Mobile payment and digital wallet service Apple Pay will likely enter the Philippine market in 2026, according to Fintech Alliance PH founding chairman Lito Villanueva.

“Hopefully next year, but we don’t have any available date yet. The good thing is that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) gave the green light for both entities (Google Pay and Apple Pay) to operate in the Philippines,” Villanueva said.

Potential launch

The potential launch of Apple Pay comes after Google Pay’s recent debut in the Philippines on Tuesday, 18 November. The service allows Android users — which currently account for 93.71 percent of the Philippine mobile market as of October 2025 — to pay by tapping their phones at contactless-enabled terminals. At launch, users may connect their Visa cards, with additional support for local banks such as Maya and UnionBank.

Data from the BSP shows that digital retail payments accounted for 57.4 percent of total transaction volume in 2024, surpassing the 52–54 percent target set under the Philippine Development Plan (PDP). The BSP aims to increase the share of online payments to 60–70 percent of total retail transactions by 2028.

Technology service providers

Apple Pay’s potential entry comes as BSP Deputy Governor Mamerto Tangonan clarified in August that both Google Pay and Apple Pay are considered technology service providers and must register as operators of payment systems (OPS).

“We deemed them not to be an OPS because their activity is not an OPS activity,” he said.

“Kung ganyan lang, kasi walang wallet, wala eh, hindi dumadaan sa kanila ‘yung pera. Babasahin lang ‘yung credentials, tapos walang contract between them and the merchants. OPS ka kung sa ibang countries, Apple Pay may account na nagho-hold ng funds, pero ‘yung execution nila dito, walang ganon. (If it’s like that, because there’s no wallet, nothing, the money doesn’t pass through them. They just read the credentials, and there’s no contract between them and the merchants. You’re considered an OPS in other countries where Apple Pay has an account that holds funds, but in how they operate here, there’s no such thing),” he added.

Digital wallet enabling contactless payments

Apple Pay is a secure digital wallet enabling contactless payments in stores, apps, and online using Apple devices, with built-in security features like Face ID and Touch ID. Google Pay offers similar capabilities across a wider range of devices and integrates deeply with Google’s ecosystem. While Apple Pay is exclusive to iPhones, iPads and Macs, Google Pay emphasizes cross-platform accessibility, broader bank partnerships, and added financial features such as rewards and app integrations.