Does Sonic Take Apple Pay? (2023 Update)

Sonic Drive-In is a well-known fast-food chain based in the United States and is the daughter company of the Inspire Brand. 

Today, everyone including you and I look for the easiest payment option available whenever we make a purchase. Be it a restaurant, a supermarket, or an online website, we often look for contactless payment methods. Especially in this era, everything is based on technology, so how could our payment be an exclusion? 

So, that begs the question of whether or not Sonic Drive-In takes Apple Pay. But before that, let us see what Sonic Drive-In is. 

What Is Sonic Drive-In?

Sonic Drive-In, which is better known as The Drive-In is an American drive-in fast food restaurant chain founded by Troy Smith in 1953. Sonic Drive-In gained popularity through its entertaining serving method.

Currently, there are more than 3,500 Sonic restaurants in the United States. Apart from the basic hamburgers and fries, Sonic Drive-In offers a variety of dishes such as onion rings, breakfast toasts sandwich, slushes, milkshakes, sundaes, floats, and more. With that being said, you must have understood why the restaurant is popular among Americans. It is the same popularity that has urged Sonic Drive-In to adopt cashless payment methods. 

With the rise of the digital wallet, many customers have changed their payment preference from traditional cash payment to modern cashless payment method. And, one such payment option is Apple Pay.

What is Apple Pay? 

Apple. Inc is the number one choice made by global consumers and therefore it is one of the top-notch consumer brand product companies in the world. If you are an iOS user, then you must have been using Apple’s payment standard called Apple Pay. It was launched in 2014 and ever since Apple Pay has been the first choice of many iOS users. 

Without a hunch, we can say that life has been pretty much easier than before with the involvement of digital payment in our everyday life. It’s not only about the ease but also about the availability.

You can use Apple Pay anywhere and anytime. Moreover, Apple Pay can also be used offline. It is available nearly everywhere and the number of Apple Pay users is increasing day by day.  

Although the app is widely accepted by several industry-leading companies, Apple Pay still has a long way to go. This safest mode of payment is yet to be accepted by many others. 

Now, you must be eager to know if Sonic uses the payment service or not. 

Does Sonic Drive-In take Apple Pay? 

If Sonic is your go-to place, or you were not considering Sonic thinking it doesn’t take Apple Pay, then here is some happy news for you. Sonic Drive-In takes Apple Pay. They started to accept this particular mode of payment in November 2019. 

Sonic began accepting Apple Pay a short while before the pandemic hit. While Covid-19 adversely affected the rest of the world, Apple Inc. celebrated its Apple Pay Success as everyone was looking for a contactless payment option. Therefore, Sonic adopted Apple Pay and asked its customers to use it since the payment option minimized contact. 

Sonic also encourages its customers to use Apple Pay by providing discounts and offers. Above all, Apple Pay facilitates convenient purchases as well. You can depend on this payment option to pay at both online and offline stores. All you need is an iOS device and an Apple Pay account. 

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How To Set Up Apple Pay On Your iPhone? 

Although using Apple Pay at Sonic is a cinch, the process to use the payment service is not that straightforward. So scroll down to learn how to set up Apple Pay on your iPhone. 

1. Tap on the “Wallet & Apple Pay” option in the device settings. 
2. Link your Credit or Debit card by clicking on the “Add Card.” Once you choose your card, it will be your default card whenever you use your Apple Pay. 
3. Next, you will be asked to select the payment type.
4. Your screen will display the terms and conditions of Apple Pay and once you click agree, your card verification will be over. 
5. Once your card is verified, you are ready to use the hassle-free payment at Sonic. 

How To Use Apple Pay At Sonic Drive-In? 

By using RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) and NFC (Near-Field Communication), you can easily make payments via Apple Pay at Sonic. Since Apple Pay uses face ID, you can be much more confident about its security. 

Now, let’s see how we can make the payment via Apple Pay at the Sonic counter.

1. Once you get your meal, head to the counter.
2. Ensure you are signed in to your iOS device with your Apple ID and check whether you have added your default card to your Apple Pay Wallet. 
3. Open the payment option on your iOS device. 
4. Select the card that you want to pay with. 
5. Show your iPhone next to the card reader. 
6. Wait for a few seconds until you get notified about the status of your payment. 

How To Pay Via The Face ID Feature? 

Using Apple Pay is fairly simple and so is its Face ID feature. Scroll down to see how you can pay with the Face ID feature at Sonic. 

1. Get your meal and reach out to the checkout counter. 
2. Open your iOS device and use your Face ID to authorize the payment. (in case you prefer using the Touch ID, then you can do that as well). 
3. Choose the card that you want to pay with. 
4. Keep your phone close to the Sonic contactless reader and wait until the payment is successful. 

Can I Get Cashback While Using Apple Pay At Sonic Drive-In? 

Just like you, many global shoppers get excited about cashback and offers, two of the major benefits of using Apple Pay. Since you are free to use Apple Pay at different online and offline stores that take Apple Pay, it becomes obvious that you make multiple payments through the contactless payment method a day. So as a token of gratitude, Apple Pay makes you eligible for cashback every time you make a payment.  To the maximum, you can receive 3% cashback. 

Now you must have understood that using Apple Pay has its perks. So, let’s see what they are. 

Benefits Of Using Apple Pay At Sonic

Neither Apple nor Sonic Drive-In is any lesser than the other. So, imagine these two getting together for the benefit of their customers. Wouldn’t that be nice? It is needless to mention that this duo has many benefits to pour their customers with. So, read on to know what the benefits and rewards are provided to the customers who use Apple Pay at Sonic Drive-In. 

1. You can ensure safety while using Apple Pay as your card information I shared neither with the Sonic app nor with the device. 
2. Apple Pay encourages one-click payment. 
3. Apple Pay provides 3% cashback on every payment. In addition to that, Sonic will shower you with seasonal benefits for using Apple Pay at Sonic. 
4. If everybody is using Apple Pay, the checkout lines would be cleared in no time. If not, at least you can help people standing behind you by choosing to pay with Apple Pay, as their turn will quickly come if you move away from the line. 
5. With Apple Pay, you can pay for your order at Sonic with the least effort. 
6. You need not have to carry your cash or cards while making purchases, instead, you can cover your bill either with your iPhone or Apple Watch. 
7. Apple Pay reduces the dependence on cash and that way, you need not have to panic thinking about keeping the change. 

What Are The Other Payment Methods Available At Sonic? 

It is not like Sonic only comes beneficial to iOS users. That is, you don’t need to have an Apple gadget to be able to make payments at Sonic. At Sonic, you can either choose to pay with Apple Pay or you can also choose to pay via credit card, debit card, gift card, or cash. 

Many of you might have judged Sonic as a restaurant that only offers benefits to Apple users when in reality, customers are all treated equally at Sonic. If not, customers who do not have an iPhone or Apple Watch can use any of the aforementioned methods to pay at Sonic. So, let’s see that in detail. 

1. Credit or Debit Cards 

Not only using Apple Pay, but you can also facilitate fast payment with the help of your credit or debit card. Sonic accepts American Express, Discover, Mastercard, and Visa. 

2. Gift Cards

If you have a Sonic gift card, then go get your favorite hamburgers in exchange for it. The process is simple, all you have to do is, navigate through your Sonic account, choose the payment method as a gift card, and enter the eGift Card number as well as your PIN to complete the payment process. 

3. Cash

Cash is a traditional mode of payment that you can use if you prefer that over the aforementioned methods of payment. It could be a convenient option, but you cannot rely upon it as you might end up in trouble if you do not have the chance.

But here, you do not have to depend on a machine to complete your payment. You just have to open your physical wallet, take the cash out and give them to the cashier. 

4. Google Pay 

Other than Apple Pay, Sonic has another contactless payment option which is none other than the popular Google Pay. It’s crazy how iPhone users are also using Google Pay instead of Apple Pay these days. Also, this one can be used by anyone including Android users.  You are not required to follow a different method while paying via Google Pay, as the steps are similar to that of Apple Pay. 

8. Coupons 

Although not every time, Sonic offers discount coupons on occasion. If you are lucky enough, then you will get a coupon as soon as you make your foremost purchase. With that, you can visit the nearby Sonic and buy a meal worth its value.

But you cannot cover the entire payment with the coupon, instead, only a part of the payment can be paid with it. You can choose any of the aforementioned methods to complete the payments. So, you should always couple your coupon with any of these payment modes. 

FAQ 

1. Does Sonic Accept Apple Pay? 

Yes, Sonic Drive-In accepts Apple Pay. The fast-food restaurant chain announced it in November 2019 and ever since, customers who have iOS devices have been using Apple Pay, one of the safest contactless payment options, to make payments at Sonic for their purchases. 

2. Can I Use the Apple Watch To Order on the Sonic App Using Apple Pay?

Yes. You need not have to use your iPhone alone to complete your payment using Apple Pay at Sonic. You can also use your Apple Watch, which is another iOS device to complete the payment and the process is similar to that of using an iPhone. The only difference is that, instead of a confirmation message, your watch will vibrate for a second to let you know that the payment has been successful. 

3. Does Apple Pay charge additional fees for using it at Sonic? 

In general, there could or could not be additional fees that would be charged if you are using a card. So, in case Sonic takes an extra fee for using the card, then it will also charge the same when you are making the payment through Apple Pay, and if they usually do not charge anything from the customer who uses a card, then no money will be deducted from your Apple Pay Wallet in the form of extras. 

Conclusion 

There are numerous benefits to using Apple Pay at the checkout of Sonic Drive-In, such as discounts, offers, and coupons. In addition to that, you can be fearless of safety when you are paying via Apple Pay and also your transactions would be made easy and quick. 

If you are in the mood to enjoy the meal served at Sonic, then do not delay any more. Get your iPhone or Apple Watch and start your car. But if you are not in the mood to eat, then no worries, you can head to other establishments of Sonic, other than their food chain, to enjoy the benefits of using Apple Pay at Sonic.

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