Apple Pay India Launch: Check How to Use Apple’s Payment Service
Apple Pay has officially launched in India, initially supporting select Visa and Mastercard credit cards issued by Axis Bank. Check supported devices, features, merchants and other key details.
September 30, 2026: After more than a decade of making an impact around the world, Apple’s popular payment service, Apple Pay, has finally made its official debut in India. From Tuesday, September 30, iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch users in the country will be able to make purchases and payments through the service. However, the facility is not fully available to everyone at launch. For now, only certain Visa and Mastercard credit card holders issued by Axis Bank will be able to use Apple Pay.
A new dimension in digital payments
OTP- and PIN-free transactions: Apple Pay aims to save customers from the hassle of entering an OTP or PIN every time they make a payment. According to Apple’s Global Vice President Jennifer Bailey, the system keeps payments secure and private. Users can make payments in stores or complete online purchases by tapping directly, without needing additional apps or passwords.
Secure authentication method
Users do not need to repeatedly enter their card details into third-party apps while making purchases. Payments are securely verified on the device using Face ID, Touch ID or the device passcode. Users can authenticate a payment by double-clicking the iPhone’s side button or Home button. Card rewards and cashback benefits also remain available.
Device and bank availability
Apple Pay will work on iPhone XR and later models running iOS 18 or later. It will also be available on Apple Watch Series 6 and later models. Apple has indicated that more banks in India will be added to the service soon, in addition to Axis Bank.
Where can Apple Pay be used?
From the first day of its launch in India, Apple Pay will be available on several leading merchant and brand platforms. These include the official Apple Store, Blinkit, Zomato, Croma, Tata 1mg, Ixigo, Chaos and Reliance Brands. The list of participating merchants and apps is expected to grow in the coming days.
Apple Pay’s entry into India is significant at a time when UPI dominates the country’s digital payments market. Amid discussions around UPI’s Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) and other related issues, the technology industry will be watching how the US-based payment service performs and whether it attracts a segment of Indian customers.
