How to set up Apple Pay and Google Pay

Mariia Korostashevych

Updated August 04, 2026 13:23

Purpose	Enable and use Apple Pay and Google Pay for eligible Cloudbeds Payments transactions.
Best for	Property owners, property admins, finance teams, and staff who manage guest payment options.
Use this when	You want eligible guests to pay with a supported digital wallet instead of manually entering card details.
Requirements	The property must use Cloudbeds Payments. Wallet availability also depends on the guest's device, browser, location, issuing bank, and wallet configuration.
Expected result	Eligible guests see Apple Pay or Google Pay as an available option and can complete an immediate payment through their wallet.
Limitations	Apple Pay and Google Pay support immediate payment collection only. They cannot be used for deposits, scheduled or recurring payments, payment authorizations, or storing card details for future use.

Introduction

Apple Pay and Google Pay allow eligible guests to pay through a digital wallet without manually entering their credit card details. Wallet availability is determined by the guest's device and payment configuration, so a guest will normally see the wallet supported by their current device or browser.

These payment methods are available through Cloudbeds Payments for supported online and in-person payment workflows. Contact Cloudbeds Support if the options are not available in your account.

Apple Pay and Google Pay overview
Benefits for your property
Enable Apple Pay and Google Pay
Supported payment workflows
Limitations
Troubleshooting
Frequently asked questions

Apple Pay and Google Pay overview

Apple Pay and Google Pay are digital wallet services that allow customers to make payments using supported devices. The wallet stores the guest's payment credentials and provides a secure payment token during the transaction.

Guests can use these wallets for supported online, app-based, and contactless in-person transactions without entering the physical card number into the payment form.

Benefits for your property

Faster checkout: Guests can complete eligible payments without manually entering their card details.
Less payment friction: A familiar wallet option can simplify the payment experience and reduce the steps required to complete a transaction.
Tokenized payment data: The wallet supplies a payment token instead of exposing the guest's physical card details to the property.
More payment choice: Guests who regularly use digital wallets can select their preferred supported payment method.

Enable Apple Pay and Google Pay

Apple Pay and Google Pay are available through Cloudbeds Payments. To add these options:

Go to Settings > Payments > Additional and Custom Payment Methods.
Select Add New Payment Type.
Add Apple Pay and Google Pay, as applicable.
Save the payment-method configuration.

For additional instructions on adding payment types, review Set up custom payment methods.

Guests see the wallet supported by their current device, browser, and wallet configuration.

Supported payment workflows

Online bookings: Eligible guests may use Apple Pay or Google Pay during a supported booking checkout.
Pay by link: Guests may use an available wallet to complete an immediate payment through a secure payment link.
In-person payments: In supported countries, guests may use an Apple Pay or Google Pay-enabled device at a Cloudbeds Payments terminal.

Limitations

Immediate payments only

Apple Pay and Google Pay cannot be used for deposits, scheduled or recurring payments, payment authorizations, or storing a card for a future transaction.

Apple Pay or Google Pay may not appear when the property's payment workflow:

Schedules a deposit for a later date.
Requires a payment authorization instead of an immediate charge.
Collects and stores card details without processing an immediate payment.

Troubleshooting

A guest does not see Apple Pay or Google Pay

Review the following:

Confirm that the guest's device and browser support the selected wallet.
Confirm that the guest has configured the wallet with a valid payment card.
Confirm that Cloudbeds Payments is active and configured for the property.
Review the property's payment workflow for deposits, scheduled payments, or authorization requirements that are not supported by digital wallets.
Confirm that the property currency is supported by the guest's wallet and issuing bank.
Consider that availability may depend on the guest's location and issuing bank.

An Apple Pay or Google Pay payment failed

Ask the guest to confirm that their wallet contains a valid card and that their device can complete wallet transactions. Also confirm that Cloudbeds Payments and the property's payment settings are configured correctly.

If the issue continues, contact Cloudbeds Support.

Frequently asked questions

Are there additional fees for Apple Pay or Google Pay?

Apple Pay and Google Pay transactions are processed using the same Cloudbeds Payments rates that apply to regular card transactions.

Which devices support Apple Pay and Google Pay?

Apple Pay is available on supported iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch devices. Google Pay is available on supported Android devices and compatible web browsers.

Actual availability depends on the guest's device, browser, location, wallet settings, and issuing bank.

Is special hardware required for in-person payments?

A Cloudbeds Payments terminal is required to accept contactless Apple Pay or Google Pay transactions in person. Terminals are available only in supported countries.

Review the Cloudbeds Payments supported countries for availability.

Can an Apple Pay or Google Pay payment be refunded?

Yes. The refund must be processed through the payment gateway to return the funds to the guest's wallet.

In the reservation, use the gear or settings option on the payment line to process the refund through Cloudbeds Payments.

Do not only record the refund on the folio. A recorded refund adjusts the folio balance for accounting purposes but does not send money back to the guest.

To confirm whether a refund was processed through the gateway, review the Payment Processing Report. A processed refund has a corresponding gateway transaction entry. A refund that was only recorded on the folio does not.

Are Apple Pay and Google Pay available in every region?

No. Wallet availability may depend on the guest's location, issuing bank, device, browser, and the countries supported by the relevant wallet and Cloudbeds Payments.

How can I track wallet transactions?

Apple Pay and Google Pay transactions appear with other card transactions in Cloudbeds Payments. Review the transaction description and available payment identifiers when locating a specific wallet payment.

Are the guest's card details saved to the reservation?

No. Apple Pay and Google Pay do not provide the physical card details to the property. The card information used by the wallet is not stored on the reservation or available for future property-initiated transactions.

Next Operational Step

After enabling the payment methods, create a test pay-by-link request and open it on a compatible device to confirm that the expected wallet option appears before offering it to guests.