How to add a loyalty card to Apple Wallet: the 3-step guide
A practical guide to adding a loyalty card to Apple Wallet on iPhone, and its Google Wallet equivalent on Android, with no app to download.
Adding a loyalty card to Apple Wallet takes no more than 30 seconds and requires no app to download. Here's the process, for both the customer and the merchant.
Step 1: scan the merchant's QR code
The merchant displays a QR code at the till, on a poster, or on their website. The customer opens it with their iPhone camera (no specific app required): a link opens to a quick signup form.
Step 2: enter their details
The customer enters their name and phone number (or email, depending on the merchant's setup). No password to create, no app to install: this is the only step that requires manual input.
Step 3: add the card to Apple Wallet
An "Add to Apple Wallet" button appears immediately after signup. One tap is enough: the loyalty card is saved in Wallet, in the same place as bank cards and boarding passes. It is immediately scannable at the till and updates automatically after each visit.
And on Android?
The process is identical with Google Wallet: same QR code, same form, and an "Add to Google Wallet" button at the last step. The merchant doesn't need to configure anything differently between iPhone and Android, both Wallets are managed from the same dashboard.
Why the card updates without an app
Apple Wallet and Google Wallet natively support "connected passes": when the merchant records a point or stamp from the till, a notification pushes the update directly onto the card already on the customer's phone. Neither the merchant nor the customer needs to open a third-party app.