Part of our Apple Pay India series. Start with the complete Apple Pay India guide for the launch details, supported devices and merchants.
UPI handled 24.51 billion transactions worth ₹29.82 lakh crore in August 2026. Apple Pay arrived on 30 September with one bank. The two are built for different jobs, and most iPhone owners in India will end up using both.
24.51 bn
UPI transactions in August 2026
1
bank on Apple Pay at launch
₹5,000
contactless card limit without a PIN
0
fee to shoppers for either
The key difference
UPI moves money from your bank account to someone else’s, between people or businesses, within limits set by NPCI and your bank. You scan a QR code or enter a UPI ID, then approve with your UPI PIN.
Apple Pay is a way to use a card you already have. It stores a secure token of your credit card on your iPhone or Apple Watch, and you pay by tapping a card terminal or pressing an Apple Pay button online. The money comes from your credit card, not your bank account.
Apple Pay vs UPI side by side
| Apple Pay | UPI | |
|---|---|---|
| Pays from | Credit card (Axis Bank only so far) | Bank account, or a linked RuPay credit card |
| Where it works | Contactless terminals, apps and websites with Apple Pay | Almost any shop with a QR code, apps, websites |
| Pay friends | No | Yes |
| How you approve | Face ID, Touch ID or passcode | UPI PIN |
| Devices | iPhone XR or later, Apple Watch, iPad | Any smartphone with a UPI app |
| Rewards | Your credit card's rewards | Usually none, unless you use a RuPay credit card |
| Cost to you | Free | Free |
When Apple Pay is the better choice
- At big retailers with card terminals. A tap and a glance is faster than opening an app and scanning a QR code, and your phone doesn’t need a signal.
- Online and in apps. No card number, expiry date or CVV to type. Apple notes your bank may still ask for an OTP or app check on some payments.
- When you want credit card rewards or the interest-free period on a credit card, rather than paying straight from your savings.
- For privacy at checkout. The merchant never receives your real card number.
Setting it up takes a couple of minutes. See how to use Apple Pay in India.
When UPI is the better choice
- At small shops, autos and street vendors, where the QR code is everywhere and card terminals rarely are.
- Paying friends or family, splitting bills or sending money home. Apple Pay in India only pays merchants.
- If your bank isn’t Axis Bank. Every major bank supports UPI; only one supports Apple Pay so far. See the list of banks that support Apple Pay.
- If you don’t want to use credit, since UPI pays from money you already have.
Getting card rewards on UPI
If card rewards are why Apple Pay appeals, there is a UPI route to them. NPCI lets you link a RuPay credit card to UPI apps such as BHIM, PhonePe, Google Pay and Paytm, then pay any merchant QR code with it. Rewards depend on your card issuer.
Visa and Mastercard credit cards can't join UPI
Only RuPay credit cards link to UPI. If your credit card is Visa or Mastercard, Apple Pay (with Axis Bank) or the physical card are your options.Will Apple Pay add UPI?
Apple hasn’t said. MediaNama reported that UPI support would need NPCI approval and a sponsor bank to route payments. Given how much of India pays through UPI, it is the feature that would turn Apple Pay from a niche option into an everyday one.
How the security compares
Both methods meet RBI’s two-factor rule. UPI pairs your registered device with your UPI PIN; Apple Pay pairs your device token with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode. Our guide on whether Apple Pay is safe in India goes into the details. For the full launch picture, see the complete Apple Pay India guide.
Frequently asked questions
Does Apple Pay support UPI?
No. Apple Pay in India only works with cards, and at launch only with Axis Bank Visa and Mastercard credit cards. Apple has not announced UPI support or a timeline for it.
Is Apple Pay better than UPI?
Neither is better overall. UPI works almost everywhere and moves money straight from your bank account. Apple Pay is faster at contactless terminals and online checkouts, and earns credit card rewards, but only works with one bank's cards so far.
Can I send money to friends with Apple Pay in India?
No. Apple's India launch covers paying merchants in shops, in apps and online. For person-to-person payments, UPI is still the way to pay.
Can I use a credit card on UPI instead?
Yes, if it's a RuPay credit card. NPCI lets you link RuPay credit cards to UPI apps and pay by scanning QR codes. Visa and Mastercard credit cards can't be linked to UPI.
Which is safer, Apple Pay or UPI?
Both need two factors to approve a payment. Apple Pay uses a device token plus Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode; UPI uses your registered phone plus your UPI PIN. The bigger risk with either is being tricked into approving a payment.
The Apple Pay India series
Six guides covering what shoppers, iPhone owners and businesses in India are asking about Apple Pay.
01
Apple Pay in India: Banks, Cards, Devices and How It Works
02
Which Banks Support Apple Pay in India? Axis Bank and What Comes Next
03
How to Set Up and Use Apple Pay in India
04 · You are here
Apple Pay vs UPI
05
How Businesses Can Accept Apple Pay in India
06
Is Apple Pay Safe in India? Tokens, Face ID and RBI Rules
Sources
- Apple Newsroom (India): Apple Pay launches in India
- Apple (India): Apple Pay
- Business Standard: UPI sets new record at 24.51 bn transactions in August
- MediaNama: Apple Pay set to launch in India without UPI support
- NPCI: RuPay Credit Card on UPI
- RBI: Authentication mechanisms for digital payment transactions Directions, 2025
Launch details are from Apple and Axis Bank as of 30 September 2026. Bank negotiations and fee figures are press reports that Apple has not confirmed. Bank support is expanding, so check the Wallet app for the current list.
Adding Apple Pay to your checkout?
Tech Geum integrates payment gateways such as Razorpay for businesses in India and the Gulf, across websites, apps and in-store systems.