iPhone maker Apple is reportedly mulling launching its digital payments service, Apple Pay, in India by late-2026
The big tech major is in discussions with global card networks like Visa and Mastercard to roll out the service in the country
In the first stage, Apple Pay will focus on card-based contactless payments – allowing users to add their cards to Apple Wallet and pay by tapping their iPhone or Apple Watch on NFC-enabled machines
iPhone maker Apple is reportedly mulling launching its digital payments service, Apple Pay, in India by late-2026.
As per a Business Standard report, the big tech major is in discussions with global card networks like Visa and Mastercard to roll out the service in the country. Apple also plans to seek regulatory approvals to launch the digital payments offering.
Apple plans to roll out the service in phases. In the first stage, Apple Pay will focus on card-based contactless payments – allowing users to add their cards to Apple Wallet and pay by tapping their iPhone or Apple Watch on NFC-enabled machines. As of now, cards issued in India cannot be added to Apple Wallet.
In the later phases, the big tech giant could also roll out support for UPI, which would need a separate set of regulatory approvals. As per the report, Apple is unlikely to apply for a UPI third-party app licence initially as the process is more complex than for card-based payments.
The iPhone maker is also said to be in discussions with card issuers on the fees chargeable to access its payments system.
The move comes as Apple looks to expand its services business in India. The company recorded its highest-ever iPhone shipments in the country in 2025, ending the year with a market share of around 9-10%.
With swathes of users in its kitty, the company plans to leverage its captive base to monetise its services business such as payments, subscriptions and other digital services.
This comes less than a month after the Cupertino-based giant launched Apple Fitness+ in India, expanding its subscription-based fitness and wellness offerings.
Against this backdrop, Apple Pay could help Apple deepen user engagement and gradually lift services revenue in a market dominated by UPI-led payment apps.
While card-based payments are expected to be the starting point, any future integration with UPI would place Apple more directly within India’s mainstream digital payments ecosystem, where transaction volumes are among the highest globally.
Notably, in FY25, Apple India’s net profit rose 16% YoY to INR 3,196 Cr, while operating revenue increased 19% YoY to INR 79,060.5 Cr. Although the bulk of this top line came from hardware sales like iPhones and iPads, services contributed INR 4,380 Cr to revenue during the year, covering offerings like Apple Care and technical support.
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