Does McDonald’s Take Apple Pay? (2025 Guide)

Yes, McDonald’s has been accepting Apple Pay for years and continues to in 2025. It was one of the first major fast-food chains to adopt Apple Pay when the service launched in 2014.

Apple Pay has become one of the most popular payment methods of all time, and now people use it daily. Carrying your cell phone with you is the most convenient thing to do instead of carrying a bunch of payment cards. But the big question is, does McDonalds take Apple Pay?

Like many other payment methods, Apple Pay is capable of digitally transferring money to any account or cash payment platform. To explain things more clearly, I have written a comprehensive guide on whether McDonald’s should take Apple Pay.

Apple Pay is something with which every iOS user is familiar. Apple Pay is the replacement for your typical physical cash cards that makes it easier and safer to make purchases using your mobile phone.

This service is only available on Apple wireless devices, and for most of the food chain-related organizations, it only works in the US region.

Apple’s payment service can be used online, in-store, and for in-app purchases as well. This technology utilizes NFC technology in your smartphone and makes it easier to perform payments with your smartphone.

This service of payment by Apple is not like an online bank. But it replaces your original credit card by utilizing it with the Apple Pay service.

The best part about using this service is that it works on all of your iOS devices, like your very own iPhone. For example, if you have an Apple smartwatch on your wrist, you can still make payments through it, and it is even more convenient than using your phone.

Apple Pay is already on your iOS device, like the iPhone, iWatch, iPad, and Mac. You don’t have to download a separate application to use Apple Pay services.

The best part is that it also works with Apple Cash, which is a digital card that lives in your Wallet application.

Yes, McDonald’s was one of the first fast-food chains to adopt Apple Pay back in 2014, and today, every U.S. location continues to support it.

You can use Apple Pay at McDonald’s to:

• Pay in-store at the counter
• Order and pay in the drive-thru
• Complete transactions via the McDonald’s mobile app

You can use Visa Cards, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover cards to work with Apple Pay to make purchases at McDonald’s. In simple words, any card issued by an American Bank is compatible with Apple Pay.

1. Access Wallet App: Double-click the side button (or lock button) to bring up Apple Wallet.
2. Authenticate: Use Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode for security.
3. Choose a Card: Your default card will appear, but you can switch if needed.
4. Make Payment: Hold your iPhone near the NFC reader until you see the confirmation checkmark.

That’s it! Your order is paid for within seconds.

Does McDonald’s take Apple Pay with Apple Watch?

Now, if your big question is, ‘Does McDonald’s take Apple Pay?’ Well, the answer is Yes to it, too. Here is the guide to using Apple Pay with Apple Watches for McDonald’s.

1. Tap the side button on your Apple Watch two times to activate the Apple Pay service.
2. Hold your watch closer to the NFC payment card reader. You can even attach it near the device to make instant payments.
3. Once your Apple Watch vibrates, it indicates the payment has been successful, and then you can pull it back from it.

Making payments with the Apple Watch is much simpler as compared to an iPhone or iPad. And if you’re wondering which card the Apple Watch would be using, well, it would be the standard one chosen in your Apple Wallet.

Does McDonald’s take Apple Pay Drive Thru?

Yes, Apple Pay works with McDonald’s drive-thru as well. All you have to do is ask the cashier to bring the NFC card reader device near you through Windows. At only an inch of a distance, you can make payments with your card easily.

Absolutely, Apple Pay is considered more secure than physical card payments because:

• Your actual card number is never shared with merchants.
• Each transaction requires Face ID, Touch ID, or passcode authentication.
• Payments use a unique, encrypted transaction code.

This makes Apple Pay a safer and faster option compared to swiping or inserting your debit/credit card.

If you’re still wondering does McDonald’s takes Apple Pay, well, I have surely answered that for you. The setup is seamless, and the payment method is even simpler than the common card payment.

Hopefully, this article has guided you well on how to make payments at McDonald’s using the Apple Pay service.