Apple Pay review: Everything you need to know

Apple Pay has become one of the most popular ways for Americans to pay, with over 65 million users worldwide in 2025.¹ With just your iPhone or Apple Watch, you can tap, send, and shop almost anywhere without reaching for your wallet.

But how does Apple Pay work in the US, and is it the right choice for you? Well, in this Apple Pay review, we’ll cover features, pros and cons, costs, and security.

We'll also introduce the Wise account, which allows you to send, spend, and receive your money across the globe in over 40 currencies – all at the fair mid-market rate.

Learn more 🔎

Table of contents
What is Apple Pay and how does it work in the US? Apple Pay pros and cons How to open an Apple Pay account? Overview of Apple Pay fees in the US Apple Pay features How to add money to your Apple Pay account? Is Apple Pay safe?

What is Apple Pay and how does it work in the US?

Apple Pay is a mobile wallet and payment service built into iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Apple Watches. Instead of swiping a card, you simply hold your device near a contactless reader or pay online with Face ID or Touch ID.

💡 Here’s what you can do with Apple Pay in the US:
Pay in stores with contactless terminals Use it inside apps and on websites with the Apple Pay button Send and receive money with Apple Cash Add your debit, credit, and prepaid cards to the wallet app for one-tap payments

Unlike credit card issuers or banks, Apple itself doesn’t set fees for using Apple Pay —your bank or card provider’s usual terms apply.

Apple Pay pros and cons

Here’s a quick rundown of Apple Pay’s pros & cons in the US:

✅ Pros	❌ Cons
Free to use; no extra fees from Apple	Not accepted everywhere, especially outside the US
Extra security; card numbers aren’t shared	Requires an iPhone, Apple Watch, or other Apple device
Works for in-store, online, and in-app payments	Battery or device issues can stop you from paying
Integrated with Apple Cash and Wallet for easy transfers	Some privacy concerns over transaction metadata

How to open an Apple Pay account?

If you’re at least 18 years old and have a compatible iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, or Mac, you can set up and start to use Apple Pay in a few steps.

Open the Wallet app, tap Add Card, and choose to add a debit or credit card. You can enter the details manually or scan your card with your device’s camera.

After that, your bank or card issuer will verify the information. This might involve a one-time code sent by SMS, email, or through your banking app. Once the card is confirmed, it will appear in your Wallet and be ready to use.

And that’s it. From there, you can pay in stores or online anywhere Apple Pay is accepted, just look for the Apple Pay or contactless symbol at checkout.

Overview of Apple Pay fees in the US

Apple Pay itself doesn’t charge fees when you make a purchase online, in-app, or in stores.

You simply use your linked debit or credit card, and the transaction goes through your card issuer. However, depending on how you add money or send money with Apple Cash, fees may apply.

Here’s a quick look at key Apple Pay and Apple Cash fees:²

Transaction	Fee
Account opening fee	Free
Monthly fees	Free
Add money from a debit/prepaid card	Free
Send money with Apple Cash balance or debit card	Free
Send money with a credit card	3%
Standard transfer to the bank	Free
Instant Transfer to debit card	1.5% (min $0.25, max $15)

Keep in mind that Apple sets transaction and balance limits for Apple Cash, which may apply depending on whether you’re using a personal or family account.

These limits can affect the amount you can add, send, or transfer within a specified period.

Apple Pay international money transfer: Coverage, speed, and limits

Apple Pay doesn’t allow you to send money internationally. Apple Cash transfers are only available to users in the US, and you need a US-issued debit or credit card to set up your wallet.

If you’re looking to send money abroad, you’ll need to use another service. With a Wise account, for example, you can send money to 160 countries at the mid-market exchange rate with a transparent upfront fee.

Transaction speed depends on the availability of funds, approval by Apple or your bank, and the availability of partner networks in the system.

Apple Pay features

In this segment, we’ll review the main features you can use with Apple Pay in the US.

From in-store checkout to Apple Cash and Pay Later, these tools are built into Wallet and designed for everyday convenience.

Apple Pay checkout - contactless and online payments

Apple Pay lets you make purchases in stores, in apps, and on websites without pulling out your card. Transactions are authorized with Face ID or your passcode, so you don’t need to share details with merchants.

Apple reports that over 85% of US retailers now accept Apple Pay as a payment method. You can check if a store accepts Apple Pay by looking for the contactless or Apple Pay logo at checkout.³

Apple Cash - Send, receive, and store money

Apple Cash is a digital card within Wallet, issued by Green Dot Bank, a Member of the FDIC.⁴

You can:

• Send or request money through Messages
• Spend your Apple Cash balance wherever Apple Pay is accepted
• Transfer funds to a linked debit card or bank account

There are limits to Apple Pay: For verified accounts, balances can’t exceed $20,000, with a max transfer of $10,000 per transaction and $20,000 in a 7-day period.

Apple Pay Later - Buy now, pay later

Apple Pay Later lets eligible users split purchases into four equal, interest-free payments over six weeks. You’ll see upcoming payments in Wallet and get reminders before each installment.

Approval depends on Apple’s checks, and while there are no fees or interest if payments are made on time, late payments may affect eligibility.

Apple Card integration - Cashback on purchases

If you have an Apple Card, you can link it to Apple Pay to earn daily cash back. Purchases made with Apple Card via Apple Pay earn up to 3% Daily Cash at select retailers like Apple and Uber, and 2% everywhere else.⁵

Cashback is deposited into your Apple Cash balance, where it can be spent or transferred.

Security and privacy protections

Apple Pay transactions use tokenization, meaning your card number isn’t shared with merchants. Each payment requires authentication through Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode. If your iPhone or Apple Watch is lost, you can suspend or remove the card through iCloud.

Apple also states that it doesn’t store transaction data in a way that can be traced back to you.

How to add money to your Apple Pay account?

If you’re using Apple Pay with Apple Cash, you can add money to your balance directly in Wallet. This gives you funds to spend anywhere Apple Pay is accepted, or to send to friends and family through messages.

Here’s how it works:

Add money with a debit or prepaid card

You can top up Apple Cash using a supported US debit or prepaid card that’s already linked to your Wallet.

• Open the Wallet app and tap your Apple Cash card
• Select Add Money
• Enter an amount
• Choose the linked debit or prepaid card and confirm with Face ID, Touch ID, or passcode

Funds usually appear in your balance instantly. Apple limits top-ups to $10,000 in a single transfer and $20,000 within a 7-day period.⁶

Direct deposit

Apple Cash also supports direct deposit for paychecks or government benefits. Once you’ve verified your identity, you’ll see your account and routing numbers in Wallet.

Provide these details to your employer or benefits provider, and your paycheck will go directly into your Apple Cash balance.

Transfers from other Apple services

If you use the Apple Card, Daily Cash rewards are automatically deposited into your Apple Cash account. You can then send them with Apple Pay, transfer them to your bank, or save them toward larger purchases.

Is Apple Pay safe?

Apple Pay is designed to keep your money secure. Instead of sharing your actual card number, it creates a unique Device Account Number stored safely on your device.

Every purchase is verified with a one-time dynamic code, which helps protect against fraud.

To pay, you’ll need Face ID, Touch ID, Optic ID, or a passcode. So even if your phone goes missing, no one can use Apple Pay without your approval. You can also suspend cards remotely with the Find My app.⁷

Apple doesn’t track or store your personal transaction data. And for Apple Cash, funds are held by Green Dot Bank, Member FDIC, which means deposits are insured up to $250,000.

Bottom line

Apple Pay makes it easy to pay online and in stores and even send money to friends, all from your iPhone or Apple Watch. It’s secure, widely accepted, and simple to set up.

But while Apple Pay is great for everyday purchases in the US, it isn’t built for international payments. If you’re traveling or sending money abroad, fees and limits can add up quickly.

With the Wise account you can have local account details in 10 currencies, including USD, EUR, and GBP — all in one place.

Learn more about Wise

Sources

1. Capital One Shopping – Apple Pay Statistics
2. Boss Revolution – Apple Pay fees: Are there any costs?
3. Cropink – Apple Pay market share
4. Apple Support – If you didn’t receive your transfer funds
5. Apple – Apple Card
6. Apple - Apple Cash transfer limits
7. Apple Support – Apple Pay security and privacy overview

Sources checked 09/19/2025