For years, I’ve said that the Apple Wallet app is one of Apple’s most underrated services. Most people think of Apple Pay when they hear about Apple Wallet, but it’s so much more. It stores everything from my credit cards to my transit cards, replaced my keys, helps me send money, and has honestly replaced the need to carry both a physical wallet and keys. Most of these features have been added quietly over the years, and most people are simply unaware of them. Here are five Apple Wallet features that I use all the time that most people don’t know about.
Be sure to watch our video below, which walks through all the features we mention and shows you how to use them.
Apple Cash and iMessage payment
Most people don’t know that you can get a free digital Apple Cash card in the Wallet app as long as you have an Apple ID. It’s basically a debit card that you can load with cash from your bank and use through Apple Pay like any other credit or debit card. But it also allows peer-to-peer payment via iMessage. And for me, in most cases, this has replaced the need to use apps like Venmo, Cash App, and even Zelle.
The Apple Cash card is FDIC insured, so you have peace of mind if something happens. The only thing it can’t do natively is withdraw money from an ATM. But everything else allows it to work just like any other digital debit card.
Tap to pay on iPhone
Another feature unlocked by the Apple Cash card is the new Tap to Pay feature on iPhone. We’ve all seen these Square payment terminals at independent vendor booths at flea markets and farmers’ markets. Tap to Pay lets you pay someone directly to their iPhone with your iPhone. No other hardware or payment terminal is necessary. It’s absolutely magical. Here’s how to do it:
- Open the Wallet app
- Tap the Apple Cash card
- Tap Send or Request
- Tap Tap to cash out
- Select the amount
- Press your lock button twice
- Then tap your phone on the recipient’s phone
- The recipient now has the money on their Apple Cash card
This completely cuts out the middleman and allows you to accept payment without fees. This is a game-changing feature in my opinion. Plus, the animation when this happens makes it even cooler.
Express Transportation Cards
This feature has been around for a few years, but many people are simply unaware of it. Most modern metro stations allow you to pay via Apple Pay to get on the metro or bus. Most people take out their phone, press the lock button twice, select the card they want, press the terminal, then move on. This creates too much friction and causes traffic jams for people in a hurry. The Express Transportation Card allows you to select a dedicated card that is always used at these terminals. This reduces the number of steps to pay to zero. You literally just tap your phone on the terminal and you’re on your way as long as you have an express transit card selected in your wallet settings. You just:
- Open settings
- Tap Wallet & Apple Pay
- Scroll down to Express Transportation Card
- Select the card you want to use
Now, every time you tap to pay at a subway station, your designated card will be used without needing to use Face ID.
Physical credit card information in Apple Wallet
This was a huge update for me personally in Apple Wallet. Before this feature, when you added your cards to Apple Wallet, the physical credit card information could not be found and Apple only displayed the encrypted virtual card number used for transactions. So if you needed the actual credit number, you would have to go get the physical card. This is no longer the case! You can now save your actual credit card information in case you need to use it later! Here’s how to do it:
- Open Apple Wallet
- Select a saved card
- Tap the three dots at the top right
- View or add physical card details securely behind Face ID
This was one of the main reasons I could leave my credit cards at home. If Apple Pay doesn’t work, I can open my wallet app and find my card number to make a manual transaction without a physical card. Absolute victory!
Digital car and house keys
Apple Wallet has also become my digital keychain. Between my car key and my house key, there are days when I leave the house with nothing but my iPhone. I have a smart lock that works with Apple HomeKit, so all I have to do is tap my iPhone on the door handle and it unlocks. I no longer need to carry keys. It’s the same for my car. I don’t need a key fob to get into my car or use basic controls like locking and unlocking. Additionally, the proximity features for automatic locking and unlocking of home and car keys are exceptional and extremely reliable. Again, it’s so good that I no longer take keys with me when I leave the house!
Final Thoughts
As I said earlier, Apple has quietly evolved the Apple Wallet app to make it one of the most important parts of my ecosystem. Apple Wallet is no longer just a place to store your credit cards. It becomes a digital wallet for payments, access, identity and general everyday convenience. I tell people that the best technology products and services are the ones that work, are reliable and you almost forget you’re using them. And I haven’t even talked about the Apple Card, high yield savings account, live activities, boarding passes and everything it can do!
Also, if you love the credit game as much as I do, I recommend you try Cardpointers! This has helped me immensely in organizing and maximizing my credit scores and utilization. Do you use your Apple Wallet? Has it replaced your physical wallet? Let’s discuss it below.
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