In today‘s fast-paced world, convenience is king – and that‘s especially true when it comes to grabbing a quick meal on the go. For many consumers, mobile payment options like Apple Pay have become the preferred way to pay, offering speed, security, and a seamless user experience. But with the adoption of these technologies varying widely across different retailers and restaurants, it‘s not always clear where you can use services like Apple Pay.
If you‘re a fan of Subway, the world‘s largest fast food chain with over 40,000 locations globally, you might be wondering: does Subway take Apple Pay? The answer is a resounding yes – and in this comprehensive guide, we‘ll dive into the details of how and when Subway adopted Apple Pay, how it works in practice, and what it means for the future of the quick service restaurant (QSR) industry.
The Rise of Mobile Payments
Before we get into the specifics of using Apple Pay at Subway, let‘s set the stage with some context on the mobile payments landscape.
The concept of using a smartphone or wearable device to make payments isn‘t new – the first contactless payment system was actually introduced in Seoul, South Korea back in 1995. But it wasn‘t until the launch of Apple Pay in 2014 that mobile payments really started to gain mainstream traction in North America and Europe.
Since then, adoption has grown steadily year over year. According to a 2020 report by eMarketer, in-store mobile payment usage in the US grew 29% year over year in 2020 to reach 92.3 million users, or 38.3% of smartphone users. This growth was undoubtedly accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which drove consumers to seek out contactless payment options for health and safety reasons.
Here‘s a look at the projected growth of proximity mobile payment users in the US:
| Year | Users (millions) | % of Smartphone Users |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 92.3 | 38.3% |
| 2021 | 101.2 | 41.4% |
| 2022 | 109.5 | 44.1% |
| 2023 | 116.9 | 46.4% |
| 2024 | 123.4 | 48.4% |
Source: eMarketer, "US Proximity Mobile Payment Users" (2021)
This data paints a clear picture: mobile payments are no longer a niche technology, but a mainstream option that a significant and growing portion of consumers expect to be able to use.
Subway‘s Apple Pay Timeline
So where does Subway fit into this broader mobile payments story? As it turns out, they were one of the earliest major fast food chains to get on board with Apple Pay.
Let‘s take a look at a timeline of key milestones:
- September 2014: Apple announces Apple Pay at the iPhone 6 launch event.
- October 2014: Apple Pay goes live in the US, with Subway as one of the initial launch partners. At this stage, Apple Pay is accepted at all US Subway locations, but only for in-store purchases. Digital orders are not yet supported.
- 2016-2017: Subway begins rolling out in-app ordering and payment to select markets, though Apple Pay is not yet integrated as an in-app payment option.
- August 2018: Subway announces a major redesign of its mobile app, with plans to roll it out globally. The revamped app includes full integration with Apple Pay for in-app orders.
- March 2020: As the COVID-19 pandemic intensifies, Subway announces the expansion of mobile ordering options, including curbside pickup with Apple Pay compatibility.
This timeline demonstrates that Subway was an early believer in the potential of mobile payments, jumping on board with Apple Pay as soon as it launched. Over the years, they‘ve continued to expand and enhance their mobile ordering capabilities to keep pace with changing consumer expectations.
The Apple Pay Experience at Subway
So what is it actually like to use Apple Pay at Subway? The experience is designed to be as intuitive and frictionless as possible.
In-Store Payments
For in-store purchases, customers simply need to hold their iPhone or Apple Watch near the contactless reader at the register with their finger on Touch ID or double-click the side button to activate Face ID. The device will vibrate and beep to confirm the payment was successful. The whole process takes just a few seconds and requires no physical contact with the payment terminal.
Subway uses standard NFC (near field communication) technology to enable these transactions. Most modern point of sale (POS) systems, including the Subway POS, have NFC capabilities built-in. When you hold your iPhone or Apple Watch near the reader, it communicates with the POS via this short-range radio frequency, securely transmitting the payment information.
One Subway customer described the experience this way on Twitter: "Just paid for my sub with Apple Pay at Subway. Literally took 2 seconds, no card swipe, no receipt to sign. The future is amazing."
In-App Payments
In the Subway mobile app, Apple Pay is fully integrated as a payment option. After selecting their food items and proceeding to checkout, users simply select Apple Pay, authenticate with Face ID or Touch ID, and the order is placed. No need to manually enter any card info.
Here‘s what the flow looks like:
- Open the Subway App and sign into your account
- Browse the menu and add items to your cart
- Proceed to checkout and select your pickup method (in-store or curbside)
- On the payment screen, tap the Apple Pay button
- Double-click the side button on your iPhone or Apple Watch
- Glance at your device to authenticate with Face ID, or enter your passcode
- Wait for confirmation that the order has been placed
The integration of Apple Pay is part of a larger focus on user experience enhancements in the Subway app. Other features include customized recommendations based on order history, an intuitive "build your own" sandwich interface, and a revamped loyalty program.
By making the ordering and payment process as seamless as possible, Subway is aiming to drive more customers to use their mobile channels. App users tend to be more loyal and higher-spending than non-app users, so there‘s a clear business incentive for Subway to encourage adoption.
Comparing Subway to Other Chains
Subway may have been one of the first major fast food chains to adopt Apple Pay, but they‘re certainly not the only one. In fact, mobile payment acceptance has become table stakes in the QSR industry.
Here‘s a look at Apple Pay adoption among some of Subway‘s key competitors:
| Chain | Accepts Apple Pay | Launch Year |
|---|---|---|
| McDonald‘s | Yes | 2014 |
| Burger King | Yes | 2014 |
| Wendy‘s | Yes | 2015 |
| Taco Bell | Yes | 2015 |
| KFC | Yes | 2016 |
| Chick-fil-A | Yes | 2016 |
| Panera Bread | Yes | 2014 |
| Starbucks | Yes (in-app only) | 2015 |
Sources: Company announcements and media reports
As you can see, most major chains jumped on the Apple Pay bandwagon within a year or two of its launch. Starbucks is a slight outlier in that it accepts Apple Pay in-app but not for in-store purchases – likely because they want to encourage use of their own proprietary mobile payment and loyalty system.
Looking at this competitive landscape, it‘s clear that accepting mobile payments is no longer a differentiator but an essential part of doing business in the fast food industry. Consumers increasingly expect to be able to pay with their phones, and chains that don‘t offer this option risk being seen as behind the times.
The Future of Mobile Payments at Subway
So what‘s next for Subway in the mobile payments space? While they‘ve already made significant strides with the integration of Apple Pay and the revamp of their mobile app, there‘s always room for enhancement.
One area of opportunity is the Subway loyalty program. Currently, the Subway MyWay™ Rewards program allows customers to earn tokens on purchases that can be redeemed for discounts and free food. However, the program is not as robust as some of its competitors. For example, the Starbucks Rewards program offers more personalized rewards based on individual purchase behavior, as well as integrations with other brands like Lyft and Spotify.
Subway could look to enhance its loyalty offering with more targeted rewards, partnerships, and exclusive experiences for top-tier members. They could also explore integrating the loyalty program more seamlessly with Apple Pay, perhaps by allowing customers to track and redeem their rewards directly from the Apple Wallet.
Another area to watch is the emergence of new mobile payment technologies. While NFC-based systems like Apple Pay are currently the dominant standard, there‘s potential for disruption from technologies like ultrasonic payments, which use sound waves to transmit data between devices. These systems are still in their infancy but could offer advantages like longer range and the ability to transmit more data.
Regardless of the specific technologies used, it‘s clear that mobile payments will only become more central to the fast food customer experience in the years ahead. As Carissa Ganelli, Subway‘s Chief Digital Officer, put it in a recent interview: "We know that our guests are increasingly looking for more convenience and faster ways to order and pay. Mobile payments and digital ordering are key parts of meeting those evolving expectations."
Conclusion
To sum up, Subway has been accepting Apple Pay since the service first launched in 2014, initially for in-store purchases and later expanding to in-app mobile ordering. The experience of paying with Apple Pay at Subway is designed to be as quick and frictionless as possible, whether you‘re using your iPhone at the register or placing a mobile order for curbside pickup.
Subway‘s early adoption of Apple Pay was ahead of the curve, but mobile payment acceptance has since become standard in the quick service restaurant industry. As consumer preferences continue to shift towards digital and contactless experiences, Subway will need to continue innovating in the mobile space to stay competitive.
For Subway customers, the broad acceptance of Apple Pay is good news. It means you can enjoy the convenience, speed and security of mobile payments while grabbing your favorite sub. No more fumbling with cash or cards – just a quick tap of your phone and you‘re on your way. The future of fast food is here, and it‘s decidedly mobile-first.