Apple has broadened the reach of its Tap to Pay on iPhone feature, launching it in nine European nations: Bulgaria, Finland, Hungary, Liechtenstein, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, and switzerland. This expansion allows millions of merchants to accept contactless payments directly on their iPhones,streamlining transactions and eliminating the need for additional hardware.

The rollout is a collaborative effort, involving payment platforms, app developers, and payment networks. Tap to Pay on iPhone enables businesses of all sizes to accept payments from contactless credit and debit cards, Apple Pay, and other digital wallets using only their iPhone and a compatible iOS app.

How Tap to Pay on iPhone Works

Merchants can accept contactless payments via a supporting iOS app on an iPhone Xs or later, provided it’s running the latest iOS version. The process is straightforward: at checkout, the merchant prompts the customer to hold their contactless card, iPhone, Apple Watch, or other digital wallet near the merchant’s iPhone. The payment is then securely completed using NFC technology.

The convenience of Tap to Pay on iPhone lies in its simplicity. No additional hardware is needed, so merchants can accept payments from wherever they do business. this mobility and ease of use can be especially beneficial for small businesses and vendors who operate in various locations.

Collaboration with Payment Platforms

Apple is actively partnering with leading payment platforms and app developers to integrate Tap to Pay on iPhone into their iOS apps. This collaboration simplifies the process for merchants to enable this secure and convenient payment option.

Supported Payment Platforms by Country

The following payment platforms are available in each country as of today:

• Bulgaria: Adyen, myPOS, Revolut, and Viva; SumUp coming soon
• Finland: Adyen, Mollie, Nets, Revolut, Stripe, sumup and Viva; Surfboard Payments coming soon
• Hungary: Adyen, Global payments, myPOS, Revolut, SumUp, Viva, and Worldline
• Poland: Adyen, eService with PKO Bank, Mollie, Stripe, SumUp, Viva, and Worldline; Planet Pay, Revolut, and PeP (part of Nexi) coming soon
• Portugal: Adyen, Mollie, myPOS, Revolut, Stripe, SumUp, and Viva
• Slovakia: Adyen, global Payments Slovenská Sporitel’ňa, Revolut, and Worldline; SumUp coming soon
• Slovenia: Adyen, Revolut, and Worldline; SumUp and hobex coming soon
• Switzerland: Adyen, Mollie, myPOS, Nexi, Stripe, SumUp, and Worldline; hobex coming soon

Payment Network Compatibility

Tap to Pay on iPhone is compatible with contactless credit and debit cards from major payment networks, including American Express, Discover, Mastercard, and Visa.

Privacy and Security

Apple emphasizes privacy as a core principle in the design and development of all its payment features. With Tap to Pay on iPhone, customer payment data is protected by the same technology that ensures the privacy and security of Apple Pay.

all transactions made using Tap to Pay on iPhone are encrypted and processed using the Secure Element, and Apple doesn’t know what is being purchased or who is buying it. This commitment to privacy is a key differentiator for Apple’s payment solutions.