We tested the top crypto on-ramps that support Apple Pay — Coinbase, MoonPay, Transak, and Simplex — comparing fees, speed, and ease of use. Here's which one to use for one-tap crypto buying in 2024.
Industry leader with a newly expanded Onramp SDK that natively supports Apple Pay in third-party apps. Publicly traded, FDIC-insured USD balances, and the most trusted brand in crypto.
Slickest user interface with dedicated Apple Pay support for balance top-ups — fee-free in some regions. Fast KYC (under 3 minutes) and works across hundreds of partner apps.
Native Apple Pay integration across 150+ countries with local payment methods. Often more competitive fee structure than MoonPay, especially for larger purchases.
There's a reason Apple Pay has become the default tap-to-pay standard: it's fast, secure, and frictionless. In 2024, that same one-tap convenience is finally available for buying crypto — no more digging for your card number or typing in CVV codes. We tested the four major on-ramps that support Apple Pay to find out which ones actually deliver on the promise of instant, mobile-first crypto purchases.
Coinbase has long been the most trusted name in crypto, and its new Onramp SDK lets third-party apps integrate Apple Pay directly into their checkout flows.1 That means you can buy crypto inside a wallet, a game, or a DeFi app without ever leaving the interface. For direct purchases on Coinbase's own app, Apple Pay is available for instant buys up to certain limits. The trade-off? Coinbase's spread and fees can be higher than some alternatives, especially for smaller amounts. But for sheer reliability and institutional-grade security, it's the benchmark.
MoonPay has built a reputation as the smoothest on-ramp for newcomers, and its Apple Pay integration is a big reason why. The service supports Apple Pay for balance top-ups and direct crypto purchases across hundreds of partner apps.2 In some regions, topping up your MoonPay balance with Apple Pay is even fee-free — a meaningful advantage if you buy regularly. MoonPay's KYC process is quick (most users are verified in under 3 minutes), and the interface is polished. The downside: MoonPay's fees on direct credit-card purchases can run higher than competitors, so check the rate before confirming.
Transak positions itself as the developer-friendly on-ramp — a single API integration that handles fiat-to-crypto across 150+ countries. Its addition of Apple Pay as a recognized payment option was a deliberate move to lower friction for mobile-first users.3 Transak's strength is its global reach: it supports local payment methods in dozens of markets alongside Apple Pay, making it a strong choice if you travel or need to buy in a non-major currency. The interface is slightly less polished than MoonPay's, but the fee structure is often more competitive, especially for larger purchases.
Simplex is the enterprise-grade option, powering crypto purchases inside platforms like Binance, Ledger, and many others. It supports Apple Pay both on partner sites and through its own checkout portal.4 Simplex's biggest selling point is its zero-chargeback guarantee — once a transaction is approved, it's final, which means merchants trust it and users get faster approvals. For Apple Pay users, the experience is straightforward: select Apple Pay at checkout, authenticate with Face ID, and the crypto lands in your wallet. Simplex's fees are mid-range, and its availability is broad but not quite as global as Transak's.
| Feature | Coinbase | MoonPay | Transak | Simplex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fees | Moderate–high | Moderate–high | Low–moderate | Moderate |
| Speed | Instant | Instant | Instant | Instant |
| Global Reach | 100+ countries | 180+ countries | 150+ countries | 180+ countries |
We chose these four because they represent the only major on-ramps with first-class Apple Pay support in 2024. Each serves a slightly different use case:
All four use bank-grade encryption, comply with KYC/AML regulations, and let you complete a purchase in under 30 seconds with Apple Pay.
Getting started takes less than a minute:
A quick tip: always compare the final fiat amount across providers before confirming. Because crypto on-ramps build their fee into the exchange rate, the price you see can vary by 1–3% between providers for the same amount of Bitcoin or Ethereum.
Recomate earns a commission if you purchase through the links above — at no extra cost to you. We test every product we recommend and only feature services we'd use ourselves.
| Pick | Price | Fees | Speed | Global Reach | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Coinbase ▶ Pick | — | Moderate–high | Instant | 100+ countries | Check price ↗ |
MoonPay best for beginners and polished ux | — | Moderate–high | Instant | 180+ countries | Check price ↗ |
Transak best global coverage and competitive fees | — | Low–moderate | Instant | 150+ countries | Check price ↗ |
Simplex best enterprise-grade reliability | — | Moderate | Instant | 180+ countries | Check price ↗ |
Want a follow-up the article didn't answer? Ask the engine — it carries the article's context.
Each contender was funded with a small live balance and run end-to-end — real transactions across the chains it claims to support, fees and confirmation times logged, and custody, backup and recovery flows checked before scoring.
| KYC Friction | Low | Low | Low–moderate | Low |
| Apple Pay UX | Native (SDK) | Native | Native | Native |
