Apple Pay India is now live, letting Axis Bank Visa and Mastercard credit cardholders add their cards to iPhone, Apple Watch and iPad and pay by tapping in stores or checking out online. Apple announced the launch on September 30, 2026, bringing its wallet into a market where the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) already dominates everyday digital payments.
Apple said cards can be added either through the Axis Bank app or the Wallet app on iPhone, and payments are authenticated with Face ID, Touch ID or a passcode. Apple Pay works on iPhone XR or later running iOS 18 or newer, and on Apple Watch Series 6 or later running watchOS 11 or newer. Mac support is listed as coming soon.
How Does Apple Pay Work in India at Launch?
At launch, Axis Bank is the only issuing partner named by Apple, and the supported products are its Visa and Mastercard credit cards. Users add a card to Wallet, then hold their device near a contactless terminal in a store or choose Apple Pay at checkout in supported apps and websites. Apple says the service is accepted by millions of retailers and named Apple Stores, Zomato, Blinkit, Croma and Tata 1mg among the merchants where it can be used.
Apple describes the feature as a card-based wallet rather than a UPI replacement. That distinction matters in India, where much of everyday retail payment already runs through UPI apps, so Apple Pay’s early opportunity is among credit cardholders who already use Axis Bank cards and prefer to pay with their Apple devices.
Is Apple Pay Secure for Indian Users?
According to Apple, actual card numbers are not stored on the device or on Apple’s servers. Instead, each card is assigned a unique Device Account Number that is encrypted and kept in the Secure Element, a dedicated chip in the device. Apple also states that it does not retain identifiable transaction data. If a device is lost, users can lock it or suspend payments through the Find My app.
Those design choices are the same ones Apple Pay uses in the more than 90 countries where it is available, where the company says it works with more than 11,000 banks and networks worldwide.
What Does the Apple Pay India Launch Mean for Banks and Merchants?
For Axis Bank, the launch gives its credit cardholders a new way to pay on Apple hardware. For merchants, acceptance largely depends on contactless-enabled terminals and payment service providers that already support major card networks. Apple says Apple Pay is compatible with major payment service providers, which should reduce the integration burden for retailers that already take contactless cards.
The launch also signals how global wallet providers are approaching India: through a single bank partner first, with broader card issuer support to be added over time. Apple has not announced, in the material reviewed, which additional banks will join or when.
Industry Reaction and Expert Commentary
Jennifer Bailey, Apple’s Vice President, said in the announcement: “Apple Pay makes everyday payments with a card easy, secure, and private—from simply tapping to pay in stores.” Amitabh Chaudhry, Managing Director and CEO of Axis Bank, said the launch “reflects our vision of a more connected and sophisticated payments ecosystem, where technology enables convenience and confidence.”
Coverage of the launch has noted that Apple is entering a mature market where UPI is already entrenched, which frames the launch as a bet on card spending and on the premium device user base rather than on replacing existing rails.
What Happens Next?
The key things to watch are which additional Indian banks and card networks join Axis Bank, when Mac support arrives, and how quickly merchants promote Apple Pay at checkout. Users who want to try it can open Wallet on a compatible iPhone, add an eligible Axis Bank card, and verify it with the bank.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which banks support Apple Pay in India?
At launch, Apple names Axis Bank, supporting its Visa and Mastercard credit cards. Apple has not listed other Indian issuers in its launch announcement.
Which devices work with Apple Pay in India?
iPhone XR or later with iOS 18 or newer, Apple Watch Series 6 or later with watchOS 11 or newer, and iPad. Mac support is described as coming soon.
Does Apple Pay store my card number?
No. Apple says actual card numbers are not stored on the device or on Apple servers; a unique, encrypted Device Account Number in the Secure Element is used for payments instead.
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