Walmart is adding tap-to-pay options including Apple Pay and Google Pay starting Aug. 24 at select stores and Sam’s Club locations, ending more than a decade of resistance to the widely used payment methods.
The rollout begins this week at select locations, with plans to expand to all U.S. Walmart and Sam’s Club stores by the end of 2026 and to fuel stations by mid-2027, according to the company’s announcement on Aug. 21. Customers will be able to use eligible contactless cards, phones, or smartwatches at checkout.
Walmart’s embrace of tap-to-pay marks a significant shift in strategy. The retailer had long resisted accepting Apple Pay and Google Pay to encourage shoppers to use Walmart Pay, its proprietary mobile wallet system that required QR codes. That strategy became increasingly untenable as Apple Pay expanded to over 85% of U.S. retailers, leaving Walmart customers frustrated by their inability to use the payment method at the nation’s largest retailer.
The decision represents an acknowledgment that Walmart’s proprietary payment approach had become a competitive disadvantage. As of 2026, over 65% of in-person card transactions in the U.S. use contactless technology, including tap-to-pay cards and digital wallets, according to industry data. Walmart’s refusal to accept these methods put it at odds with consumer preferences and the broader retail landscape.
Walmart continues to offer its existing payment options alongside the new tap-to-pay service. Customers can still use cash, credit cards, or Walmart Pay—which allows them to pay through the Walmart app and access Walmart+ fuel savings. Sam’s Club members also have access to Scan & Go, which lets them scan and pay as they shop, bypassing the traditional checkout line.
The company framed the decision as part of a broader effort to give customers more choice and convenience. “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,” Walmart said in a statement, noting that the addition of tap-to-pay comes as the company expands its financial services offerings, including options to save, build credit, and pay over time.
Sources
- Walmart Corporate News — official announcement of tap-to-pay rollout starting Aug. 24, expansion timeline to all stores by end of 2026 and fuel stations by mid-2027
- CBS News — confirmation that Apple Pay is accepted at over 85% of U.S. retailers and details on Walmart’s previous reliance on Walmart Pay with QR codes
- SLeftPayments — data showing over 65% of in-person card transactions in the U.S. use contactless technology as of 2026
- 9to5Mac — reporting on Walmart’s decade-long holdout ending with this announcement
