Tap to Pay on iPhone & Android
Turn Your Phone into a Payment Terminal
Accept Contactless Payments Anywhere with Just Your Smartphone
Turn your iPhone or Android phone into a secure payment terminal—no additional hardware required. Coastal Pay’s Tap to Pay solution lets you accept contactless credit cards, debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and other digital wallets by simply tapping them to your smartphone. Perfect for mobile businesses, pop-up shops, service providers, and anyone who needs to
accept payments on the go.
Why Tap to Pay is Revolutionary:
- No card reader hardware needed—use your existing smartphone
- Accept contactless cards and digital wallets instantly
- Set up in minutes, start accepting payments today
- Bank-level security with encrypted transactions
- Save money on card reader hardware ($50–300 per device)
- Perfect for mobile and face-to-face businesses
What is Tap to Pay?
Tap to Pay (also called Softpos, software point-of-sale, or phone-based payments) is a payment acceptance technology that turns your iPhone or Android smartphone into a contactless payment terminal using Near Field Communication (NFC) technology built into your phone. Customers simply tap their contactless credit card, debit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or other NFC-enabled payment method against your phone screen, and the payment processes instantly—no separate card reader, dongle, or external hardware required.
How Tap to Pay works:
- Download app: Install Coastal Pay Tap to Pay app on your compatible smartphone
- Customer ready to pay: Enter payment amount in app
- Customer taps card/phone: Customer taps contactless card or digital wallet to your phone
- Instant processing: NFC chip in your phone reads payment credentials
- Secure authorization: Payment tokenized and processed securely
- Immediate confirmation: Transaction approved in 2–3 seconds
- Digital receipt: Receipt sent via email or SMS automatically
Supported payment methods:
- Contactless credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover)
- Contactless debit cards
- Apple Pay (iPhone, Apple Watch)
- Google Pay (Android phones, Wear OS watches)
- Samsung Pay
- Other NFC-enabled digital wallets
- Wearable payment devices (payment rings, fitness trackers)
Technology behind Tap to Pay:
- NFC (Near Field Communication): Short-range wireless technology built into smartphones
- Secure Element: Isolated chip that securely stores and processes payment credentials
- Tokenization: Card numbers replaced with encrypted tokens
- EMV standards: Meets same security standards as traditional card terminals
- PCI compliance: Certified to process payments securely
Tap to Pay: iPhone vs Android
Tap to Pay on iPhone
Apple’s official Tap to Pay solution launched in 2022, turning compatible iPhones into payment terminals.
Compatible iPhone models:
- iPhone XS and newer
- iPhone XR and newer
- All iPhone models from 2018 onward
- Must be running iOS 15.5 or later
- Built into iPhone hardware (no app download from Apple needed)
How it works:
- Powered by Apple’s NFC chip and Secure Element
- Integrated directly into iPhone operating system
- No separate Apple hardware or app required
- Works through payment apps (like Coastal Pay)
- Processes payments using Apple’s secure infrastructure
- Same security as Apple Pay but for merchant acceptance
Unique features:
- Seamless integration: Built into iOS, feels native
- Highest security: Apple’s advanced security architecture
- No hardware costs: Leverage existing iPhone investment
- Easy updates: Automatic with iOS updates
- Privacy-focused: Minimal data shared with Apple
- Instant setup: No special hardware to order or wait for
Business benefits:
- Existing staff iPhones become payment terminals
- No need to buy separate card readers
- Unified device (phone, payment terminal, business tools)
- Lower equipment costs
- Easy to scale (more staff = more payment terminals)
- Professional appearance
Tap to Pay on Android
Android’s Tap to Pay solution (Softpos) available on compatible Android devices with NFC.
Compatible Android devices:
- Android 9.0 (Pie) or later
- NFC-enabled smartphones
- Secure Element or HCE (Host Card Emulation)
- Most mid-range to flagship phones from 2019+
- Samsung Galaxy S series, Google Pixel, OnePlus, and many others
How it works:
- Uses Android NFC stack
- SoftPOS (software point-of-sale) technology
- Coastal Pay app installed on Android device
- Payment processing through secure channels
- Tokenization and encryption standard
- EMV compliant contactless acceptance
Unique features:
- Broader device support: Works on many Android phone brands
- Cost-effective: Android devices typically less expensive than iPhones
- Flexibility: Multiple hardware options at various price points
- Global availability: Android dominant in many international markets
- Customizable: More open platform for business needs
- BYOD friendly: Staff can use personal Android devices
Business benefits:
- Accept payments on budget-friendly devices
- Scale internationally with Android’s global presence
- Leverage existing Android phones
- Multiple device options for different roles
- Works with tablets for larger displays
- Integration with Android business tools
iPhone vs Android Tap to Pay Comparison
Feature
Device Requirement
Setup Complexity
Security
Device Cost
Global Availability
Hardware Options
Business Integration
Best For
Tap to Pay on iPhone
iPhone XS+ (2018+)
Very easy (built into iOS)
Extremely high (Apple security)
$700-1,200 new
Growing (US, UK, others)
iPhone only
Apple ecosystem
Apple-centric businesses
Tap to Pay on Android
Android 9.0+ with NFC
Easy (app installation)
High (EMV/PCI compliant)
$200-1,200 new
Wider (more countries)
Many Android brands
Google/Android ecosystem
Budget-conscious, global reach
Which should you choose?
- iPhone Tap to Pay: Best if you already use iPhones, want highest security, prefer seamless integration, and operate in supported countries
- Android Tap to Pay: Best if you use Android devices, want hardware flexibility, need budget options, or operate in markets with strong Android presence
- Both: Many businesses support both to maximize employee flexibility and customer reach
Benefits of Tap to Pay
Zero Hardware Costs
Eliminate the need to purchase card readers, dongles, or payment terminals.
Traditional payment hardware costs:
- Card reader dongles: $50-100 each
- Wireless terminals: $200-400 each
- Full POS systems: $1,000-3,000 each
- Replacement costs: When devices break or lost
- Multiple locations: Multiply costs by number of locations/staff
- Upgrades: New hardware every 3-5 years
Tap to Pay costs:
- Hardware: $0 (use existing smartphone)
- Setup fees: $0
- Monthly equipment fees: $0
- Replacements: $0 (phone already owned)
- Scaling costs: $0 (each staff member’s phone works)
Savings example:
- Business with 5 mobile sales staff
- Traditional card readers: $250 × 5 = $1,250
- Tap to Pay: $0
- Immediate savings: $1,250
- Over 3 years (including replacements): $2,000-3,000 saved
Ultimate Mobility and Convenience
Accept payments anywhere, anytime, with just your phone.
True mobility:
- No separate device to carry (one less thing to remember)
- No charging multiple devices (phone already charged)
- No connection dongles or adapters to lose
- Phone fits in pocket easily
- Always have payment acceptance with you
- Spontaneous sales opportunities captured
Use cases:
Service professionals:
- Plumbers, electricians, HVAC techs at customer homes
- Hair stylists, makeup artists, personal trainers
- Home cleaners, landscapers, handymen
- Pet groomers, dog walkers, pet sitters
- Mobile mechanics, locksmiths
Mobile businesses:
- Food trucks and mobile restaurants
- Farmers market vendors
- Pop-up shops and temporary retail
- Event vendors and festival sellers
- Mobile boutiques and showrooms
Field sales:
- B2B sales representatives
- Route sales (delivery drivers)
- Door-to-door sales
- Trade show exhibitors
- Outside sales teams
Delivery and service:
- Food delivery accepting cash alternatives
- Rideshare tip collection
- On-site service businesses
- Mobile car wash and detailing
- Mobile notary and services
Instant Setup—Start Accepting Payments in Minutes
No waiting for hardware to arrive or complex installation.
Traditional setup timeline:
- Apply for merchant account: 1-3 business days
- Order hardware: 1-2 weeks shipping
- Hardware arrives: Wait at home for delivery
- Setup and configure: 1-2 hours
- Test transactions: 30 minutes
- Staff training: 1-2 hours
- Total time to first payment: 2-3 weeks
Tap to Pay setup timeline:
- Apply for merchant account: 1-3 business days (can be instant)
- Download app: 2 minutes
- Login and configure: 5 minutes
- Test transaction: 1 minute
- Total time to first payment: 10 minutes after approval
Setup steps:
- Download Coastal Pay app from App Store or Google Play
- Log in with merchant credentials
- Enter payment amount for first transaction
- Have customer tap card/phone
- Done—you’re accepting payments
No technical expertise required:
- Intuitive app interface
- Guided setup wizard
- Built-in help and tips
- Video tutorials available
- Live support if needed
Bank-Level Security Without Compromises
Tap to Pay meets the same security standards as traditional card terminals.
Security features:
Tokenization:
- Card numbers replaced with encrypted tokens
- Actual card number never stored on phone
- Each transaction uses unique token
- Tokens useless if intercepted
- Same tokenization as Apple Pay/Google Pay
Secure Element / HCE:
- Payment credentials isolated from phone OS
- Protected by hardware-level security
- Cannot be accessed by apps or malware
- Meets EMV security requirements
- Bank-grade encryption
PCI DSS compliance:
- PCI Level 1 certified solution
- Meets all card network requirements
- Regular security audits
- Secure data transmission
- Encrypted storage
Device-level security:
- Requires phone passcode/biometric
- Payment app login required
- Session timeouts for security
- Remote wipe capability
- Lost phone doesn’t expose customer data
Transaction security:
- End-to-end encryption
- Secure communication protocols
- Real-time fraud monitoring
- Velocity limits
- Chargeback protection
Security comparison:
Security Feature
Tokenization
Encrypted transmission
EMV compliance
PCI certified
Device authentication
Physical tampering risk
Software updates
Traditional Terminal
✓
✓
✓
✓
PIN pad
Higher (dedicated device)
Manual/periodic
Tap to Pay
✓
✓
✓
✓
Phone unlock
Lower (personal phone)
Automatic/frequent
Result: Tap to Pay is equally or more secure than traditional terminals.
Faster Transaction Speed
Tap to Pay transactions process as fast or faster than traditional card readers.
Transaction time comparison:
Traditional chip card (EMV):
- Insert card: 1 second
- Processing: 3–5 seconds
- Remove card: 1 second
- Total: 5–7 seconds
Traditional magnetic stripe:
- Swipe card: 1 second
- Processing: 2–4 seconds
- Total: 3–5 seconds
Traditional card reader dongle:
- Position card in reader: 1–2 seconds
- Processing: 3–5 seconds
- Total: 4–7 seconds
Tap to Pay:
- Tap card/phone: 0.5 seconds
- Processing: 1–2 seconds
- Total: 1.5–2.5 seconds
Speed advantages:
- 2–3x faster than chip cards
- No fumbling with card insertion
- No “remove card” step
- Instant tap-and-go
- Faster customer throughput
- Shorter lines at busy times
Customer experience:
- Feels modern and efficient
- Minimal wait time
- Contactless and hygienic
- Familiar experience (like Apple Pay)
- Professional impression
Lower Total Cost of Ownership
Reduce not just hardware costs, but ongoing operational expenses.
Hardware costs eliminated:
- No card reader purchases
- No terminal replacements
- No battery replacements
- No cable replacements
- No charging dock purchases
- No spare equipment inventory
Maintenance costs eliminated:
- No hardware repairs
- No firmware updates to manage
- No troubleshooting faulty equipment
- No warranty claims
- No equipment insurance
- No theft replacement costs
Operating costs reduced:
- No separate device charging
- No carrying cases needed
- No equipment storage
- Simplified staff training (everyone knows their phone)
- Faster transaction times = more sales per hour
- No equipment tracking/management
Total Cost of Ownership (3-year example):
Traditional mobile card readers:
- Initial purchase: $250 (5 devices) = $1,250
- Replacements/repairs: $400 (over 3 years)
- Cases/accessories: $200
- Training time: $500 (more complex)
- Total 3-year TCO: $2,350
Tap to Pay:
- Initial purchase: $0
- Replacements/repairs: $0
- Cases/accessories: $0 (phone case already owned)
- Training time: $200 (simpler)
- Total 3-year TCO: $200
Savings: $2,150 over 3 years (91% reduction)
Professional Customer Experience
Tap to Pay provides a modern, premium payment experience.
Customer perception benefits:
Modern and tech-forward:
- Customers see cutting-edge technology
- Associates with innovative businesses
- Same experience as using Apple Pay/Google Pay
- “This business keeps up with technology”
Contactless and hygienic:
- No touching shared surfaces
- No handling devices back and forth
- Clean and sanitary transaction
- Important post-pandemic consideration
- Reduces germ transmission concerns
Fast and convenient:
- Quick tap-and-done
- No waiting for chip processing
- No signature required (typically)
- Minimal friction
- Customers appreciate efficiency
Familiar experience:
- Customers already use contactless daily
- Same gesture as Apple Pay at stores
- No learning curve
- Trust in established contactless technology
- Comfortable and confident
Business Flexibility and Scalability
Grow your payment acceptance without hardware limitations.
Easy scaling:
- Each employee’s phone becomes payment terminal
- No waiting for hardware to arrive
- Instant activation for new staff
- No equipment budget constraints
- Can onboard unlimited staff
Multi-location flexibility:
- No equipment to distribute
- Each location uses own devices
- Centralized management and reporting
- Uniform experience across locations
- Easy to add new locations
Seasonal adaptability:
- Scale up for busy seasons instantly
- No equipment sitting idle off-season
- Temporary staff can accept payments immediately
- Pop-up locations easy to support
- Event staffing simplified
BYOD (Bring Your Own Device):
- Staff can use personal phones (with permission)
- Reduced company equipment budget
- Staff already familiar with their device
- Privacy-respecting (business app separate)
- Modern workplace trend
Tap to Pay Use Cases by Business Type
Food Trucks and Mobile Food Vendors
Food trucks need fast, reliable payment acceptance in varying locations.
Why Tap to Pay perfect for food trucks:
No power source needed:
- Phone already charged for daily use
- No need for separate battery-powered terminals
- One less thing to charge overnight
- No power adapters or cables at service window
- Works even if truck power fails
Weather resistance:
- Phone already weather-protected (case)
- No exposed card reader hardware
- Can process payments in rain
- Dustproof (phone in protective case)
- Temperature resilient
Space efficiency:
- No counter space for terminal
- No cables cluttering workspace
- Phone stored in pocket when not needed
- Clean service window presentation
- More room for food prep
Speed during rush:
- Fastest transaction method (1-2 seconds)
- Customers tap while staff prepares order
- Minimal payment processing interruption
- Shorter lines during lunch rush
- More customers served per hour
Cost savings:
- Eliminates $200-400 terminal purchase
- No monthly equipment fees
- No 4G/LTE data plans for terminal
- Lower total equipment cost
- Better margins on sales
Service Professionals (Plumbers, Electricians, Contractors)
Field service workers need payment acceptance at job sites.
Why Tap to Pay ideal for contractors:
Always have it with you:
- Phone already in pocket for calls/photos
- No forgetting separate card reader
- Can’t lose payment acceptance capability
- One device for everything
- Capture spontaneous additional work payments
Professional at job sites:
- No fumbling with dongles or readers
- Clean, modern payment experience
- Customer sees tech-savvy professional
- Immediate payment collection
- Digital receipt sent instantly
Job documentation integration:
- Take before/after photos with same device
- Process payment immediately
- Send invoice and receipt together
- Digital paper trail
- All in one device
Vehicle simplification:
- No chargers for multiple devices
- Phone already charging in vehicle
- Less equipment in truck
- Simplified mobile office
- Everything on one device
Typical transactions:
- Service calls: $150-$500
- Emergency repairs: $300-$2,000
- Installation jobs: $1,000-$10,000
- Immediate payment improves cash flow
- Reduces invoicing and collections
Farmers Markets and Craft Fairs
Outdoor vendors need portable, reliable payment solutions.
Why Tap to Pay perfect for outdoor markets:
No WiFi required:
- Works on phone’s cellular connection
- No need for market WiFi
- Reliable in any location
- No connectivity setup
- Independent operation
Quick setup/teardown:
- No equipment to set up at booth
- Just open app and ready
- Fast booth setup
- Easy teardown at day end
- No equipment to secure overnight
Weather-proof:
- Phone already protected in case
- Works in light rain
- No exposed electronics
- Temperature resilient
- Dustproof operation
Minimal booth space:
- No terminal taking counter space
- More room for product display
- Clean, uncluttered booth
- Professional appearance
- Focus on products, not equipment
Customer experience:
- Fast checkout (important with lines)
- Contactless during food handling
- Modern payment experience
- Customers expect card acceptance
- No cash-only limitation
Mobile Beauty and Wellness Services
Beauty professionals, personal trainers, and massage therapists working on-site.
Why Tap to Pay essential for mobile wellness:
At-client-location payments:
- Process payment at client’s home/office
- No need for client to have cash
- Convenient for both parties
- Professional service completion
- Immediate payment capture
Hygiene and cleanliness:
- Completely contactless transaction
- No shared surfaces
- Important for health/beauty services
- Sanitary payment process
- Client comfort and safety
Compact and portable:
- Fits in service bag easily
- No bulky equipment
- Travel light to appointments
- Professional mobile setup
- Everything in one device
Appointment integration:
- Same phone manages calendar
- Process payment after service
- Digital appointment confirmation
- All business tools unified
- Simplified business operations
Services:
- Mobile hair styling: $50-$300
- Personal training: $60-$150 per session
- Mobile massage: $80-$200
- Makeup services: $75-$500
- Beauty services: $50-$400
Delivery Drivers and Couriers
Beauty professionals, personal trainers, and massage therapists working on-site.
Why Tap to Pay valuable for delivery:
Contactless tips:
- Accept tips without handling cash
- More customers can tip (no cash needed)
- Higher average tip amounts
- Seamless tipping experience
- Safer than cash handling
Cash on delivery alternative:
- Accept card payment at delivery
- No need to carry cash
- No making change
- Reduces cash handling risk
- Better security
Quick transactions:
- 1-2 second tap payment
- No delaying delivery schedule
- Customer convenience
- Professional service
- Efficient route completion
Phone already in use:
- Navigation on phone
- Delivery app on phone
- Communication via phone
- One device does everything
- Simplified operations
Retail Pop-Ups and Temporary Stores
Temporary retail locations need flexible payment solutions.
Why Tap to Pay perfect for pop-ups:
Instant deployment:
- No waiting for hardware shipping
- Set up payment acceptance same day
- Last-minute pop-ups possible
- Event participation simplified
- No equipment planning delays
No infrastructure needed:
- No WiFi setup required
- No power outlets needed
- No internet connection setup
- Phone cellular works anywhere
- True plug-and-play
Cost-effective for short duration:
- No equipment rental fees
- No purchase for temporary need
- Return on investment immediate
- No idle equipment after event
- Pay only processing fees
Multiple staff, multiple terminals:
- Each staff phone accepts payments
- No sharing one terminal
- Faster customer service
- Reduced checkout lines
- Better customer experience
Event types:
- Weekend pop-up shops
- Holiday markets
- Trade shows
- Trunk shows
- Sample sales
- Festival vendors
Small Retail Stores
Brick-and-mortar small businesses can supplement traditional POS.
Why Tap to Pay useful for small retail:
Line busting:
- Staff can process payments anywhere in store
- Reduce checkout line congestion
- Roaming sales associates take payment
- Checkout at product location
- Improved customer service
Backup payment option:
- If main POS fails, business continues
- No lost sales during technical issues
- Redundancy and reliability
- Business continuity
- Peace of mind
Curbside pickup:
- Process payment at customer’s car
- Contactless curbside service
- Convenient for customers
- No customer entering store
- Modern retail experience
Off-site sales:
- Trunk shows at other locations
- Private shopping events
- Home delivery with payment
- Pop-up events
- Mobile showroom
Tap to Pay Features
Digital Receipt Delivery
Automatic digital receipts sent via email or SMS—no paper needed.
Receipt delivery options:
Email receipts:
- Automatically sent after payment
- Customer enters email at checkout
- Or pulled from customer profile
- Professional branded receipts
- Includes transaction details
- PDF attachment option
SMS/Text receipts:
- Sent to customer’s mobile number
- Immediate delivery
- Short receipt with key details
- Link to full receipt online
- Easy for customers to save
- High open rate (98% vs 20% email)
No receipt option:
- Customer can decline receipt
- Environmentally friendly
- Faster checkout
- Transaction still recorded
- Business copy maintained
Receipt customization:
- Company logo and branding
- Custom header/footer
- Return policy information
- Store location and contact
- Social media links
- Promotional messages
- Loyalty program information
- QR codes for surveys/reviews
Receipt features:
- Itemized transaction details
- Payment method masked (last 4 digits)
- Date, time, location
- Transaction ID/reference number
- Tip amount (if applicable)
- Tax breakdown
- Total amount
- Business tax ID
Tip Management
Built-in tipping functionality for service businesses.
Tip options:
Percentage-based tips:
- 15%, 18%, 20%, 25% buttons
- Customizable percentages
- Quick selection for customer
- Industry-standard amounts
- Automatic calculation
Custom tip amount:
- Customer enters specific dollar amount
- Flexible for any tip preference
- Whole dollar or cents
- No maximum limit
- Full customer control
No tip option:
- Always available
- No pressure tipping
- Respects customer choice
- Professional approach
- Compliant with tipping laws
Tip presentation:
- Shown before payment confirmation
- Customer-facing tip screen
- Clear amount display
- Easy to modify selection
- Transparent process
Tip tracking:
- Separate tip reporting
- Employee tip allocation
- Daily/weekly/monthly summaries
- Tax reporting support
- Payroll integration ready
Offline Mode
Accept payments even without internet connection—critical for mobile businesses.
How offline mode works:
- Payments stored locally when offline
- Encrypted on device
- Automatically synced when connection restored
- Customer receives delayed receipt
- Full transaction processing when online
Offline capabilities:
- Accept contactless payments
- Process multiple transactions
- Store transaction data securely
- Queue for processing
- No payment declined due to connectivity
Limitations:
- Cannot process refunds offline
- No real-time authorization (risk slightly higher)
- Maximum transaction limits may apply
- Limited to certain transaction types
- Sync required within 24-72 hours
Best for:
- Rural locations with spotty coverage
- Underground venues (basements, subway events)
- Temporary loss of signal
- Travel between coverage areas
- Backup for connectivity issues
Inventory Management Integration
Connect payment acceptance with inventory tracking.
Inventory features:
Product catalog:
- Add products with names, SKUs, prices
- Upload product photos
- Organize by categories
- Quick product search
- Barcode scanning (using phone camera)
- Variants (sizes, colors, options)
Stock tracking:
- Real-time inventory counts
- Low stock alerts
- Automatic deduction on sale
- Multi-location inventory
- Inventory value tracking
- Purchase order management
Reporting:
- Best-selling products
- Inventory turnover
- Stock levels by location
- Reorder recommendations
- Profit margins by product
- Category performance
Benefits:
- Know what’s selling in real-time
- Prevent overselling
- Optimize inventory levels
- Make informed purchasing decisions
- Track product performance
- Unified sales and inventory data
Customer Database and Profiles
Build customer relationships with stored customer information.
Customer profile features:
Contact information:
- Name, email, phone
- Billing/shipping addresses
- Company name (B2B)
- Customer notes
- Tags and categories
- Custom fields
Purchase history:
- All past transactions
- Total lifetime value
- Average transaction amount
- Purchase frequency
- Last purchase date
- Favorite products/services
Saved payment methods:
- Tokenized card storage
- Multiple cards per customer
- Primary payment method
- Expiration tracking
- Card updater service
- Secure storage (PCI compliant)
Customer benefits:
- Faster repeat transactions
- No re-entering information
- Payment method stored securely
- Personalized service
- Purchase history access
- Loyalty rewards tracking
Business benefits:
- Build customer relationships
- Personalized marketing
- Repeat customer identification
- Customer lifetime value tracking
- Segmentation for promotions
- Improved customer service
Multi-User and Team Management
Manage multiple team members accepting payments.
User management:
Staff accounts:
- Individual login credentials
- Role-based permissions
- Activity tracking per user
- Sales attribution
- Performance metrics
- Commission tracking
Permission levels:
- Owner/Admin: Full access, settings, reports
- Manager: Transaction processing, limited settings
- Staff: Transaction processing only
- Custom: Define specific permissions
- Read-only: View reports only
Security features:
- Unique login per user
- Session timeout
- Device authorization
- Activity logging
- Suspicious activity alerts
- Remote disable accounts
Team reporting:
- Sales by team member
- Transaction counts per user
- Average transaction amount
- Top performers
- Time-based analysis
- Commission calculations
Benefits:
- Accountability and tracking
- Performance management
- Secure multi-user access
- Individual sales attribution
- Commission automation
- Loss prevention
Real-Time Reporting and Analytics
Instant access to sales data and business insights.
Dashboard metrics:
Today's sales:
- Total sales amount
- Transaction count
- Average transaction
- Top products
- Hourly sales trends
- Current vs yesterday/last week
Time period reporting:
- Daily, weekly, monthly, yearly
- Custom date ranges
- Year-over-year comparisons
- Growth trends
- Seasonal patterns
- Forecast projections
Transaction details:
- Every transaction listed
- Filter by date, amount, product
- Search by customer, reference
- Export to CSV/Excel
- Refund tracking
- Failed transaction analysis
Business intelligence:
- Peak sales times
- Busiest days of week
- Best-selling products/services
- Customer acquisition trends
- Payment method preferences
- Geographic sales patterns
Financial reports:
- Gross sales
- Net sales (after refunds)
- Processing fees paid
- Net deposits
- Tax collected
- Outstanding settlements
Refund and Void Capabilities
Easy refund processing and transaction management.
Refund options:
Full refunds:
- Refund entire transaction amount
- Original payment method credited
- Instant refund processing
- Customer notification sent
- Refund appears in 3-5 business days
Partial refunds:
- Refund portion of transaction
- Specify exact amount
- Multiple partial refunds allowed
- Track refunded vs remaining amount
- Automatic accounting
Void transactions:
- Cancel before settlement (same day)
- No processing fees on void
- Funds never leave customer account
- Faster than refund
- Better for immediate corrections
Refund tracking:
- Refund history per transaction
- Total refunds by period
- Refund rates and patterns
- Reason tracking
- Customer refund history
- Chargeback vs refund analysis
Tap to Pay Security and Compliance
PCI DSS Compliance
Tap to Pay meets all Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards.
PCI Level 1 certification:
- Highest level of PCI compliance
- Annual third-party audits
- Comprehensive security testing
- Network vulnerability scans
- Application security assessment
- Compliance maintained continuously
Merchant PCI simplification:
- No card data stored on phone
- Reduced PCI scope for merchant
- Simplified compliance questionnaire (SAQ A)
- Lower compliance burden
- Coastal Pay handles complexity
- Merchant focuses on business
Data security:
- Card data encrypted immediately
- Tokenization replaces card numbers
- Secure transmission (TLS/SSL)
- No clear-text card storage
- Isolated payment processing
- Secure key management
Tokenization and Encryption
Multiple layers of security protect payment data.
Tokenization:
- Card number replaced with unique token
- Token stored instead of card number
- Original card number never on phone
- Tokens cannot be reversed
- Each transaction unique token
- Useless if stolen or intercepted
Encryption:
- End-to-end encryption
- Data encrypted at capture
- Encrypted during transmission
- Encrypted in storage
- AES-256 encryption standard
- Secure key exchange
NFC security:
- Short-range communication (4cm max)
- Cannot be intercepted remotely
- Unique transaction cryptogram
- Dynamic CVV (changes each use)
- Replay attack prevention
- Contactless-specific security
Device and App Security
Phone and application-level security protections.
Device authentication:
- Requires phone unlock (PIN/biometric)
- App login required
- Session timeouts
- Biometric authentication option
- Device registration
- Suspicious device blocking
App security:
- Code obfuscation
- Tamper detection
- Jailbreak/root detection
- Certificate pinning
- Secure coding practices
- Regular security updates
Lost/stolen phone protection:
- Remote session logout
- Transaction history encrypted
- No card numbers stored
- Remote app data wipe
- Disable payment processing
- Account security maintained
Fraud Prevention
Real-time fraud detection and prevention measures.
Fraud detection:
- Real-time transaction monitoring
- Velocity checks (frequency limits)
- Amount limits per transaction
- Geographic location verification
- Device fingerprinting
- Behavioral analysis
Risk scoring:
- Each transaction risk-scored
- High-risk transactions flagged
- Manual review options
- Automatic blocking thresholds
- Merchant-configurable rules
- Machine learning models
Chargeback protection:
- Transaction data documentation
- Proof of contactless acceptance
- Digital receipt records
- Customer signature (when captured)
- Dispute evidence automation
- Chargeback reduction tools
Tap to Pay Pricing
No Hardware Costs, Just Processing Fees
Pricing structure:
Processing fees:
- Credit/debit cards: 2.5–3.5% + $0.10 per transaction
- Interchange-plus pricing (most transparent)
- No markup for Tap to Pay vs traditional terminal
- Same rates across all payment methods
- Volume discounts available
No additional fees:
- Hardware: $0 (use your phone)
- Monthly fees: $0 (no subscription)
- Setup fees: $0 (free to start)
- Transaction fees: $0 (beyond processing)
- App download: Free
- Updates: Free forever
- Support: Included at no charge
Cost Comparison vs Traditional Solutions
3-year total cost comparison:
Traditional mobile card reader (Square, Stripe):
- Hardware: $50–100 (initial)
- Replacement: $50 (1–2 over 3 years)
- Processing: 2.6–2.9% + $0.10–0.30
- Total 3-year cost (on $100K annual): $8,550–9,750
Wireless terminal (Clover, Ingenico):
- Hardware: $300–500 (initial purchase or lease)
- Monthly fees: $15–30/month × 36 = $540–1,080
- Processing: 2.5–3.5% + $0.10
- Paper receipts: $200/year × 3 = $600
- Total 3-year cost (on $100K annual): $9,940–11,680
Coastal Pay Tap to Pay:
- Hardware: $0
- Monthly fees: $0
- Processing: 2.5–3.5% + $0.10 (interchange-plus)
- Paper receipts: $0 (digital)
- Total 3-year cost (on $100K annual): $7,800–10,800
Savings with Tap to Pay: $750-3,880 over 3 years
ROI Calculator
Example business scenarios:
Food truck (annual sales: $150,000):
- Traditional terminal cost: $900 (hardware + fees)
- Tap to Pay cost: $0
- Year 1 savings: $900
- Processing fee savings: $150/year (better rates)
- Total 3-year savings: $3,150
Mobile service business (5 techs, annual sales: $500,000):
- Traditional card readers: $250 × 5 = $1,250
- Replacements over 3 years: $400
- Tap to Pay cost: $0
- Hardware savings: $1,650
- Processing savings: $300/year
- Total 3-year savings: $2,550
Small retail (2 locations, annual sales: $300,000):
- Traditional terminals: $800 (2 terminals)
- Monthly fees: $30 × 36 months = $1,080
- Paper costs: $300 over 3 years
- Tap to Pay cost: $0 (staff phones)
- Total 3-year savings: $2,180
Getting Started with Tap to Pay
Setup Process
Step 1: Check compatibility (1 minute)
- iPhone XS or newer (iOS 15.5+)
- OR Android 9.0+ with NFC
- Most phones from 2018+ work
- Check Coastal Pay compatibility list
Step 2: Sign up for merchant account (5-10 minutes)
- Complete online application
- Basic business information
- Bank account for deposits
- Identity verification
- Most approvals within 24 hours
Step 3: Download Tap to Pay app (2 minutes)
- App Store (iPhone) or Google Play (Android)
- Search “Coastal Pay”
- Download free app
- No charge for download
Step 4: Login and configure (5 minutes)
- Enter merchant credentials
- Set business preferences
- Add products/services (optional)
- Configure tax rates
- Test mode available
Step 5: Process first test transaction (1 minute)
- Enter test amount
- Tap test card to phone
- Payment processes
- Receipt sent
- Ready for live transactions!
Total setup time: 15-20 minutes
Training and Support
Training resources:
In-app tutorials:
- Interactive walkthroughs
- Video demonstrations
- Step-by-step guides
- Feature explanations
- Best practices tips
Documentation:
- Quick start guide
- Detailed user manual
- FAQ database
- Troubleshooting guides
- Video library
Live support:
- Phone support (Mon-Fri 8am-8pm ET)
- Live chat in app
- Email support
- Screen sharing available
- Dedicated account manager (enterprise)
Staff training:
- Simple interface (minimal training needed)
- 5-10 minute training per employee
- Train-the-trainer materials
- Bulk user setup support
- Custom training sessions available
Migration from Existing System
Switching from traditional terminal:
Easy migration:
- Keep existing merchant account OR switch to Coastal Pay
- No downtime during transition
- Run both systems in parallel during testing
- Historical data exportable
- Customer database importable
- Smooth transition process
Data migration:
- Import customer list
- Import product catalog
- Historical transaction data
- Tax configuration
- User accounts and permissions
- Reporting continuity
Tap to Pay FAQ
Does Tap to Pay work with any smartphone?
Tap to Pay requires compatible smartphones with NFC capabilities. For iPhone, you need iPhone XS or newer (2018+) running iOS 15.5 or later. For Android, you need Android 9.0 (Pie) or later with NFC enabled—most mid-range to flagship phones from 2019 onward work. Notable compatible phones include all recent iPhones (XS, XR, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and newer), Samsung Galaxy S and Note series, Google Pixel phones, OnePlus devices, and most modern Android phones. Check Coastal Pay’s compatibility list or download the app to verify your specific device.
How secure is Tap to Pay compared to traditional card readers?
Tap to Pay is equally or more secure than traditional payment terminals. It uses the same EMV contactless security standards, bank-level encryption, tokenization (card numbers replaced with encrypted tokens), PCI DSS Level 1 compliance (highest security certification), and secure element technology for credential storage. Additionally, your phone requires unlock (PIN/biometric) before accepting payments, provides automatic security updates, and has isolated payment processing separate from other apps. The short-range NFC communication (4cm maximum) cannot be intercepted remotely, and each transaction generates a unique cryptogram preventing replay attacks.
Do I need to buy any hardware to use Tap to Pay?
No, you don’t need to purchase any additional hardware. Tap to Pay works with your existing compatible iPhone or Android smartphone—no card readers, dongles, adapters, or external devices required. The NFC chip already built into your phone processes the contactless payments. You simply download the free Coastal Pay app, sign up for a merchant account, and you’re ready to accept payments. This eliminates hardware costs of $50-500+ for traditional card readers and terminals.
What types of payments can I accept with Tap to Pay?
Tap to Pay accepts all contactless payment methods including contactless credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover), contactless debit cards, Apple Pay (from iPhone or Apple Watch), Google Pay (from Android phones or Wear OS watches), Samsung Pay, other NFC-enabled digital wallets, and wearable payment devices (payment rings, fitness trackers with payment). Any payment method that works with contactless terminals in stores will work with Tap to Pay on your phone.
How much does Tap to Pay cost?
Tap to Pay has zero setup costs, no monthly fees, no hardware purchase required, and no per-transaction fees beyond standard processing rates. You pay only the payment processing fees: 2.5-3.5% + $0.10 per transaction for credit/debit cards using interchange-plus pricing (same rates as traditional terminals). The Coastal Pay app is free to download, all features are included at no extra charge, and unlimited transactions are allowed. This makes Tap to Pay the most cost-effective payment acceptance option, saving businesses $750-4,000+ over 3 years compared to traditional hardware solutions.
Can I accept payments without an internet connection?
Yes, Tap to Pay includes offline mode for accepting payments without internet connectivity. When offline, payments are stored securely on your device and automatically synced when connection is restored. This works over your phone’s cellular data connection (no WiFi needed), and you can process multiple transactions while offline. However, there are some limitations: refunds cannot be processed offline, offline transactions must sync within 24-72 hours, and maximum transaction limits may apply in offline mode. This feature is critical for farmers markets, outdoor events, rural locations, and anywhere with spotty connectivity.
How fast are Tap to Pay transactions?
Tap to Pay transactions process in 1.5-2.5 seconds—2-3x faster than traditional chip card readers (5-7 seconds) and faster than card reader dongles (4-7 seconds). The customer simply taps their card or phone to your phone screen, processing happens instantly, confirmation appears in 1-2 seconds, and the digital receipt is sent automatically. This speed advantage improves customer throughput, reduces wait times and lines, enables faster service, and creates a better customer experience. Many businesses report serving 20-30% more customers per hour with Tap to Pay.
What happens if my phone battery dies or I lose my phone?
If your phone battery dies, you simply charge it to resume accepting payments—consider carrying a portable battery pack for all-day operations. If you lose your phone, your payment data remains secure because no actual card numbers are stored on the device, all payment data is encrypted and tokenized, you can remotely log out of your account from another device, phone lock prevents unauthorized access, and customer payment information is stored securely in the cloud. Simply log in to the Coastal Pay app on another compatible phone to resume accepting payments immediately.
Can multiple employees use Tap to Pay on their phones?
Yes, Tap to Pay supports unlimited users, making it perfect for teams. Each employee can download the app on their own phone, log in with unique credentials, and accept payments independently. Benefits include individual user tracking (sales attributed to each employee), role-based permissions (different access levels), no hardware to share or pass around, instant scaling (onboard new staff immediately), and separate commission tracking per employee. This is significantly more cost-effective than buying multiple card readers ($250+ each) and more convenient than staff sharing one device.
Do customers need to have Apple Pay or Google Pay to use Tap to Pay?
No, customers do NOT need Apple Pay, Google Pay, or any special app. Any contactless credit or debit card works—these cards have a contactless symbol (four curved lines) on them and have been issued by most banks since 2019. Customers tap their physical card to your phone just like they tap at store terminals. Additionally, customers with Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, or other digital wallets can use those as well. Essentially, if a customer’s card or phone works at contactless terminals in stores, it works with Tap to Pay.
Can I use Tap to Pay for high-value transactions?
Yes, Tap to Pay can process transactions of any amount, though you may want to configure maximum transaction limits based on your risk tolerance and business needs. For high-value transactions ($1,000+), consider requiring customer signature (captured on phone screen), requesting customer ID verification, sending detailed digital receipts, using customer verification questions, or accepting ACH/bank transfers (1% fee vs 2.5-3.5% for cards) for very large amounts. Many businesses use Tap to Pay for transactions ranging from $5 to $10,000+ with appropriate verification procedures for larger amounts.
Does Tap to Pay work internationally?
Tap to Pay functionality depends on phone compatibility and local regulations. iPhone Tap to Pay is currently available in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and expanding to more countries. Android Tap to Pay (Softpos) has broader international availability in Europe, Asia, Latin America, and other regions. Coastal Pay can process payments in supported countries with multi-currency support, local payment methods, and compliance with local regulations. Contact Coastal Pay to confirm availability in your specific country and for international expansion plans.
Can I still accept chip cards and swiped cards with Tap to Pay?
Tap to Pay is specifically for contactless payments only—it does not accept chip card insertions or magnetic stripe swipes. However, over 80% of credit/debit cards issued in the US since 2019 have contactless capability, and this percentage increases to 95%+ for cards issued since 2021. For the rare customer without a contactless card, you can offer alternative payment methods: payment link sent via text/email (they enter card manually), or keep one traditional card reader as backup. Most Tap to Pay businesses find 95%+ of customers can pay contactlessly, making traditional card readers unnecessary.
How do refunds work with Tap to Pay?
Refunds are processed easily through the Tap to Pay app. Access the original transaction in your transaction history, select “Refund” option, choose full or partial refund amount, confirm the refund, and the customer’s card is credited automatically within 3-5 business days. The customer receives a refund notification email/SMS, the refund appears in your reporting, and accounting integration automatically records the refund. Note that refunds cannot be processed in offline mode—you need an internet connection. The original processing fee is not refunded to you (standard industry practice).
Can I customize receipts with my business branding?
Yes, Coastal Pay allows complete receipt customization with your company logo, custom colors matching your brand, custom header and footer text, business contact information, social media links, return policy information, promotional messages, QR codes for surveys/reviews, and loyalty program details. Receipts can be delivered via email (professional HTML format with PDF attachment), SMS/text (short receipt with link to full version), or no receipt (customer declines, transaction still recorded). All receipts include itemized transaction details, payment method information, and legal requirements automatically.
What's the difference between Tap to Pay and mobile card readers like Square?
The main difference is hardware: Tap to Pay uses your phone’s built-in NFC chip with no additional hardware, zero hardware cost, phone always in pocket (nothing to forget), faster transaction speed (1-2 seconds), and lower total cost of ownership. Mobile card readers (Square, Stripe) require separate card reader hardware ($50-100), need charging separately, can be forgotten or lost, slightly slower transactions (3-5 seconds), and have higher 3-year costs. Both accept contactless payments, but Tap to Pay eliminates the hardware entirely. Many businesses switch to Tap to Pay to save on hardware costs and simplify operations.
Can I accept tips with Tap to Pay?
Yes, Tap to Pay includes built-in tipping functionality with percentage-based tips (15%, 18%, 20%, 25% buttons), custom tip amount entry, no-tip option (always available), tip presented before payment completion, and tips tracked separately from sales. You can customize tip percentages for your industry, enable/disable tipping per transaction type, and track tips by employee for payroll. Tips are combined with the transaction amount for a single payment, eliminating the need for separate tip processing. This feature is essential for restaurants, delivery services, personal services, and any business where tipping is customary.
How quickly do I receive funds from Tap to Pay transactions?
Funds from Tap to Pay transactions are deposited on the same schedule as traditional card processing: 1-2 business days for credit/debit cards (next-day funding available for qualified merchants), same-day ACH option for urgent needs (additional fee), and no difference in funding speed vs traditional terminals. For example, transactions processed Monday are typically in your bank account by Wednesday. This is significantly faster than traditional invoicing (30-45 days), checks (5-10 days to receive + clear), and cash on delivery (bank deposit delay). Faster funding improves cash flow for inventory purchases, payroll, and operational expenses.
What if my customer's contactless payment doesn't work?
If a contactless payment fails, the app displays a clear error message (card declined, insufficient funds, card read error, etc.), and you can try again (have customer re-tap), use a different card (ask if they have another), send payment link (customer enters card manually online), or accept alternative payment (cash, check, invoice). Common issues include phone not positioned correctly (hold steady during tap), card too far from phone (tap directly to back of phone), phone case too thick (remove case if needed), or card damaged/demagnetized (use backup payment method). Failed transactions are logged for troubleshooting, and Coastal Pay support can help diagnose persistent issues.
Can I use Tap to Pay with my existing merchant account?
It depends on your current processor. Tap to Pay works with Coastal Pay merchant accounts (new or existing), and may integrate with some other processors (contact us to check compatibility). If you have an existing merchant account with another processor, you can either switch to Coastal Pay (we make migration easy with no downtime, better rates in many cases, and dedicated migration support), or inquire about integration (some processors support Tap to Pay through our platform). Many businesses switch to Coastal Pay for the combined benefits of Tap to Pay and transparent interchange-plus pricing that often saves 20-30% on processing costs.
Is there a transaction limit for Tap to Pay?
There are no built-in transaction limits from Coastal Pay, but you can set your own maximum transaction amount for risk management. Card networks may have contactless transaction limits in some countries ($100-250 typical), though US contactless limits were removed in 2019. For your business, you can configure maximum per-transaction amount, daily transaction limits, velocity controls (frequency), and require signature for amounts over X dollars. Many businesses process transactions from $1 to $10,000+ through Tap to Pay without issues, adjusting limits based on their risk tolerance and business model.
Get Started with Tap to Pay
Turn Your Phone into a Payment Terminal Today
Stop buying card readers. Start accepting contactless payments with just your smartphone—no hardware required, no monthly fees, setup in minutes.
What happens next:
- Check compatibility – iPhone XS+ or Android 9.0+ with NFC
- Sign up for merchant account – Quick online application, approved in 24 hours
- Download free app – Get Coastal Pay from App Store or Google Play
- Accept first payment – Tap customer’s card to phone and you’re done!
Start for free:
- $0 setup costs
- No monthly fees
- No hardware purchase
- First 30 days free processing (up to $1,000)
- Cancel anytime
Questions About Tap to Pay?
Our payment specialists can verify your phone compatibility, demonstrate how Tap to Pay works, calculate your hardware cost savings, and help you get started in minutes.
No sales pressure. No obligation. Just helpful guidance.
- Phone: 888 266 1715 (Mon-Fri 8am-8pm ET)
- Email: taptopay@coastalpay.com
- Live Chat: Available on our website
- Text: Send "TAP" to XXXXX for instant info
- Video: Watch 2-minute overview
Related Payment Solutions
- Mobile Payment Processing – Complete mobile payment solutions
- Contactless Payment Processing – All contactless acceptance options
- Apple Pay Processing – Accept Apple Pay payments
- Google Pay Processing – Accept Google Pay payments
- Payment Gateway – Online payment processing
- Virtual Terminal – Process phone and mail orders
