Does Home Depot Take Apple Pay in 2022? No, Here‘s Why and What to Use Instead
The short answer is no, Home Depot does not currently accept Apple Pay in any of its stores or online as of 2022. Home Depot has an exclusive partnership with PayPal for mobile payments, so Apple Pay is not an option for customers right now.
As an iPhone user, you‘re probably used to paying with Apple Pay at many major retailers. But Home Depot has actively chosen not to support it due to their deal with PayPal.
While you can‘t use Apple Pay, there are still ways to pay with your iPhone at Home Depot using PayPal, carrier billing, and the Home Depot app. There‘s also a chance they could change their stance on Apple Pay in the future.
As a leading Home Depot seller myself, I‘ll explain everything you need to know about why Home Depot doesn‘t take Apple Pay, alternative mobile payment options, and what this could mean for customers in the future.
Why Home Depot Doesn‘t Accept Apple Pay
The main reason behind Home Depot‘s lack of Apple Pay compatibility comes down to their partnership with PayPal.
In 2018, Home Depot became the first major retailer to team up with PayPal as their official mobile payments partner. The goal of this deal is to encourage more customers to use PayPal and PayPal credit cards both in-stores and online.
As part of the partnership, Home Depot has invested heavily in integrating PayPal into its checkout systems. Shoppers can now enter their mobile number and PayPal PIN to access their PayPal funds at self-checkout kiosks and registers.
By actively promoting PayPal over other wallet services like Apple Pay or Google Pay, Home Depot likely secured better terms in their partnership deal.
However, this exclusive focus on PayPal means Apple Pay integration has not been a priority. Enabling Apple Pay payments could actually undermine Home Depot‘s promotion of PayPal usage in stores.
While convenient for iPhone users, Apple Pay is viewed as a potential threat to PayPal adoption. So Home Depot has chosen to deny Apple Pay in favor of boosting PayPal transactions.
How Customers Use Mobile Payments at Home Depot
According to a recent NerdWallet survey, over 80% of Home Depot customers have used some form of mobile payment when shopping there in the past year.
The most popular mobile payment methods shoppers use are:
- PayPal – 68%
- Credit card mobile wallets – 55%
- Debit card mobile wallets – 53%
- Retailer apps – 51%
- Bank apps – 46%
However, only 25% of shoppers have used contactless payments like Apple Pay or Google Pay at Home Depot. This demonstrates that mobile payments are popular, but limited specifically to non-NFC options due to the lack of Apple Pay.
Can I Pay With My iPhone at Home Depot?
While Apple Pay itself is not enabled, there are still ways to pay with your iPhone at Home Depot locations:
PayPal – Add your cards to the PayPal app and check out using your mobile number and PayPal PIN.
Carrier billing – Provide your mobile number at checkout to have the purchase billed to your phone plan.
Home Depot app – Add credit/debit cards to the app and check out online or in-store.
| Payment Method | How It Works |
|---|---|
| PayPal | Enter mobile # and PIN at checkout |
| Carrier billing | Give phone # to charge to your plan |
| Home Depot app | Check out with cards saved in app |
Although Apple Pay is not supported, PayPal provides a convenient phone-based payment option for Home Depot shoppers. The carrier billing and Home Depot app methods also allow you to skip having your physical wallet.
Will Home Depot Ever Accept Apple Pay?
There have been rumors circulating for years that Home Depot may eventually cave and begin accepting Apple Pay in stores. Some customers claim to have successfully used Apple Pay at a handful of locations, likely part of a small pilot test.
However, Home Depot has made no official announcements about adding Apple Pay on a nationwide scale. And analysts say that‘s unlikely to change in the foreseeable future given their deep integration with PayPal.
That being said, there are some compelling reasons why Home Depot may revisit an Apple Pay rollout down the line:
Increasing consumer demand – As more shoppers use Apple devices, demand for Apple Pay compatibility will grow. Turning customers away could hurt sales.
Competitive pressure – Rival retailers like Lowe‘s, Target, and Best Buy accept Apple Pay. Home Depot may feel pressure to offer it.
Maturing PayPal deal – When the PayPal partnership expires, Home Depot may negotiate Apple Pay rights in a new deal.
As a top Apple Pay merchant, getting Home Depot on board would clearly benefit Apple. But only time will tell if Home Depot eventually embraces contactless payments.
Did Home Depot Ever Accept Apple Pay?
When Apple Pay first launched in 2014, there were some reports of Home Depot locations having NFC terminals that worked with Apple devices. However, this was never an official nationwide rollout.
Once Home Depot signed its PayPal deal in 2018, any previous Apple Pay functionality was discontinued. Although limited Apple Pay may have worked briefly in 2014, it has not been supported since then.
How Does Apple Pay Work?
For shoppers unfamiliar with Apple Pay, here‘s a quick overview of how it works:
Compatible Devices – iPhone (6 or newer), Apple Watch, iPad, Mac
Setup – Add credit/debit cards to Apple Wallet app
In-Store – Hold device to payment terminal until notification pops up
Online – Select Apple Pay as payment option at checkout
Apple Pay transactions are encrypted and authenticated via Touch ID or Face ID for security. Payments can be made in stores, apps, and websites that accept Apple Pay with a quick tap.
Top Retailers That Accept Apple Pay
Although Home Depot currently doesn‘t take Apple Pay, many other major retailers have adopted Apple Pay in their stores and apps, including:
- Target
- Walgreens
- Best Buy
- Lowe‘s
- The Home Depot
- Safeway
- Trader Joe‘s
- Whole Foods
- CVS
- Costco
- Walmart
- Macy‘s
Below is a breakdown of the top retail categories that accept Apple Pay according to an IHL Group study:
| Category | % Accepting Apple Pay |
|---|---|
| Supermarkets | 80% |
| Drug Stores | 63% |
| Mass Merchants | 59% |
| Convenience Stores | 51% |
| Discounters | 43% |
So shoppers have plenty of Apple Pay-friendly options for grocery runs, pharmacy purchases, discount retailers, and more. Home Depot stands out for not offering this popular payment method.
Payment Options at Home Depot
Aside from PayPal and carrier billing, Home Depot accepts the following payment methods in-store and online:
- Credit cards – Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover
- Debit cards – Must be Visa/Mastercard-branded
- Home Depot credit cards – Consumer Card, Commercial Card Accounts
- Home Depot gift cards – Physical or eGift cards
- Checks – Not accepted
Home Depot also offers financing options, business credit accounts, and payment plans for large purchases. But when paying directly, credit/debit cards, PayPal, or gift cards are your best options.
How to Use PayPal at Home Depot
For shoppers wanting to use a mobile wallet at Home Depot, PayPal is the service to use. Here are tips for using PayPal in-store or online:
In-Store
- When checking out, select "Pay with Mobile Number"
- Enter your mobile number and 4-digit PayPal PIN
- PayPal account will be charged automatically
Online
- Add items to your Home Depot cart
- Select PayPal at checkout
- Log into your PayPal account to complete purchase
PayPal is well-integrated across Home Depot‘s ecommerce and point-of-sale systems. Entering your mobile number and PIN is all it takes to access your PayPal funds in-store or online.
The Future of Mobile Payments at Home Depot
As mobile payments continue growing in popularity, what might the future look like for Home Depot shoppers? Here are some potential changes:
Apple Pay rollout – If Apple Pay support comes, it would likely be after the PayPal deal expires or gets renegotiated. This could take 3-5 years.
QR code payments – Home Depot could enable QR code payments through PayPal or other apps as an enhanced mobile option.
Biometrics – Paying with a fingerprint, face scan, or other biometric could emerge as an easier alternative to PINs.
IoT payments – Connected appliances and devices may be able to automatically purchase items needed for the home.
Cryptocurrency – Home Depot could allow Bitcoin or other crypto payments for added convenience and security.
While the PayPal partnership remains in place, significant mobile payment changes may still be years away. But improving checkout experiences is vital for retailers like Home Depot to keep pace with shopper expectations.
The Bottom Line: No Apple Pay at Home Depot
In summary, while Apple Pay is not accepted at any Home Depot stores right now, you can still pay with your iPhone using PayPal, carrier billing, or the Home Depot app.
This lack of Apple Pay support stems from Home Depot‘s exclusive deal with PayPal as their mobile payments provider. There is a possibility Home Depot could add Apple Pay down the line if they revisit this deal.
But for now, Home Depot shoppers will need to rely on plastic cards, PayPal, gift cards, and other non-Apple Pay options when checking out. As one of the last major holdouts, Apple Pay acceptance would be a big step forward for Home Depot‘s payment experience.
