American Express quietly flipped on one of the most convenient redemption options it has ever offered: you can now spend Membership Rewards points directly inside the Apple Pay checkout sheet. The feature went live for U.S. cardholders on June 30, 2026, and with the redesigned Apple Pay interface in iOS 27, it is now easier to find than ever. Here’s exactly how it works, which cards and purchases qualify, and why “convenient” doesn’t always mean “worth it.”
What actually changed
Two separate things came together in 2026, and it’s worth keeping them straight.
First, Amex launched Pay With Points via Apple Pay on June 30, 2026. This lets eligible Membership Rewards cardholders apply points toward an online or in-app purchase without leaving the Apple Pay flow. It technically runs on iPhone and iPad with iOS 18 / iPadOS 18 or later.
Second, iOS 27 overhauled the Apple Pay payment sheet itself. You can now swipe between cards on the main screen or tap to open a grid of all your cards, and each card now surfaces details like its rewards balance, available credit, and pay-later options right there. The practical result: the “Use Rewards” toggle for Amex is far more visible than it was when the feature first shipped.
Which cards qualify
Only American Express cards that earn Membership Rewards points are eligible. Cash-back cards (like Blue Cash) and co-branded cards that earn airline miles or hotel points (Delta SkyMiles, Hilton, Marriott Bonvoy) do not participate. Eligible cards announced at launch include:
- The Platinum Card® from American Express
- American Express® Gold Card
- American Express Green Card®
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
- American Express® Business Gold Card
- Business Green Rewards Card from American Express
- The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
If you carry an authorized-user card tied to one of these accounts, the points pool is shared, so the balance you see at checkout reflects the whole account.
Which purchases qualify
This is an online and in-app feature only. It works when you select Apple Pay as your payment method on a website (in Safari or another browser) or inside an app on your iPhone or iPad.
It does not work for in-store, tap-to-pay (NFC) transactions at a physical terminal. So you can use points for a hotel booked in an app, but not for groceries you tap to pay at the register. Any merchant that accepts Apple Pay for an eligible Amex transaction will let you apply points; Amex has not published a category exclusion list.
How to pay with points — step by step
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1 | Shop online or in an app on your iPhone or iPad and choose Apple Pay at checkout. |
| 2 | On the Apple Pay sheet, swipe to (or tap to select) an eligible Membership Rewards card. |
| 3 | Tap “Use Rewards.” Your available points balance appears. |
| 4 | Enter the amount of points to apply — cover the full purchase or just part of it. |
| 5 | Confirm with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode to complete the transaction. |
Points are applied as a credit against the charge, so the remaining balance (if any) posts to your card as a normal Amex transaction.
The value math: know this before you tap
Here is the catch. Amex redeems your points at a fixed rate of 0.7 cents per point through Apple Pay. That means 10,000 points = $70.
That’s among the lowest values you can get for Membership Rewards. For comparison, points transferred to airline and hotel partners are commonly valued around 2 cents or more per point.
| Redemption method | Approx. value per point | What 50,000 points is worth |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Pay “Use Rewards” | 0.7¢ | $350 |
| Travel booked via Amex Travel | ~1.0¢ | ~$500 |
| Transfer to airline/hotel partners | ~2.0¢+ (varies) | $1,000+ |
Partner transfer values vary widely by booking and are not guaranteed — but the gap is real. Spending points at 0.7¢ when a careful transfer could fetch 2¢ means leaving roughly two-thirds of the value on the table.
A worked example
Say you’re buying a $140 pair of headphones in an app. Tapping “Use Rewards” to cover it in full costs 20,000 points (20,000 × 0.7¢ = $140). The same 20,000 points transferred to an airline partner at 2¢ each could be worth around $400 toward a flight. The Apple Pay route is instant and effortless — but it’s the expensive way to use those points.
When it actually makes sense
- Orphan points: A small leftover balance you’ll never top up to a useful transfer amount.
- You don’t travel: If you’ll never use transfer partners, a fixed 0.7¢ beats points expiring unused.
- Cash-flow crunch: Covering part of a purchase now can ease a tight month — just know the cost.
If you value points for travel, skip this and transfer instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need iOS 27 to use Amex points in Apple Pay?
No. The Pay With Points feature works on iPhone and iPad running iOS 18 / iPadOS 18 or later. iOS 27 didn’t create the feature — it redesigned the Apple Pay sheet so your rewards balance and the “Use Rewards” option are much easier to see and reach.
How much is each Membership Rewards point worth in Apple Pay?
0.7 cents per point, a fixed rate. Every 10,000 points covers $70 of an eligible purchase. That’s lower than most other Amex redemption options, so weigh it against transferring points to travel partners.
Can I use points for in-store tap-to-pay purchases?
No. This is limited to online and in-app checkouts where you select Apple Pay. Physical, contactless tap-to-pay at a store terminal is not supported, and you can only use cards that earn Membership Rewards points.
Can I pay for only part of a purchase with points?
Yes. At checkout you can apply points to the full amount or just a portion, and the rest is charged to your Amex card as a normal transaction.
Bottom line
Paying with Amex Membership Rewards points inside Apple Pay is genuinely frictionless, and iOS 27’s cleaner payment sheet makes it a two-tap affair. Just go in with eyes open: at 0.7 cents per point, it’s a convenience feature, not a value play. Use it to mop up stray points or when you’d otherwise let them sit — and save your larger balances for transfers that can be worth two to three times as much.
WalletWisp is informational and not financial advice. Point values, eligible cards, and terms can change — confirm current details with American Express before redeeming.
