Short answer: yes. As of a rollout American Express announced on June 30, 2026, eligible U.S. cardholders can redeem Membership Rewards points directly at Apple Pay checkout using a new option called “Use Rewards.” You no longer have to log into your Amex account, redeem points for a statement credit, and hope the math works out. You do it right in the payment sheet.
But “can you” and “should you” are two different questions. The convenience is real. The value? That’s where you need to slow down. This guide walks through exactly how the feature works, what your points are worth, which cards qualify, and when tapping “Use Rewards” is a smart move versus a quiet waste of points.
What the “Use Rewards” feature actually is
American Express and Apple teamed up to let Membership Rewards points function as a payment source inside Apple Pay. When you check out with an eligible Amex card, a new line appears letting you apply points toward all or part of the purchase. Anything the points don’t cover is charged to your card as normal.
Two important boundaries to understand up front:
- Online and in-app only. This works when you pay with Apple Pay on websites and inside apps on your iPhone or iPad. American Express did not announce support for in-store, tap-to-pay contactless purchases at launch.
- It’s tied to the Apple Pay card interface, not one specific iOS version. The redemption feature became available on iPhone and iPad running recent software (iOS 18 / iPadOS 18 and later). iOS 27, which reaches iPhones in fall 2026, refines the Apple Pay card-switching design and in-store card sharing—so the payment sheet looks cleaner—but the points-redemption capability itself is an Amex-plus-Apple-Pay feature rather than a headline iOS 27 exclusive. If you’ve heard it called an “iOS 27 feature,” that’s the polish, not the plumbing.
How much are your Amex points worth in Apple Pay?
This is the headline number: American Express values Membership Rewards points redeemed through Apple Pay at 0.7 cents each. In plain terms, 10,000 points = $70 toward your purchase.
That rate is low compared with the best uses of Membership Rewards. To put it in context:
| Redemption method | Approx. value per point | Value of 10,000 points |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Pay “Use Rewards” | 0.7¢ | $70 |
| Transfer to airline/hotel partners (typical) | ~2¢ (per The Points Guy valuations) | ~$200 |
| Amex Travel portal bookings | ~1¢ (varies) | ~$100 |
The takeaway: paying with points in Apple Pay can be worth roughly a third of what the same points fetch through savvy transfer-partner redemptions. Points-focused sites, including The Points Guy, generally do not recommend burning Membership Rewards this way unless you specifically value speed over squeezing out maximum value—or you’re sitting on a huge balance you’ll never realistically use for travel.
Which Amex cards are eligible?
The feature is limited to eligible U.S. Membership Rewards cards. At launch, seven products qualified, spanning both personal and business lineups:
- The Platinum Card® from American Express
- American Express® Gold Card
- American Express® Green Card
- The Business Platinum Card®
- American Express® Business Gold Card
- The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card
- American Express® Business Green Rewards Card
Cash-back cards that earn in a different currency (such as Blue Cash cards, which earn Reward Dollars, or co-branded Delta and Hilton cards) are not Membership Rewards cards and don’t participate in this program. If you’re unsure, check whether your card earns “Membership Rewards points” specifically.
How to pay with Amex points in Apple Pay: step by step
- Shop online or inside an app that accepts Apple Pay on your iPhone or iPad.
- At checkout, select Apple Pay as your payment method.
- In the payment sheet, choose your eligible American Express Membership Rewards card.
- Tap Use Rewards.
- Enter how many points you want to apply—cover the whole purchase or just part of it.
- Confirm and complete the transaction with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode.
Any remaining balance not covered by points is charged to the same Amex card. You’ll typically see the points-covered portion reflected on your account, similar to how Amex “Pay with Points” credits have always worked.
A worked example
Say you’re buying a $210 pair of headphones in an app that supports Apple Pay, and you have 45,000 Membership Rewards points sitting idle.
- Cover the full purchase: At 0.7¢ per point, $210 requires 30,000 points (30,000 × $0.007 = $210). You’d have 15,000 points left.
- Cover part of it: Apply 10,000 points for a $70 discount, and your card is charged the remaining $140.
- The opportunity cost: Those same 30,000 points could be worth roughly $600 transferred to an airline partner for a flight. Spending them on headphones effectively “sells” your points at a steep discount.
The convenience is undeniable—no logging in, no gift cards, no waiting. Just know what you’re trading away.
When “Use Rewards” in Apple Pay makes sense
- You have a large, stale balance you’re realistically never going to use for travel.
- You want to zero out a purchase instantly and value the speed more than the extra cents.
- Points are about to lose value or the card is closing (Membership Rewards points can be forfeited if you cancel a card without a strategy).
- You don’t travel and rarely find good transfer-partner or portal redemptions anyway—0.7¢ beats letting points sit unused forever.
If you’re an active traveler, hold your points and transfer them to partners instead. The three-times gap in value is simply too large to ignore for most rewards enthusiasts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Amex points for in-store Apple Pay tap-to-pay?
Not at launch. American Express announced the feature for online and in-app Apple Pay purchases on iPhone and iPad. In-store contactless (tap-to-pay) redemption was not included, though that could change in future updates.
Do I need iOS 27 to use it?
No. The points-redemption capability works on recent iPhone and iPad software (iOS 18 / iPadOS 18 and later). iOS 27, arriving in fall 2026, updates the look of the Apple Pay card interface but isn’t strictly required for “Use Rewards” to appear—your eligible Amex card and up-to-date software matter more.
Is paying with points in Apple Pay a good deal?
Purely on value, no. At 0.7 cents per point, you get about a third of what points are worth through airline and hotel transfer partners (roughly 2 cents each). It’s best used for convenience, small purchases, or points you’d otherwise never redeem.
Are there fees to redeem points this way?
American Express did not announce a fee for redeeming points at Apple Pay checkout. The “cost” is the low redemption rate, not a service charge. Always review your Apple Pay confirmation and Amex statement to verify the points applied and the amount charged.
The bottom line
Paying with Amex Membership Rewards points in Apple Pay is a genuinely handy option—fast, built into the checkout you already use, and flexible enough to cover all or part of a purchase. But at 0.7 cents per point, it’s a convenience tool, not a value tool. Reach for it when you have idle points and want to knock out a purchase instantly; skip it when those points could book travel worth far more. Know the trade, and the feature becomes a smart part of your toolkit rather than a slow leak in your rewards.
WalletWisp is an independent, informational resource and does not provide financial advice. Verify current terms, values, and eligibility directly with American Express and Apple before redeeming.
