple Pay will be accepted by millions of merchants across India at launch.

The company has named several businesses and services, including:

Apple Store locations
Blinkit
Chaayos
Croma
Ixigo
Tata 1mg
Zomato
Reliance brands
Interflora
Le15 Patisserie
Comet

Apple has also worked with payment service providers including Cashfree, JusPay, Mswipe, Paytm, PayU, Pine Labs, Razorpay and Worldline to expand Apple Pay acceptance across their merchant networks.

Actual availability can depend on whether a particular merchant or payment terminal supports the required contactless transaction.

Apple Pay Security: How Safe Is It?

Security and privacy are among the key features Apple highlights with Apple Pay.

Apple says the actual card number is not stored on the device or on Apple's servers and isn't shared with merchants during a transaction. Instead, Apple Pay assigns the card a unique Device Account Number, which is encrypted and stored in the device's Secure Element.

Apple also says it doesn't retain transaction information that can be tied back to an individual user. Payments remain between the customer, merchant and card issuer.If an iPhone is lost or stolen, users can use Apple's Find My service to locate, lock or suspend payments from the device.

Visa and Mastercard also use tokenisation technologies as part of the payment process, adding another layer between the physical card details and individual transactions.

Apple Pay vs UPI in India

Apple Pay enters an Indian payments market where UPI is already widely used for everyday digital transactions.

The two services work differently. UPI commonly allows users to make payments by scanning QR codes or using UPI IDs, while Apple Pay's India launch is focused on payments using supported cards through Apple devices.

The lack of UPI support at launch means Apple Pay isn't replacing the payment methods that many Indian consumers already use for small everyday transactions. Instead, its initial use case is centered around eligible credit cards and contactless payments, particularly at supported retail outlets and online merchants.

Another limitation is the initial banking support. Since only eligible Axis Bank Visa and Mastercard credit cards are supported at launch, iPhone users with cards from other banks will have to wait for additional banking partnerships.The expansion of Apple Pay to more banks and card types could therefore be an important factor in determining how broadly the service is adopted in India.

What About Debit Cards and UPI Support?

Apple's initial India announcement only confirms support for Axis Bank-issued Visa and Mastercard credit cards.There is currently no confirmed launch support for UPI or a broader range of Indian card networks and banks.Apple says it is working with additional merchants and apps, but the company has not announced a specific timeline for expanding its banking and card support in India.