McDonald’s is one of the biggest fast-food chains in the world with more than 37,000 locations worldwide.
Oftentimes, people will ask does McDonald’s accept credit cards, and if so, which ones? We have that answer for you and much more below!
Key Takeaways
Does McDonald’s Accept Credit Cards In 2022?
McDonald’s does accept credit cards at all of its locations within the United States. Additionally, the company accepts all major credit cards including Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover. However, your credit cards must be issued by a U.S bank to use them inside a McDonald’s within America. They are accepted at the drive-thru, as well as in the store, and online!
There are many other questions you might have about credit card usage at McDonald’s, such as whether it’s only in-store, so keep reading to learn more!
What Forms of Payment Are Accepted at McDonald’s?
McDonald’s will accept Mastercard, Discover, American Express, and Visa credit or debit cards that have been issued by a U.S bank if you’re trying to use them within the United States.
Furthermore, McDonald’s will also accept American Express gift cards and it can be used in the same way that you’d use a traditional American Express credit card.
In addition to that, McDonald’s also will accept Google Pay and Apple Pay if your credit or debit card has been linked to your digital wallet and you want to pay through Mobile Order & Pay.
When Did McDonald’s Accept Credit Cards?
McDonald’s began accepting credit cards initially in late 2003, although it was limited to less than 3,000 locations within the United States at that time.
Furthermore, McDonald’s publicly announced that the fast-food chain would be offering more cashless payment options and expanding the use of credit card readers nationwide.
Additionally, McDonald’s began accepting credit cards to provide a better customer service experience that was faster and more convenient to the consumer.
Does McDonald’s Accept Credit Cards at the Drive-Thru?
McDonald’s will accept credit cards at the drive-thru just like they do within their physical store, and it’s a pretty simple process.
Additionally, you just hand your credit card or debit card to a McDonald’s employee when using the drive-thru and the employee will swipe it right inside of the window at their cash register.
In addition to that, it’s automatically run as credit which oftentimes means you don’t have to sign the receipt.
However, in some situations, you are required to sign for the purchase and give the copy to the employee, but it’s still a convenient and quicker alternative to cash.
Does McDonald’s Accept Credit Cards Digitally?
McDonald’s will accept your credit card digitally through the Mobile Order & Pay app, which is available at most McDonald’s locations.
Furthermore, if you download the Mobile Order & Pay app, you can see which locations near you take Mobile Order & Pay, which allows you to pay for your meal with Apple Pay or Google Pay.
Unfortunately, McDonald’s is not accepting Arch Cards as a method of payment if you’re using the Mobile Order & Pay option.
However, if you use Mobile Order & Pay, you’ll have to go through the drive-thru to pick up your order since it’s the quickest and safest way to get your order.
Does McDonald’s Take Debit Cards in the Drive-Thru?
McDonald’s will take a debit card in the drive-thru just as it will inside of the store, and it works the same way that initiating a credit card purchase works.
Furthermore, debit cards are also accepted on the McDonald’s Mobile Order & Pay app, so you can use your debit card however and wherever you want at McDonald’s.
To find out more, you can also read our posts on whether or not McDonald’s takes Apple Pay, if McDonald’s accepts American Express, and if McDonald’s accepts PayPal.
Conclusion
McDonald’s accepts credit cards and debit cards at all of their locations, including both in-store and at the drive-thru.
Furthermore, McDonald’s accepts all major credit cards such as Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express. Additionally, even American Express gift cards are accepted!
In addition to that, you can use your digital wallet as a form of payment if you have your credit card or debit card linked to Google Pay or Apple Pay.
On top of that, you can always choose to pay with your phone in-store or through the drive-thru simply by holding your phone over the card reader and waiting for the transaction to complete.