Adding Apple Pay and Google Pay to a WordPress donation or checkout flow can significantly improve conversions—but implementation details matter. In some cases, even when everything is configured correctly in Stripe, these payment methods may not appear where expected.
In this case, a WordPress site using Gravity Forms with the Stripe Add-On attempted to enable Apple Pay and Google Pay. While Google Pay worked in some scenarios, Apple Pay did not appear at all within the form. The issue turned out to be a limitation of the integration itself—not a misconfiguration.
Issue Background
A WordPress site using Gravity Forms + Stripe was processing donations, but experiencing:
- Incomplete or “processing” payments in Stripe
- Users dropping off during checkout
- A request to enable Apple Pay and Google Pay for a smoother payment experience
The Stripe account was properly configured:
- Apple Pay enabled
- Google Pay enabled
- Domain verified in Stripe
However:
- Payment methods were not consistently appearing in the form
- Apple Pay was missing entirely from the embedded payment field
Diagnosis
Extensive testing was performed across:
- Multiple browsers (Chrome, Safari)
- Devices (desktop, mobile, Apple devices)
- Two Stripe integration methods:
- Embedded Stripe field (Stripe Elements via Gravity Forms)
- Stripe Checkout (hosted payment page)
1. Google Pay worked in limited cases
- Google Pay appeared inside the Gravity Forms Stripe field
- Only when:
- Using Chrome
- Google Pay was enabled in the user’s browser
This confirmed that the integration was partially functional.
2. Apple Pay did not appear in Gravity Forms
Despite correct setup:
- Apple Pay did not display in the embedded Stripe field
- This remained true even when:
- Domain verification was complete
- Apple Pay was enabled in Stripe
- Testing was done on compatible Apple devices
3. Apple Pay worked in Stripe Checkout
When switching to Stripe Checkout:
- Apple Pay appeared correctly
- Google Pay also worked consistently
This confirmed:
- Stripe was configured correctly
- The issue was not related to domain verification or account setup
4. Root cause: integration limitation
The issue stemmed from how Gravity Forms integrates Stripe Elements:
- Gravity Forms uses a limited implementation of Stripe Elements
- Apple Pay requires Stripe’s Payment Request Button / Payment Element
- These are not fully exposed in the Gravity Forms Stripe field
As a result:
- Google Pay may appear (due to Chrome support)
- Apple Pay does not reliably render
Resolution Steps
1. Confirm Stripe configuration
- Ensure Apple Pay is enabled in Stripe
- Verify the domain in Stripe settings
- Confirm Google Pay is active
2. Test across environments
- Safari on Apple devices (for Apple Pay)
- Chrome with Google Pay enabled
- Both staging and production
3. Compare Stripe integration methods
- Gravity Forms Stripe field (embedded)
- Stripe Checkout (hosted page)
4. Switch to Stripe Checkout (recommended)
To reliably support Apple Pay and Google Pay:
- Enable Stripe Checkout in Gravity Forms
- Redirect users to Stripe’s hosted payment page on submit
Benefits:
- Full support for Apple Pay and Google Pay
- Better compatibility across devices
- Reduced frontend complexity
Tradeoff:
- Payment happens off-site (hosted by Stripe), not inline in the form
5. Understand wallet availability limitations
- Apple Pay only appears on Safari + Apple devices with Wallet configured
- Google Pay only appears in Chrome with an active Google Pay account
If conditions aren’t met, Stripe hides these options automatically.
Final Outcome
- Stripe configuration was confirmed to be correct
- Google Pay worked in limited embedded scenarios
- Apple Pay only worked via Stripe Checkout
- The issue was identified as a limitation of Gravity Forms’ Stripe integration
Key takeaway
If Apple Pay isn’t showing in your Gravity Forms Stripe field, it’s likely not a configuration issue—it’s a limitation of the integration.
For full wallet support:
- Use Stripe Checkout instead of embedded Stripe fields
- Test across real devices and browsers
- Understand that wallet visibility depends on user setup
If you need help optimizing Stripe payments, improving donation flows, or integrating advanced payment methods in WordPress, Freshy can help:
