Do you have a craving for Chipotle and want to pay with Apple Pay?
Chipotle offers delicious, healthy Mexican food options in a convenient fast-food format.
However, does the convenience extend to payment methods?
Does Chipotle take Apple Pay?
Apple Pay gives you a cardless method to pay for your purchases.
While it’s growing in popularity, not everyone has caught on yet.
We cover everything you need to know about whether you can pay with Apple Pay at Chipotle.
Does Chipotle Take Apple Pay?
Yes. Chipotle takes Apple Pay.
You can pay with Apple Pay both inside all stores and through the app.
In order for Chipotle to take payments in their stores, they have upgraded POS systems to allow Apple Pay.
Many retail chains have POS systems that support Apple Pay.
It’s becoming more and more popular, and customers are starting to expect the option.
Less common, Chipotle also accepts Apple Pay through the app.
You can order pickup or delivery through the app from your couch, and you won’t even have to get up to get your card out of your wallet.
Additional ways to pay at Chipotle include:
- Cash
- Debit card
- Credit card
- Prepaid card
- Gift card
About Apple Pay
Apple Pay refers to a card-less payment method that uses an app on your phone in place of your card.
All iPhones have an app preloaded onto them called Apple Wallet.
The Apple Wallet app is known as a “mobile wallet” and holds your credit card information.
When you add a card to your Apple Wallet, your phone can facilitate wireless communication between the phone and the credit card terminal.
Once connected, your phone will send the encrypted credit card information to the POS system, allowing the seller to take the funds out of your account just as if you had swiped your credit card as normal.
Is Apple Pay Safe?
Yes! Apple Pay is extremely safe.
When you make a payment using Apple Pay, the mobile wallet will send over encrypted information.
This means that Chipotle never receives your actual card details but rather an encrypted code.
If a hacker somehow managed to gain access despite Chipotle’s advanced digital security measures, they wouldn’t be able to access your card information.
Some people worry that the simplicity of the payment method makes it inherently less secure.
However, that’s not the case.
What happens if someone steals your phone?
Will they be able to make payments with your mobile wallet?
No!
In order to use Apple Pay, you must have a security method on your phone to open it (you probably already do).
Some of the popular methods include:
- Fingerprint
- Face scan
- Pattern
- PIN
- Password
No one can use your mobile wallet unless they can get into your phone.
You also can’t set up Apple Pay unless you have one of these security features in place to unlock your phone.
Apple Pay On All Devices
You can utilize Apple Pay on numerous Apple products, including your Apple Watch, Apple laptop, and Apple tablet (although you only want to pay inside the store with either your Apple phone or Apple Watch).
You will need to add your cards to each device separately.
Adding your card to one device will not automatically add it to your Apple Wallet app on the other devices (for your protection).
Can I Use Apple Pay If I Don’t Have An iPhone?
You can’t use Apple Pay if you don’t have an iPhone, but other smartphones have similar mobile wallets that work in the same way.
Two of the most popular alternate mobile wallets are Google Pay and Samsung Pay.
All POS systems in the United States that accept Apple Pay will accept the other mobile wallets as well since they all work using near field communication (NFC) technology.
Apple Pay Vs. Google Pay And Samsung Pay
All mobile wallets work in a similar fashion.
However, they still have distinct features that may make one app preferable to the others in your opinion.
It starts with accessibility.
Apple Pay is only available to people with iPhones.
Samsung Pay is only available to people with Samsung devices.
You can download Google Pay on any device (including an Apple).
Next, it depends on where you plan to use your mobile wallet.
Apple Pay stands above the others in that it’s accepted in more places around the world (41 countries) compared to Google Pay (29 countries) and Samsung Pay (24 countries).
For people who travel, that can make a significant difference.
Next, you need to know which payment methods you can use.
Apple Pay does not allow you to pay with PayPal because they are competitors.
Why Should I Use A Mobile Wallet?
While using Apple Pay or another mobile wallet adds an extra level of security when you pay by encrypting the data, Chipotle’s POS systems are already secure even if you use your card.
Why would anyone want to use their mobile wallet compared to their card?
To answer that, think about any time you left your card at home or in the car.
It’s embarrassing and a waste of time if you need to retrieve your card.
Many people forget their wallets, but almost nobody forgets their phone.
If you run into a situation where you don’t have your card on you, you’ll be able to use the card in your mobile wallet.
You also have to consider the numerous people who pay with cards every day at Chipotle.
While Chipotle runs a clean organization, not every customer has clean hands when they pay.
It’s a minor risk, but customers may leave behind germs on any surface that you may come into contact with.
Card-less payments give you the option to not interact with the credit card terminal at all, so you don’t pick up any germs.
In this day and age of a heightened awareness toward contagious illness, we can all benefit from contactless payments.
How To Pay With Apple Pay
Apple Pay is easy to use at all Chipotle stores.
You will not need to change any settings on your phone.
All phones automatically have the NFC technology turned on.
You cannot turn it off.
The only thing you need to do is add your card to the app.
After that, you’ll be ready to pay with Apple Pay at Chipotle!
Start by unlocking the phone and opening the Apple Wallet app.
You should find the app on your home screen.
Once you have the app open, swipe it near the register when prompted.
If the phone locked before you got to that point, you’ll have to unlock it again.
When you swipe your phone, you should notice an indication of a connection between the two devices (usually a green checkmark).
Once the devices establish a connection, it’s as if you swiped your card.
The payment will process, and you will get your receipt.
If something went wrong, you need to determine if the problem occurred before or after a connection was made.
If it happened before, you may not have swiped the phone close enough to the terminal.
You also may not have enough battery.
NFC technology is rather reliable, so it’s rare for the terminal to have a problem.
However, on rare occasions, the terminal may have technical issues if it can’t establish a connection with your phone.
If after, you may have selected the wrong card, or no funds are in your account
What Does A Store Need To Accept Apple Pay?
To accept Apple Pay, a store must have a POS system with near field communication (NFC) capabilities.
NFC technology allows a customer’s phone to connect to a credit card terminal wirelessly, similar to Bluetooth technology.
However, unlike Bluetooth, you don’t need to connect the devices manually.
It also works at a much closer range compared to Bluetooth.
Older POS systems didn’t have this technology.
It costs a lot of money for a chain to update all of its systems, but Chipotle made the change for the convenience of the customer and to stay up to date with modern payment trends and the competition.
Almost all POS systems sold today contain NFC capabilities.
The problem is with the old ones.
However, customers are beginning to expect the ability to use their mobile wallets.
If a store doesn’t offer the payment option to the customer, that customer may have to go somewhere else.
How Can I Order Chipotle?
You can order Chipotle by going to the store and ordering inside or ordering through the app.
If you order in the store, you will move down the assembly line of ingredients to create your order with the team member helping you.
Start with rice and beans.
Next, you pick your protein.
Finally, you include your add-ons (lettuce, veggies, cheese, etc.).
Remember that guacamole and queso cost extra!
You will then pay at the register (with Apple Pay if you choose).
If you order online, you’ll need to select your store and choose whether you want to order for pickup or delivery.
Next, you will select the food you want.
You will have an extensive list of ingredient options so that you can customize your order to your exact specifications just as you would in the store.
Finally, you’ll verify your delivery details and the details of your order before paying.
You can also use Apple Pay to pay through the app.
Benefits Of Ordering Through The App
Ordering through the app allows you to skip the line.
You can order in advance for pickup without any delivery fees.
The food will be waiting for you at the pick-up station when you arrive.
Order before you leave the house, and your food should be hot and ready by the time you arrive (allowing a reasonable amount of time).
You could even get delivery so that you don’t have to leave your house.
In the app, you can also save your preferred payment methods so that you never have to search for your card again.
The app also makes it easy to keep track of any promotions you receive through Chipotle, allowing you to save money.
Chipotle worked hard to revamp its original app by releasing an updated version of the app in 2017.
It’s been well-received by the customers so far.
Why Eat At Chipotle?
You have a lot of options when it comes to fast food.
Why eat at Chipotle as opposed to the other places you can go to lunch?
1. High Quality Food
Chipotle believes that you deserve high-quality meat as opposed to the low-grade meat served at other fast-food Mexican establishments (Taco Bell!).
They never include artificial flavors or preservatives.
They also never freeze their food or take shortcuts when it comes to serving you.
They even let you watch as they make your food in front of you!
2. Vegan Options
Some people choose not to eat the creatures walking this earth, and Chipotle supports that decision.
To ensure vegan visitors don’t go hungry or feel limited to rice and beans, Chipotle offers vegan options, such as the delicious vegan chorizo or the vegan lifestyle bowl.
3. Healthy Options
Chipotle not only offers vegan options but also healthy options for people who want to follow a low-calorie or keto diet.
To stay low-calorie, stick to a lean protein and skip the cheese, sour cream, chips, queso, and full-flavored soda.
Substitute rice and beans for lettuce to keep it keto.
4. Environmentally Conscious Practices
Chipotle understands and respects the earth that provides the natural ingredients they use in their food.
That’s why they make a point to practice environmentally conscious business operations that nurture the planet instead of simply milking it of its resources.
They also have some of the highest standards when it comes to the meat they use, only using responsibly raised meat.
When you eat at Chipotle, you’re doing good for the body and the planet.
The Competition
Chipotle has some competition when it comes to Mexican fast food, including Taco Bell, Qdoba, and Baja Fresh.
Qdoba and Taco Bell also offer customers the option to pay with Apple Pay and other mobile wallets.
Baja Fresh does not.
Taco Bell offers the cheapest options with a dollar menu, but the food quality falls significantly behind the others.
Qdoba and Baja Fresh have more variety on their menus.
Also, Qdoba doesn’t charge extra for guacamole.
Chipotle has the best quality food of the bunch.
Conclusion
You have many ways to pay when you visit Chipotle, including Apple Pay and other mobile wallets.
You don’t need to dig through your pockets or wallet for your card, holding up the line, ever again.
Simply take out your phone and hold it near the credit card terminal to pay without your card or without touching the credit card terminal.
There are a lot of reasons that you may choose to eat at Chipotle today, and you’ll have numerous ways to pay.
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