Apple Pay’s entry into India’s cross-border payments ecosystem is set to influence how Indian merchants accept international payments and how global consumers transact with Indian brands. Recent integrations by payment firms such as PayGlocal, Cashfree Payments, and Razorpay are enabling Apple Pay for international card users, offering an additional option for secure payments.

Simplified experience for users

For consumers, Apple Pay aims to simplify online transactions through biometric authentication and tokenisation. Payments can be completed with a single tap using Face ID or Touch ID, reducing manual data entry and the risk of fraud. The system replaces card numbers with unique tokens, ensuring sensitive information is not shared with merchants.

According to Yogesh Lokhande, Co-founder and CTO of PayGlocal, Apple Pay users continue to transact with their existing cards and retain their usual benefits. “

There are no extra fees or hidden costs; customers use their same cards, keep their rewards, and enjoy faster, more secure checkouts,” he said.

Lokhande added that Apple Pay “brings the same spirit of simplicity and trust to international transactions that UPI has achieved for domestic payments.”

Impact on merchants and transaction costs

For Indian businesses selling to international customers, Apple Pay could help improve transaction success rates and reduce payment drop-offs, particularly in markets where cards dominate online payments.

Cashfree Payments estimates that offering Apple Pay could reduce failed transactions by up to 75% in regions such as the US, UK, UAE, Canada, and Europe.

Lokhande said that while the underlying card fees remain the same, merchants may see indirect cost benefits.

“Apple Pay’s tokenised, biometric technology reduces fraud, chargebacks, and failed transactions, improving success rates and lowering the real cost of acceptance,” he noted.

Accessibility for small and medium enterprises

PayGlocal and other payment providers have positioned Apple Pay integration as accessible to small and medium-sized businesses without additional setup or cost.

Lokhande said merchants can enable the feature “with no code, no heavy integration, and no extra cost,” highlighting efforts to make global payment tools more inclusive.

Small businesses often face higher friction in processing cross-border payments due to limited technical infrastructure. Simplified access to Apple Pay could help reduce that gap, although overall impact will depend on user adoption and card issuer support.

Broader context

The move aligns with India’s expanding role in digital payments, where UPI continues to dominate domestic transactions. Apple Pay complements this ecosystem by catering to international card-based payments, particularly for sectors such as travel, SaaS, and e-commerce exports.

According to Worldpay’s Global Payments Report 2024, cards account for 53% of e-commerce transaction value in North America and 43% in Europe, stressing the relevance of supporting native payment experiences like Apple Pay for global consumers.

Razorpay has already enabled Apple Pay for several Indian brands, including Mokobara, Akasa Air, Sabyasachi, and House of Masaba, indicating early adoption among merchants focused on international customers.

Outlook

Apple Pay’s integration into India’s cross-border payment gateways represents a broader shift toward user-centric and secure checkout experiences.

For consumers, it may enhance convenience and data protection. For merchants, it offers a potential improvement in payment reliability and customer trust — without a change in card fee structures.