Does KFC Take Apple Pay in 2024?
Contactless payments like Apple Pay have seen massive growth in recent years. According to Bank of America, the total value of contactless transactions made with Visa cards increased 150% year-over-year from June 2021 to June 2022. As digital payments catch on, more merchants are accepting options like Apple Pay. But does KFC take Apple Pay as of 2023?
Yes, KFC accepts Apple Pay as a payment method in their restaurants and drive-thrus as of 2023. This acceptance makes checkout faster for customers and improves efficiency for the restaurant.
I‘ll give a comprehensive overview of how and where Apple Pay can be used at KFC. I‘ll also compare it to other contactless options accepted and outline the security benefits that make Apple Pay a convenient choice for payments.
Widespread Acceptance of Apple Pay at KFC
Apple Pay is now accepted at over 90% of KFC locations in the United States and Canada according to the KFC website. You can use it when ordering at the counter, drive-thru, or online for delivery or pickup.
KFC also accepts other popular contactless payments like:
| Payment Type | Wallet Needed? | Works With |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Pay | Apple Wallet (iPhone, Apple Watch) | iPhones, Apple Watches |
| Google Pay | Google Wallet (app) | Android phones |
| Samsung Pay | Samsung Wallet (app) | Samsung phones |
| Contactless Cards | Physical card with contactless symbol | Cards with contactless capability |
KFC keeps up with the latest payment technology, so they will likely expand Apple Pay and contactless payment acceptance as more customers use tap-to-pay options.
According to a 2022 Visa survey, almost 40% of face-to-face Visa transactions in North America used tap-to-pay, so merchants want to accommodate what consumers prefer.
Step-By-Step Guide to Using Apple Pay at KFC
Using Apple Pay at KFC is designed to be quick and easy whether you‘re in-store or ordering online for delivery or pickup.
In the KFC Restaurant
Here is how to use Apple Pay when inside a KFC or at the drive-thru:
When it‘s time to pay, double-click the side button on your iPhone. This brings up your default card on the display.
Hold the top of your iPhone within an inch or two of the payment terminal until you see the Apple Pay animation go off and hear a beep.
The transaction will be authenticated via Face ID or Touch ID if prompted. Newer iPhones don‘t require authentication for purchases under $25.
You‘ll see a checkmark on the display when the payment is approved. For purchases over $100, you may need to enter your PIN as an additional verification.
The payment will go through in just a second or two with Apple Pay, often faster than inserting or tapping a physical card.
Online Orders and Delivery
You can also use Apple Pay seamlessly when ordering KFC for delivery or pickup through the website or mobile app:
Add your desired food items to the online order cart.
Proceed to checkout and select Apple Pay as your payment method.
Double-click the side button on your compatible iPhone or Apple Watch.
Authenticate with Face ID or Touch ID when prompted.
Review and confirm your order.
Apple Pay will automatically charge your default card, making checkout faster than manually entering payment info.
Enhanced Security Benefits of Apple Pay
One major benefit of using Apple Pay is enhanced security compared to paying with physical cards. Apple Pay transactions use a unique dynamic security code that is tokenized and encrypted.
According to an NCSC technical paper, "The payment tokens and cryptograms provide additional security relative to that of a plastic payment card used at a point-of-sale terminal."
Your actual credit or debit card number is never shared with the merchant or stored on your device. And every transaction must be authorized with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode.
Conclusion: Apple Pay is Here to Stay
KFC accepts Apple Pay and other contactless payments at over 90% of locations as of 2023. Experts predict massive growth in mobile wallets and expect tap-to-pay to overtake cash and cards worldwide by 2024.
KFC‘s acceptance makes checkout seamless for busy customers. In just a second, you can pick up your meal without the hassle of pulling out your wallet.
Expect to see Apple Pay expand to even more retailers and restaurants as contactless payments get ingrained in society. The speed, convenience, and security of tap-to-pay are hard to overstate.
