Apple launched Apple Pay in India on September 30, 2026, marking the service's debut after more than a decade of anticipation, according to inc42.com. The payment platform allows users to make transactions at physical stores, within apps, and on websites using Apple devices such as the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch.
The journey to launch Apple Pay in India began in 2016 when then-CEO Tim Cook met with ICICI Bank’s CEO Chanda Kochhar to explore mobile payment possibilities. Over the years, the payments landscape in India evolved significantly, with the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) processing 24.51 billion transactions worth ₹29.82 lakh crore in August 2026 alone, per the National Payments Corporation of India. Apple Pay’s India version is more limited than the US offering, supporting eligible card payments authenticated via Face ID, Touch ID, or passcode, and contactless payments at compatible terminals.
Apple Pay enters a highly competitive Indian market dominated by UPI and other digital wallets, which have deeply penetrated consumer payment habits. The service’s narrower functionality compared to the US version may limit its initial appeal, as Indian consumers already have multiple payment options integrated into their daily lives. The launch highlights Apple’s strategy to expand its ecosystem in India, despite the entrenched dominance of local payment platforms.
Apple Pay’s launch on September 30, 2026, places it in a market where UPI remains the dominant payment method, with 24.51 billion transactions recorded in August 2026, according to the National Payments Corporation of India. This milestone marks Apple’s formal entry into India’s digital payments sector after a decade of planning.