Overview

Tap to Pay lets you accept payments in person directly from your phone—no Hardware needed. This guide will show you how to set it up, take a payment, and troubleshoot if something goes wrong.

What is Tap to Pay?

Tap to Pay (TTP) lets you accept contactless payments—like cards or mobile wallets—directly from your mobile device. No extra hardware needed. It works with Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, and contactless Visa, Mastercard, or Amex cards. Note: Tap to Pay on iPhone also accepts contactless Discover cards in the US, Android Tap to Pay does not. 

Before you begin

1. Download the Bluevine App (if you haven’t already)

   • Tap to Pay is only available on the Bluevine app and not on our website. You may need to upgrade to the latest version of the Bluevine app. Please note if your phone is not compatible with the Bluevine app, you will not be able to use this feature.

   • Download the app here

     • Apple: click here 

     • Android: click here

2. Confirm device compatibility

   • Tap to Pay requires a compatible device and app version. Check your device type below before enabling Tap to Pay:

   • Apple: If your iPhone is not compatible with the Bluevine app, you will not be able to use this feature.

     • Must be using the latest Bluevine iOS app version

   • Android: Review Supported device types to confirm your device is compatible.

     • Must be using the latest Bluevine Android app version

3. Connect to Stripe 

   • You must have a connected Stripe account to use Tap to Pay with Bluevine. For steps to connect to Stripe, see this article. 

4. Review Fees

   • Payment processing fee for Tap to Pay: 2.7% + $0.30.

Enabling Tap to pay

• For steps to enable Tap to Pay on iPhone, refer to this process. 

• For steps to enable Tap to Pay on Android, refer to this process. 

How to charge a custom amount with Tap to Pay

Once you have enabled Tap to Pay and are ready to accept a payment in person, complete the following steps.

1. Open the Bluevine app.

2. Navigate to Sales > Tap to Pay 

   1. In the next screen, select Custom amount.

3. Enter transaction details:

   1. Amount (required)

   2. Description (required)

4. Select Review Sale and confirm details are correct.

5. Click the Tap to Pay button.

6. Ask your customer to hold their card or mobile wallet device flat near the Tap to Pay icon on your device.

   1. If payment fails follow process below.

7. Once the transaction has processed, ask your customer how they’d like to receive their receipt.

   1. Email: Select Email, enter the customer’s email, then select Send. 

   2. Text: Select Text, enter your customer's phone number, then select Send.

      1. The customer will receive a text with a link to the receipt.

   3. No receipt: Select No receipt. 

8. A confirmation message will appear when the transaction is complete and/or the receipt has been sent. 

9. Select Done.

How to add items and customers to a Tap to Pay charge

1. Open the Bluevine app.

2. Navigate to Sales > Tap to Pay 

   1. In the next screen, select Add items. 
       
      

3. Select items to add to the charge or select Add new item and follow prompts to add a new item to your items list. 

4. Once done adding to the cart, select Review sale. 

5. Review the checkout page, adjust any items quantities as needed. 
    

   1. Description (required) 

   2. Customers (optional)

      1. Select this dropdown and select from your existing customer list or,

      2. Select Add a customer and follow the prompts to add a new customer. 

         1. Customers can be a person or a business. 

6. Click the Tap to Pay button.

7. Ask your customer to hold their card or mobile wallet device flat near the Tap to Pay icon on your device.

   1. If payment fails follow process below

8. Once the transaction has been processed, ask your customer how they’d like to receive their receipt.

   1. Email: Select Email, enter the customer’s email, then select Send. 

   2. Text: Select Text, enter your customer's phone number, then select Send.

      1. The customer will receive a text with a link to the receipt.

   3. No receipt: Select No receipt. 

9. A confirmation message will appear when the transaction is complete and/or the receipt has been sent. 

10. Select Done.

Tap to Pay Payment Failures and Errors 

Payments may fail due to card declines, connectivity issues, or timeouts, card not supported, insufficient funds, NFC not detected.

1. Retry: Select Retry Tap to Pay . Note: For each retry attempt your customer will need to tap their card or digital wallet again by holding it flat to your device.

   1. Or click cancel to go back to checkout screen.

2. Alternative Option: if the transaction continues to fail, send a Payment Link instead.

   1. Select Send as a payment link.

3. Next, a QR code will appear:

   1. Note: The link will open a payment page with the same charge details as the Tap to Pay transaction.

4. Choose how to share the QR code and link:

   1. Copy Link – copy the link and share manually via text or email.

   2. Share – share the QR code and link using your preferred method (e.g., text, email, chat).

      1. Tip: If your customer has a smart device they can scan the QR code with the camera feature and this will take them to the payment link to complete the transaction.  

   3. Save QR Code – download the QR code for later use.

5. Once your customer opens the link, they will fill it out and add their card or ACH details on their device to complete the payment.

6. Once complete, select Create another link or Done.

Refund a Tap to Pay transaction

To refund a Tap to Pay transaction to a customer, continue this article. 

Security best practices

For security reasons, do not hand your mobile device to a customer. Instead, ask them to either hold out their card or digital wallet for tapping.

Need help?

If you have issues, make sure:

• Your phone is up to date.

• You’ve completed the Stripe setup.

• Your phone supports Tap to Pay.

• You have internet access and the connection is stable

• If on an Android device, please note that Discover cards are not supported.

Still need help? Visit the Help Center for additional resources, or contact Bluevine Customer Support for direct assistance.

^{Tap to Pay is only available on supported devices and may require upgrading to the latest version of the Bluevine app and your phone’s operating system. Some Android devices may not be compatible. Android is a trademark of Google LLC. Tap to Pay on iPhone requires a supported payment app. Some contactless cards may not be accepted by your payment app. Transaction limits may apply. The Contactless Symbol is a trademark owned by and used with permission of EMVCo, LLC. Tap to Pay on iPhone is not available in all markets. For Tap to Pay on iPhone countries and regions, see here.}

^{Apple Pay is a service provided by Apple Payments Services LLC, a subsidiary of Apple Inc. Neither Apple Inc. nor Apple Payments Services LLC is a bank. Any card used in Apple Pay is offered by the card issuer.}

^{Apple and the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.}

^{Google Pay and the Google Pay logo are trademarks of Google, LLC.}

^{All trademarks and brand names belong to their respective owners. Use of these trademarks and brand names do not represent endorsement by or association with this card program. All rights reserved.}