From zero to live in under 5 minutes
How PassBuddy works
PassBuddy handles everything — pass generation, signing, hosting, device registration, and push delivery — so you can focus on your product.
The basics
Three steps to your first pass
No Apple Developer account, no Xcode, no server setup. Just fill in a form and share the link.
Design your pass
Use the visual builder to customize every detail of your Apple Wallet pass.
- Brand name, colors, and logo
- Header and secondary fields
- QR, PDF417, Aztec, or Code128 barcode
- Strip image for the pass header
Share the link
Every pass gets a hosted page your customers can use to add it to their wallet.
- Public share page with QR code
- One-tap Add to Apple Wallet button
- Direct download link for the .pkpass file
- Share via email, SMS, or social media
Update in real time
Change any field and the pass refreshes on every device automatically.
- Edit from the dashboard or API
- Push notifications to all devices
- No reinstall needed by end users
- Updates appear in seconds
Pass builder
Every detail, customizable
The two-step form gives you full control over what your pass looks like and what data it carries.
Step 1 — Core details
- Pass name and description
- Website URL shown on pass back
- Barcode value and format (QR, PDF417, Aztec, Code128)
- Auto-generated serial number and auth token
Step 2 — Styling & fields
- Background and text color pickers
- Logo and strip image upload or media library
- Header field (e.g. Rewards: Gold)
- Secondary left/right fields (e.g. Points: 1,280)
A live preview updates as you type so you see exactly what your customers will see.
Distribution
Hosted share pages
Every pass gets a public page that works on any device. No app store, no download — just a link.
QR code
The share page displays a scannable QR code that links directly to the pass download. Perfect for in-store displays, printed materials, or on-screen sharing.
Add to Apple Wallet button
One tap and the pass is in your customer's wallet. The device automatically registers for push notifications so you can send updates later.
Shareable URL
Copy the link and paste it anywhere — email campaigns, social media, SMS, your website. Each pass has a unique, permanent URL.
Click tracking
Every share page visit is tracked with device type, location, browser, and referrer. See exactly how your passes are being discovered.
Engagement
Push notifications
Send messages that appear on your customers' lock screens. Update pass data and notify them in one step.
Compose & send
Write a message in the dashboard or via the API. It gets delivered to every device that has your pass installed.
Auto-refresh
When a push is sent, Apple Wallet re-downloads the latest version of the pass. Field changes appear automatically — no reinstall needed.
Schedule ahead
Set a future date and time for your notification. PassBuddy queues it and delivers it exactly when you want.
For developers
A simple REST API
Three endpoints, two headers. Create, update, and notify — all from your backend.
POST/api/v1/passes
Create a new pass. Send name, colors, fields, and images. Returns the passId and share URLs.
PATCH/api/v1/passes/:id
Update any field. The .pkpass file is regenerated and a push notification is sent to all registered devices automatically.
POST/api/v1/passes/:id/notify
Send a push notification with a custom message. Optionally schedule it for a future time.
# Authenticate with two headers
curl -X PATCH /api/v1/passes/:id \
-H "X-User-Id: usr_..." \
-H "X-API-Key: pb_..." \
-d '{"secondaryLeftValue": "1,580"}'
Generate API keys in Dashboard → API. Each key can be named and revoked at any time.
Under the hood
The device lifecycle
Here's what happens behind the scenes when a customer adds your pass to Apple Wallet.
Customer taps Add to Wallet
The .pkpass file is downloaded and added to Apple Wallet. PassBuddy generates and signs the file automatically.
Device registers for updates
Apple Wallet sends a registration request to PassBuddy with a push token. This enables future push notifications for this device.
You update the pass
Change a field in the dashboard or call the PATCH API. A new .pkpass file is generated with the updated data.
Push notification sent
PassBuddy sends a silent push via Apple Push Notification service (APNs) to every registered device.
Pass refreshes automatically
Apple Wallet re-downloads the latest version of the pass. The customer sees updated data in seconds — no action needed on their part.
Insights
Track everything
Know how your passes are performing with built-in analytics.
Passes
Total passes created
Installs
Add to Wallet actions
Registrations
Devices receiving pushes
Clicks
Share page visits tracked
Click tracking includes device type, location, browser, OS, and referrer source.
Ready to create your first pass?
Sign up, fill in a few fields, and share the link. No Apple Developer account, no Xcode, no server-side setup.