Apple Pay is a mobile payment service by Apple that allows users to make payments in person, in iOS apps, and on the web. Supported on iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad, Mac, and Vision Pro, Apple Pay digitizes and can replace a credit or debit card chip and PIN transaction at a contactless-capable point-of-sale terminal. It does not require Apple Pay–specific contactless payment terminals; it can work with any merchant that accepts contactless payments. It adds two-factor authentication via Touch ID, Face ID, Optic ID, PIN, or passcode. Devices wirelessly communicate with point of sale systems using near field communication (NFC), with an embedded secure element (eSE) to securely store payment data and perform cryptographic functions, and Apple's Touch ID, Face ID and OpticID for biometric authentication.
Apple Pay can also be used to pay fares on many public transport networks. Payment can be authorised without authentication for supported public transport networks, referred to as 'Express Mode', or by a regular authenticated Apple Pay transaction for other systems accepting contactless payments.