Apple Pay Launches In India With Axis Bank Cards; UPI-Dominated Market Gets New Payment Option

Apple has launched its payments service in India, bringing Apple Pay to the country's large digital payments market after years of preparations. The service allows users to make purchases using Apple devices, with Visa and Mastercard credit cards issued by Axis Bank supported at launch.

The rollout covers payments at physical stores, within apps and online. Apple Pay is available on iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch, while Mac support is set to follow. Eligible cards can be added to Apple Wallet and used at participating merchants without repeatedly entering card details or one-time passwords.

Apple has also partnered with several payment providers to expand merchant acceptance. Its network includes Razorpay, PayU, Cashfree, Pine Labs, Paytm, Juspay, Mswipe and Worldline. Merchants listed by Apple include Blinkit, Zomato, Croma, Tata 1mg and Reliance brands.

Apple Pay India Launch: Cards, Devices And Merchant Support

At launch, Apple Pay supports eligible Visa and Mastercard credit cards issued by Axis Bank. HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank and SBI Card are not currently live on the service.

Key details include:

• Supported cards: Axis Bank Visa and Mastercard credit cards

• Not supported: RuPay cards

• Devices: iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch

• Mac: Support to follow

• Authentication: Face ID, Touch ID or device passcode

• Card storage: Apple Wallet

• Merchant network: Enabled through multiple payment processors

Apple said tokenisation prevents card numbers from being shared with merchants. This allows transactions to be authenticated through the user's device rather than requiring card details and OTPs at every checkout.

Apple Pay Could Speed Up Card Checkout

Payment processors see Apple's entry as a potential boost to card transaction completion by reducing friction during checkout.

Cashfree said credit card spending in India reached ₹23.2 lakh crore in 2025, compared with ₹8.9 lakh crore in 2021. The company also reported that checkout abandonment on its international gateway declined 75% after Apple Pay was introduced.

Cashfree and Pine Labs had previously supported Apple Pay for international customers making payments to Indian merchants. The domestic launch now extends that payment experience to Indian users.

Why Apple Pay Took Years To Reach India

Apple first launched Apple Pay in the US in 2014 and now offers the service in more than 90 countries and regions. Its India plans had previously faced data localisation concerns and technical challenges linked to adapting the service to India's payments infrastructure.

A regulatory change has since created a clearer framework for device-based authentication. The Reserve Bank of India's revised authentication directions, issued in September 2025 and effective from 1 April, recognise device-native biometrics while retaining two-factor authentication.

Apple's commercial terms with Indian card issuers have not been disclosed. In the US, the company charges card issuers 0.15% on credit card transactions, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Apple does not charge customers for purchases.

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