Tap to Pay

No, Tap to Pay only works on compatible mobile phones, not tablets or other devices. It uses your phone’s built-in NFC antenna to read contactless cards and digital wallets, so no extra hardware is required. For tablets or dedicated hardware, PayPal’s POS System is built for that.

Tap to Pay on iPhone is supported on iPhones XS and later running the latest version of iOS, and Android 8.0 and above with Near Field Communication (NFC) capabilities, and Google Play services.

Customers can choose to use Tap to Pay with contactless physical cards, digital wallets in their phones (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay) and wearables, such as smartwatches.

Download the PayPal app, open it, and enter the sale amount. Then hold the customer's contactless card, phone, or smartwatch near the back of your device for a few seconds to complete the payment. No card reader or extra hardware is required, and you can email or text the receipt right after.

Tap to Pay uses your phone's built-in NFC antenna to accept contactless cards and digital wallets, so no extra hardware is needed beyond the PayPal app. A card reader is separate hardware that pairs with your phone or POS system and can also accept chip and swipe cards. Choose a card reader if you also need chip or swipe payments.

Funds from your sales are available within minutes in your PayPal business account, so you can track them right away. From there, you can transfer them to your bank account manually any time, or set up free automatic transfers for next-day access.

No, there's no monthly fee or setup cost to use Tap to Pay. You pay a per-transaction rate of 2.29% on credit and debit card payments, with no other charges to start accepting payments on your phone. Rates are subject to change.

PayPal Tap to Pay is best for mobile sellers, pop-up shops, and new small businesses that need to accept in-person, contactless card and digital wallet payments directly on a smartphone without buying extra hardware. It's a good fit if you want a low upfront cost, need to start taking payments the same day, or move between locations often.

No, Tap to Pay is available to any business, not just existing PayPal users. If you don't have a PayPal business account yet, you can sign up for free directly in the app and start accepting Tap to Pay payments within minutes. No prior PayPal history or existing account required.

Tap to Pay transactions are encrypted, so payments are secure when taken through your phone. Read how contactless payment methods are safe to use within your business.