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Apple Pay launched in India on 30 September 2026, but it is not a replacement for UPI. The service starts with eligible Axis Bank Visa and Mastercard credit cards on Apple devices, while UPI is an established, nationwide payment system used at enormous scale. Apple Pay could be useful for card-based contactless and online checkouts without displacing the payment method many people already use for other transactions.
What Apple Pay offers in India at launch
Apple announced Apple Pay availability in India on 30 September 2026. At launch, the eligible India-issued cards listed by Apple are Axis Bank Visa and Mastercard credit cards. Customers can add an eligible card through the Axis Bank app or Apple Wallet; Apple says its list may expand. Check Apple’s India bank and card eligibility page before trying to set it up, because eligibility depends on both issuer and card type.
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Square Reader for contactless and chip (2nd Generation) | $47.20 | Buy on Amazon |
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Square Terminal - Credit Card Machine to Accept All Payments | Mobile POS | $298.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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Square Reader for magstripe (with Lightning connector) | $9.40 | Buy on Amazon |
Apple Pay supports in-store contactless payments and purchases in apps and on the web using iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch. Apple said Mac support was coming soon when it announced the India launch, so that statement should not be read as confirmation that Mac payments are already available. Apple names Blinkit, Chaayos, Croma, Ixigo, Tata 1mg and Zomato among merchants where it can be used, but checkout availability depends on the merchant and payment method.
How Apple Pay works—and how to use it
In India’s launch offer, Apple Pay uses an eligible payment card. It is a way to make a card payment with an Apple device, rather than a separate account or payment system comparable in design to UPI.
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- Use the, easy-to-use, and customizable POS to get started.
- Accept contactless payments, chip cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay from anywhere, with improved connectivity, extended battery life, and enhanced security. Pay one low rate for every tap or dip.
- No long-term commitments or contracts, no monthly fees- and with offline payments, keep taking payments for up to 24 hours.
- Safely and securely accepts payments anywhere. Plus, get data security, 24/7 fraud prevention, and payment-dispute management at no extra cost.
- Use the, easy-to-use, and customizable POS to get started.
Set up an eligible card
- Confirm that your India-issued Axis Bank Visa or Mastercard credit card is eligible on Apple’s current supported banks and cards page.
- Add the card through the Axis Bank app or Apple Wallet, following the on-screen verification steps.
- Use Apple Pay where the merchant offers it as a supported contactless, in-app or web payment method.
Pay in a store
- Double-click the iPhone side button or Home button, or double-click the Apple Watch side button.
- Authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode if prompted.
- Hold the top of the iPhone or the Apple Watch display near the contactless reader and wait for confirmation.
Apple says in-store Apple Pay uses the device’s NFC chip and does not need a cellular or Wi-Fi connection. This offline capability applies to the in-store tap described by Apple; it does not mean every online or in-app payment can be completed without connectivity.
Apple Pay and UPI do different jobs
The useful comparison is not simply which service “wins.” Apple Pay in India, as launched, is a card-and-device checkout option. UPI is an NPCI-operated payment system. Their funding and payment flows differ, and the available figures do not measure them on equal terms.
Rank #2
- With Square Terminal, you can ring up sales, accept payments, and print receipts, all with one device. Use it at the counter or ring up customers anywhere in your store.
- Accept all major credit and debit cards and pay one low rate with no hidden fees and no long-term contracts.
- Process chip cards in just two seconds.
- Get your money as soon as the next business day.
- Use it cordlessly with the built-in battery, designed to last all day.
| What to compare | Apple Pay in India at launch | UPI in India |
|---|---|---|
| What funds the payment | An eligible Axis Bank Visa or Mastercard credit card, according to Apple’s launch and eligibility information. | UPI is an NPCI-operated payment system; the Ministry of Finance describes it as launched under RBI regulatory oversight. |
| How payment is initiated | Contactless tap in stores, or a supported in-app or web checkout on an Apple device. | UPI transactions take place through the UPI system; the Ministry’s cited figures cover system-wide transactions, not a particular device or wallet. |
| Who can use it | Customers with a listed eligible card and a supported Apple device. | The cited material reports broad system use but does not set out a comparable eligibility checklist. |
| Scale reported in the available figures | Apple has not provided an India user or transaction count in the launch information cited here. | 55.49 crore users onboarded by June 2026; 24,161.69 crore transactions worth ₹314.23 lakh crore in FY 2025–26, according to NPCI data reported by the Ministry of Finance. |
The Ministry of Finance also reported UPI at 85% of India’s digital-payment share in FY 2025–26, reproducing NPCI statistics. That is a UPI scale figure, not a head-to-head measure against Apple Pay. No equivalent Apple Pay user, transaction or market-share figure is established here, so the figures cannot show how much adoption Apple Pay might gain.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why Apple Pay may coexist with UPI
UPI’s reach makes it the dominant backdrop for any new digital-payment option in India, but that does not make every payment flow interchangeable. A person with an eligible card and Apple device may choose Apple Pay for a contactless purchase or a supported online checkout. UPI remains a separate option in the transactions and merchant flows where it is offered. This is a reasoned view of how the services differ, not evidence of measured consumer behavior or a forecast of Apple Pay adoption.
Rank #3
- Pay one transparent rate per swipe for Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express.
- Works in conjunction with most downloadable Square point-of-sale apps on your device. Customers can pay, tip and sign directly on your device. Track payments in cash, gift cards and more. Also lets you send receipts via e-mail or text message, makes it easy to apply discounts, keeps a data and sales history log and more.
- Accepts magstripe credit card payments, including those from Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express (fees apply).
- App sends deposits to your bank account within 1 to 2 business days, or enjoy instant deposits (fees apply).
The practical constraint at launch is eligibility: an Apple device alone is not enough if the customer does not have a supported card. Likewise, merchant acceptance is not universal; Apple’s named examples are not a guarantee that Apple Pay will appear for every purchase or checkout route.
What Apple says about security and privacy
Apple says the actual card number is not stored on the device or its servers, and is not shared with the merchant. Instead, a Device Account Number is encrypted and stored in the device’s Secure Element. Apple also says it does not retain transaction information tied back to the user. These are Apple’s descriptions of its product and privacy practices, not a guarantee that fraud is impossible.
Mastercard’s India and South Asia president Gautam Aggarwal describes each Apple Pay transaction as protected by a unique, cryptographically secured token, saying card details are not shared with merchants. Tokenization and device security are protections, but no payment method can be described as eliminating all fraud risk.
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