Apple has officially launched its digital payment service, Apple Pay, for users in the Philippines starting August 4, 2026.
With this launch, users in the Philippines will be able to make contactless payments in physical stores, apps and websites using iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad and Mac devices.
At the time of Apple Pay’s launch, eligible Visa and Mastercard debit, credit and prepaid cards issued by Chinabank, GoTyme Bank, Metrobank and UnionBank were supported. Apple says that more banks and card providers will join the service in the future.
To make a payment in a store using Apple Pay, you need to double-click the Side Button or Home Button on your iPhone, verify your identity with Face ID or Touch ID, and then hold the device near the Contactless Payment Reader. Users using Apple Watch can also make a payment by placing the Watch near the Payment Reader.
Apple Pay also reduces the need to repeatedly enter Card Number, Contact Information, Shipping Address and Billing Information when making payments in apps and websites.
According to Apple, the actual credit or debit card number used in Apple Pay is not stored on the device or on Apple servers. Instead, a unique Device Account Number is created for each device and stored encrypted in a secure chip called a Secure Element.
Apple does not retain any identifiable Apple Pay transaction history, and transaction details are kept between the user, the merchant, and the relevant bank or card issuer. If the iPhone is lost, you can use the Find My service to lock the device or temporarily stop Apple Pay payments.
In the Philippines, many stores support Apple Pay, including Ayala Malls, Jollibee, Foot Locker, Shake Shack, Power Mac Center, and WalterMart Supermarket. Apple Pay can also be used in apps and websites such as foodpanda, Shopee, Jollibee, and Rustan’s.
Maya Business, a payment processor in the Philippines, is also set to begin supporting Apple Pay for more than 5,000 online merchants.
Apple Pay is currently available in more than 90 countries and regions around the world, and works with more than 11,000 banks and financial institutions worldwide.
