These days, there are so many options available rather than paying with cash or a traditional credit card. But, if you’re not necessarily tech-savvy or a little apprehensive about rerouting from your traditional payment methods, it’s important to be informed about the choices that are out there.
Apple Pay has been around since 2015 and is one of the most popular options when it comes to different payment methods. If you’ve never heard of it or have heard of it but haven’t used it, let’s take a closer look at what it is and how to use it so you can decide if it’s right for you.
Apple Pay is a service that is compatible with Apple devices. It allows you to make contactless purchases in stores, on the web, and in apps. You can also send and receive money from friends and family using something called Apple Cash (we’ll get into this one later).
You don’t have to download any other software or apps with Apple Pay. The feature is found in the wallet section of your phone or the wallet and Apple Pay button on your Apple watch. With this app, you don’t have to touch keypads in stores which is something that many people appreciate these days.
Apple Pay is easy to use. You need to link a debit and/or credit card to your account. This will allow you to access either when you want to make a purchase. It also eliminates the need to carry around multiple cards because you can store them all in your Apple Wallet.
When you want to make a purchase in a store, look for the Apple Pay logo that lets you know the payments are accepted. If you’re not sure, simply ask. Once you verify that it is accepted, open up your Apple Wallet and choose the card you’re going to use to pay. Simply hold your phone up to the contactless terminal to make the payment.
If you have an Apple Watch, you would do the same thing, just put your watch near the terminal instead of your phone.
Shopping online with Apple Pay is easy too. When you get to the checkout portion, look for the Apple Pay option, and follow the prompts to complete the payment.
There are no special fees to use it or to simply have the feature. But, if a merchant charges an extra fee for using a credit card or other form of payment other than cash, you may be subject to fees this way.
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Part of knowing how to use Apple Pay is knowing how to add cards to your Apple Wallet. If you have no cards connected, you’re not going to be able to use it.
To add a card:
If you have an Apple Watch Series 3 or later and iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus and later, you can add up to 12 cards on a device. Earlier models on either device only allow up to 8 cards to be loaded.
When you use Apple Pay, Apple does not store your card number on your device or its own server. To keep your information private, Apple Pay creates a unique token every time you use it, so merchants never get your actual credit card number. This makes it more difficult for hackers to clone your card or use your card fraudulently.
While many sites accept Apple Pay, Amazon is not one of them. Although you can’t use Apple Pay directly on Amazon, you can use the cards that are stored in your Apple Pay.
To do this:
Some people like to use the same cards on Amazon that they have stored in their Apple Wallet so that they can keep better track of their finances.
Think of Apple Cash as Apple Pay’s cousin. Apple Cash lets you send, receive, and request money from others using iMessage. It’s more like a Venmo or PayPal service, just one that operates through your Apple Wallet.
To send money through Apple Cash, you have to add money to your account through a debit card that you have loaded in your Apple Wallet app. To use Apple Cash, you have to be at least 18 years old and a U.S. resident. You’ll also need to make sure you have iOS 11.2 or later. If you have an Apple Watch it needs to be WatchOS 4.2 or later.
If you want to send money using Apple Pay, use your message feature on the phone. Once you start an iMessage conversation with the person you want to send money to, choose the Apple Pay feature. Enter the amount you want to send and confirm it with your Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode.
When you receive money through a contact through Apple Cash, you’ll find it in a digital Apple Cash card in your Wallet. Once this is in your account, you can use this to make payments in stores, in apps, and online. You can also use the money to transfer to your bank account that’s linked to your Apple Pay.
There are no fees to transfer money using Apple Pay unless you select instant transfer when moving Apple Cash money to your bank account. For instant transfers, there is a 1% fee subject to a $.25 minimum and $10 maximum.
Apple Pay is a good choice for people who want to make contactless payments and be able to store several credit cards in one location. It is convenient just as long as the merchant accepts it. If you feel comfortable using your phone to make payments, this is a viable option that is easy to use.
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