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• Apple has expanded the Tap to Pay functionality on iPhone to eight more European nations, allowing shops to accept contactless payments without the need for additional hardware.
• The functionality provides a secure and cost-effective alternative for small enterprises, with support from a variety of local and global payment platforms.

Apple’s been busy spreading the love for contactless payments, and their latest move is a big one for European merchants. On 27 May 2025, the tech giant rolled out its Tap to Pay on iPhone feature to eight new countries across Europe, making it easier than ever for businesses to accept payments without faffing about with extra hardware. This is a game-changer for small businesses, market stalls, and anyone who wants to take payments on the go. Let’s dive into what this means, how it works, and why it’s got merchants buzzing.

What’s Tap to Pay on iPhone All About?

If you haven’t heard of Tap to Pay on iPhone, it’s exactly what it sounds like—a nifty way for merchants to use their iPhone as a payment terminal. No clunky card readers, no extra kit. Just an iPhone and a compatible iOS app, and you’re good to go. Customers can tap their contactless credit or debit card, Apple Pay, or other digital wallets like Google Pay to make a payment. It’s all powered by NFC (Near Field Communication) technology, which is the same secure system behind .

“Apple works closely with leading payment platforms and app developers across the payments and commerce industry to offer Tap to Pay on iPhone,” Apple said in a press release. The beauty of it? Merchants can accept payments anywhere they do business—whether that’s a bustling market, a pop-up shop, or even a mate’s back garden. It’s fast, secure, and doesn’t need a pile of gear.

Where’s It Landing?

The latest rollout brings Tap to Pay to Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Greece, Iceland, Luxembourg, and Malta. This follows Apple’s earlier expansion in March 2025, when nine other European countries—Bulgaria, Finland, Hungary, Liechtenstein, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Switzerland—got in on the action.

Each country has a tailored lineup of payment platforms supporting the feature. For example, in Belgium, you’ve got big names like Adyen, Mollie, Stripe, and SumUp, plus local players like Axepta and Pay.nl. In Denmark, Surfboard Payments and Nexi are on board, with PayPal set to join soon. Greece has myPOS and Viva, with NBG Pay coming down the line. It’s a proper mix, ensuring merchants have options that suit their needs.

Why Merchants Are Loving It

For small businesses, this is a godsend. Setting up traditional card machines can be a hassle, not to mention pricey—some terminals cost upwards of £100, plus monthly fees. With Tap to Pay, all you need is an iPhone (XS or later, running the latest iOS) and a partner app”. Payment platforms and developers can integrate Tap to Pay on iPhone into their iOS apps, making it easy for merchants to enable this secure and convenient capability,” Apple noted.

Take Mollie, for instance. They expanded Tap to Pay to Austria, Italy, and the UK earlier this year, and their CEO, Koen Köppen, said, “We are excited to offer Tap to Pay on iPhone in another three markets, allowing local businesses to give their customers more choice and flexibility.� That’s the vibe—giving merchants the freedom to run their business their way, whether they’re selling handmade jewellery at a market or coffee from a van.

Visa’s also been shouting about the contactless boom. They reported in July 2024 that 80% of in-person transactions globally (outside the US) are contactless, and Tap to Pay is riding that wave. Visa’s Mark Nelsen told PYMNTS that new small businesses make up 30% of “tap� sellers, showing how this tech is levelling the playing field for the little guys.

How Secure Is It?

Security’s always a big question with payments, and Apple’s got it covered. Tap to Pay uses the same tech as Apple Pay, with transactions encrypted and processed via the iPhone’s Secure Element chip. Apple doesn’t store or access details about what’s being bought or by whom, so privacy is locked down tight. It supports major payment networks like Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover, plus local ones like Bancontact in Belgium and Dankort in Denmark.

What’s the Cost?

Here’s the kicker—Apple doesn’t charge merchants directly for using Tap to Pay. The catch? You’ll need to use a partner payment platform, and they might have their own fees, like transaction charges or subscription costs. These vary, but for context, platforms like Stripe typically charge around 1.4% + £0.20 per transaction in the UK. It’s worth shopping around to find the best deal for your business.

Why It Matters

This rollout is part of Apple’s bigger push to make payments seamless and accessible. Contactless payments are already huge—think about how often you tap your card or phone at the shop. By bringing Tap to Pay to more countries, Apple is helping merchants keep up with the times without breaking the bank. It’s especially handy for small businesses, which make up a massive chunk of Europe’s economy. In Italy alone, over 4.3 million small and medium-sized businesses could benefit.

Plus, it’s not just about Europe. Apple’s been expanding Tap to Pay globally, with countries like the US, Australia, Brazil, and Canada already on board. The EU’s Digital Markets Act has pushed Apple to open up its NFC tech to third-party providers, which means more choice for merchants and customers alike.

What’s Next?

Apple’s not stopping here. They’re working with more payment platforms to bring Tap to Pay to even more countries and businesses. With contactless payments growing—Visa reported a 200% year-on-year surge in Tap to Phone adoption globally—it’s clear this is the future of paying on the go.

So, whether you’re a market trader in Malta or a café owner in Copenhagen, Tap to Pay on iPhone could be your ticket to easier, faster transactions. Got an iPhone? You’re halfway there. Just grab a partner app, and you’re ready to start tapping.