Yes, you can use your iPhone as a card for payments and, in some cases, for identification, using the Apple Wallet app to store digital versions of your credit, debit, or prepaid cards. It utilizes NFC technology for secure, contactless, and, in some cases, tap-to-pay functionality, which requires authentication with Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode.
Apple Pay inches closer to India, but full launch still some distance away. Apple is in discussions with Indian regulators and banking partners to explore the introduction of Apple Pay in the country, with timelines likely extending into 2026.
Yes, you can tap a card on an iPhone, both to pay using Apple Pay (by holding your iPhone near a reader) and for businesses to accept payments via the "Tap to Pay on iPhone" feature (where a customer taps their card or digital wallet on the merchant's iPhone). You use your iPhone like a contactless card in stores by double-clicking the side button (Face ID) or home button (Touch ID) and tapping the top of your phone to the reader, or you can use it to accept payments from customers with compatible apps.
The iPhone is compatible with all NFC Forum chips, from type 1 to 5, including: NTAG® ICODE®
NFC tag scanning is always enabled on the iPhone 15 and cannot be turned off. There isn't an on/off setting. NFC can be turned off for payments if required.
Android-powered devices with NFC simultaneously support two main modes of operation: Reader/writer mode, allowing the NFC device to read and write passive NFC tags and stickers. Card emulation mode, allowing the NFC device itself to act as an NFC card.
Supported devices
Tap to Pay requires an iPhone XS or later running a one-year or later iOS version.
Download the TAP App. the "Cards" tab on the bottom and then the "Add Card" Icon on the upper left-hand corner. Select "Add a TAP Card to Apple Wallet" (or Google Wallet if you have an Android).
Paying for the things you love from your device is effortless. Just set up any of these payment methods—UPI, Net Banking—and you're good to go.
Note: You'll need a Google account, an active Indian (+91) phone number and an active Indian bank account to set up Google Pay. When you sign in to your Google Pay account on a new device, you'll be signed out of previously used devices.
Does it cost extra to use Apple Pay? No. Apple does not charge any fees when you pay with Apple Pay — in stores, online, or in apps.
You have 2 ways to tap to pay in a store: Unlock your phone and hold it near the reader: You can tap the terminal when your phone is unlocked, even when the Google Wallet app is not open. If prompted, use your Android screen lock to verify the payment.
1. What is UPI Tap-to-Pay? It is a contactless payment feature that lets users pay metro fares by tapping their NFC-enabled phones on gate readers, without scanning QR codes or opening a specific ticket on-screen.
Once the transfer is complete, your plastic TAP card will be deactivated and replaced with a new “virtual” TAP card (with a new card number) in your TAP account. Any Stored Value amount on your plastic TAP card will be transferred to the virtual card. One TAP card per Android phone may be used at a time.
Google Pay™ is a fast, simple way to pay for your purchases with an Android® smartphone1 or Android® smartwatch. Rather than searching for your debit card in your purse or wallet, simply tap a button on your device and hold it over the contactless payment terminal.
To use Tap to Pay on your iPhone, you typically double-click the side button (or home button), authenticate with Face ID/Touch ID/passcode, then hold the top of your iPhone near the contactless symbol on the card reader to pay with your linked cards in the Wallet app; for accepting payments as a business, you use a supported payment app (like Square, PayPal) where you start the payment and the customer taps their device or card on your iPhone's top.
Most modern smartphones, including iPhone (iPhone 6 and later) and many Android devices (Google Pixel, Samsung Galaxy, newer OnePlus, etc.), support tap-to-pay via NFC, using digital wallets like Apple Pay, Google Wallet, or Samsung Pay for contactless payments, with specific model compatibility depending on the app and carrier. The key is an NFC chip and a compatible digital wallet app for seamless, card-free transactions.
You'll need one of the following devices running on iOS 11 or above:
How to Use NFC Tags with iPhone and the Shortcuts App
Yes, you can use your phone as a card reader, either by using its built-in NFC (Near Field Communication) for "Tap to Pay" with apps like Square or Shopify for contactless payments, or by connecting a small, external physical reader (like for chip/swipe) to your phone via USB-C or Lightning for more options, with both methods requiring a payment processing service. Your phone acts as the terminal, accepting payments directly (tap) or through a small dongle, making it a convenient way for businesses to accept cards.
To enable NFC, go to your phone's Settings, search for "NFC," and toggle the switch on; you can find it under Connections or Connected Devices, or use the Quick Settings panel by swiping down from the top for a fast toggle, but remember the exact path (like 'NFC & contactless payments' on Samsung) can vary by phone model.