Tap to Pay

How does Tap to Pay work?

Tap to Pay is a game-changing feature that small business owners can use to accept in-person, contactless payments right from their smartphone. 

With Tap to Pay on the Zettle app, you can turn your phone into a payment device and accept contactless card and digital wallet payments. No more fumbling with cash or a card reader.  

Simply add an amount or add products to your shopping basket and then select Tap to Pay as the payment method. 

Tap to Pay works on devices with: 

  • iPhone XS and later running the latest version of iOS
  • Android 8.0, NFC capabilities and Google Play Services

How to accept payments with Tap to Pay on iPhone

Make sure you’re working with the right Apple device. Tap to Pay on iPhone is supported by iPhone XS or newer devices and the latest iOS version. 

  1. Download the Zettle by PayPal app on your iPhone and sign up.
  2. Enable Tap to Pay on iPhone, by either starting a payment or via settings.
  3. The first time you start a Tap to Pay on iPhone payment you will be prompted to accept Apple's terms and conditions.
  4. Invite the customer to hold their contactless card horizontally (or another contactless payment device) over the contactless symbol at the top of your iPhone.
  5. Once the “Approved" checkmark appears, the transaction is complete.

How to accept payments with Tap to Pay on Android

Make sure you’re working with the right Android device. Tap to Pay on Android is currently supported on devices with Android 8.0 and above, NFC capabilities, and Google Play services. 

  1. Download the Zettle by PayPal app on your Android and sign up.
  2. Enable Tap to Pay on Android via settings or by selecting Tap to Pay as the payment method when accepting your first contactless payment.
  3. Invite the customer to tap their contactless card (or another contactless payment device) on the back of your Android phone.
  4. Once the approved screen is shown, the transaction is complete.

Pricing

The fee for Tap to Pay is the same as our regular fee for card-present transactions.

Accepted payment methods

We currently support Visa, Visa Electron, Mastercard, Maestro and American Express as well as digital wallets such as Apple Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Pay.

Accepting tips with Tap to Pay

You can read more about accepting tips for your services on this article.

Frequently asked questions

For Tap to Pay on Android, why does the customer have to tap on the back of Android phones and not on the front?  
This is because the NFC antenna that reads the card is on the back of most Android phones. It may feel a little strange at first for the customers, but if you explain why, it will be easier to understand.

What do I do if the payment requires the customer to enter a PIN code? 
Tap to Pay supports entering a PIN code in connection with payments.

The requirement to enter a PIN can take place on two occasions:

  • The payment exceeds the limit for contactless payments without a PIN
  • The card issuers' random security check

If the customer pays with a card that supports online PIN, a PIN entry screen will appear on your phone, where the customer can enter their code.

If your customer wants to pay with a card that must be inserted into a reader, you’ll need a Zettle reader, and your customer must enter their PIN when they pay.

If you do not have a Zettle card reader, ask your customer if they have another card or a mobile wallet (Apple Pay, Samsung Pay or Google Pay) to make the payment. You can also send them a Payment Link so that they can pay from their phone. To do this simply select “Send link” as the payment method when you check out.

What do I do if a customer wants to pay with a card that is not approved? 
If a customer has an unsupported card, you can ask if they have another card or cash. 
You can also send a payment link so they can pay from their phone. You do this by selecting "Send link" as the payment method when you go to checkout.

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