Survey: Only 6% of U.S. iPhone Users Who Set Up Apple Pay Actually Use It

[alexandr]

I've used Apple Pay up until my XS Max got so broken that it stopped working. Will be using it when I get upgraded next week.

I do still use the Apple Pay to people all the time.

apple pay to people?..

 

[nburwell]

As long as the retailer/shop accept Apple Pay, I'm using it.

6% seems rather low usage rate, but who am I to judge?

 

[DocMultimedia]

and half of the time even when the pump has an apple pay icon — it won't work!

Yeah, I noticed that also. I noticed my station now has the logo but wouldn't take it. Had to pull out my wallet. Annoying.

 

[dwaltwhit]

Seems low. I use it all the time. I wish I could Apple Pay at the pump.

I'm starting to see it at more gas stations. It's a bit more expensive for them because thats a new reader at every pump, and as I understand it, that initial cost is borne by the franchisee.

 

[Shasterball]

I use it a lot. That being said, most people do not want to spend the time trying to figure out if a vendor accepts ApplePay. Even if it takes 5-10 seconds. Everyone accepts plastic. Until ApplePay is accepted in 80%+ of places and -- importantly - everyone is aware of that, you will not see adoption creep up meaningfully...

 

[alexandr]

You are right. People just don’t want to take off their masks for authentication. In fact, using Touch ID for Apple Pay is easier than Face ID even without the face mask issue.

yes, it's such a chore to enter your passcode. because we all use apple pay at least 500 times a day...

 

[mi7chy]

Common sense to use plastic versus risking dropping a $1K+ phone or be a target of opportunity for crime flashing a nice phone.

 

[echopulse]

I use it as much as possible. There are still so many major retailers that don't accept it. Even though 7% of locations take it, that's not where 70% of transactions happen. Lots of people won't even bother to start using it if it's not available everywhere. Here a just a few of the big holdouts. When many more of these add the ability, I bet the number of people using it will increase.

Walmart 5000

Sams Club 600

Home Depot 2000

Lowes 1800

Hobby lobby 600

Kroger 3000

HEB 350

Belk 300

Michaels 1200

USPS 34,450

 

[Cirlonde]

I really want to be able to use Apple Pay as my primary method of payment, but in Oklahoma the convenience is severely limited because you first have to figure out if the retailer is accepting it today and then you always need to have a backup method in case they aren't. If it's not consistently and reliably available, then it's usually not worth it to even try.

For example, just last week I stopped to get gas at a station that has always accepted Apple Pay...only to see a big sticker over the NFC symbol saying that contactless payment methods were not currently active. And the vending machines at my office are equipped, but it's hit or miss whether it will work from one day to the next. So if I have to carry a physical card with me anyway just in case...then the card continues to be my go-to method, because it's more reliably accepted.

TLDR: For me, lack of Apple Pay usage is the vendors' fault, not Apple's fault.

 

[827538]

Strange as I know this is anecdotal but everyone I know uses it regularly. Then again I'm in the under 30's category.

Only Walmart and Homedepot don't accept Apple Pay in the US, also gas pumps never seem to work with it. When I'm in the UK I use it exclusively.

 

[5105973]

I'd like to use it more, but habits die hard and it's not 100% reliable. I've had Apple Pay decline a charge, but approve the exact same physical card. Many times I'll already have my wallet out before I'll learn that a location accepts it, but since I already have my wallet out, I might as well just continue with what I was doing. There's also those registers where the cashier has to press a button to activate the terminal, and it's far less obvious to them that I want to pay with my watch. If I take my card out, they know, and they press the button. If I use my watch, I have to make some sort of weird gesture and hope they know that it's even an option.

Apple Pay is technologically easier in every way, but socially it's much more awkward.

This has been my experience as well. I use Apple Pay online almost everywhere it’s an option.

But my initial attempts to get comfortable with Apple Pay in stores hit some roadblocks, namely the great awkwardness that arose when attempting to use it and finding out the hard way it wouldn’t work. There are many stores I frequent where I still have to actually insert the card to get read at all. When I was shopping during vacation I actually had to use the stripe reader a few times!

I do think sheer “muscle memory” does play a role in the awkwardness I feel, too. The instinct to wield the card is hardwired into me at this point so there’s always that little awkward moment when I remember my Apple Pay, know it’s accepted, but then try to remember what I’m supposed to do to execute it properly.

Oddly, I used to use Samsung Pay a lot. It once had acceptance on older stripe readers and so usually worked when I wanted to use it. I got the chance to develop an instant rapport with it. But now Samsung has removed the compatibility with stripe readers so it’s in the same boat with Apple Pay. I stopped using it.

I think there was a point I could have developed more grace with Apple Pay, but too many failed attempts when I was trying to get comfortable using it put me off for the long term.

My husband has perfect grace using Apple Pay and can’t understand why I don’t.

 

[coachgq]

I mainly used it because getting my phone out of my pocket was easier than rooting around in my wallet. however mask wearing makes that a PITA so I have reverted to using card. I'm in the UK and I can't believe that only 70% of US merchants are set up for contactless...

Watch works well too.

 

[AppleTO]

I’m one of those people who set it up but never uses it. Except, I’m from Canada and all of our debit and credit cards are already NFC capable. It’s actually more work to use Apple Pay on an iPhone than to just tap a card. But, if I was from the US, I’m sure I would use it whenever possible. I’m considering an Apple Watch partly just for the Apple Pay convenience.

 

[coachgq]

Would love to not carry a wallet. Some holdouts, including the drivers license.

It's maddening that people think Apple Pay is somehow less safe than a credit card or cash. Cash can be lost and used by anyone. Credit cards are easily stolen or ripped. Apple should invest a lot more in advertising and educating about Apple Pay.

100%

 

[Techwatcher]

I use both Apple Card and Apple Pay all the time. Is the minority for this really folks on forums like Macrumors? Thought it was more widespread lol.

 

[name99]

I fully expect this is exactly as click-bait-y as it looks.

When looked at in detail it will be something like "most people use Apple Watch for their Apple pay, so technically we were correct when we said very few people use iPhone for Apple Pay"; or some similar such BS.

 

[jarman92]

i understand that your experience was different, but i live here, so either i'm lying, or there are still many places that don't accept apple pay.

There's a third option: you're just wrong. Not saying you are, but you can't discount the possibility.

Stats are hard to find, but Visa says that more than 75% of US transactions occur at a terminal that can accept contactless payments: https://navigate.visa.com/na/spending-insights/tapping-into-the-future-of-payments/.

 

[Dekema2]

I use it a lot. That being said, most people do not want to spend the time trying to figure out if a vendor accepts ApplePay. Even if it takes 5-10 seconds. Everyone accepts plastic. Until ApplePay is accepted in 80%+ of places and -- importantly - everyone is aware of that, you will not see adoption creep up meaningfully...

At this point, if a place has an NFC reader I assume they take Apple Pay. Usually I'm right. Even visiting some state parks here in NY, they have card readers that take it. So I just ask the guy if I can use it, stick my arm out the window and pay.

 

[Apple$]

In Canada due to financial regulations, Apple Pay or any tap-based technology has a C$100 limit. Also, most POS machines are not tap-enabled due to the extra fees that comes with tap transactions, which is usually around $0.1 per tap. The financial fraud liability of tap transaction lay with the merchants, but chip transactions at the clients. So, that motivated the denying of NFC-based technology.

I think they ended up increasing the limit to $250 since the pandemic started due to COVID.

 

[rhyzome]

This is so surprising. I use it for almost everything. I thought the percentage was way way higher.

 

[iGeek2019]

apple pay to people?..

I think the poster is referring to Apple Cash which is still limited to the United States.

In the UK myself and much prefer Apple Pay. Granted the mask element hasn’t always made it easy during the pandemic and whilst nothing is ever 100% ‘secure’ I know, at least, my ugly mug has approved the transaction 😂.

 

[MadeTheSwitch]

Oh my gosh....I almost ALWAYS use Apple Pay and almost NEVER touch my physical card unless an NFC reader is broken or a place doesn’t have one still. I love Apple Pay and contactless payment systems in general. I don’t find them a hassle. I find them super quick and easy. I also prefer Apple Pay on websites too. Boom..one click my order is paid for with name and shipping info all filled out in one step.

It’s especially fast now that cashiers are familiar with the technology. In the early days, especially when I was still using Samsung pay, employees would think I was hacking their systems. Even the ones that knew about these things a little were fun to tease back then. “Oh that won’t work here”.....ding...receipt pops out of their register, their mouth drops open. 😂

 

[ksj1]

Seems low to me. I use it with my Apple Watch wherever I can. Super convenient.

 

[coachgq]

I'm able to leave my wallet at home almost everywhere I go, as soon as my license can be stored, I'm wallet free. If a place doesn't take apple pay, I'll go somewhere else. Big companies should have no problem implementing contactless payment and small business can use square. If food trucks can make it work, Walmart should be able to also.

 

[lazyrighteye]

Interesting. 6% is much lower than I would have guessed. Of all iPhone users, I would have thought it conservatively well over 50%. I mean, if you have both a Credit Card and an iPhone and have Apple Pay set up, why would you not?
I use Apple Pay as exclusively as is possible. And find myself quietly, and mildly, irritated when contactless payment isn't an option - which is increasingly rare.

Somewhat related: I look forward to Colorado joining the list of states that approve driver's license in Wallet. My pockets look forward to the free space.