ECOMMERCE TIPS

How to Add Apple Pay to Your Shopify Checkout: Benefits, Setup, and Best Practices

by Hannah 

  • Oct 22nd, 2024

  • 9 mins read

add apple pay to shopify checkout
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In today's fast-paced digital world, offering a seamless and secure payment experience is crucial for online businesses, including Shopify merchants. Apple Pay, with its intuitive interface and advanced security features, provides a streamlined solution for checkout payments. By integrating Apple Pay into your Shopify store, you can streamline the checkout process, reduce cart abandonment, and increase overall conversions.


This comprehensive guide will walk you through the step-by-step process of how to add Apple Pay to Shopify checkout. We'll cover everything from the benefits of Apple Pay for Shopify merchants, to the step-by-step process of integrating it, and additional strategies to optimize your checkout experience.


So, let's dive in and explore how to add Apple Pay to Shopify checkout and elevate your online store's performance!

1. Overview of Apple Pay to Shopify: a seamless and secure payment solution

1.1. What is Apple Pay?

Apple Pay, a leading digital wallet with a 92% market share, empowers Apple users to make secure and convenient transactions using their iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch. Initially designed for contactless payments, Apple Pay has evolved to offer a wide range of payment options.


In fact, as of 2023, according to research, Apple Pay processed a substantial 14.2% of all online consumer payments and 3.5% of all in-store purchases, demonstrating its widespread adoption and popularity among consumers. Apple Pay can be said to be a must-have for Shopify merchants looking to tap into the growing market of eCommerce in general.
apple pay
Unlike traditional card payments, Apple Pay protects user privacy by not sharing card details with merchants. Instead, a unique Device Account Number is used, ensuring a secure and confidential transaction process.

Most importantly, if you are wondering “Does Shopify accept Apple Pay”, then yes, Apple Pay seamlessly integrates with Shopify, offering a streamlined checkout experience for customers. By eliminating the need to create accounts or manually enter payment information, users can complete purchases with a few taps, saving time and effort. 

Now that you have a basic understanding of Apple Pay, let’s dive deeper into how it can enhance the shopping experience of your customers and take your store into a new height!

1.2. Benefits of Apple Pay to Shopify merchants

Apple Pay has revolutionized the way we make payments, offering a seamless and secure experience. For merchants, adding Apple Pay to Shopify can provide numerous benefits that can significantly impact your business.
apple pay

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Increased conversions

Shopify Apple Pay has a streamlined checkout process, coupled with its intuitive interface and familiar design, which can significantly reduce cart abandonment. Customers no longer need to manually enter their card details, eliminating a potential pain point and encouraging them to complete their purchases. This leads to increased conversions and higher sales.

Reduced fraud

Tokenization, a core feature of Apple Pay, replaces your actual card details with a unique code, reducing the risk of fraud. Additionally, biometric authentication adds an extra layer of security, further minimizing the risk of unauthorized transactions.

Improved customer satisfaction

The security features of Apple Pay, including tokenization and biometric authentication, instill confidence in customers. The ease of use and speed of Apple Pay also contribute to a positive customer experience, leading to increased satisfaction and loyalty. 

Boosted mobile sales

As a Shopify Apple wallet, it is optimized for mobile devices, making it ideal for today's mobile-first shoppers. The fast and convenient checkout process offered by Apple Pay can significantly boost your mobile sales, especially for businesses that rely heavily on mobile traffic.

Enhanced brand image

Offering Apple Pay on Shopify demonstrates that your business is up-to-date with the latest technology trends. It also conveys a sense of trustworthiness and security, which can positively impact your brand's image.

With its enhanced security and streamlined Shopify checkout payment, Apple Pay offers a multitude of advantages that can significantly improve your Shopify store's performance. Let's explore how it works behind the scenes!

1.3. How does Apple Pay work?

Apple Pay works by providing a secure and convenient way for customers to make payments using their iPhone or Apple Watch. Here's a breakdown of how Apple Pay Shopify payments work:
Step 1: Tokenization
When a customer adds their credit or debit card to Apple Pay, the card details are securely tokenized. This means that your Shopify store never receives or stores sensitive card information, ensuring maximum protection against fraud.

Step 2: Authentication 
To make a payment using Apple Pay, the customer must authenticate their identity using Touch ID or Face ID. This adds an extra layer of security to the transaction.

Step 3: Payment processing
Once authenticated, the payment is processed seamlessly through Apple's secure payment network. Shopify handles the backend integration, ensuring a smooth and secure transaction.

Step 4: Confirmation
The customer will receive a confirmation of the payment on their Apple device.
apple pay express checkout

Use Apply Pay to enhance checkout experience in eCommerce

Until now, you must be excited to offer your customers the smooth and secure checkout experience of Apple Pay. However, before diving into the setup process, we need to understand a few key requirements to ensure seamless integration with your Shopify store.

1.4. Prerequisites for Apple Pay in Shopify

To integrate Apple Pay into your Shopify store, you'll need the following.

1.4.1. Supported payment gateway 

Apple Pay works hand-in-hand with specific payment processors. You'll need to be using one of the following credit card payment providers within your Shopify store:
  • Shopify Payments
  • Stripe
  • Authorize.net
  • First Data Payeezy
  • Braintree
  • CyberSource
These services have established connections with Apple Pay, allowing for smooth communication and secure transactions.

1.4.2. Secure your storefront

Security is paramount for both you and your customers. To ensure a safe environment for Apple Pay transactions, your Shopify website's domain needs to have an active SSL certificate. This encrypts data transmission, safeguarding sensitive information like credit card details.
SSL certification

Ensure to enable SSL certification for your website

1.4.3. Adhere to Apple's guidelines

Apple has established clear guidelines for businesses using Apple Pay on the web. Familiarize yourself with the "Acceptable use guidelines for Apple Pay on the web" to ensure your store's practices align with Apple's expectations. These guidelines cover aspects like user experience, data privacy, and brand integrity.

Once you've ticked all these boxes, you're ready to move on to the exciting part: integrating Apple Pay into your Shopify store and unlocking a world of convenience for your customers!

2. How to add Apple Pay to Shopify checkout: a step-by-step guide

By following the step-by-step guide and ensuring your payment provider supports Apple Pay, you can easily integrate this popular contactless payment method into your online store:
  • Log in to your Shopify admin > Navigate to the bottom left corner of your screen and click on "Settings”
Shopify admin
  • Under the "Settings" menu, click on "Payments”
Shopify payments
  • Choose your Credit Card Payment Provider: Locate the section for your credit card payment provider and click "Manage”
Shopify payment settings
Enable Apple Pay:
  • Check for Apple Pay Support: Verify that your payment provider supports Apple Pay. If not, you may need to switch to a compatible provider.
  • Activate Apple Pay: Look for the Apple Pay option within your payment provider's settings. Toggle it on or enable it according to the provider's instructions.
Enable Apple Pay
  • Save Changes: Once you've enabled Apple Pay, save your changes to apply the settings.
According to Shopify help center docs, once you enable Apple Pay in your Shopify store, Shopify will automatically handle the setup. Your store will be able to detect customers who are using compatible Apple devices. 

When these customers reach the Shopify checkout page, they'll see a convenient one-step purchase option using Apple Pay. This streamlined process makes it easy for your customers to complete their purchases quickly and securely.

To further optimize your store's payment experience, you can follow these tips:
  • Display security badges: Showcase security badges from reputable organizations like PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) to reassure customers about the safety of their payment information.
  • Display relevant icons: Clearly indicate the accepted Shopify payment methods, including Apple Pay, with recognizable icons.
  • Cater to diverse preferences: While Apple Pay is a popular option, providing other payment methods like PayPal Express or Payoneer can cater to a wider range of customers.
In addition to the standard methods of accepting Apple Pay on your Shopify store, there are several other avenues to explore that can further enhance your payment options and customer experience.

Let’s check it out with us!

3. Other ways to accept Apple Pay in your Shopify stores

While the standard method involves integrating Apple Pay directly through your payment provider, there are a few alternative approaches you can consider.

3.1. Apple Pay in person: POS, card readers, and smartphones

Shopify store owners can receive Apple Pay payments in-store by using Shopify POS with a compatible card reader such as the WisePad 3, Chipper 2X BT, POS Go, or Tap & Chip reader.

This feature allows customers to make payments with Apple Pay by tapping their Apple Watch or iPhone on any compatible reader. The payment is instantly processed, eliminating the need for customers to present their credit card or manually input payment details.
Apple Pay for POS

Customers can use Apple Pay to pay with POS

3.2. Apple Pay cash

If your online business operates in the United States and you have enabled Apple Pay on your Shopify store, you can offer customers the Apple Pay Cash option. Apple Pay Cash is a service for person-to-person payments, enabling users to send money directly from their Apple Watch or iPhone by utilizing their Apple Pay Cash Card.

Shopify POS supports Apple Pay Cash when using the Tap & Chip reader, POS Go, Tap to Pay on iPhone, or the Chipper 2X BT card reader.

3.3. Apple Pay in mobile apps

If your store features an iOS app utilizing the iOS Buy SDK, Apple Pay is an accessible option. The iOS Buy SDK simplifies the process of establishing personalized storefronts within your mobile app, allowing customers to make purchases using either Apple Pay or a credit card. This SDK interfaces with the Shopify platform through GraphQL and accommodates a diverse array of native storefront experiences.

By exploring these alternative methods, you can expand your acceptance of Apple Pay and provide a more convenient payment experience for your customers, regardless of their shopping preferences. This can lead to increased sales, improved customer satisfaction, and a stronger online presence.

4. Conclusion

Apple Pay offers a powerful and convenient payment solution for Shopify merchants. By integrating Apple Pay into your online store, you can enhance the customer experience, increase conversions, and strengthen your brand's reputation. With its secure and streamlined checkout process, Apple Pay provides a competitive advantage in today's digital landscape.

By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can seamlessly implement Apple Pay into your Shopify store and unlock its full potential. Remember to continuously monitor and optimize your checkout process to ensure a positive customer experience and maximize your sales.

Let’s provide a world-class shopping experience for your customers with Apple Pay!

5. Questions about how to add Apple Pay to Shopify checkout

1. How do I add an Apple Pay button to Shopify checkout?

Here is a breakdown for you:

  • Log in to your Shopify admin: Go to admin.
  • Navigate to Settings: Click on Settings > Payments.
  • Manage Shopify Payments: In the Shopify Payments section, click Manage.
  • Activate Apple Pay: In the Wallets section, click Activate for Apple Pay.
  • Save Changes: Make sure to save your changes.

By completing these steps, you'll successfully add the Apple Pay option to your Shopify store.

2. Why is Apple Pay not showing on Shopify checkout?

If Apple Pay is not showing on your Shopify checkout, consider the following potential reasons:

  • Payment Processor Issues: If you're using Cybersource, Authorize.net, or First Data Payeezy, you need to ask your payment processor to turn on network tokenization. If you're using Stripe, ensure you have accepted the Terms of Service specific to Apple Pay from your Stripe dashboard.
  • Requirements Not Met: Make sure that you meet all the requirements for using Apple Pay. For example, Apple Pay won't be offered if your customer is using the Buy Button sales channel or if the Company name field is required during checkout.
  • Cart Drawer Issues: If you have a cart drawer or pop-up on your online store, the Apple Pay button might not display. You can add JavaScript to your theme to ensure that the button appears in your cart drawer.

If you've checked all these points and Apple Pay still isn't showing, it's recommended to contact Shopify's support team for further assistance. They can provide more specific troubleshooting steps or identify any underlying issues.

3. What is Express checkout with Apple Pay?

Express checkout with Apple Pay offers a fast and secure way for customers to complete their purchases on your Shopify store. When customers use Apple Pay, they can skip entering their credit card information and shipping address manually. Instead, they simply tap or click the Apple Pay button, authenticate their payment using Face ID or their fingerprint, and Apple Pay automatically provides the necessary payment information to the payment provider.


Key features include:

  • Quick Payment: Customers can complete their purchases quickly without entering details manually.
  • No Extra Fees: You won't incur additional fees for accepting Apple Pay; you only pay the standard processing fees associated with your payment provider.
  • Compatible Devices: Apple Pay works on various compatible devices, enhancing the customer experience.

4. How to add Apple Pay to express checkout Shopify?

To add Apple Pay to your express checkout on Shopify, follow these steps:

  • Log in to your Shopify admin: Go to admin.
  • Navigate to Settings: Click on Settings > Payments.
  • Manage Shopify Payments: In the Shopify Payments section, click Manage.
  • Activate Apple Pay: In the Wallets section, click Activate for Apple Pay.
  • Save Changes: Make sure to save your changes.

5. How do I customize my express checkout on Shopify?

To customize Shopify checkout page with these express checkout options, follow these steps:

  • Log in to your Shopify admin: Go to admin.
  • Navigate to Settings: Click on Settings > Checkout.
  • Customize Checkout Configurations: In the Configurations section, click Customize next to the checkout configuration you want to modify.
  • Include Apps in Accelerated Checkout: You can select whether to include an app in your accelerated checkouts, such as Shop Pay. In the Checkout behavior section, select Include app in express checkouts and optionally choose to Automatically expand sections to show the app.
  • Save Changes: Make sure to click Save to apply your changes.

You can also add features to the post-purchase page using checkout apps, which can enhance the customer experience after they complete their payment.

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  • ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  • Hannah

    eCommerce Specialist

    With over 5 years of experience under her belt, Hannah is an eCommerce writer who crafts content specifically for a website that deals with online sales. She simplifies technical details to assist entrepreneurs in utilizing the platform and launching their online ventures.