Articles

Guides, analysis and how-tos for teams working with Apple Wallet and Google Wallet passes.

Explainer

The 6 Types of Apple Wallet Pass: Which One Is Right for Your Business?

Apple Wallet supports six distinct pass types — boardingPass, coupon, eventTicket, generic, storeCard and loyalty. Learn what each looks like and when to use it.

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Explainer

Google Wallet Pass Types Explained: Which Class Is Right for Your Business?

Google Wallet offers six pass classes — LoyaltyClass, EventTicketClass, GenericClass, OfferClass, GiftCardClass and TransitClass. Learn what each does and when to use it.

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Explainer

What Is an Apple Wallet Pass? A Plain-English Guide for Businesses

Apple Wallet passes let businesses deliver loyalty cards, tickets and coupons direct to the iPhone lock screen. Here is everything you need to know.

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Explainer

What Is a Google Wallet Pass? How Digital Passes Work on Android

Google Wallet passes bring loyalty cards, event tickets and membership cards to Android. Learn how they work and how to start issuing them for your business.

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Explainer

What Are Mobile Wallet Passes? (And Why They Are Better Than Apps)

Mobile wallet passes sit on the iPhone and Android lock screen without requiring an app download. Here is why more businesses are switching to them.

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Explainer

Apple Wallet vs Google Wallet: What Is the Difference for Businesses?

Apple Wallet and Google Wallet both support digital passes, but the tech stacks, distribution methods and design rules differ. Here is what you need to know.

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Explainer

The 5 Types of Wallet Passes Every Business Should Know

From loyalty cards to event tickets, Apple Wallet and Google Wallet support five distinct pass types. Learn which one suits your business and how to choose.

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How-to

How to Create an Apple Wallet Loyalty Card for Your Business

Creating an Apple Wallet loyalty card involves an Apple Developer account, a pass certificate and a PKPass file. This guide explains every step, and how Issuepass handles it for you.

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How-to

How to Add a Digital Membership Card to Apple Wallet and Google Wallet

Digital membership cards in Apple Wallet and Google Wallet replace plastic cards and enable push notifications. Here is how to set one up for your organisation.

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How-to

How to Send Wallet Pass Push Notifications: A Step-by-Step Guide

Wallet pass push notifications reach customers on their lock screen without an app. Learn how the APNS and Google Wallet push systems work and how to use them.

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How-to

How to Distribute Wallet Passes: 7 Methods Compared

From email links to NFC taps, there are seven ways to get a wallet pass onto a customer phone. This guide compares each method so you can pick the right one.

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How-to

How to Update a Google Wallet Pass After It Has Been Issued

Updating a Google Wallet pass after issue is straightforward via the REST API. This guide explains patch updates, message notifications and best practices for live pass management.

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How-to

How to Design a Wallet Pass That Gets Noticed on the Lock Screen

A well-designed wallet pass stands out on the lock screen and earns a permanent spot in a customer wallet. Here are the design rules that matter most.

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How-to

How to Use Dynamic Barcodes in Wallet Passes to Prevent Fraud

Static QR codes on wallet passes can be screenshotted and shared. Dynamic barcodes rotate on a schedule and prevent that fraud. Here is how they work.

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Use Case

Digital Loyalty Cards: How Retailers Are Replacing Plastic with Wallet Passes

Retailers are ditching plastic loyalty cards for Apple Wallet and Google Wallet passes. Here is how digital loyalty programmes work and why conversion rates improve.

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Use Case

Event Ticketing with Apple Wallet: The Complete Guide for Event Organisers

Apple Wallet event tickets sit on the lock screen, display venue maps and update in real time. This guide covers everything event organisers need to know.

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Use Case

How Gyms and Fitness Studios Are Using Digital Membership Cards

Gyms replacing key fobs and plastic cards with Apple Wallet and Google Wallet passes reduce admin, enable push notifications and cut card printing costs.

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Use Case

Hotel Wallet Passes: From Room Keys to Loyalty Cards (A Hospitality Guide)

Hotels are using Apple Wallet and Google Wallet for digital room keys, loyalty cards and stay confirmations. Here is how the technology works and what guests expect.

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Use Case

How Restaurants Can Build a Digital Stamp Card with Apple Wallet

A digital coffee stamp card in Apple Wallet replaces paper loyalty cards and lets you push a free drink offer when a customer earns their reward.

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Use Case

Digital Coupons in Apple Wallet vs Email Coupons: Which Performs Better?

Apple Wallet coupons achieve 69% open rates and survive inbox clutter. Email coupons average around 20%. We compare both channels so you can decide which to use.

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Use Case

How Nonprofits and Membership Organisations Use Digital Wallet Passes

Nonprofits and member associations use Apple Wallet and Google Wallet to issue membership cards, event tickets and push renewal reminders cost-effectively.

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Use Case

Using Wallet Passes for Healthcare: Patient ID Cards, Appointment Reminders and Loyalty

Healthcare providers are using Apple Wallet and Google Wallet for patient ID cards, appointment reminder passes and pharmacy loyalty. Here is how it works safely.

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Integration

How to Connect HubSpot to Apple Wallet and Google Wallet Passes

Issuepass integrates directly with HubSpot so your sales team can issue wallet passes from a contact record, automate pass sends on deal stage changes and sync field data.

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Integration

Automating Wallet Pass Distribution with Zapier: A No-Code Guide

Zapier connects Issuepass to 7,000+ apps so you can automatically issue wallet passes when a new customer signs up, a form is submitted or a deal closes.

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Integration

How to Add Wallet Passes to Your Shopify Store

Connecting Shopify to Issuepass lets you automatically issue loyalty passes, discount coupons and event tickets to customers after checkout or on a schedule.

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Integration

Sending Wallet Passes via Email: Best Practices and Templates

The simplest way to distribute a wallet pass is via email. This guide covers the ideal email structure, subject line copy and how to handle iOS vs Android differences.

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Comparison

Best Digital Wallet Pass Platforms in 2025: An Honest Comparison

We compare the leading digital wallet pass platforms on pricing, ease of use, Apple and Google Wallet support, API quality and customer support.

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Comparison

PassKit Alternatives: 6 Platforms Worth Considering in 2025

PassKit is one of the best-known wallet pass platforms, but it is not the only option. We compare six PassKit alternatives on price, API depth and ease of use.

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Comparison

Passcreator vs PassKit vs Issuepass: Which Pass Platform Is Right for You?

Passcreator, PassKit and Issuepass are three leading wallet pass platforms. We compare them on features, pricing, API and integrations so you can choose with confidence.

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Strategy

Push Notifications Without an App: How Wallet Passes Fill the Gap

Most businesses cannot afford to build a native app. Wallet passes deliver push notifications direct to the lock screen with no app store, no SDK and no download required.

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Strategy

The Complete Guide to Mobile Wallet Marketing for B2B SaaS Companies

B2B SaaS companies are using mobile wallet passes to issue partner credentials, event badges and product launch coupons that live on the lock screen.

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Explainer

What Is a .pkpass File? (And How to Open, Create and Distribute One)

A .pkpass file is a ZIP archive containing a pass JSON, images and a signature. This guide explains exactly what is inside one and how to create, open and distribute it.

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How-to

How Apple Wallet Multi-Event Passes Work for Season Ticket Holders

Apple Wallet now supports multi-event passes that surface each upcoming event automatically. Here is how season ticket issuers can use the Upcoming Events API.

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How-to

Google Wallet Nearby Notifications: How to Trigger Pass Alerts When Customers Walk In

Google Wallet nearby notifications fire when a pass holder enters a geofenced area — a shop, venue or restaurant. Here is how to set them up for your business.

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Explainer

Apple Digital ID in Wallet: What the US Passport Integration Means for Businesses

Apple Digital ID launched in late 2025 across 13 US states. We explain what it is, how it differs from regular wallet passes and what it signals for digital identity.

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Explainer

The EU Digital Identity Wallet (EUDI): What Non-EU Businesses Need to Know Before 2027

The EU is mandating acceptance of EUDI wallets by November 2027. Here is what the regulation requires, which businesses are affected and how to prepare now.

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Strategy

Mobile Wallet Push Notifications vs SMS vs Email: Which Channel Gets More Attention?

Wallet push notifications achieve 69% open rates. SMS hits ~98% but costs per message. Email averages ~20%. We break down when to use each channel and why.

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How-to

How to Track Wallet Pass Analytics: Open Rates, Scans and Push Performance

Wallet passes do not come with built-in analytics dashboards. Here is how to track pass opens, push notification performance, scan events and redemption rates.

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Explainer

Google Wallet Is Now Available in 50 More Countries — What This Means for Global Pass Distribution

Google Wallet expanded to 50+ new countries in 2025. Here is which markets opened up, how to issue passes globally and what localisation considerations matter.

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How-to

How to Send a Wallet Pass to 10,000 Customers at Once: A Guide to Bulk Distribution

Bulk wallet pass distribution lets you issue passes to your entire customer list at once — by CSV, API batch, or CRM export. Here is how to do it without hitting rate limits.

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Strategy

Wallet Pass vs Mobile App: When to Build and When to Issue a Pass

Building a native app costs £50,000 or more. A wallet pass takes hours to set up. We compare the two so you can make the right decision for your business.

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Strategy

White-Label Wallet Passes for Agencies: How to Resell Pass Programmes to Clients

Digital agencies can resell Apple Wallet and Google Wallet pass programmes to clients under their own brand. Here is how white-label wallet pass platforms work and what to look for.

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How-to

How to Set Up Automated Pass Expiry Reminders That Actually Get Read

Wallet pass push notifications sent before a pass expires are opened 69% of the time. Here is how to automate a 30-day, 7-day and same-day expiry reminder sequence.

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Explainer

Digital Business Cards in Apple Wallet: Are They Worth It?

Some businesses use Apple Wallet generic passes as digital business cards. Here is how they work, what the limitations are and whether it makes more sense than a standard link.

6 min readRead article →
Strategy

Wallet Pass GDPR Compliance: What Personal Data You Store and How to Handle It

Wallet passes can carry personal data — names, email addresses, member numbers. Here is what GDPR requires when you issue and manage wallet passes for EU customers.

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Strategy

Seasonal Wallet Pass Campaigns: A Holiday Marketing Playbook for Retailers

Retailers use Apple Wallet and Google Wallet passes for Black Friday coupons, Christmas loyalty bonuses and January sale promotions. Here is the seasonal playbook.

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How-to

How to Migrate Your Plastic Card Programme to Apple Wallet and Google Wallet

Moving from physical loyalty or membership cards to digital wallet passes reduces costs and opens a push notification channel. Here is how to run the migration without losing members.

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Strategy

Using Wallet Passes for SaaS Onboarding: A Surprisingly Effective B2B Tactic

SaaS companies are issuing wallet passes to new customers as onboarding credentials — showing account manager details, trial expiry dates and renewal prompts on the lock screen.

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Use Case

NFC Wallet Passes for Access Control: Replacing Key Fobs and Staff Badges

NFC-enabled Apple Wallet and Google Wallet passes can replace RFID key fobs and printed staff badges for office entry, gym access and venue control.

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Use Case

Apple Wallet for Restaurants: The Complete Guide to Loyalty, Bookings and Vouchers

Restaurants can use Apple Wallet for loyalty stamp cards, booking confirmations, gift vouchers and promotional coupons — all without building an app.

8 min readRead article →
How-to

How to Build a Wallet Pass Loyalty Programme from Scratch

Building a loyalty programme with Apple Wallet and Google Wallet passes takes less than a day with the right platform. Here is the complete step-by-step guide.

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Use Case

Wallet Passes at Trade Shows and Conferences: Badges, Leads and Follow-Up

Replace conference lanyards with Apple Wallet and Google Wallet passes — attendees scan their phone at sessions, exhibitors capture leads and organisers push schedule updates.

7 min readRead article →