Two years ago, Apple introduced ‘Tap to Pay’ introduced in the United States, among others, and since August 2023 the payment option can also be used in the Netherlands. This allows retailers and catering operators, among others, to use their iPhone as a PIN device without the need for additional hardware.
With ‘Tap to Pay on iPhone’ it is possible to receive iPhone payments via NFC. The feature will not be added to iOS by default, but developers can take advantage of it so they can customize their app to make it possible. The function is available at Rabobank, Adyen, Bunq and SumUp, among others.
What is Tap to Pay on iPhone?
Since iOS 15.4, Apple has introduced a framework regarding payments. Thanks to the NFC technology present in (newer) iPhone models, it is possible to receive payments without the intervention of additional hardware. You can also use, for example, in the same way NFC business cards.
The new capability allows millions of merchants, from small businesses to large retailers, to use their iPhone to easily and securely accept Apple Pay, contactless credit cards, debit cards and other digital wallets with a simple tap on their iPhone.
Available to developers
Tap to Pay on iPhone is available for payment platforms and app developers to integrate into their iOS apps and offer as a payment option to their business customers. Adyen and SumUp are the first payment platform in the Netherlands to offer Tap to Pay on iPhone to their business customers. Additional payment platforms including Rabobank and Stripe will follow later, view here the complete overview. The option is therefore mainly suitable for the business market, but ultimately everyone can benefit from it.
How does Tap to Pay on iPhone work?
Sellers can unlock the payment method through a supporting iOS app on an iPhone XS or later. At checkout, the merchant asks the customer to hold their iPhone or Apple Watch to pay with Apple Pay, hold their contactless credit or debit card, or other digital wallet near the merchant’s iPhone. The payment will then be completed securely using NFC technology.
No additional hardware is needed to accept contactless payments via Tap to Pay on iPhone, so businesses can accept payments from wherever they do business. It is free to use for consumers, but retailers pay a percentage per transaction. The app provider determines how much of the transaction costs are theirs SumUp is, for example, 1.9%.
Privacy is fundamental to the design and development of all of Apple’s payment features. With Tap to Pay, customers’ payment information is protected by the same technology that makes Apple Pay private and secure. All transactions made with Tap to Pay on iPhone are encrypted and processed using the Secure Element, and like Apple Pay, Apple does not know what is being purchased or who is purchasing it.
Rabo SmartPin (new)
Rabobank is one of the first banks in the Netherlands to offer Tap to Pay to their business customers. Using the Rabo SmartPin app, they can transform their iPhone into a payment terminal. The entrepreneur must take into account monthly subscription costs of €5 for this function. In addition, you pay a surcharge of €0.02 per transaction on top of the Rabo SmartPin rates.
For payments under €25 and via Apple Pay, no PIN code is required and payments can be made wirelessly. If a PIN code needs to be entered, this can be done safely on the entrepreneur’s iPhone. Read more information here back on the Rabobank website.
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Category: Finance, Business Developer: Rabobank Netherlands  4+ 139MBDOWNLOAD FOR FREE |
Limited availability
At the time of writing, Tap to Pay on iPhone is also available in the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Australia and Taiwan. Including in the Apple Store and at the Rituals stores in the Netherlands you can then use this payment method. It is currently unclear when this payment option will become available in other countries. In addition to Rabobank, Adyen, Bunq and SumUp, among others, support the function.