Anyone with an iPhone can easily make payments in shops or online without entering their credit card details, but is there a limit on Apple Pay? Let’s find out.
Apple Pay has no transaction limits in itself. You may use Apple Pay as much as you want, as often as you wish, to pay any amounts that you want. Limits may be imposed on the cards that you link with Apple Pay through their issuing banks. Apple Cash (powered by Apple Pay) also has limits.
So this is a slightly complicated matter. Though Apple does not limit how much you can pay for other services through Apple Pay directly, other institutions or even governments may restrict this. Then there’s also the possibility that your use of Apple Cash could be limited. Let’s look at the restrictions and limits more closely to get a clear picture.
Apple Pay Transaction Limits
Apple Pay is a service that acts as a layer between your credit card or debit card and the card machine or payment system at the merchant. When you link your card with Apple Pay and make payment by tapping your phone on the card machine rather than your card, it’s actually your card details that are read by the machine despite your card not being in the device at all.
Not all banks and cards support Apple Pay. Your bank must approve the use of Apple Pay for your card before you are able to add your card to the Apple Pay system. This can also only happen after the government has approved the use of Apple Pay and Apple has made the infrastructure available in your country. Still, the number of supported countries is growing rapidly.
As such, because it’s still your card that gets processed, Apple Pay has absolutely zero transaction limits in itself. Apple doesn’t charge a transaction fee either. In fact, Apple has nothing to do with the entire Apple Pay transaction apart from building the payment functionality into your iPhone. So why could your payment be declined despite the fact that Apple Pay has no limits?
Where Limits Do Apply
Since Apple Pay simply links to your card, there are limits set up by your bank. Sometimes these limits will apply to Apple Pay directly, but more often than not, these limits are general card limits. So if you have a limit of $500 per day on your credit card, the chances are that this is the limit that will be imposed on Apple Pay as well.
Banks all have their own laws regarding these limits, and these are often in line with government-established legislation in order to protect the consumer. If there’s a sensible limit on your card transactions, it means that someone who steals your cards won’t be able to spend too much before you can stop your card.
The most common limits imposed on Apple Pay by banks in different countries are:
- United States: Purchases over $50 may require a signature.
- Canada: Purchases over 250CAD may be declined by Apple Pay.
- France: Apple Pay purchases over 50 EUR may be declined.
- Germany: Your PIN may be required if you use Apple Pay for more than 25 EUR (on Visa) or 50 EUR (on Mastercard).
- Switzerland: If you try to pay more than 80CHF using Apple Pay, your PIN or signature may be required.
- United Kingdom: Apple Pay purchases over 100GBP may be declined.
- Australia: Your PIN may be required for Apple Pay purchases over 200AUD.
- New Zealand: Your PIN may be required for Apple Pay purchases over 200NZD.
- Hong Kong: It might not be possible for you to make any payments over 500HKD using Apple Pay.
- South Africa: Your PIN may be required for Apple Pay purchases over 500ZAR.
These limits are averages and “general rule” limits. Remember that many banks will allow you to adjust the limits according to your needs, but it’s always a safe idea to keep them on the low end. You should never set this limit higher than the amount of money you can afford to lose to keep yourself safe if your card or phone gets stolen.
What About Limits On Apple Cash?
One of the most significant new innovations to come out of the merging of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet is Apple Cash. Though it is only commercially available in the United States at the moment, Apple Cash is a revolutionary new way to bank using only your iPhone. It is powered by Apple Pay, but there are definite limits on Apple Cash transactions.
What Is Apple Cash?
Apple Cash is a virtual card (the Apple Cash Card) that you can add to your Apple Wallet just like any other credit card or debit card. This card can be linked to Apple Pay, and you can use it to make payments to any vendors or service providers (physical or online) that you could pay with Apple Pay using any other physical card.
The stand-out feature of Apple Cash is that it allows you to easily send money to friends, colleagues, family members, or anyone you wish, using either the Apple Wallet app or Messages on your iPhone. This makes Apple Cash absolutely ground-breaking.
You can apply for an Apple Cash account and Apple Cash Card. Once your application is approved and your identity verified, you can add your family members to your Apple Cash Family. This will enable you to send money to each of them, and they can also send cash among themselves without requiring additional Apple Cash accounts for each family member.
What Are The Limits On Apple Cash?
Apple Cash, and the Apple Card, must be linked to a bank to work, especially since the Apple Card is a valid credit or debit card that requires a valid card issuer. Apple is partnered with Goldman Sachs Bank in the USA, Salt Lake City Branch, to issue the Apple Card to qualifying applicants, and Green Dot Bank processes all Apple Cash transactions.
Banks have fees and limits, and Apple Cash is no exception. There are a few limits that apply:
- Your maximum balance (after you’ve verified your identity) is $20,000, or $4,000 for each of your family members.
- When you add money to your Apple Card, you can add a minimum of $10 or a maximum of $10,000 in a single transaction.
- For family members, this is a minimum of $10 or a maximum of $2,000.
- You may not pay more than $10,000 into your Apple Cash account in seven days.
- This is also limited to $2,000 over a seven-day period for family members.
- When you send money to other Apple Cash users using Messages or Wallet, you can send a minimum amount of $1 or a maximum of $10,000 per transaction.
- For family members, this is a minimum of $1 or a maximum of $2,000.
- Transactions are also limited to a seven-day maximum of $10,000.
- For family members, this is limited to $2,000 per seven-day period.
- You can transfer cash amounts from your Apple Cash Card to any other debit card that you have in your Apple Wallet. This can be a minimum of $1 or a maximum of $10,000 per transaction and no more than $20,000 in a seven-day period.
- Family members can do the same, with a minimum of $1 and a maximum of $2,000, and no more than $4,000 in seven days.
It’s crucial to note that these Apple Cash Family limits apply only to family members who don’t have their own Apple Cash accounts. If your spouse or partner has their own Apple Cash account, they will obviously have higher limits rather than lower ones.
Conclusion
Apple Pay has no transaction limits in itself. The card you use with it, and its issuing bank, could impose certain limits that will vary between banks and different countries. You may also opt for the Apple Cash Card if you are in the United States, which has many advantages and limits. If you’re mindful of these limits, Apple Pay may just change how you bank and pay.