Walmart, which had been an Apple Pay holdout since the contactless payment method debuted in 2014, has finally announced that it will begin accepting Apple Pay and other tap-to-pay options in some of its US Walmart and Sam’s Club stores, as of Monday, August 24. The retailer says it is planning to roll out tap-to-pay support to all of its US stores by the end of 2026 and to its gas stations by mid-2027.
We want customers and members to have choice in how they pay, so they can check out in the way that works best for them. Now, beginning Aug. 24, we will be adding Tap to Pay to our payment options at select Walmart stores and Sam’s Club locations, with plans to roll it out to all U.S. stores and clubs by the end of 2026 and to fuel stations by mid-2027.
Tap to Pay gives customers and members another familiar and convenient way to pay at checkout using contactless payment methods. Whether picking up groceries, gifts or everyday essentials, they can check out using eligible contactless card, phone, or smartwatch. Customers and members can also add their eligible Walmart, Sam’s Club and OnePay cards to their digital wallets, giving them another convenient way to use their cards.
While initially other major US retailers – like The Home Depot, Lowe’s, Kroger, and Texas-based grocery store chain H-E-B – had joined Walmart in refusing to accept Apple Pay, they all eventually reversed course and began accepting tap-to-pay methods.
Walmart had been promoting its own QR code-based payment system at checkout, but it has apparently listened to its customers and decided to accept NFC-based tap-to-pay options like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay at its U.S. stores. Tap-to-pay support extends to physical credit and debit cards.
Existing payment options like Walmart Pay will remain available.
Walmart has already begun accepting Apple Pay in its Canadian stores back in 2020. It is unclear if the retailer will also begin accepting tap-to-pay in its Mexico locations.
