Compare credit cards with Apple Pay

Apple Pay is a mobile payment technology and a digital wallet designed to allow Apple customers to use their devices, such as their phone or watch, to securely pay for goods. Instead of tapping your credit card at checkout, you may be able to simply hold your phone at the vendor’s card reader to make your purchase.  

The major phone manufacturers all offer a form of mobile payment, including Google Pay from Google and Samsung Pay from Samsung. The payment technology that may best suit you will depend on the devices you most frequently use. 

That being said, not every single credit card issuer in Australia supports this technology. This is why it is crucial to compare your credit card issuers carefully if having access to Apple Pay for your credit card is a priority. 

Apple Pay works by allowing you to seamlessly make payments using smart devices as you would with a debit or credit card. For Apple users, you simply need to ensure the ‘Wallet’ app is installed.  

Apple Pay uses the smart device’s Near Field Communication (NFC) technology to interact with digital payment terminals in shops. You may also be able to select Apple Pay as a payment option when shopping online using your iPhone. 

To use Apple Pay, you will need to:

1. Ensure your credit card issuer supports Apple Pay.
2. Open the ‘Wallet’ app, select Add to Wallet (+ symbol).
3. Choose the card option you want to connect.
4. Enter your credit card information, or show your card to the reader and it will automatically upload the information.
5. Make sure the credit card information is correct.
6. Verify your card using the issuer's app, or via email or phone. 
7. Congratulations, you should now be able to use Apple Pay!

There are 121 credit card issuers in Australia currently supporting Apple Pay, however there are still some that have not approved this payment option. If you’re shopping around for your next credit card and Apple Pay is an important feature to you, double check that your lender appears on this list via the Apple website. 

Some of the card issuers supporting Apple Pay include:

• Commonwealth Bank
• Westpac
• ANZ
• NAB
• American Express
• Macquarie
• ING
• HSBC
• Citi Australia

It’s worth noting that some of the larger institutions took their time in supporting Apple Pay for their customers. ANZ, for example, approved its use immediately in 2016, whereas Westpac did not allow customers access to Apple Pay until 2020. Smaller companies may be more likely to immediately provide customers with innovative fintech as it rolls out, so keep this in mind when performing your credit card comparison. 

All you need to link your credit card to Apple Pay is the following:

1. An Apple ID - set up your apple ID and link this to your smart device. This can be easily done when you first purchase your smart device. 
2. A compatible smart device - Apple provides a range of products to customers, with most of the newer technology facilitating Apple Pay. At the time of writing, these devices may support Apple Pay:
• iPhone - Phone models with Face ID, iPhone models with Touch ID, except iPhone 5s
• iPad - iPad Pro, iPad Air, iPad and iPad mini models with Touch ID or Face ID
• Apple Watch - Series 1 and later
• Mac - Mac models with Touch ID, models introduced in 2012 or later with an Apple Pay-enabled iPhone or Apple Watch, or Mac computers with Apple silicon that are paired with a Magic Keyboard with Touch ID
3. A credit card supporting Apple Pay - The credit card issuer will need to support a connection to Apple Pay. Over 120 companies in Australia now support Apple Pay, but not every issuer does, so it’s crucial you double check your card is compatible. 

Making payments with Apple Pay is just as secure as making contactless tap-and-go credit card payments, due to the similar technologies that are used. 

As per the Apple website, Apple Pay is actually safer than using your physical credit card to make purchases, as Face ID, Touch ID or a passcode is required for purchases to be made, your card number and identity will not be shared with merchanges, and your credit card numbers are not actually stored on your device or on the Apple servers. Further, when you pay with a credit card, Apple doesn’t keep transaction information that can be tied back to you.

According to Apple: “After you authenticate your transaction, the Secure Element provides your Device Account Number and a transaction-specific dynamic security code to the shop’s point of sale terminal along with additional information needed to complete the transaction.

Again, neither Apple nor your device sends your actual payment card number. Before they approve the payment, your bank, card issuer or payment network can verify your payment information by checking the dynamic security code to make sure that it’s unique and tied to your device.”

It’s important to keep in mind that there is more to a credit card than whether or not it supports Apple Pay. It is crucial that you compare a range of card options from different companies before deciding which one to apply for.

Be sure to compare key factors such as the interest rates, fees and charges, number of interest-free days, rewards programs, perks like insurances, and more. These factors may affect which credit card is the best for your specific financial needs. 

You can easily compare credit cards using the comparison table on this page. Simply filter through your preferences, such as a preferred lender or rewards program, and view options side-by-side. You can then sort your results via lowest interest rates, highest number of interest-free days and lowest annual fee.