Apple Pay vs. Apple Wallet: What's the Difference?

Both Apple Pay and Apple Wallet are financial payment tools available on devices like iPhone and Apple Watch. So, what’s the difference between the two? This article walks you through these features along with how to use each together to make purchases.

Overall Findings

Apple Pay and Apple Wallet are related parts of the same system–the one that lets you pay for items both in person and online with your iPhone, Mac, or Apple Watch. But while Apple Pay is the name of the whole digital payment option, Wallet is the app on your phone that stores the cards you use there.

The simplest way to remember the difference between Apple Pay and Apple Wallet is in the names: With Apple Pay, you pay for items. With Apple Wallet, you store items just like you would in a physical wallet.

What Is Apple Pay?

Apple Pay is a secure way to pay for items using your device. For example, you can buy apps and games from Apple’s App Store. You can also use Apple Pay to purchase products from supported online stores and physical retailers. When a merchant accepts it, you’ll see either the Apple Pay option or the contactless payment logo.

To authenticate your purchase, you’ll use Face ID or Touch ID, depending on your device. When complete, you’ll hear a ding and see a checkmark on your device screen letting you know the purchase is successful.

What Is Apple Wallet?

Apple Wallet is a mobile app that contains credit and debit cards that you add to it. These are the payment cards available for you to use with Apple Pay. You can also use the Wallet app to store passes like transit cards, rewards cards, membership cards, event tickets, boarding passes, a driver’s license (in select US states), hotel keys, and gift cards.

The Wallet app comes preloaded on Apple devices, and you open it from your Home screen or the App Library. At the top, you’ll see your credit and debit cards. Select a card to view its details.

At the bottom, you’ll see the other types of cards and passes you’ve added. To use passes in Apple Wallet for membership or transit cards, tickets, keys, or other stored items, tap the pass at the bottom. You can scroll through them to browse things you've added.

How Do You Use Apple Pay With Apple Wallet?

Apple Wallet is where you add the credit and debit cards that you want to use for Apple Pay. You can then use your iPhone or Apple Watch to make purchases on the go or your iPad or Mac to buy items on the web.

Pay on Your Device

To make a purchase on your iPhone, for example, using a retailer’s app, select Apple Pay during checkout. You’ll see the Apple Pay screen appear where you can choose your default Apple Wallet card or select it to choose a different card. Use Face ID, Touch ID, or double-click the side button to confirm and complete the purchase.

Pay in a Store

To make a purchase in a physical store, look for the Apple Pay or contactless payment logo. Double-click the side button on your iPhone or Apple Watch and authenticate with Face ID if using your iPhone. Then, move your device near the payment terminal or slightly tap your device on the terminal to complete the purchase.

Pay on the Web

To make a purchase online, select Apple Pay during checkout. When the Apple Pay screen appears, choose the card you want to use if not the default card in Apple Wallet, and use Touch ID to confirm and complete the purchase.

Your devices use both Apple Pay and Apple Wallet to make a purchase. You can use Apple Wallet without Apple Pay, but you can't use Apple Pay without Apple Wallet.