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Which Stores Accept Apple Pay? The Always Up-to-Date List

Oct 20, 2014 11:19 PM
Jan 8, 2020 05:28 PM
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Apple Pay has been available to use in stores, as well as in select apps and websites, ever since its first appearance in iOS 8.1. Now, with iOS 12, there are currently 13 different iPhone models that support Apple Pay functionality without the use of an Apple Watch, and the list of partnered stores that accept Apple Pay has only grown. Here's our always-up-to-date list to keep you in the know.

First, since iPhone 6 and later iPhone models have NFC-technology built in, pretty much any shop that has a functioning contactless reader (and employees who know how it works) will accept Apple Pay, just like they will Google Wallet and NFC-chipped cards. Just look for the Apple Pay icon or the universal contactless smart card reader sign on card readers and point-of-sale (POS) terminals in stores.

If you want to see exactly which businesses accept Apple Pay right now, here's a full list for physical locations, as well as places that do not accept Apple Pay or have been known to disable it entirely. Things may fluctuate mildly starting in April 2019 as retailers with contactless payment terminals must also accept EMV contactless chips, which could result in some retailers disabling contactless payments until they comply.

There are also a bunch of iOS apps that will accept Apple Pay, so scroll down for that list, too. And as of iOS 12.3, you can use Apple Pay to pay for purchases in the App Store, iTunes, and Apple Books, along with subscriptions to Apple Music, Apple News+, and iCloud storage (setup needed). If you need help setting up Apple Pay and using it, check out the bottom of this guide for some quick walkthroughs.

  1. Stores That Accept Apple Pay Right Now
  2. Stores That Will Accept Apple Pay Soon
  3. Stores That Won't Accept Apple Pay Right Now (Or Ever)
  4. Apps & Websites That Accept Apple Pay Right Now
  5. Apps & Websites That Will Accept Apple Pay Soon
  6. Nonprofits That Accept Apple Pay Donations
  7. Colleges & Universities That Accept Apple Pay Right Now
  8. Colleges & Universities That Will Accept Apple Pay Soon
  9. Setting Up Apple Pay in Your Wallet

1. Stores That Accept Apple Pay Right Now

Here's the official list of Apple Pay partners accepting contactless payments in stores. While it does not include every shop, restaurant, or service, you can most definitely be sure that it'll work in these places, as employees have most likely been thoroughly trained to prepare for the questions shoppers will have.

Anyone with a "(confirmed)" next to their name are retailers who aren't or weren't ever on Apple's official list or have not been announced as partners by Apple, but who have officially stated they accept Apple Pay.

Again, these are stores that say Apple Pay is a go for payments, but the list is much bigger since most stores with contactless payment readers will work. Hell, even vending machines with the tech will work. So, if you see the Apple Pay icon or the universal contactless smart card reader sign, give it a shot. The worst thing that can happen is that it won't work.

Apple Pay VP Jennifer Bailey said at a conference in January 2018 that Apple Pay was accepted in 50% of all retail stores, which is amazing considering it started out with just 3% of stores when Apple Pay first rolled out in 2014. In January 2019, an Apple press release stated that Apple Pay is now accepted at 74% of the top 100 US merchants and 65% of all retail locations. So, you've got better than a 50/50 shot that Apple Pay will work if you try it.

Plus, more payment terminals such as Square Reader, PrestoPrime EMV, and Ziosk are offering support for Apple Pay in newer systems that any big business or mom-and-pop shop can use.

Use Apple Maps to Check for Places You're Unsure Of

There's a quick trick you can use in Apple Maps to see what places around you accept Apple Pay. Simply open up the Maps app, then search for "Apple Pay." It will show you all of the businesses around you that likely accept it, and you can view more information for each one to see either the Apple Pay logo and/or "Accepts Apple Pay" under Useful to Know. You can also search and select a specific business and look at the Useful to Know section to see.

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2. Stores That Will Accept Apple Pay Soon

The following are businesses that have promised to get Apple Pay compatibility up and running at some point, so be on the lookout. It's possible that some of these have abandoned plans or have actually already begun taking Apple Pay and we just haven't confirmed it yet.

  • Carmike Cinemas
  • EDITION
  • Free People
  • Marriott
  • Regal Cinemas
  • Renaissance Hotels
  • Urban Outfitters

3. Stores That Won't Accept Apple Pay Right Now (Or Ever)

While most stores with the universal contactless smart card reader sign will accept Apple Pay and other NFC-based payments, there are few stores that either haven't added support specifically for Apple Pay yet, have no intention of doing so, or haven't been confirmed to support Apple Pay yet (if you know, let us know in the comments!).

Some stores below had previously partnered with MCX (which was later purchased by Chase) and its now-defunct CurrentC project. Others have partnered with options such as PayPal, Chase Pay, and Buy It Mobility or have come up with their own contactless payment system.

Not all of these merchants below will refuse Apple Pay, but they have not officially accepted it as far as we can tell. Some stores, like CVS, have confirmed disabling NFC card readers to prevent Apple Pay use (though, some renegade stores will still accept it). Ones with asterisks (*) below may now accept Apple Pay but it has not been confirmed yet.

  • 76
  • Acme Fresh Market
  • Alam
  • Bahama Breeze Island Grille
  • Banana Republic
  • Bed Bath & Beyond
  • Buy Buy Baby
  • The Capital Grille
  • Christmas Tree Shops
  • Conoco
  • Dick's Sporting Goods
  • Dillard's
  • Eddie V's Prime Seafood
  • Exxon Mobil
  • Face Values
  • GetGo from Giant Eagle
  • HMSHost
  • Hobby Lobby
  • Home Depot
  • JCPenney (previously worked, but removed in April 2019 until it rolls out EMV support)
  • K-Mart
  • Kroger
  • Kum & Go
  • Longhorn Steakhouse
  • Lowe's
  • Maggiano's Little Italy
  • Michaels Arts & Crafts
  • My Good Market
  • Olive Garden *
  • Outback Steakhouse *
  • Phillips 66
  • Price Rite
  • RaceTrac
  • Sam's Club
  • Sears
  • Seasons 52 Fresh Grill
  • Shell (in stores)
  • Southwest Airlines
  • Sunoco *
  • Walmart
  • Wendy's *
  • Yard House

4. Apps & Websites That Accept Apple Pay Right Now

If you don't like shopping in stores, the below iOS apps have accepted Apple Pay at some point in time and/or currently do right now. While there is no longer a huge list maintained by Apple, we'll try to keep this update as we find new ones that add Apple Pay support on iOS, but keep in mind that Apple Pay has been live since October 2014, so there's probably a lot more apps that use it than just listed below.

Also, as of iOS 12.3, you can use Apple Pay when purchasing anything from Apple, whether in the App Store, iTunes, Apple Books, Apple TV, Apple Music, Apple News+, iCloud Storage, and more. To use Apple Pay in Apple's own apps, you need to set it up first.

5. Apps & Websites That Will Accept Apple Pay Soon

There currently is no official list of apps that have promised to accept Apply Pay payments for purchases made in their apps, but here's what we've heard through the grapevine.

6. Nonprofits That Accept Apple Pay Donations

Apple also notes on its website that the following charities and nonprofits accept Apple Pay donations, so if you're in the giving spirit, give one of these a try.

  • American Red Cross
  • Charity: Water
  • Children's Miracle Network Hospitals
  • COPD Foundation
  • Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America
  • Feeding America
  • GlobalGiving
  • (RED)
  • St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
  • Save the Children
  • The Nature Conservancy
  • The Water Project
  • Unicef United States Fund
  • United Way
  • WNET New York Public Media
  • World Vision
  • WWF

7. Colleges & Universities That Accept Apple Pay Right Now

Apple also notes on its website that the following college campuses and universities accept Apple Pay payments.

  • Duke University
  • Temple University
  • The University of Alabama
  • The University of Oklahoma

8. Colleges & Universities That Will Accept Apple Pay Soon

  • Johns Hopkins University
  • Santa Clarita University

Setting Up Apple Pay in Your Wallet

If you need help setting up Apple Pay for Wallet on your iPhone, it's as easy as opening up the Wallet app, tapping the "+" sign, scanning your card, and following the rest of the prompts. Right now, there are over 3,420 participating banks and credit unions in the United States (as of Jan. 2020), so it's not even worth trying to mention any of them. If it's a bank, chances are high that you can add your account to Apple Pay.

To set up Apple Pay to use in Apple's own apps in iOS 12.3 or later, view our full guide.

Using Apple Pay to Make Purchases

Using Apple Pay on your iPhone to make purchases is as easy as it gets. In stores, just hold your registered fingerprint on the Touch ID surface, then move the iPhone close to the payment terminal to submit the payment using your preferred card. If you'd rather use a different card, double-click the Home button, select your card, then hold it near the payment terminal with your finger on Touch ID.

If you have an iPhone X or newer, the process is a little different. You need to double-click the Side button, choose a different payment card if you don't want to use the default one, let Face ID scan your face, then hold the iPhone near the payment terminal.

Missed Something? Let Us Know

Did we miss any big brands out there accepting Apple Pay right now? Let us know and we'll continue to update this list.

Cover photo by Justin Meyers/Gadget Hacks

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