When we launched Tap to Pay on iPhone back in 2022, the most common questions were about hardware. Four years later, the most common questions are about fees. This post covers what Tap to Pay actually costs with Stripe, which devices support it today, and how to turn it on.
What are Stripe's Tap to Pay fees?
Stripe charges its standard in-person rate of 2.7% + 5¢ per transaction, plus an additional 10¢ per Tap to Pay authorization. In total, that works out to 2.7% + 15¢ per tap.
When using the Payment app, there is an additional 1.2% fee per sale. There are no monthly fees, no contracts, and no minimums, so you only pay when you actually get paid. For comparison, manually keying in a card processes at Stripe's card-not-present rate of 2.9% + 30¢, so tapping is generally the cheaper way to take a payment in person.
Is there a free Tap to Pay app?
The Payment app is free to download on both iOS and Android, and there is no subscription required to use Tap to Pay. The only costs are the per-transaction fees above. If you see a "free" Tap to Pay app advertising no fees at all, look closely: the processing fees are always somewhere.
Which iPhones support Tap to Pay?
Tap to Pay on iPhone works on any iPhone that runs iOS 26, which means iPhone 11 and later. Unfortunately, the iPad is not supported, as it lacks the required NFC hardware. When we launched in 2022, the requirement was an iPhone XS on iOS 15.5, so the bar has moved up a couple of generations since then.
Android is supported as well, on NFC-equipped devices. Availability varies by country and device, and the app will show you whether Tap to Pay is available for your account.
How do I enable Tap to Pay?
All you need to do is update the Payment app. If your device is eligible, you'll see a prompt to enable Tap to Pay in the app menu. A few quick steps and you're on your way. Payments flow into your Stripe account in the exact same way as a card reader or manual entry.
What can't Tap to Pay do?
There are a few limitations worth knowing before you rely on it:
- Contactless only. Customers must tap a card or phone. There is no chip slot and no swipe.
- An internet connection is required. Unlike some Bluetooth readers, Tap to Pay cannot store transactions offline.
- No NFC, no tap. If your phone doesn't have an NFC chip, manual entry or a card reader like the Stripe Reader M2 is the fallback.
In some cases, a customer will hand you a card without a contactless symbol. For those, manual entry in the app works fine, just at the card-not-present rate.
Where is Tap to Pay available?
Tap to Pay on iPhone is available in the US, UK, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, and more countries. Android availability varies by region.
Learn more about Tap to Pay, including the full FAQ and setup guide: https://paymentforstripe.com/apple-tap-to-pay
