Apple Pay is accepted at millions of locations worldwide, but it can be hard to know exactly which stores support it before you get to the register. This guide covers every major retailer, restaurant, and gas station — plus troubleshooting tips when something goes wrong.
#Quick Answer
Most major retailers and restaurants accept Apple Pay in 2026, including Walmart (online only), Target, Starbucks, McDonald’s, Walgreens, Whole Foods, CVS, and Subway. Notable holdouts include Kroger, H-E-B, and Hobby Lobby.
#How to Use Apple Pay In-Store
- Hold your iPhone or Apple Watch near the contactless payment terminal
- Authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode
- Wait for the checkmark and “Done” confirmation
Look for the contactless payment symbol (four curved lines) or the Apple Pay logo at checkout. If you’re having trouble with Face ID during authentication, see our guide on fixing Face ID issues.
#Grocery Stores That Accept Apple Pay
| Store | Apple Pay Accepted | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Whole Foods | Yes | All locations |
| Albertsons | Yes | All locations |
| Safeway | Yes | All locations |
| Publix | Yes | All locations |
| Aldi | Yes | All US locations |
| Dollar General | Yes | Most locations |
| Dollar Tree | Yes | Most locations |
| Food Lion | Yes | All locations |
| Sprouts | Yes | All locations |
| Vons | Yes | All locations (Safeway-owned) |
| Wegmans | Yes | All locations |
| Harris Teeter | Yes | All locations |
| Kroger | No | Uses Kroger Pay instead |
| H-E-B | No | Uses its own payment system |
| Sam’s Club | Yes | In-app and in-store |
#Restaurants & Fast Food That Accept Apple Pay
| Restaurant | Apple Pay Accepted | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| McDonald’s | Yes | In-store and drive-through |
| Starbucks | Yes | In-store and in-app |
| Subway | Yes | All locations |
| Taco Bell | Yes | Most locations |
| Chipotle | Yes | In-store and in-app |
| Dunkin’ Donuts | Yes | All locations |
| Burger King | Yes | Most locations |
| KFC | Yes | Most locations |
| Wendy’s | Yes | Most locations |
| Popeyes | Yes | Most locations |
| Arby’s | Yes | Most locations |
| Dairy Queen | Yes | Most locations |
| Sonic | Yes | Most locations |
| Little Caesars | Yes | Select locations |
| In-N-Out | Yes | All locations |
| Wingstop | Yes | All locations |
| Zaxby’s | Yes | Most locations |
| Dutch Bros | Yes | All locations |
#Retail Stores That Accept Apple Pay
| Store | Apple Pay Accepted | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Target | Yes | In-store and in-app |
| Walgreens | Yes | All locations |
| CVS | Yes | All locations |
| Costco | Yes | All locations (added 2022) |
| Home Depot | Yes | All locations |
| Lowe’s | Yes | All locations |
| Sephora | Yes | All locations |
| Ulta Beauty | Yes | All locations |
| TJ Maxx | Yes | All locations |
| Marshalls | Yes | All locations |
| Ross | Yes | All locations |
| Kohl’s | Yes | All locations |
| Burlington | Yes | Most locations |
| AutoZone | Yes | All locations |
| Barnes & Noble | Yes | All locations |
| Bath & Body Works | Yes | All locations |
| PetSmart | Yes | All locations |
| Petco | Yes | All locations |
| Michaels | Yes | All locations |
| Hobby Lobby | No | Cash, debit, and credit only |
#Gas Stations That Accept Apple Pay
Many gas stations now accept Apple Pay at the pump or inside:
- Shell — Yes, at pump and inside
- ExxonMobil — Yes, via Speedpass+ app and at pump
- Chevron — Yes, at most locations
- BP — Yes, at pump and inside
- Speedway — Yes, all locations
- Wawa — Yes, at pump and inside
- 7-Eleven — Yes, at most locations
- Circle K — Yes, at most locations
Tip: If the pump doesn’t accept Apple Pay, go inside to pay — most gas station convenience stores have NFC-enabled terminals.
#Online & Delivery Services
| Service | Apple Pay Accepted | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| DoorDash | Yes | In-app payment option |
| Amazon | Limited | Apple Pay on amazon.com via Safari only, not in Amazon app |
| SHEIN | Yes | In-app and website |
#Can You Get Cash Back with Apple Pay?
Yes, you can get cash back with Apple Pay at stores that offer cash back with debit card purchases. This works because Apple Pay transmits your debit card information to the terminal. Simply select “cash back” when prompted at checkout.
Stores that commonly offer cash back with Apple Pay (using a linked debit card):
- Walmart
- Target
- Walgreens
- CVS
- Kroger (cash back only, even though they don’t accept Apple Pay for purchases)
- Most grocery stores
Important: Cash back only works with a debit card linked to Apple Pay, not a credit card.
#Can You Use Apple Pay at an ATM?
Yes, many ATMs now support cardless withdrawals using Apple Pay. Major banks with NFC-enabled ATMs include:
- Bank of America — Cardless ATM access
- Chase — Tap to pay at ATMs
- Wells Fargo — NFC-enabled ATMs
- Capital One — Cardless withdrawals
Look for the contactless symbol on the ATM. Hold your iPhone or Apple Watch near the reader, authenticate, and follow the on-screen prompts.
#How to Add PayPal to Apple Pay
You cannot directly add PayPal as a payment method in Apple Pay. However, you can:
- Use a PayPal debit card — If you have a PayPal Cash Card (Mastercard debit), add it to Apple Wallet like any other card
- Use PayPal’s own contactless payment — PayPal has its own NFC payment feature in the PayPal app
- Transfer PayPal funds to your bank — Then use your bank’s debit card through Apple Pay
#Troubleshooting Apple Pay
#Apple Pay Pending Transaction
If your Apple Pay transaction shows as “pending”:
- Wait 24-48 hours — Most pending transactions clear automatically
- Check with the merchant — The store may not have processed the charge yet
- Verify your card — Open Wallet app and make sure your card is active
- Contact your bank — If pending for more than 3 days, call your card issuer
Common causes: Gas station pre-authorizations, restaurant tips being added later, or weekend/holiday processing delays.
#Apple Pay Services Currently Unavailable
If you see “Apple Pay Services Are Currently Unavailable”:
- Check Apple’s System Status — Visit apple.com/support/systemstatus
- Restart your iPhone — Force restart by pressing and releasing Volume Up, Volume Down, then hold Side button
- Re-add your card — Remove and re-add the card in Wallet settings
- Update iOS — Go to Settings → General → Software Update
- Reset network settings — Settings → General → Transfer or Reset → Reset → Reset Network Settings
If your Apple ID settings are grayed out and you can’t access Wallet, you may need to fix the Apple ID grayed out issue first.
#Apple Pay Not Working
If Apple Pay won’t work at checkout:
- Check if the store accepts Apple Pay — Look for the contactless symbol
- Make sure NFC is enabled — It should be on by default
- Try holding your phone closer — Keep within 1-2 inches of the terminal
- Use a different card — Switch to another card in Wallet
- Restart your device — A restart often fixes temporary NFC issues
#How to Get Money Back If Scammed via Apple Pay
If you sent money to a scammer through Apple Pay:
- Contact your bank immediately — Report the unauthorized transaction
- File a dispute — Request a chargeback through your card issuer
- Report to Apple — Contact Apple Support at support.apple.com
- File a police report — For significant amounts, file a local report
- Report to FTC — File a complaint at reportfraud.ftc.gov
Important: Apple Pay person-to-person payments (Apple Cash) work like cash — they’re harder to reverse than store purchases. Act quickly for the best chance of recovery. You may also want to verify your Apple ID to ensure your account hasn’t been compromised.
#Frequently Asked Questions
#Does Costco accept Apple Pay?
Yes, Costco accepts Apple Pay at all US locations, both in the warehouse and at the gas pump. They began accepting Apple Pay in 2022.
#Does Kroger accept Apple Pay?
No, Kroger does not accept Apple Pay. They use their own Kroger Pay system. However, Kroger-owned stores like Fred Meyer and QFC may accept it.
#Why do some stores not accept Apple Pay?
Some retailers avoid Apple Pay because of the transaction fees Apple charges, or because they want to promote their own payment apps (like Kroger Pay or Walmart Pay).
#Is Apple Pay safe?
Yes, Apple Pay is considered very secure. Your actual card number is never stored or shared with merchants. Each transaction uses a unique, encrypted token.
#Can I use Apple Pay without internet?
Yes, Apple Pay works without an internet connection for in-store NFC payments. The transaction data is stored and synced later.