🚀 Tap to Pay is rolling out gradually and may not be visible in your account yet. To make sure you're ready when it arrives, confirm you're using a supported device.
Tap to Pay turns your brightwheel app into a card reader, so you can collect payments from families on the spot without any extra hardware. It's perfect for situations like collecting a past-due balance at pickup, a registration deposit during a tour, or a last-minute late pickup fee.
Tap to Pay accepts credit/debit cards, FSA cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.
Before you get started
Before using Tap to Pay, confirm the following:
Billing is enabled for your school. If you already accept online payments in brightwheel, you're all set. If not, get started by adding a deposit account and completing verification.
Accept card payments and Accept online payments are turned on in your billing settings.
You're using a supported device.
Note: Tap to Pay is available to Admins only. It is not available to Staff, in Mode or Room Device Mode. |
Set up Tap to Pay
How the setup works
To use Tap to Pay, you'll need to complete a short, one-time setup to grant the necessary device permissions. After that, you can go straight to collecting payments. Repeat these steps for each Admin device you plan to use for Tap to Pay.
Steps to set up
Log in on the app
From the Administrator Home, select Tap to Pay
Tap Get started
Complete the remaining steps to grant device permissions
Allow location services
(Android) Grant NFC access
(iOS) Accept Apple terms and conditions via your Apple ID — only required once per school
Once setup is complete, you can start using Tap to Pay on that device.
Note: If you accidentally denied location or NFC permissions, you can re-enable them in your device Settings under the brightwheel app. |
Supported devices for Tap to Pay
To use Tap to Pay, providers should ensure devices meet the following requirements. There are no device requirements for payers.
Supported | Not supported |
iPhones | iPads |
Android phones with NFC enabled | Android devices without NFC capabilities |
Android tablets |
|
How collecting payments work
Once you're set up, you drive the whole flow from your device. Select the payer, enter the amount, choose how to apply it to invoices, and confirm the total. Then turn the device toward the family so they can tap their card to complete the payment.
For step-by-step instructions, see Collect a payment with Tap to Pay.
Service fees: If your program passes service fees to payers, the fee is automatically added to the total amount shown before the payer taps.
What families experience
From the family's side, their only action is tapping their card or payment method on your device. They don't need to open the brightwheel app, add a payment method, or do anything in advance.
As soon as the payment goes through, the payer will receive a receipt and the payment will appear in their brightwheel account immediately.
💡 For more details on what families see, visit Make a payment with Tap to Pay.
FAQs
For more frequently asked questions, see Tap to Pay FAQs.
What Apple ID should I use?
What Apple ID should I use?
Apple requires your school to link an Apple ID the first time Tap to Pay is used. This is a one-time, school-level step — any Apple ID works, including a personal one.
What are NFC permissions?
What are NFC permissions?
Near Field Communication (NFC) technology allows your device to make secure, contactless transactions with a tap. You must enable this setting on any Android device to use brightwheel Tap to Pay.
What if my device isn't supported?
What if my device isn't supported?
If your device is not one of our listed supported devices or doesn't meet the minimum iOS/Android software requirements, you won't be able to use Tap to Pay since this is a hardware limitation. In the meantime, families can always continue to pay online through their own brightwheel app.
Is Tap to Pay available in Canada?
Is Tap to Pay available in Canada?
No, Tap to Pay is only available in the U.S.