How secure is Apple Pay?

Technology is transforming how businesses accept payments, boosting speed and convenience for both you and your customers. In just a few decades, we've moved from cash being king to customers paying with a wave of their phone or watch using Google or Apple Pay. 

While exciting, this rapid change can raise questions about security for businesses. As card payments have evolved from signatures and PINs to contactless, businesses need to understand how these modern solutions – like Apple Pay – keep both you and your customers protected. 

In this guide, we'll answer how secure Apple Pay is, covering:

• What is Apple Pay?
• Difference between Apple Pay and Apple Wallet
• How Apple Pay works
• Why businesses accept Apple Pay
• Which card issuers work with Apple Pay
• How customers can use Apple Pay
• How secure are Apple Pay and Apple wallet?
• How to make Apple Pay transactions more secure
• Take contactless payments on iPhone
• Tap to Pay on iPhone for business for business

What is Apple Pay? The fast-track to a wallet-free life

Apple Pay is a contactless payment platform that lets customers pay without physical cards or cash. For businesses, this means faster transactions and fewer touchpoints, helping to improve checkout times and customer satisfaction.

Difference between Apple Pay and Apple Wallet: your dynamic duo for digital spending

Apple Pay allows customers to make secure purchases in stores, cafes and bars, apps, and online with just a tap. This simplifies the payment process for businesses, allowing you to accept payments quickly and securely.

Apple Wallet is where your customers store their payment cards, boarding passes, event tickets, and more. Together, Apple Pay and Apple Wallet help streamline transactions and offer secure, convenient payment options for your business and your customers.

How Apple Pay works: the magic behind the tap

Apple Pay makes in-store and online transactions fast and easy for businesses and customers alike. When customers add their credit or debit card to their Apple Wallet, they simply hold their device near your payment terminal. The Near Field Communication (NFC) technology detects the device, and the customer confirms the payment with a passcode or biometric scan.

For businesses, this translates to shorter wait times for customers looking to be served, smoother customer experiences, and fewer delays at checkout.

Tap into success: Why businesses accept Apple Pay

Accepting Apple Pay offers several advantages for businesses. It enhances customer convenience, speeds up transactions, and reduces the need for physical cards or cash. With the rise of digital wallet usage, adopting Apple Pay can help businesses stay competitive and meet customer expectations.

Which card issuers work with Apple Pay? Tap and go with a favourite card

Here’s a list of some major card issuers that support Apple Pay, payments accepted by all kinds of businesses, from small businesses to enterprises:

• American Express
• Barclays
• Capital One
• HSBC
• Lloyds Bank
• NatWest
• Nationwide
• Revolut
• Santander
• Starling Bank
• Tesco Bank
• The Co-operative Bank
• TSB Bank
• Virgin Money

How customers can use Apple Pay: set up, tap, and go

Customers can enjoy three simple ways to get started with Apple Pay:

Digital wallet

Customers can add their credit or debit cards to the Apple Wallet on their iPhone or iPad. At the checkout, they just hold their device near your payment terminal and confirm the payment.

Wearable

With Apple Watch, paying is as easy as a flick of the wrist. Customers can add their cards to the Apple Watch app, then double-click the side button and hold the watch near the payment terminal. 

Online

Shopping online with Apple Pay is easy. Customers can select Apple Pay at checkout, confirm the payment, and they’re done. No need to enter card details or billing info when businesses accept card payments – you’ll just be asked for biometric confirmation or your password to keep things secure.

How safe is Apple Pay? And how secure is Apple Wallet? 

Apple Pay and Apple Wallet are considered quite safe, with security features built into the hardware and software to protect your transactions. Safer than a physical credit or debit card, your customer information stays secure. Details such as your card number and identity aren’t shared with merchants or stored on your device, nor on Apple servers.

Security first: how Apple Pay keeps your transactions safe

Multi-factor authentication (MFA)

Apple Pay uses MFA, such as Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode, to ensure that only the customer can authorise the transaction. This added layer of security protects businesses from unauthorised payments.

NFC contactless payment 

NFC technology powers Apple Pay, creating a secure connection between your payment terminal and the customer’s device for safe, quick transactions.

Protection in case of loss and theft

If a customer’s device is lost or stolen, they can remotely remove their payment cards using ‘Find My iPhone,’ ensuring their card information can’t be used.

How to make Apple Pay transactions more secure: stay ahead with the latest iOS

1. Enable MFA

Requiring Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode for every transaction ensures payments are authorised securely, reducing fraud risk.

2. Stick to secure networks

Avoid processing transactions over public Wi-Fi. Using secure, private networks keeps your business's financial data safe.

3. Educate your staff about phishing scams

Train your staff to recognise phishing attempts and avoid clicking on suspicious links or providing personal information.

4. Make use of security features

If a customer’s device is lost or stolen, Apple’s Lost Mode and the option to erase cards remotely provide extra layers of protection.

Take contactless payments on iPhone: no cash, no cards, no problem

Tap to Pay on iPhone: The convenient solution

Tap to Pay on iPhone lets your business accept contactless payments using just an iPhone. It’s a flexible, hardware-free solution that provides a fast and secure way to process payments. Accept contactless payments with just your iPhone and the Dojo for business app.

How secure is Tap to Pay on iPhone?

Tap to Pay on iPhone uses built-in iPhone features to keep your business and customer data private. Card numbers aren’t stored on the device or Apple servers, so you can trust that your transactions are secure.