Apple Launches Apple Pay in India via Axis Bank

Apple Inc. launched its digital payments service, Apple Pay, in India on September 30, 2026. The service is available on iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch, with support for Mac expected soon. It allows users to make contactless payments in stores and online using Face ID or Touch ID, removing the requirement for PINs or one-time passwords.

The service initially supports Visa and Mastercard credit cards issued by Axis Bank. While accepted by merchants such as Zomato, Blinkit, and Apple Store locations, the platform does not yet support RuPay cards or the Unified Payments Interface (UPI). Apple plans to expand support to other banks and integrate UPI in the future.

To enable merchant network integration, Apple partnered with payment firms including Razorpay, Paytm, and Pine Labs. The move targets India's affluent middle class as Apple seeks to compete with established digital payment providers like Google Pay, PhonePe, and Paytm.