Does Burger King Take Apple Pay

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Apple Pay works at more than 100 restaurants and fast-food chains, but many customers want to know if Burger King accepts it. The answer isn’t simple. Burger King actually stopped taking Apple Pay in 2019 after forming a strategic collaboration with PayPal and Venmo, though they had accepted it before.

Different Burger King locations handle payments differently, and some local restaurants might still let you use Apple Pay. This has left many customers confused, especially since big competitors like McDonald’s and Starbucks have fully adopted Apple’s contactless payment system. This piece gets into Burger King’s current stance on Apple Pay, shows you other ways to pay, and helps you know what to expect before heading to your local restaurant.

does burger king take apple pay

What’s the current status of Apple Pay at Burger King?

The question “does Burger King take Apple Pay?” leaves many consumers scratching their heads in 2025. Most fast-food chains now offer contactless payments, but Burger King’s stance on Apple’s digital wallet remains complicated.

Apple Pay availability in 2025

Burger King’s corporate locations don’t accept Apple Pay as a standard payment method in 2025. Many other fast-food giants have jumped on the Apple Pay bandwagon, but Burger King chose a different path. The chain partnered with other payment providers instead of joining Apple’s ecosystem.

PayPal and Venmo remain Burger King’s main digital payment partners throughout 2025. This six-year-old partnership shapes how the company handles digital payments. Some customers say they’ve used Apple Pay at certain locations, which points to differences across franchises.

Independent franchise owners sometimes use different payment systems than corporate stores. Some might have NFC terminals that work with Apple Pay, even though it’s not official policy. This creates a mixed bag of payment options that change from store to store.

Planning to hit Burger King? The best bet is to call ahead and check if they take Apple Pay. It’s smart to bring backup payment options just in case.

Why there’s so much confusion online

Several factors muddy the waters about Burger King’s Apple Pay situation in 2025. The franchise setup lets individual owners pick their payment systems. A customer might tap-and-pay at one location but get turned down at another.

Old information floating around online doesn’t help either. Articles from years back might say Burger King takes Apple Pay without any updates about the company’s move away from the service. People searching online find conflicting info from different times with no clear dates.

Social media makes things even more confusing. Someone posts about using Apple Pay at their local Burger King, and others assume it works everywhere. Then someone else posts about getting rejected, and people think it doesn’t work anywhere.

Burger King has tested Apple Pay at some locations without rolling it out everywhere. These small trials create buzz that makes people think it’s widely available. Some cashiers might not even know what payments their store accepts, which leads to mixed messages when customers ask.

The company’s website and app don’t clearly show what payment methods work. This lack of clear info from Burger King keeps the confusion going about Apple Pay acceptance.

Want the real scoop? Call your local Burger King or check their latest announcements. That beats relying on old online discussions or third-party websites that might not have current info about Burger King’s payment options.

does burger king take apple pay

Does Burger King take Apple Pay in drive-thru or in-app?

Many customers want to know where and how they can use Apple Pay at Burger King. This includes both drive-thru and mobile app options. Mixed messages from different sources make it necessary to clear up how this popular payment method works.

Drive-thru Apple Pay support: what we know

Burger King’s drive-thru Apple Pay situation remains hit-or-miss in 2025. Several reliable sources tell us that Burger King drive-thrus don’t accept Apple Pay as their standard payment method. Some online sources suggest that customers should “inform the cashier you’re using Apple Pay before placing your order”. This information seems outdated or might work only at certain locations.

Customers hoping to use Apple Pay at drive-thru windows should know that most Burger King drive-thrus use payment systems that line up with their PayPal partnership instead of Apple’s ecosystem. The company’s official policy doesn’t include Apple Pay support at drive-thrus nationwide.

Some customers say they’ve successfully used Apple Pay at certain Burger King drive-thrus. This success probably comes from individual franchise locations that upgraded their payment terminals to support NFC technology on their own, rather than following any company-wide policy.

Why the BK app doesn’t support Apple Pay

The Burger King mobile app stands at the heart of their digital strategy but doesn’t include Apple Pay. This isn’t by accident – it comes from careful business planning. We stopped using Apple Pay support in their app back in 2019, though they offered this option before.

This change happened alongside Burger King’s mutually beneficial alliance with PayPal, which is now 11 years old. The company now focuses on other payment methods in their app:

  • PayPal integration (full support)
  • Venmo payments
  • Digital gift cards
  • Traditional credit/debit card options

Burger King pushes these alternatives through rewards programs and special deals for PayPal and Venmo users. The company made a business choice to guide customers toward their preferred payment partnerships instead of supporting Apple’s competing payment system.

What to expect at different locations

Your Apple Pay experience at Burger King can vary substantially based on location. Most corporate-owned restaurants stick to standard payment methods that don’t include Apple Pay. Franchise-owned locations sometimes do things differently.

The restaurant chain wants customers to use their mobile app for digital ordering. This lets customers:

  • Order and pay through the app before they arrive
  • Use PayPal or Venmo to pay
  • Show a QR code when picking up food to speed things up

Older Burger King spots or those with outdated payment terminals might not take Apple Pay at all. Unlike their main competitors who’ve standardized contactless payments everywhere, Burger King keeps this mixed approach to digital payments.

A quick phone call remains the best way to find Burger King locations that might take Apple Pay. Since each franchise can be different, this extra step helps avoid payment headaches at the counter or drive-thru window.

Having a backup payment method ready will give you a smooth ordering experience at any Burger King location.

Why Burger King doesn’t fully support Apple Pay

Burger King doesn’t accept Apple Pay because of a business choice, not technical limitations. The story behind this decision shows how big companies choose payment methods based on partnerships rather than what’s convenient for customers.

The PayPal and Venmo partnership explained

Burger King teamed up with PayPal in 2014, becoming one of the first major fast-food chains to work with the digital payment company. The partnership grew in 2019 when Venmo (owned by PayPal) joined in, creating a complete digital payment system for Burger King.

This partnership gives Burger King several benefits:

  • Lower transaction fees than Apple Pay’s rates
  • Customer data stays with Burger King instead of going to Apple
  • Seamless connection to BK’s loyalty program for tracking rewards
  • Joint promotions with PayPal/Venmo users

Restaurant Brands International (RBI), which owns Burger King, made this partnership a key part of its digital growth plan. RBI chose to build stronger ties with select partners instead of spreading itself thin across many payment platforms.

How this affects Apple Pay integration

The exclusive nature of the PayPal-Venmo deal affects how Burger King works with Apple Pay. Burger King’s payment systems are built specifically for PayPal, which means adding Apple Pay would need lots of extra development work.

Franchise agreements also list approved payment methods, which could make it harder to add Apple Pay. Yes, it is true that franchise owners must stick to certain standard elements of the Burger King experience, including how customers can pay.

The deal between Burger King and PayPal likely includes better rates based on how many transactions they process. Adding Apple Pay would split these transactions and might lead to higher fees under the PayPal agreement. This makes it smart business sense to keep their payment options exclusive.

While other restaurants see Apple Pay as worth the cost, Burger King believes their current partnership benefits outweigh customer demand for Apple Pay. The company has also spent a lot of money on their app, which works closely with PayPal services.

Consumer demand vs. corporate strategy

Customers often ask “does burger king take apple pay?” on social media and review sites, but the company sticks to its plan. This creates a gap between what customers want and what the company provides, especially since contactless payments have become more popular since 2020.

Studies show that Apple Pay use has grown a lot. iPhone users now expect stores to accept this payment method. This puts pressure on Burger King to change its stance, especially since McDonald’s and Wendy’s both take Apple Pay.

The real question is whether Burger King will change its payment strategy based on what customers want. Right now, they focus on:

  1. Partnership benefits over customer convenience
  2. Keeping payment options simple
  3. Financial benefits of focusing on one payment system
  4. Standing out from competitors who do things differently

When customers ask “does burger king accept apple pay?” in 2025, the answer is still mostly no because of these business choices. Unfortunately for iPhone users, this probably won’t change soon unless Burger King decides they’re losing too much business from people who prefer Apple Pay.

For now, you can pay at Burger King’s drive-thru and stores using PayPal/Venmo, regular cards, or cash. This shows how the company values strong partnerships more than accepting every type of payment.

What payment methods does Burger King accept instead?

Burger King doesn’t accept Apple Pay at most locations, so customers often ask about other ways to pay. The restaurant chain gives customers several payment choices at their stores and through their mobile app.

Digital wallets that work at BK

Apple Pay might not work consistently at Burger King, but customers can use other digital wallets. Most Burger King locations accept Google Pay and Samsung Pay. Android users get the same tap-to-pay convenience, but iPhone users need different payment options.

Digital wallet acceptance varies between locations. Corporate and franchise-owned restaurants might have different payment systems. This explains why some customers can use digital wallets at certain Burger King locations but not others.

Using PayPal and Venmo in the BK app

Burger King’s partnership with PayPal has become the life-blood of their digital payments. The BK app lets customers pay easily with their PayPal account. This partnership started at the Money 2020 conference and has shaped Burger King’s digital payment strategy.

The BK app takes Venmo payments too. PayPal’s ownership of Venmo made this feature a natural addition. Customers just need to connect their account to the Burger King app and pick it at checkout. This works for pickup and delivery orders through the app or website.

Credit cards, gift cards, and other options

Burger King takes many traditional payment methods besides digital wallets and app payments:

  • Credit and debit cards (both in-store and in-app)
  • Cash (in-store only)
  • BK Crown Card digital gift cards
  • Physical gift cards

BK Crown Card users earn 20% extra points with each purchase. The app stores multiple cards, shows balances, and lets users add money right from their phones. Virtual cards work for payments through the app too.

Cash works at every Burger King location. It’s a reliable backup when digital payments aren’t available or customers prefer using cash.

Where else can you use Apple Pay for fast food?

Burger King’s limited Apple Pay support leaves many customers looking for alternatives. The good news is that plenty of other fast food chains welcome this convenient payment method. The restaurant industry has seen a surge in contactless payment adoption, which makes Burger King’s stance stand out compared to its competitors.

Top fast food chains that accept Apple Pay

Most major burger chains besides Burger King welcome Apple Pay. McDonald’s is their biggest rival that supports Apple Pay at almost every location. White Castle also takes Apple Pay as one of their standard payment options.

The sort of thing I love about Apple Pay is its wide acceptance across different types of fast food places:

  • Coffee and Breakfast: Starbucks, Dunkin’ Donuts, Peet’s Coffee
  • Chicken Specialists: Chick-fil-A, KFC, El Pollo Loco
  • Sandwich Shops: Subway, Jimmy John’s, Jersey Mike’s, Firehouse Subs[162]
  • Mexican Food: Taco Bell, Chipotle, Rubio’s[162]
  • Pizza Places: Pizza Hut (yet notably missing some chains like Sbarro)
  • Ice Cream: Baskin-Robbins, Jamba Juice

Nearly 90% of retail stores across the country now take Apple Pay. This makes Burger King’s absence more obvious as customers move toward contactless payments.

How to find Apple Pay-friendly restaurants near you

Finding restaurants that take Apple Pay is simple. The quickest way is to use the Apple Maps app on your iPhone. You can check for the Apple Pay logo or payment details in the location information once you find a restaurant.

Many restaurants also display the “Accepting Apple Pay” symbol on their storefront windows or near their registers. This helps you know right away if they take Apple Pay before ordering.

Food delivery apps are a great way to get your favorite meals when direct restaurant options are scarce. Several major delivery platforms work seamlessly with Apple Pay:

  • DoorDash: Available throughout North America with Apple Pay support
  • GrubHub: Nationwide coverage with Apple Pay compatibility
  • Postmates: Serves nearly 2,900 cities across America
  • Instacart: While primarily for groceries, delivers from numerous restaurants

Apple Pay’s growing presence in the fast food industry makes it easy to find alternatives to Burger King for customers who prefer this payment method.

Burger King’s relationship with Apple Pay remains complex in 2025, but customers can rely on several payment options through the BK app and in stores. The company’s mutually beneficial alliance with PayPal and Venmo provides a continuous connection to Burger King’s ecosystem as the main digital payment methods.

Apple Pay users can find many other fast-food restaurants that accept this payment option. Major chains like McDonald’s, Subway, and Chick-fil-A have fully adopted Apple’s contactless payment system. This shows a growing gap between Burger King’s payment approach and what other restaurants are doing.

The company’s exclusive partnerships have altered the map of their payment options. They value long-term business relationships more than accepting all payment types. Customers should check payment acceptance at specific locations or have backup payment methods ready before visiting.

The ever-changing fast-food industry needs to balance customer priorities with profitable business strategies. Burger King’s current strategy will succeed based on how customer payment priorities evolve and whether their PayPal partnership benefits stay stronger than the advantages of accepting more payment types.

Here are some FAQs about if does Burger King take Apple Pay:

Do Burger King accept Apple Pay?

Yes, Burger King does accept Apple Pay at many of its locations. You can use Apple Pay for quick and secure payments both in-store and at the drive-thru. If you’re wondering, “does Burger King take Apple pay in drive-thru?” or “does Burger King drive thru take Apple pay?”, the answer is yes in most cases, but it’s always best to check with your local restaurant for confirmation.

Can I use Apple Pay in drive-thru?

Yes, you can often use Apple Pay in drive-thrus at participating fast-food chains like Burger King and McDonald’s. Many locations support contactless payments, so if you’re asking, “does Burger King take Apple pay in drive-thru?” or “does Burger King take Apple pay 2024?”, the answer is typically yes, though availability may vary by location.

Does Chick-fil-A take Apple Pay?

Yes, Chick-fil-A accepts Apple Pay at most of its locations, including in-store and drive-thru transactions. The chain is known for embracing modern payment methods, making it convenient for customers who prefer contactless payments like Apple Pay.

Does Pizza Hut take Apple Pay?

Yes, Pizza Hut accepts Apple Pay for both in-store and online orders. This makes it easy to pay for your favorite pizzas without needing cash or a physical card, providing a seamless checkout experience.

Does Kings take Apple Pay?

If you’re referring to Kings supermarkets or similar retailers, many do accept Apple Pay as a contactless payment method. However, it’s always a good idea to verify with the specific store location before attempting to use Apple Pay.

Can I Apple Pay at McDonald’s?

Yes, McDonald’s accepts Apple Pay at most of its locations, including the drive-thru and in-store purchases. The fast-food chain has been an early adopter of contactless payments, making it a convenient option for Apple Pay users.

Does anywhere accept Apple Pay?

Apple Pay is widely accepted at many retailers, restaurants, and online stores, including major chains like Target, Taco Bell, and Burger King. If you’re asking, “does Burger King take Apple pay?” or “does Target take Apple Pay?”, the answer is yes—many places now support this payment method.

Does Target take Apple Pay?

Yes, Target accepts Apple Pay at all of its stores, allowing customers to make secure and quick transactions using their iPhones or Apple Watches. This makes checkout faster and more convenient for shoppers.

Does Taco Bell take Apple Pay?

Yes, Taco Bell accepts Apple Pay at most locations, including in-store and drive-thru orders. This provides a hassle-free way to pay for your meal without needing physical cash or cards.

Can you use Apple Pay at ATM?

Yes, you can use Apple Pay at certain ATMs that support contactless withdrawals. Banks like Chase, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo offer this feature, allowing you to withdraw cash without inserting your card.

Does Burger King accept PayPal?

Burger King does not typically accept PayPal directly in-store or at the drive-thru. However, you may be able to use PayPal for online orders placed through their app or website, depending on the location. If you’re looking for mobile payment options, Apple Pay is a better choice—especially if you’re wondering, “does Burger King take Apple pay?” or “does Burger King take Apple pay in drive-thru?”

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