Apple’s innovative Tap to Pay on iPhone feature has now reached a significant milestone, expanding its availability to 50 countries with its recent launch in Singapore. This expansion underscores Apple’s commitment to providing small businesses worldwide with a seamless and cost-effective solution for accepting contactless payments.
Empowering Small Businesses with Seamless Transactions
Tap to Pay on iPhone transforms compatible devices into secure payment terminals, eliminating the need for additional hardware. Merchants can accept payments from contactless credit and debit cards, as well as digital wallets like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay. This functionality is accessible through supporting iOS applications on iPhone Xs or later models running the latest iOS version. During transactions, customers simply hold their contactless payment method near the merchant’s iPhone, facilitating swift and secure payments via NFC technology.
Prioritizing Security and Privacy
Apple emphasizes the robust security and privacy measures integrated into Tap to Pay on iPhone. All transactions are encrypted and processed using the Secure Element, ensuring that Apple does not store card numbers or transaction information on devices or servers. This design ensures that both merchants and customers can trust that their data remains confidential and protected.
Collaborating with Leading Payment Platforms
In Singapore, Apple has partnered with several prominent payment platforms to facilitate the adoption of Tap to Pay on iPhone. As of today, Adyen, Fiuu, HitPay, Revolut, Stripe, and Zoho support the feature, with Grab planning to offer it starting early next year. The service is compatible with major card networks, including Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB, and UnionPay, ensuring broad accessibility for consumers.
Global Expansion and Adoption
Since its initial announcement in 2022, Tap to Pay on iPhone has experienced rapid global adoption. The feature first launched in the United States and has progressively expanded to numerous countries across Europe, Asia, and other regions. Notable expansions include:
– Europe: In March 2025, Apple introduced Tap to Pay on iPhone in nine European countries, including Bulgaria, Finland, Hungary, Liechtenstein, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Switzerland. This expansion enabled millions of businesses to accept contactless payments using only their iPhones. ([9to5mac.com](https://9to5mac.com/2025/03/18/apple-announces-major-expansion-of-tap-to-pay-on-iphone/?utm_source=openai))
– Additional European Markets: By May 2025, the service extended to eight more countries: Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Greece, Iceland, Luxembourg, and Malta. Each country saw collaborations with multiple payment platforms to ensure seamless integration. ([9to5mac.com](https://9to5mac.com/2025/05/27/tap-to-pay-on-iphone-lands-today-in-eight-new-countries/?utm_source=openai))
– Asia-Pacific: In November 2024, New Zealand joined the list of countries offering Tap to Pay on iPhone, with support from platforms like Adyen, ANZ Bank, Stripe, Windcave, and Worldline. ([9to5mac.com](https://9to5mac.com/2024/11/22/tap-to-pay-iphone-expansion/?utm_source=openai))
– Middle East: December 2024 marked the feature’s availability in the United Arab Emirates, with initial support from Adyen, Magnati, and Network International. ([9to5mac.com](https://9to5mac.com/2024/12/10/tap-to-pay-iphone-united-arab-emirates/?utm_source=openai))
Diverse Applications Across Industries
The versatility of Tap to Pay on iPhone has led to its adoption across various sectors. For instance, in November 2023, Alaska Airlines integrated the feature into their in-flight services, allowing flight attendants to accept contactless payments for onboard purchases directly via iPhone. This implementation enhanced the passenger experience by streamlining transactions and reducing reliance on traditional payment terminals. ([9to5mac.com](https://9to5mac.com/2023/11/19/alaska-airlines-adopts-tap-to-pay-on-iphone-for-in-flight-purchases/?utm_source=openai))
Integration with Payment Platforms
Major payment platforms have embraced Tap to Pay on iPhone, further facilitating its adoption among businesses. In March 2024, PayPal announced support for the feature through its Venmo and PayPal Zettle platforms in the U.S., enabling merchants to accept contactless payments without additional hardware. ([9to5mac.com](https://9to5mac.com/2024/03/07/paypal-tap-to-pay-iphone-venmo-zettle/?utm_source=openai))
Technical Requirements and Developer Support
To utilize Tap to Pay on iPhone, merchants need an iPhone Xs or later running the latest iOS version. Apple has provided developers with APIs to integrate this functionality into their applications, ensuring a smooth experience for both merchants and customers. The feature supports a wide range of contactless credit and debit cards from leading payment networks, including American Express, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, and Visa.
Looking Ahead
The expansion of Tap to Pay on iPhone to 50 countries signifies a major advancement in contactless payment technology. By eliminating the need for additional hardware and prioritizing security and privacy, Apple is empowering small businesses worldwide to offer convenient and secure payment options to their customers. As the feature continues to roll out globally, it is poised to become a standard in the realm of digital transactions.
