Apple Pay setup

Apple Pay isn’t quite plug-and-play. Stripe handles credit cards automatically, but Apple Pay needs live keys (no Stripe test mode) and a verified domain before the Pay button shows up at checkout. This article walks through both.

Prerequisites

Before you start, you need:

• Stripe Connect already set up — see Enabling Stripe payments
• Live Stripe credentials — meaning you’ve completed Stripe verification, not running in test mode
• A paid plan (Apple Pay isn’t typically available on Free)
• An iOS device for testing (or Safari on macOS — Apple Pay works there too)

If you don’t have Stripe in live mode yet, finish that first. Apple Pay won’t work in test/sandbox mode in production.

What domain verification is

Apple requires Stripe to prove that your domain is authorized to accept Apple Pay. This is a one-time setup; once verified, every page on the domain can show the Apple Pay button.

This step is handled for you on homeherald.ai. You don’t need to do anything to verify your domain — it’s already verified. Just enable Apple Pay (next section) and it works.

Setup steps

Most of the work for your community is just toggling Apple Pay on:

1. Go to Settings → Community Settings → Payment Methods panel
2. Find the Apple Pay toggle
3. Switch it on
4. Save

If everything else is in place (live Stripe, paid plan), Apple Pay will start appearing as a checkout option for residents on supported devices.

Testing it

You need a Safari browser on a device that has Apple Pay set up:

1. Log in as a test resident (or yourself, on an account you don’t mind making a real payment from)
2. Go to a property with an outstanding charge
3. Click Pay
4. You should see Apple Pay as one of the options
5. Click it; the system Touch ID / Face ID / passcode prompt comes up
6. Confirm — the payment processes through Stripe

If Apple Pay doesn’t appear:

• You’re not on Safari. Apple Pay only works in Safari (iOS or macOS). Chrome / Firefox won’t show it.
• Your device doesn’t have Apple Pay set up. Add a card in Wallet first.
• You’re in test mode. Apple Pay only works with live Stripe credentials.
• Your community isn’t on a plan that includes Apple Pay.
• Your community’s Apple Pay toggle is off. Settings → Community Settings → Payment Methods → Apple Pay.

Fees

Apple Pay fees are the same as regular Stripe card fees: 4% + $0.30. Apple doesn’t charge extra; the convenience is built into the same card-processing rate.

Configure pass-through vs. absorb the same way as cards — see Payment methods overview.

Why some residents prefer Apple Pay

A few reasons it’s worth offering:

• Speed. No typing card numbers. Touch ID and done.
• Privacy. The HOA never sees the actual card number — Apple Pay sends a one-time token. Less risk if your community ever has a security incident.
• Familiarity. iPhone users use Apple Pay for everything else. Adding it to dues feels normal.

The downside: it only works on Apple devices, in Safari. About 30-40% of US adults can use it. So it’s a “nice to have” alongside cards, not a replacement.

Google Pay (a note)

Google Pay is automatically supported when Stripe cards are enabled. It works in Chrome on Android devices and on desktops where the user is signed into a Google account with cards on file. There’s no separate toggle — if cards work, Google Pay works.

The button shows up alongside Apple Pay on supported devices and browsers.

Troubleshooting

“Apple Pay button shows but the payment fails” Most likely cause: a Stripe capability is missing. Apple Pay needs card_payments and transfers active on the Stripe account. Check Stripe Dashboard → Settings → Capabilities.

“Apple Pay works in our test environment but not in production” The test environment uses Stripe test keys; production uses live. Confirm production is using live keys (not test) and that the live account has Apple Pay enabled.

“Some residents see Apple Pay, others don’t” Expected. Only Safari users with Apple Pay configured will see it. iPhone users on Chrome won’t (Chrome doesn’t show Apple Pay even on iOS due to Apple’s restrictions).

“Apple Pay was working, now it’s not” Two common causes:

• Stripe Connect was disconnected and reconnected — domain verification can lag
• A capability went inactive on Stripe — check the Stripe dashboard

If you see this, verify the Stripe account first, then contact support@homeherald.ai if it persists.

Where to go next

• Enabling Stripe payments — the foundation Apple Pay depends on
• Payment methods overview — the full menu
• Recording a manual payment — for offline alternatives