Card Machines That Accept Apple Pay and Google Pay
Every modern UK card machine accepts Apple Pay and Google Pay. These are NFC contactless transactions using a tokenised version of the underlying Visa, Mastercard or Amex card. The £100 UK contactless limit applies, with biometric authentication on the phone allowing higher transaction values in some cases. Transaction rates match standard contactless rates from the underlying card scheme. SumUp, Zettle, Square, Dojo, Worldpay, Elavon, Barclaycard and Lloyds Cardnet all support both wallets out of the box.
What this means for your business
Apple Pay and Google Pay are not new payment networks. They are digital wallet wrappers around an existing Visa, Mastercard or Amex card. When a customer taps a phone, the terminal sees a tokenised Visa or Mastercard transaction. The pricing matches the underlying network rate. There is no separate Apple Pay or Google Pay rate on the merchant side, which is a common misconception.
The UK contactless limit is £100 per transaction, set by the card schemes since October 2021. Above £100, the customer needs to enter a PIN or use biometric authentication on their phone. Apple Pay and Google Pay support "device-authenticated" transactions above £100 using Face ID, Touch ID or device PIN, which most modern terminals accept up to the underlying card's daily limit (often £500 or higher).
Enable in settings. Most terminals ship with NFC enabled but some have a setup step. SumUp, Zettle and Square have NFC on by default. Dojo, Worldpay and Elavon usually configure it during onboarding. If a customer says Apple Pay is not working, check the NFC light or icon on the terminal, the contactless limit setting (occasionally set lower than £100 by mistake), and any wallet-specific feature flag in the merchant portal. Most issues are configuration, not hardware.
Key points
- Apple Pay and Google Pay are wrappers around Visa, Mastercard or Amex, not separate networks
- Transaction rates match the underlying card scheme, no separate wallet fee
- UK contactless limit is £100, biometric authentication on the phone unlocks higher amounts on most terminals
- NFC must be enabled on the device, on most modern terminals this is default
- Every modern UK card machine supports both wallets, no separate setup contract needed
- Customer not having a physical card with them does not affect the transaction or chargeback rights
- Refunds back to Apple Pay or Google Pay land on the underlying card, not the wallet
Common pitfalls
- Assuming Apple Pay has a different rate, this is not true on any major UK acquirer
- Setting the contactless limit below £100 in settings without realising, this caps Apple Pay too
- Forgetting to enable NFC on some entry-level terminals where it ships off by default
- Refusing a customer because they have no physical card, the phone payment is identical to a contactless card payment
Get quotes from acquirers that take this case
We disclose the specifics of your application to the right acquirer panel from the start, so you do not waste time on providers that will decline. Quote requests are free and you are not committed to anything.
Open quote form →Related questions
What is the maximum transaction value via Apple Pay?
Up to the underlying card's daily limit (typically £500 to £2,500 depending on the card and the customer's bank). The terminal must support device-authenticated contactless above £100, which most modern terminals do. Some older terminals cap all contactless at £100 regardless of authentication.
Are chargeback rights different for Apple Pay transactions?
No. The chargeback runs on the underlying card scheme rules. A customer disputing an Apple Pay transaction goes through the same Visa or Mastercard chargeback process as a physical card transaction. The merchant defence evidence is identical.
Director, MerchantHQ
Oliver leads MerchantHQ's editorial and comparison research. With a background in UK commercial finance, he oversees provider analysis, rate verification, and industry reporting across all verticals.
Last reviewed: 18 May 2026