List Of Popular Stores That Take Apple Pay

If you are tired of a bulging wallet packed with store cards and considering using Apple Pay – look no further! Here’s a list of the top 12 US retailers that accept Apple Pay, including other payment tips and tricks. So, grab your phone, and let’s go shopping!

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The 12 leading US retailers accept Apple Pay are below. Scroll down to read them all.

Table of Contents

• Key Takeaways
• These Popular Stores Accept Apple Pay
  • 1. Amazon 4-Star Stores
  • 2. Costco
  • 3. Aldi
  • 4. Walgreens
  • 5. Kohl’s
  • 6. Target
  • 7. IKEA
  • 8. The Apple Store
  • 9. McDonald’s
  • 10. Bloomingdales
  • 11. Panera Bread
  • 12. Starbucks
• Related Questions
  • Are My Apple Pay Transactions Secure?
  • Can I Use Apple Pay When I Travel Abroad?
  • Where Else Can I Use Apple Pay?

Key Takeaways

• Apple Pay is a fast and efficient, free-of-charge way to make payments as Apple generates income by charging banks 0.15 percent of every purchase (15 cents for every $100 payment).
• All stores that accept Apple Pay or tap-and-pay (NFC contactless payments) will display the relevant icons at their points of sale or store-front windows.
• Alternatively, open the Apple Maps app on your iPhone, Mac, or iPad, search for a certain store, use the location scrolling option, and tap on the name.
• But the best aspect of Apple Pay is that you can also use your Apple Watch to make payments if paired with a new iPhone version.

These Popular Stores Accept Apple Pay

While all these leading retailers have embraced Apple Pay and other contactless payment options, there are a few important caveats that you need to be aware of.

Some stores accept Apple Pay, but only in certain locations, although should you download their apps and link them to Apple Pay, you can make payment in any region throughout the US.

In other instances, a store might limit your purchases to smaller items like clothing and exclude big-ticket items like furniture, which is not a problem as several leading furniture suppliers accept Apple Pay.

Some retailers will let you link your store rewards card with Apple Pay, which is a great way to earn extra cash and enjoy Apple’s cutting-edge technology.

1. Amazon 4-Star Stores

You can now use Apple Pay at any of Amazon’s brick-and-more 4-Star stores that only contain quality items awarded with 4star online review ratings, so you are assured of a great buy!

To make a payment, double-tap your Apple Watch or iPhone power button on the right side of the screen and hold the device close to the Pay Point mechanism once your Digital Wallet appears.

Once a check-mark icon appears, you are good to go – it is as simple and hassle-free as that!

2. Costco

While Costco gas stations do not currently accept any mobile phone payments, all Costco members can use Apple Pay at any of their 572 warehouses dotted around the US.

Moreover, as Apple Pay is mostly operational throughout the globe, you can use Apple Pay for purchases at the following Costco international warehouses: Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Japan, Spain, France, and the United Kingdom.

3. Aldi

Aldi has built a reputation for revolutionizing grocery shopping, so it’s no wonder that they were one of the first leading retailers to accept contactless payments, including Apple Pay.

With 2000 Aldi stores in 36 US states, you will find great deals. Who knows, it might just be around the corner.

4. Walgreens

Walgreens has built a strong reputation as a leading US pharmacy group, which has made them incredibly popular, so it’s no wonder that they were a front-runner in embracing world-class Apple Pay technology.

Apple Pay works in conjunction with the Walgreens rewards card, so ensure that you scan your card before paying to access your points and coupons and enjoy significant savings.

Alternatively, link your Walgreens card to your Apple Pay Wallet to earn points whenever you make a purchase (which is probably the best option).

5. Kohl’s

Kohl’s was another trailblazer in the retail sector when they permitted customers to link their in-store credit cards with Apple Pay.

This payment initiative was followed by an integrated one-touch payment and rewards system, which meant that customers could earn Kohl rewards with a single touch which is great as life is too short to wait in an endless queue at a checkout counter!

6. Target

Target is another leading US retailer that accepts all mobile payments, including Apple Pay, at any of their stores dotted across the country.

Furthermore, you can either use it at one of the manned checkout terminals or via a quick and easy self-service checkout payment.

7. IKEA

Let’s face it, there’s nothing more fun than exploring IKEA’s vast array of incredible merchandise – to such an extent that you might shop for far longer than you initially planned (it can be classed as a guilty pleasure….)

So, you will be happy to note that you can make online and in-store purchases with Apple Pay.

8. The Apple Store

Of course, you can also use your Apple Pay facility to purchase computers, mobile phones, and other merchandise at any Apple Store throughout the US and in all their global outlets.

9. McDonald’s

Using Apple Pay at McDonald’s can be tricky at first as some outlets do not have the necessary contactless payment terminals, while others require that you pay inside as their drive-through payment options are complicated.

Although, there’s an easy workaround as you can make purchases via their app to order meals at any location (which is probably the quickest option).

10. Bloomingdales

You can use Apple Pay at any Bloomingdale store for smaller purchases, except for more expensive or major purchases like mattresses or furniture.

While you will not be able to link your store credit cards with Apple Pay, they accept all Mastercard, American Express, and Visa-linked transactions.

11. Panera Bread

Nothing beats the joy of smelling bread straight from the oven!

However, to enjoy that little guilty pleasure, you need to know that Panera Bread only has a few stores with Apple Pay terminals, but you can purchase your delicious bread at any location via their app.

Unlike some other Apple partners, you earn cashback rewards with all your Apple Card purchases at Panera Bread, and let’s face it, nothing beats the thrill of occasionally “eating on the house”!

12. Starbucks

Like Panera Bread, you can only make Apple Pay purchases at select Starbucks locations, although the Starbucks app allows access to all their locations.

However, Starbucks has taken it a step further by partnering with Microsoft or Office 365 to launch a Teams app that enables you to give an overworked, underpaid co-worker a Starbucks gift card for their morning pick-me-up.

Simply download the Starbucks app in Teams and log in to your Starbucks account; it’s as simple as that!

Once you have set up the app, a Starbucks logo will pop up under the Teams conversation box; then click on the logo, complete all the details, select the Apple Pay checkout option, and your co-worker will be pleasantly surprised with your awesome kind gesture!

Related Questions

Now that you know which major retailers accept Apple Pay and how it works, it’s time to delve into other questions you might have.

So, here are a few pertinent answers to your questions that address Apple Pay security measures, using it abroad when traveling, including other leading US stores that accept Apple Pay throughout the country.

Are My Apple Pay Transactions Secure?

With so much credit card fraud and identity theft across the globe, it’s only natural to ask whether your Apple Pay transactions are safe and protected from unscrupulous characters.

Apple has built a reputation for providing secure mobile platforms that are far safer than cold-hard-cash to such an extent that their key executives have proclaimed that Apple Pay’s design is “the safest payment method on the planet.” So, you might be wondering why that is?

When a debit or credit card is paired with your Apple Pay Wallet, it is linked with a bespoke token, or “Device Account Number” secured on the device instead of the credit or debit card number.

All Apple Pay devices contain a “Secure Element,” or specially earmarked chip, that stores the user’s payment data like credit card numbers which are not uploaded on Apple servers or the iCloud, so no one other than the user will have access to that information.

Upon making payment, a Device Account Number is routed via NFC technology, coupled with a unique, once-off security code to process the transaction.

The one-off, unique code is a cryptogram used instead of your CCV credit card number, which is another way to ensure that the transaction is made via your device. It adds an extra layer of security. Thus, it could be classed as a virtual credit card transaction.

Although it must be said that all NFC-enabled mobile devices use this payment method, it is not unique to Apple. However, Apple has added additional security measures as users must authenticate purchases with either a Face or Touch ID approval on all iPhone devices.

Innovative Apple Watch purchases rely on two means of authentication. You must provide a passcode and ensure that the device touches your skin (the sensor monitors your heart rate). So, as long as it stays on your wrist, you can “shop till you drop”!

Moreover, you can use the “Find My iPhone” facility to stop all payments if your phone is missing or stolen, so you don’t have to cancel your credit or debit cards which we all know is a great hassle.

Banks have such faith in Apple Pay’s ability to provide a secure payment that they are willing to be held liable in the unlikely event that your card is fraudulently used for online or in-store payments. If that does not convince you – nothing will!

Can I Use Apple Pay When I Travel Abroad?

Apple Pay is your perfect travel buddy as you can use it in any country that accepts contactless payment transactions, and let’s face it, the hassle of getting your hands on local currencies is something we can all do without.

However, it would be wise to take your physical card as certain countries are not equipped with contactless payment devices.

Apple Pay has a significant global footprint in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Peru, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Bahrain, Armenia, China, Canada, Costa Rica, Palestine, Qatar, Columbia, Israel, Japan, Macau, Kazakhstan, Singapore, Taiwan, including most European countries.

In addition, Apple Pay partners with most international card payment methods like Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express.

Including country-based financial institutions like UnionPay (in China), JCB (in Japan), “Cartes Bancaires” (in France), “Interac” (in Canada), “Eftpos” (in Australia) , “Mada”(in Saudi Arabia), including the German “Girocard”.

You can also use Apple Pay for public transport in foreign countries with your debit/credit card linked to Apple Pay in major cities like London, Stockholm, or New York City, or pay for travel cards like the US Ventra and Suica or the Octopus Card in Hong Kong.

Where Else Can I Use Apple Pay?

Apple Pay’s growth to date has been so phenomenal that most US retailers (about 90%) have contactless payment terminals as the demand for these types of payments grew during the pandemic.

The company aims to enable seamless payments with Apple Tap to Pay technology, which they plan to roll out in the coming year in partnerships with all the contactless credit and debit card providers, and it is only a matter of time before all retailers use this method of payment.

Some of Apple’s partners include GAP, Macy’s, Sephora, GameStop, Best Buy, B&H Photo, Barneys New York, Babies R Us, Dunkin Donuts, Chevron, and Disney, Jamba Juice, Lucky, Nike, and Office Depot.

Other leading brands include Petco, Sprouts, Staples, KFC, BI-LO, Trader Joe’s, American Eagle Outfitters, Safeway, Whole Foods, CVS, Target, Publix, Taco Bell, Baskin Robbins, 7-Eleven (excluding gas pumps), Raley’s Supermarkets, and Disney Store.

While the list mentioned above is not exhaustive, this Apple Pay website contains a lot of handy information to set you up for a fun shopping spree.

So, if you are looking for a hassle-free, cost-effective, and secure payment method that most leading retailers accept across the globe – Apple Pay is a must!