Walmart’s long Apple Pay holdout is coming to an end.
The retailer said it will begin accepting contactless payments, including Apple Pay and Google Pay, at select Walmart and Sam’s Club locations starting Aug. 24. Walmart plans to expand the option nationwide by the end of 2026, with tap-to-pay support at fuel pumps expected by mid-2027.
Walmart has resisted mainstream NFC-based mobile wallets for more than a decade. Back in 2016, the retailer’s attempt to rival Apple Pay via a merchant consortium called CurrentC collapsed. Still, Walmart required shoppers to download its app and scan an on-screen QR code using Walmart Pay.
The strategy left the chain increasingly isolated. According to Apple, industry figures show tap-to-pay acceptance has reached roughly 85% among U.S. retailers. Rather than building a preferred alternative, the proprietary QR checkout became a friction point for mobile-first shoppers.
According to a memo obtained by 9to5Mac, the rollout will not happen everywhere at once. The outlet reported a phased state-by-state schedule beginning with Arkansas on Aug. 24-31, expanding to West Coast markets in early September and blanketing the country in phases through mid-October.
The upgraded point-of-sale terminals will process Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, contactless credit and debit cards, and supported contactless EBT cards.
Walmart Pay is not going away
The arrival of Apple Pay and Google Pay does not mean Walmart is abandoning Walmart Pay. The retailer specifically described Tap to Pay as an addition to existing options such as cash, cards and Walmart Pay.
That gives shoppers more flexibility, but it also creates a direct choice between Walmart’s QR-code payment system and the digital wallets many consumers already use elsewhere.
Walmart Pay has remained useful to the retailer because it keeps payment activity inside its ecosystem and can connect shoppers with features such as electronic receipts and Walmart+ fuel savings. Sam’s Club also offers Scan & Go, allowing members to scan and pay while shopping.
The retailer’s adoption of NFC payments removes one of the most notable gaps in U.S. mobile-wallet acceptance, while allowing the retailer to keep Walmart Pay alongside more widely used alternatives.
The immediate question for shoppers is when the upgrade reaches their local store. Walmart plans to expand tap-to-pay availability throughout 2026 before bringing the technology to fuel pumps by mid-2027.
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