Source-backed analysis12
Review basis
Research-based review: the AppDuo Editorial Team compiled it from official pages, documentation, app stores, press and user feedback, without hands-on testing. Every claim links to a source with the date it was checked.
12 reference sourcesInformation updated Nov 10, 2026
How we review
Apple Pay Review
Tap-to-pay on iPhone and Apple Watch, no fee, card number hidden from merchants
By AppDuo Editorial Team · Updated
- iOS
- macOS
On this page
Decide at a glance
Our verdict
Apple Pay suits people who already use an iPhone or Apple Watch and hold a card from a supported bank, since Apple charges no fee and keeps the real card number from merchants. The limits are that it runs only on Apple devices and depends on your bank taking part; in Vietnam, for example, bank support only began in August 2023.
Best for: iPhone and Apple Watch owners who want to pay with a bank card in stores, in apps and online without taking the card out
Skip it if: Android or Windows users, since Apple Pay is available only on Apple devices
Pros
- Apple does not charge fees for paying with Apple Pay
- Uses a device-specific number so merchants do not receive the card number; each payment needs Face ID, Touch ID or a passcode
- Works wherever the contactless symbol is shown, in apps and in Safari
Cons
- Limited to Apple devices (iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad, Mac, Vision Pro)
- Requires a card from a participating bank; Apple notes Apple Pay is not available in all markets
All pros and cons · Who is it for?
More pros
- Lost Mode through Find My can suspend payments and remotely remove cards if a device is lost
More cons
- Banks may still apply their usual card charges
Best for
- People who prioritise payment security and want to authorise with Face ID or Touch ID
Skip it if
- Anyone without a Visa, Mastercard or local network card from a participating bank
Problems it solves
Experience & key features
What Apple Pay is
Apple Pay is Apple's mobile payment service, announced on 9 September 2014. You add a debit or credit card to Apple Wallet and pay with an iPhone, Apple Watch, Mac, iPad or Apple Vision Pro. It is not a stored-value wallet: Apple says Apple Pay is provided by its subsidiary Apple Payments Services LLC, and that neither company is a bank.
How it works and security
In stores you double-click the button and hold the device near a contactless reader. Online, you pick Apple Pay at checkout and confirm with Face ID, Touch ID or a passcode. According to Apple and Visa Vietnam, the real card number is not kept on the device or Apple's servers; a Device Account Number is stored in the Secure Element chip instead, and each transaction uses a one-time dynamic security code.
In Vietnam
Apple Pay arrived in Vietnam on 8 August 2023 with six banks: Vietcombank, ACB, Techcombank, Sacombank, VPBank and MB, mainly for Visa cards, with Mastercard at VPBank. VIB announced Mastercard support in March 2024. On 15 April 2025, NAPAS said domestic cards could be used with Apple Pay, starting with Vietcombank and OCB. The bank list changes over time, so check your own bank's app.
More analysis
Cost and comparison
Apple does not charge for paying with Apple Pay, though the issuing bank may still apply normal card charges. Compared with e-wallets such as MoMo or ZaloPay, Apple Pay holds no balance and pays directly from a bank card, and it runs only on Apple devices. Android users need a different option.
Screenshots
Plans & pricing
Prices last verified Nov 10, 2026
Apple Pay
PersonalFree
Apple states it does not charge any fees when you pay with Apple Pay. The card issuer may still apply its usual charges or fees.
- Free plan limits
- Free to use with a debit or credit card from a supported bank. It needs a compatible Apple device, for example an iPhone 6 or later running iOS 12.5.2 or later (per Visa Vietnam's 2023 press release).
- Free trial
- No free trial
Cancellation & refunds
Apple Pay has no paid plan, so there is no separate refund policy. Transaction disputes are handled by the card issuer and the merchant; the Apple Pay page also states Apple is not a bank.
Privacy
According to Apple, Apple Pay uses a device-specific number instead of your real card number, so merchants do not receive the card number. Apple's privacy page says it does not store the original card number, does not learn what you bought or how much you paid, and keeps only a card reference in your Apple Account so cards can be re-added to a new device. When you add a card, Apple receives card details, your Apple Account name and billing address, device identifiers, phone number and location (if Location Services is on). Apple also collects usage information in a non-identifying form, which it may use for product improvement, marketing and fraud prevention. Apple says it does not sell transaction data for third-party marketing or advertising.
Apple Pay alternatives
7.5/10MoMo
Widely used Vietnamese e-wallet for transfers, bills, spending tracking and QR payments
7.3/10Zalopay
VNG's e-wallet for QR payments and transfers, including inside Zalo chats
Frequently asked questions
Does Apple Pay cost anything?
Apple says it does not charge any fees when you pay with Apple Pay. Your card issuer may still apply its usual charges or fees.
Which banks in Vietnam support Apple Pay?
At the August 2023 launch: Vietcombank, ACB, Techcombank, Sacombank, VPBank and MB. Later additions include VIB (March 2024) and Vietcombank and OCB for NAPAS domestic cards (April 2025). The list may have changed, so check your bank's app.
Which devices work with Apple Pay?
Apple lists iPhone, Apple Watch, Mac, iPad and Apple Vision Pro. Per Visa Vietnam in 2023, you need an iPhone 6 or later on iOS 12.5.2 or later, or an Apple Watch Series 4 or later paired with an iPhone 8 or later.
Can merchants see my card number?
According to Apple, no. Merchants receive a device-specific or merchant-specific number instead of the real card number, and may receive an email or shipping address if you agree to share them.
Review evidence & sources12
Scores
- Ease of use
- 8.8
- Features
- 7.8
- Value for money
- 9.0
- Performance
- 7.8
- Support
- 7.0
- Privacy & security
- 8.5
Why this score
Double-click and tap on the reader, authorised with Face ID or Touch ID, per Apple's official page. Cards can be added via the Wallet app or a bank app (for example MyVIB). The Wallet app is rated 4.8/5 on the US App Store and 4.9/5 on the Vietnam App Store.
Why this score
Supports in-store, in-app and web payments, transit and Express Mode. It does one job, paying with an existing card; the sources opened show no separate money-transfer or spending-management features for Vietnam.
Why this score
Apple charges users nothing. Remaining costs are the bank's usual card fees, the same as with a physical card.
Why this score
Works wherever contactless is accepted, but coverage depends on participating banks; in Vietnam there were six at launch (Aug 2023), then VIB (Mar 2024) and NAPAS domestic cards with Vietcombank and OCB (Apr 2025). No independent reliability data was found to justify a higher score.
Why this score
Apple provides official support documentation, while card problems typically go through the issuing bank. The sources opened contain no data on support quality, so the score stays mid-range.
Why this score
Apple's privacy page says it does not store the original card number or order details and does not sell transaction data for marketing. Points are deducted because Apple still collects device info and location when a card is added, plus non-identifying usage data.
What users say
- App Store (US) - Apple Wallet4.8/5 · 7,554,573
- App Store (Việt Nam) - Apple Wallet4.9/5 · 21,343
Sources
- Vendor-providedApple Pay official pageNov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedApple Pay privacy overviewNov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedApple Support - Apple PayNov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedApple Newsroom (2014-09-09)Nov 10, 2026
- pressVisa Vietnam press releaseNov 10, 2026
- pressThe Investor (2023-08-09)Nov 10, 2026
- pressVietnamNet (2023-08-08)Nov 10, 2026
- pressVietstock - VIB Apple Pay (2024-03-06)Nov 10, 2026
- pressSaigon Times - NAPAS (2025-04-15)Nov 10, 2026
- Community-reportedVIB guide to banks supporting Apple Pay (2024-05-17)Nov 10, 2026
- storeApple Wallet on the App Store (US)Nov 10, 2026
- storeApple Wallet on the App Store (VN, via iTunes lookup)Nov 10, 2026
Specs & compatibility
- Developer
- Apple Inc.
- Headquarters
- United States
- Launched
- 2014
- Category
- Finance
Capabilities
- Mobile app
- Integrations
Platforms
- iOS
- macOS
Interface languages
- English
- Vietnamese
- Japanese
- Chinese
- Spanish
- French
- Korean
- German
- Portuguese
- Russian
- Thai
- Indonesian
Integrations
- Visa
- Mastercard
- NAPAS (thẻ nội địa)
- Apple Wallet
- Apple Watch
- App của ngân hàng phát hành thẻ
Support
- Live chat
- Phone
- Help center
Change history
- Feature.NAPAS announces domestic cards can be used with Apple Pay, starting with Vietcombank and OCB.
- Feature.VIB announces Apple Pay support for its Mastercard cards, which can be added via Apple Wallet or the MyVIB app.
- Company.Apple Pay launches in Vietnam with six banks: Vietcombank, ACB, Techcombank, Sacombank, VPBank and MB.
Full change history (4)
- Launch.Apple announces Apple Pay for iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus and Apple Watch, launching in the US in October 2014 via an iOS 8 update.
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