💰Apple Pay Launches in India with Axis Bank Integration
Apple Pay enters India's unique digital payments landscape
TL;DR
Apple Pay is set to launch in India on Tuesday, partnering with Axis Bank to support Visa and Mastercard cards. The service will initially address a smaller card payments market, with a 20 basis point transaction fee.
Apple Pay is set to launch in India on Tuesday, partnering with Axis Bank to support eligible Visa and Mastercard cards. The service will initially be limited to online purchases and contactless payments at enabled terminals. For developers and businesses, this marks a significant entry into India's digital payments ecosystem, which is largely driven by UPI. Apple Pay's 20 basis point transaction fee is consistent with its model in other markets. Eligible Axis Bank customers can add their credit cards to Apple's Wallet app for seamless transactions.
Key Points
Apple Pay launches in India on Tuesday, initially supporting eligible Axis Bank cards on Visa and Mastercard.
Apple Pay will initially be restricted to merchants and terminals enabled for the service, with a 20 basis point transaction fee.
HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, and SBI Card are not expected to support Apple Pay at launch, with ongoing negotiations.
UPI handles the bulk of digital payments in India, with Apple Pay addressing a smaller card payments market.
Apple accounted for 28% of India's smartphone market by value in 2025, with India set to produce 30-35% of global iPhones.
Why It Matters
If you're developing payment integrations for iOS apps, Apple Pay's entry into India's market could change your strategy. The service initially supports Visa and Mastercard cards through Axis Bank, but HDFC, ICICI, and SBI are still negotiating. This affects the digital payments landscape, where UPI dominates, and highlights the unique challenges of integrating card-based services in India.
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