Is Apple Wallet free to use?

Yes. Apple Wallet is part of iPhone, and there are no subscription fees for storing eligible passes, tickets, or loyalty cards in the app.

Do I need an internet connection to use Apple Wallet?

No. Once a pass is added to Apple Wallet, it is stored locally on your device. You can display barcodes, boarding passes, and tickets without any internet connection.

Can I add any card or pass to Apple Wallet?

Apple Wallet natively supports passes from businesses that have integrated with Apple's PassKit framework. For cards that do not offer native support, apps like NeatPass can convert supported barcode formats into a proper Wallet pass.

What happens to my passes if I get a new iPhone?

Wallet passes can sync with iCloud. When you move to a new iPhone, some passes may appear automatically, while others may need to be added again. Payment cards typically need to be added or verified again.

Is Apple Wallet the same as Apple Pay?

Not exactly. Apple Wallet is the app that stores all your passes, tickets, and cards. Apple Pay is the payment feature within Wallet that lets you make contactless purchases with your credit or debit cards.

Apple Wallet Beginner's Guide: How to Get Started

Apple Wallet does more than Apple Pay. Apple says the Wallet app can keep eligible boarding passes, event tickets, loyalty cards, keys, IDs, and more in one place on your iPhone.

If you have never really explored Apple Wallet, this guide walks you through what it does, what it can hold, and how to start using it today.

What Is Apple Wallet?

Apple Wallet is the built-in wallet app on iPhone. Think of it as a digital version of your physical wallet. Instead of carrying plastic cards, paper tickets, and printed boarding passes, you keep digital versions of eligible items in one secure app.

Apple introduced the app in 2012 under the name Passbook and renamed it to Wallet with iOS 9. It has since expanded from a simple pass holder into a hub for payments, identity documents, keys, and more.

Wallet vs. Apple Pay

Apple Wallet is the app. Apple Pay is the payment feature inside it. You can use Wallet without Apple Pay, for example, to store boarding passes or event tickets. Apple Pay requires adding a credit or debit card to Wallet first.

What Can Apple Wallet Store?

Apple Wallet supports a wide variety of pass types. Here are the main categories:

Boarding passes and transit cards

Airline boarding passes, train tickets, and public transit cards from supported systems like Suica, PASMO, and others

Event tickets

Concert tickets, movie passes, sports tickets, and conference badges from providers like Ticketmaster and Eventbrite

Loyalty and store cards

Rewards cards, gift cards, coupons, and membership cards from participating retailers

Payment cards and keys

Credit and debit cards for Apple Pay, plus car keys, hotel room keys, and home keys from compatible providers

For a deeper look at every pass type, see everything you can store in Apple Wallet.

How to Add Passes to Apple Wallet

There are several ways to get passes into your Wallet. The method depends on where your pass comes from.

From Apps and Websites

Look for the button

After purchasing a ticket or signing up for a loyalty program, look for the "Add to Apple Wallet" button in the app or on the confirmation page

Tap to add

Tap the button and review the pass details. Then tap "Add" in the top-right corner to confirm

Find it in Wallet

Your new pass appears in the Wallet app immediately. Open Wallet to verify it looks correct

Other Ways to Add Passes

Email attachments

Tap a .pkpass file attached to an email or open a Wallet-compatible link in a confirmation email

Websites and QR codes

Some websites display a QR code or direct link that adds a pass to your Wallet when you tap or scan it

Camera scanning

Point your iPhone camera at a supported QR code and tap the notification to add it directly to Wallet

AirDrop

Receive a pass from another iPhone user via AirDrop. Hold your devices close together and accept the transfer

Adding Cards Without Native Wallet Support

Some loyalty programs, gym memberships, and other cards do not include an Add to Apple Wallet button. If the card has a supported barcode, NeatPass can help you turn that barcode into a Wallet pass.

NeatPass lets you convert supported barcode formats into an Apple Wallet pass. Scan or photograph the barcode, and NeatPass creates a pass that preserves the barcode data for Wallet-compatible use.

Scan your card

Open NeatPass and scan the barcode on your physical card, or import a screenshot

Customize the pass

Add a name, choose a color, and pick the pass style that fits your card

Add to Wallet

Tap "Add to Apple Wallet" and your new pass is ready to use, with offline access and lock screen support

NeatPass supports the barcode formats listed in the supported barcodes, or follow the create your first pass guide.

Get your cards into Apple Wallet

NeatPass makes it easy to convert any ticket, pass, or loyalty card to Apple Wallet.

Try NeatPass Free

Tips for Getting Started

Once you have a few passes in Apple Wallet, these tips will help you get the most out of the app.

Review pass notifications

Supported passes can appear based on time or location, such as a boarding pass near the airport or a loyalty card at a store

Enable notifications

Apple Wallet can show your boarding pass when you arrive at the airport, or your loyalty card when you walk into a store

Try Express Transit

If you use a supported transit card, enable Express Mode to tap through gates without unlocking your iPhone or authenticating

Everything works offline

All passes in Apple Wallet are stored locally on your iPhone. No internet connection is needed to display a barcode at checkout

If you also use NeatPass, see how lock screen widgets can surface your passes .

Offline access

Apple Wallet passes work even in airplane mode or areas with no signal. Learn more about offline mode.

Frequently Asked Questions

Start using Apple Wallet today

Download

Your Wallet, Simplified

Apple Wallet replaces a surprising amount of what you carry in your physical wallet. Boarding passes, event tickets, loyalty cards, transit passes, and even keys and IDs can all live on your iPhone, accessible with a tap or a glance.

Start with a supported boarding pass or event ticket the next time you see an Add to Apple Wallet option. If a card only has a supported barcode, NeatPass can help you turn it into a Wallet pass.

Want to go deeper? Explore Apple Wallet features you might be missing or learn why Apple Wallet beats third-party apps.