The short answer is yes, you can use your iPhone to pay at Starbucks via Apple Pay. The chain confirmed in January that it would support mobile payments using third-party services like Samsung’s contactless payment system, as well as Google Wallet and Android Pay.
If you have an iPhone 6 or later, you can use your phone to pay for purchases at any of over 200,000 merchant locations that accept contactless payments. You’ll need to carry a balance on your credit card or bank account since Apple Pay isn’t accepted everywhere yet. On top of that, you’ll need to remember your fingerprint (the unique ID number) on file with your bank. And because it’s backed by NFC technology, you’ll need a new card that supports tap-to-pay functionality as well – which also means only new iPhones will work out of the gate. But once everything is in place, paying with Apple Pay is a cinch: simply hold your device up to an NFC reader and let it do its thing; voila!
-
Is there a limit to how much I can spend each day with this payment method? If so, what is it?
Yes, you can spend up to $400 each day with Apple Pay.
-
Are rewards offered with this payment method? If so, what are they and how do I get them?
With your iPhone, you can earn rewards for every dollar you spend on purchases at participating stores. Your rewards are stored in your digital wallet and can be used to pay for future purchases at those same stores with Apple Pay. Simply sign in with your email address or phone number and password to access your account. Rewards never expire, so it’s easy to save up toward an item you want. As an added bonus, many merchants offer exclusive perks to customers who use Apple Pay as their payment method — keep an eye out for special offers when shopping!
-
Are there any fees associated with using this payment method and if so, what are they and why should I care about them?
Depending on what type of account you have, Starbucks may be able to charge an annual membership fee. This isn’t a fee associated with using Apple Pay specifically. Rather, it’s a general annual membership for using their rewards program. However, if you just want to load your Starbucks card and use that when making payments then there are no additional fees beyond that of loading funds onto your account and swiping at checkout. There aren’t any other fees to use Apple Pay and anything else that might apply are likely specific to using your debit or credit card in conjunction with paying for things.