Using Apple Pay and Google Pay for recurring payments

For many customers, Apple Pay and Google Pay have become a familiar part of everyday life. Whether they're buying a product online, paying an invoice or making a purchase in-store, digital wallets offer a fast and convenient way to complete a transaction.

What many businesses don't realise is that Apple Pay and Google Pay can do more than support one-off purchases. They can also be used to establish recurring payment arrangements for memberships, subscriptions, payment plans and ongoing services.

Payment journey 101

For many types of businesses, the initial transaction is only the beginning of the customer relationship.

After onboarding, a customer might move on to:

• Make an ad hoc payment
• Pay an upfront joining fee
• Buy a product or service
• Purchase a subscription
• Enrol in a new class or accreditation course
• Purchase a class pack
• Book a bespoke personal training session
• Pay an outstanding balance

Businesses need payment options that can support both the immediate transaction and the longer-term payment journey.

Why Google Pay and Apple Pay are great for purchases

Digital wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay help make that possible. By allowing customers to pay with a card already stored on their smartphone or smartwatch, digital wallets reduce checkout friction and remove the need to manually enter card details. This can help customers get started faster, improve conversion rates and create a smoother payment experience from the very first transaction.

Whether it's a one-off purchase, an outstanding balance or an ongoing subscription, digital wallets help businesses offer a faster and more streamlined payment journey.

Efficient onboarding

Customers are increasingly comfortable using digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay because they’re convenient, secure and easy to use. To use digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay, customers can choose a card already stored on their device (smartwatch or smartphone) and authenticate the payment using familiar security features such as Face ID, Touch ID or a device passcode.

Superior security and trust

Digital wallets also use tokenisation technology, meaning a unique encrypted token is used during the transaction instead of the customer’s actual card details, helping reduce the exposure of sensitive payment information. Tokenisation can also benefit businesses by supporting billing continuity. Because the token remains connected to the underlying payment credential, recurring payments can often continue uninterrupted even if a customer’s physical card or smart device is replaced due to expiry, loss or theft.

One-off payments and recurring payments are different

A common misconception is that digital wallets only support one-off purchases.

In reality, with Ezypay, customers can use the card stored within their Apple Pay and Google Pay wallet to establish a recurring payment arrangement.

The process is simple:

1. The customer selects Apple Pay or Google Pay during sign-up.
2. They choose a card already stored in their wallet.
3. They authenticate the setup using their device.
4. The payment credentials are securely used to establish the recurring arrangement.
5. Future scheduled payments are then processed according to the agreed payment schedule.

Importantly, the customer does not need to manually return and approve every future recurring payment through their digital wallet.

Supporting different payment journeys

Businesses don't need to think about digital wallets as either a one-off payment tool or a recurring payment tool.

Through Ezypay, Apple Pay and Google Pay payments can support a range of scenarios, unified through a single payment system, including:

• An initial one-off payment followed by recurring payments
• Recurring payments only
• Ad hoc purchases
• One-off purchases from customers who are not on a recurring plan

This flexibility allows businesses to support different customer needs while delivering a more connected payment experience and better reporting for businesses.

More payment choice for customers

Not every customer wants to pay the same way.

Some prefer to enter card details directly. Others prefer to use a digital wallet they already trust and use regularly. Offering Apple Pay and Google Pay alongside existing payment methods gives customers more choice without replacing traditional payment options.

Supporting the future of recurring payments

Recurring Apple Pay and Google Pay are now available in Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Hong Kong.

Customer payment preferences continue to evolve, and businesses need payment experiences that can support both immediate purchases and ongoing customer relationships.

By enabling Apple Pay and Google Pay for both one-off and recurring payments through their Ezypay integration, businesses can offer their clients (and by extension, their end customers) greater payment choice, reduce unnecessary friction during sign-up and create a more seamless payment journey from the first transaction through to every scheduled payment that follows.

See what Apple Pay and Google Pay can do for your business. Talk to Ezypay today.