How to accept Apple Pay without a card reader
A card reader is one way to take Apple Pay. It isn't the only way. If your customer has a phone in their hand, they can pay you from it, wherever you are.
Reviewed September 29, 2026 · Mandalo
The short version
You can accept Apple Pay with no hardware by sending a payment link. Your customer opens the link on their iPhone, sees the amount and taps to pay with Apple Pay (or a card, or Google Pay on Android). The money is processed by a payment company like Stripe and paid out to your bank account.
What you need
- A payment-link tool that supports wallets. Mandalo accepts card, Apple Pay and Google Pay through Stripe.
- A connected payout account. In Mandalo you connect a Stripe account so payments go to your bank.
- A way to send the link. Text or email is enough.
Your customer needs an Apple Pay–capable device set up with a card, and a compatible browser. If they don't have it, the same page lets them pay with a card instead. They don't need to download anything.
Reader vs. payment link
| Card reader | Payment link | |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | Hardware purchase | None |
| Works when the customer isn't there | No | Yes. Send it to their phone. |
| Tap-to-pay in person | Yes | Customer taps Apple Pay on their own phone |
| Good for | Retail counters and pop-ups | Home services, appointments, deliveries, remote jobs |
Many owners end up with both. A link covers the customers a reader can't reach.
What it costs
Card payments cost money to process, whether they come through a reader or a link. Stripe's standard US rate is typically 2.9% plus 30¢ per successful domestic card transaction. Mandalo adds a flat $1.50 per successful payment, with no monthly fee. On a $200 job that's about $6.10 to Stripe plus $1.50 to Mandalo, roughly 3.8% all-in. Use the fee calculator to see what you'd keep on your own jobs. Rates change and vary by card type, so treat these as estimates.
Set up Mandalo, connect Stripe and send your first Apple Pay-ready link today.
Tips for getting customers to use it
- Tell customers beforehand: "You can pay by card or Apple Pay from your phone."
- Send the link while you're still there so they can pay in the driveway.
- Include the amount and the job in the text so the link looks legitimate.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a Stripe account to take Apple Pay with Mandalo?
Yes. Mandalo uses Stripe to process payments and pay you out, so you connect a Stripe account during setup.
What if my customer doesn't use Apple Pay?
The same payment page accepts cards and Google Pay, so they can pay with whichever they prefer.
Can I take Apple Pay if the customer isn't with me?
Yes. That's the main advantage of a payment link. Text it and they pay from wherever they are.
Send your first payment link today
No monthly fee. Mandalo charges $1.50 per successful payment, plus Stripe's standard processing fees.