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Door staff@engadget.com (Courtney Holt) - 09 Nov 2026
Apple Pay is easy to take for granted because it feels so normal now. But in 2014, putting a payment system directly into the iPhone people already carried everywhere gave the device a new role: replacing the cards in their wallet. Apple Pay eventually expanded beyond in-store purchases to apps, websites and other Apple devices like the Apple Watch.
10 years after its launch, the company stated that Apple Pay was used by hundreds of millions of people across 78 regions, at millions of websites and apps and tens of millions of stores. It was also supported by more than 11,000 banks and "network partners" at that milestone. Apple Pay later expanded to third-party iOS and desktop browsers, providing more ways to check out online without typing your card details into every site.
That idea of leaving your physical wallet behind has grown beyond payments, too. Wallet can hold other items like event tickets, transit cards, keys and even eligible IDs. In 2025, Apple started expanding its Digital ID for use with participating US states, plus support for Japan's My Number Card. Expanded Apple Wallet ticket features have also added venue maps, parking directions and other event information.
10 years after its launch, the company stated that Apple Pay was used by hundreds of millions of people across 78 regions, at millions of websites and apps and tens of millions of stores. It was also supported by more than 11,000 banks and "network partners" at that milestone. Apple Pay later expanded to third-party iOS and desktop browsers, providing more ways to check out online without typing your card details into every site.
That idea of leaving your physical wallet behind has grown beyond payments, too. Wallet can hold other items like event tickets, transit cards, keys and even eligible IDs. In 2025, Apple started expanding its Digital ID for use with participating US states, plus support for Japan's My Number Card. Expanded Apple Wallet ticket features have also added venue maps, parking directions and other event information.