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Software solution

Tap to Pay on iPhone

Take contactless payments wherever your work takes you

Tap to Pay on iPhone turns an eligible iPhone into a contactless checkout point for Square sellers. A bakery can take a card at a market stall, a stylist can collect at the chair, and a contractor can close out a job without carrying a reader.

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Built for your day-to-day

How it fits your business

Customers can use contactless credit or debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, and other NFC wallets through a supported Square point-of-sale app. You need an iPhone XS or newer, current iOS, a passcode, automatic date and time, and a stable internet connection. No reader is required, but contactless-only acceptance is not a substitute for a swipe or chip reader when a customer has a non-contactless card.

Key capabilities

What you can do

  • Leave the reader behind

    Accept in-person contactless cards and digital wallets directly on a compatible iPhone, which is useful for mobile appointments, pop-up sales, field work, and curbside checkout.

  • Works with familiar Square workflows

    Use Square Point of Sale modes for standard, retail, restaurant, bookings, or services checkout; Tap to Pay is also documented for Square Retail POS, Square Appointments POS, and Square Invoices.

  • Offer wallet and card choice

    Customers can tap an NFC-enabled physical card or a supported mobile wallet, including Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay, at the top/front of the iPhone.

  • Keep a consistent Square account

    Tap payments settle through the same Square account as other Square hardware and payment methods, so a business can use the phone for mobile moments and a countertop setup when needed.

  • Built-in payment security

    Square describes iPhone security and its own fraud, dispute, and PCI-compliance support; Apple does not store card numbers or PIN information on the iPhone or Apple servers for these payments.

Explore the details

Product details

What you need before the first tap

Use an iPhone XS or newer running iOS 15.5 or later, update iOS, set a device passcode, keep Date & Time on automatic, and maintain a stable internet or cellular connection. Tap to Pay on iPhone is not available on iPads, and offline payments are not supported. The account owner must enable the feature and link an Apple Account; team members need checkout permission. Square documents support in its Square POS app modes, Square Retail POS, Square Appointments POS, and Square Invoices.

Important operating limits

Square's Help article lists a $50,000 per-transaction limit for contactless payments and a $10,000 per-transaction limit for physical contactless cards. A phone case holding payment cards can cause an unintended tap, so Square recommends removing those cards while accepting payments. Sellers using a device code cannot use Tap to Pay in Square POS or Square Appointments POS, although Square Retail POS supports device-code sign-in. Staff should keep the phone in the seller's control and wait for the approval checkmark.

A mobile option, not every payment option

Tap to Pay covers contactless cards and wallets. For a customer without contactless capability, Square's product page points to manual card entry, QR code, or checkout link options; a business that needs swipe or chip acceptance should plan a compatible reader or Square device separately. Hardware is optional for starting with Square and Tap to Pay, not included with the phone feature.

Plan details

Pricing, fees & eligibility

Explore pricing

Tap to Pay on iPhone has no required hardware purchase and is available within Square's free starting plan; Square says Square Free has no monthly subscription cost and charges processing fees when a payment is taken. Optional Square Plus, Premium, or custom plans can change processing rates and add features.

Monthly software (USD)$0

Fees & eligibility

  • In-person contactless card or wallet processing

    Current Square U.S. published standard rate shown for in-person tap, dip, or swipe payments; applies to the Square Free tier on the pricing page. Higher plans show different rates, and custom pricing may apply for sellers processing over $250,000 per year.

    2.6% + $0.15 per tap

Requirements

  • An iPhone XS or newer running iOS 15.5 or later; verify the exact model in Square's device compatibility checker.
  • The latest available iOS, automatic Date & Time, an iPhone passcode, and a stable internet or cellular connection.
  • A U.S. Square seller account and a supported Square payment app; the account owner must enable Tap to Pay and link an Apple Account.
  • Checkout permission for account team members; Square Appointments POS and Square POS device-code sign-in are not supported for this feature.
  • No card reader or other payment hardware is required for contactless transactions.

This record uses Square's current U.S. product, Help, pricing, compatibility, and POS pages as the primary evidence. A Square editorial article dated November 13, 2025 lists iPhone 11 or later and 2.6% + $0.10, which conflicts with the current product/Help pages' iPhone XS or newer and 2.6% + $0.15; confirm the live rate and device rule immediately before publishing.

Tap to Pay on iPhone requires internet connectivity; Square's Help article says offline payments are not supported.

A $50,000 per-transaction contactless limit and $10,000 limit for physical contactless cards are stated by Square Help and may be subject to change or additional risk controls.

No hardware price is stated because Square says hardware is not required. A reader or Square device may still be needed for swipe, chip, receipts, or a more traditional checkout flow.

Square's security and PCI language describes product support, not a guarantee against fraud, disputes, network outages, or every card issuer's acceptance decision.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a Square Reader to use Tap to Pay on iPhone?

No. Square says Tap to Pay on iPhone accepts contactless cards and wallets directly on a supported iPhone, and its U.S. pricing page lists it among payment methods that do not require hardware. A reader remains useful for non-contactless cards or a dedicated checkout station.

Which iPhone and iOS versions are supported?

Square's current product and Help pages say iPhone XS or newer with iOS 15.5 or later. The phone must be updated, use automatic Date & Time, have a passcode, and stay connected to the internet. It is not available on iPads.

What does Tap to Pay on iPhone cost in the U.S.?

Square's current U.S. pricing page lists the Square Free in-person tap, dip, or swipe rate as 2.6% plus $0.15 per payment, with no monthly subscription cost on Square Free. Square Plus, Premium, and custom plans can use different processing rates; verify the seller's selected plan before quoting a final price.

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Sources & product information

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