Apple Pay is the most popular mobile wallet app in the world. With most outlets now accepting Apple Pay, you can join more than 383 million Apple Pay users who are benefiting from a more convenient way to pay for goods and services.
Apple Pay functions in the same way as Google Pay. It harnesses the power of contactless technology to enable you to pay with your mobile device or an item of wearable tech, such as the Apple Watch.
So, why should you begin using Apple Pay?
Make payments simple
Simplified payments are the number one reason why people switch to Apple Pay. You can store your debit or credit card details on your mobile device to allow it to function in the same way as a card.
It uses NFC technology to communicate with payment terminals, including card machines – just move your iPhone close to the machine and then use Touch ID to accept and complete your purchase.
With so many stores now accepting Apple Pay because of Apple's growing 21% global smartphone market share, there's little reason to continue carrying physical cards at all.
You can also increasingly use Apple Pay in places like the local casino. If your preferred gaming venue of choice accepts card payments in exchange for chips at the cash desk, you can use Apple Pay. However, be aware that if your bank still restricts gaming transactions, Apple Pay won't work either.
Secure connection
When making a payment, you want to ensure that nobody is going to steal your information. With a physical card, fraud is relatively simple because all a thief has to do is get the numbers on the front and back of the card, which can happen both online and offline.
On the other hand, Apple Pay doesn't use card numbers to authorize purchases. Instead, it uses a special token known as a "Device Account Number." This hampers the ability of cybercriminals to steal from you if a security breach occurs.
As the number of data breaches increases, Apple Pay is a way to protect yourself, especially since the onus is no longer on the company in question to protect your payment details.
Use your card offline
Although Apple Pay functions on your mobile device, you don't need a valid Internet connection to make payments.
Apple Pay works in airplane mode and when you don't have any Wi-Fi connection, so you can pay wherever you are in the world.
This makes Apple Pay just as functional and convenient as a physical credit or debit card.
No extra charges
The app doesn't cost anything to use. Instead, Apple Pay deducts 0.15% from every purchase, but this is something that the merchant pays, not you.
Apple works with several major banks and credit card companies to allow users to access these low fees. In many cases, the merchant will prefer you to use Apple Pay because the fees may be lower than cards like American Express.
From your side of things, Apple Pay is entirely free, so it's the cheapest way to pay for goods and services.
Privacy
Privacy concerns may seem as if they are growing because of the increasing number of data breaches. The general public is worried about how private their information truly is, because they usually rely on retailers and other large companies to defend their privacy.
Apple Pay is different because the technology cannot track your purchases or store details. The information is never recorded by Apple when you pay, so you can transact with confidence.
Additionally, since you are using a device account number instead of a credit card number, you have another layer of protection against cyber-attacks.
Availability
Initially, Apple Pay could only be used at select retailers. Just because a store accepts card payments doesn't mean it has the technology to accept the Apple Pay system.
However, retailers understand the benefits of including Apple Pay as a payment option. More and more stores are now making it available, allowing you to use Apple Pay in practically every major store.
Use your Apple Watch
Are you worried about taking out your phone in public every time you want to make a purchase?
Apple Pay is fully compatible with the Apple Watch. All you have to do is follow these steps:
- Double-click the side button.
- Scroll down if you would like to choose a card other than your default card.
- Hold down the display of your watch near the card reader until you hear a beep.
It's that easy to transact using your Apple Watch, and the function is just the same as if you decided to use your smartphone.
Conclusion
Apple Pay is the next generation of paying for goods and services. The fact that everyone has a smartphone means this is a payment method everybody can access, regardless of their technical proficiency.
Have you tried Apple Pay yet?
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