Since June 30, 2026, American Express and Apple have let eligible U.S. cardholders spend Membership Rewards points directly inside the Apple Pay checkout flow. No logging into the Amex app, no waiting for a redemption to process — a new “Use Rewards” button appears right where you approve the payment. It’s genuinely convenient. It’s also one of the lowest-value ways to cash out your points, at just 0.7 cents each. Here’s exactly how it works and when it actually makes sense to tap that button.
What the new “Use Rewards” option actually is
When you check out with Apple Pay online or inside an app and select an eligible Membership Rewards–earning Amex card, you’ll now see a “Use Rewards” option on the payment sheet. Tap it, choose how many points to apply, and confirm. The points offset all or part of the purchase, and you pay any remaining balance on the same card as usual.
Behind the scenes this is Amex’s long-standing “Pay with Points” feature, bolted directly onto Apple’s wallet. The difference is speed and placement: instead of buying something first and hunting for the redemption inside your Amex account afterward, you decide to use points at the moment of purchase.
Where you can (and can’t) use it
- Online and in-app purchases only. This works on websites and inside apps that accept Apple Pay. Amex did not extend it to tap-to-pay in physical stores.
- iPhone and iPad. You’ll need a device running iOS 18 or iPadOS 18 (or later).
- Eligible U.S. Membership Rewards cards — the Platinum, Gold, Green, and other cards that earn transferable Membership Rewards points.
- Partial or full payment. You can cover an entire purchase or just knock a few dollars off and pay the rest normally.
Why each point is only worth 0.7¢
American Express fixes the redemption rate for points used this way at 0.7 cents per point. That number is the whole story: it’s the same baseline rate Amex uses for most “Pay with Points” purchases, and it doesn’t change based on what you’re buying. So 10,000 points applied at Apple Pay checkout knocks exactly $70 off your bill — no more, no less.
The rate is low because you’re using points as a plain cash substitute. When you instead transfer Membership Rewards to airline or hotel partners, the value of each point is set by that partner’s award chart, and a well-chosen redemption can be worth 2 cents or more per point. Spending points as cash strips out all of that upside.
| Points applied | Value at Apple Pay checkout (0.7¢) | Same points via a 2¢ transfer |
|---|---|---|
| 5,000 | $35 | ~$100 |
| 10,000 | $70 | ~$200 |
| 25,000 | $175 | ~$500 |
| 50,000 | $350 | ~$1,000 |
Transfer values are illustrative; actual worth depends on the airline or hotel award you book.
How to use points in Apple Pay, step by step
- Shop as normal on a website or in an app on your iPhone or iPad and choose Apple Pay at checkout.
- On the Apple Pay payment sheet, select an eligible Amex Membership Rewards card.
- Tap the “Use Rewards” option that appears.
- Enter how many points you want to apply — enough to cover the whole order or just part of it.
- Confirm with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode to complete the purchase.
A worked example
Say you’re buying a $90 pair of headphones in an app. You have 30,000 Membership Rewards points and decide to use points for the whole thing. At 0.7¢ each, $90 requires about 12,858 points (90 ÷ 0.007). You tap “Use Rewards,” apply the points, and your card is charged $0. Fast and painless — but those ~12,858 points could have been worth roughly $257 as a 2-cent transfer redemption. You effectively “spent” $167 of potential value for the convenience.
Now flip it: you have a small, orphaned balance of 4,000 points you’ll never grow into an award ticket. Using them at checkout for a guaranteed $28 off is a perfectly sensible way to squeeze real value out of points that would otherwise sit idle.
When it’s worth it — and when it isn’t
- Good use: small leftover point balances, no near-term travel plans, or you simply value simplicity over squeezing every cent.
- Poor use: a large stash you’re building toward premium-cabin flights or hotel stays, where transfers routinely double or triple your value.
- Rule of thumb: if you’d normally aim for 1.5–2¢+ per point, cashing out at 0.7¢ leaves more than half your value on the table.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Amex points with Apple Pay in stores?
No. As of the June 2026 rollout, the “Use Rewards” option only appears for online and in-app Apple Pay purchases on iPhone and iPad. Amex did not announce support for in-store, tap-to-pay transactions, so you can’t apply points at a physical checkout terminal.
How much is each Membership Rewards point worth in Apple Pay?
Exactly 0.7 cents. That means 10,000 points equal $70 off your purchase. The rate is fixed and doesn’t vary by merchant or item, so it’s easy to calculate: multiply your points by $0.007.
Is using points in Apple Pay a good deal?
For convenience, yes; for maximum value, no. Transferring Membership Rewards to airline and hotel partners can be worth 2 cents or more per point — nearly triple the Apple Pay rate. Use the checkout option for small or leftover balances, and save large stashes for transfers.
Which Amex cards work with this feature?
Eligible U.S. cards that earn Membership Rewards points — including the Amex Platinum, Gold, and Green cards, among others. Co-brand cards that earn airline miles or hotel points (rather than Membership Rewards) are not part of this program.
The bottom line
Amex’s “Use Rewards” button in Apple Pay is the easiest way yet to spend Membership Rewards points — no portal, no waiting, just a tap at checkout. Just remember the trade-off baked into that convenience: every point is locked to 0.7 cents. Reach for it to clean up small balances or when you truly don’t plan to travel, but keep your bigger point piles earmarked for transfer partners where they can be worth far more.
WalletWisp is informational and not financial advice. Verify current rates and terms with American Express before redeeming.
