iStore South Africa has entered the business payments market with the launch of iStore Pay, a payment platform built around Apple’s Tap to Pay on iPhone technology that allows merchants to accept contactless payments without dedicated payment hardware.
Announced in Johannesburg on 12 May 2026, the launch makes iStore the first company to introduce Tap to Pay on iPhone in South Africa, extending the retailer’s focus beyond consumer electronics into payment infrastructure for entrepreneurs and small businesses.
The platform reflects growing demand for lower cost payment acceptance models among smaller merchants seeking alternatives to card terminals and dedicated point of sale hardware. Through the iStore Pay application, businesses can process transactions directly on compatible iPhones using contactless cards, digital wallets and mobile payment services.
According to the company, merchants using the platform can accept credit cards, debit cards, Apple Pay and other contactless payment methods without external devices.
“Two decades ago, we set out to bring the very best of Apple to South Africans. With the launch of iStore Pay, that commitment now extends to entrepreneurs and small businesses. By enabling Tap to Pay on iPhone locally, we are helping remove traditional barriers to commerce and making it easier for businesses to accept payments using technology they already have,” said Chris Dodd.
iStore says the platform is aimed at entrepreneurs, startups, freelancers and small businesses seeking faster onboarding and lower operational costs. The company says merchants can begin accepting payments in under 15 minutes and will not require additional hardware purchases or upfront fees. Transaction pricing starts from 2.5% using a pay per transaction model.
The platform also introduces a payout model where merchants pay a flat fee of R2.99 per payout. As part of the launch, the company said businesses will receive daily payouts without charge until 31 July 2026.
Security and privacy features rely on the existing architecture of Apple’s Tap to Pay technology. According to iStore, card numbers and transaction information are not stored on the device or Apple servers when payments are processed.
The launch places iStore within a growing market for mobile based payment acceptance as merchants seek payment infrastructure that can operate using devices already deployed inside their businesses rather than investing in dedicated hardware fleets.
