Apple Pay has officially launched in India in 2026, giving iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch users a new way to make contactless and online payments. Apple announced the India launch on September 30, 2026, after years of anticipation around the service entering one of the world’s largest digital-payment markets.
However, the initial Apple Pay rollout in India is limited. At launch, eligible Axis Bank Visa and Mastercard credit cards can be added to Apple Wallet. Apple has not yet opened support to every Indian bank or the RuPay network.
Apple Pay India Launch 2026: What You Need to Know
Apple Pay is designed to allow users to make payments without repeatedly entering card information. In India, users can currently use the service on compatible iPhones, iPads and Apple Watch devices.
Apple says Mac support is coming soon. At launch, Apple Pay can be used at thousands of participating stores, apps and websites across India and anywhere compatible NFC contactless payments are accepted.
Which Banks Support Apple Pay in India?
The initial supported issuer is Axis Bank.
Currently, Apple lists:
- Axis Bank Visa credit cards
- Axis Bank Mastercard credit cards
The bank list is expected to expand as additional issuers join the service. Apple advises customers to check whether their particular card is eligible because not every card type from a supported bank necessarily qualifies.
Major banks such as HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank have been reported as being in discussions with Apple, but they were not part of the initial official rollout.
Is RuPay Supported on Apple Pay?
No, not at the initial India launch.
Apple Pay currently supports eligible Axis Bank cards running on Visa and Mastercard. India’s domestic RuPay network is not included in the initial rollout.
This is an important limitation because RuPay has a significant presence in India’s card and digital-payment ecosystem. Future support would depend on Apple, banks and payment networks reaching the necessary arrangements.
How to Set Up Apple Pay in India
Setting up Apple Pay is relatively simple if you have an eligible Axis Bank credit card.
Step 1: Open Apple Wallet
Open the Wallet app on your compatible iPhone.
Step 2: Tap the Plus (+) Button
Tap the plus button and follow the instructions to add your payment card.
Step 3: Verify Your Card
You can also add an eligible card through the latest Axis Bank mobile banking app. The bank will verify the card before it becomes available for Apple Pay.
Step 4: Start Paying
Once the card is successfully added, you can use Apple Pay at supported contactless terminals and participating online or in-app checkout pages.
How Does Apple Pay Work?
For an in-store payment, iPhone users can double-click the side button, authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID or a device passcode, and hold the phone near a contactless payment terminal.
Apple Watch users can double-click the side button and hold the watch near the contactless reader.
Apple Pay uses tokenisation instead of sharing the actual card number with the merchant. Apple says the actual card number isn’t stored on the device or Apple’s servers; a unique Device Account Number is used for transactions.
Where Can Apple Pay Be Used in India?
Apple says Apple Pay is available at millions of participating merchants across India, including businesses such as Blinkit, Croma, Ixigo, Reliance brands, Tata 1mg and Zomato, along with Apple Store locations and other participating merchants.
Apple has also worked with payment service providers including Cashfree, JusPay, Mswipe, Paytm, PayU, Pine Labs, Razorpay and Worldline to expand merchant acceptance.
Apple Pay vs UPI in India
Apple Pay enters a market where UPI is already extremely popular. Unlike UPI, Apple Pay’s initial Indian implementation is card-based, meaning users need an eligible supported credit card.
UPI, on the other hand, enables direct bank-account payments and remains deeply integrated into India’s digital-payment ecosystem. Reuters reported that UPI accounted for about 84% of India’s digital payments around the time of the Apple Pay launch.
Therefore, Apple Pay is unlikely to immediately replace UPI. Instead, it gives iPhone users another option for card-based contactless and online payments.
What Could Happen Next?
The biggest question for Apple Pay India is the expansion of bank and card support.
Support for additional banks, broader card networks and more merchants could make the service considerably more useful. For now, however, the official Apple Pay India rollout remains focused on eligible Axis Bank Visa and Mastercard credit cards.
Final Verdict
Apple Pay India 2026 is finally a reality. The service offers iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch users a convenient and privacy-focused way to make card payments. The initial rollout is limited, but future expansion to more banks and card networks could make Apple Pay a much bigger player in India’s digital-payment ecosystem.