Walmart and Sam’s Club to Begin Accepting Apple Pay and Google Pay
Retail giant Walmart announced on Friday that it will begin accepting mobile contactless payments through Apple Pay and Google Pay across its stores and Sam’s Club locations. The decision marks a major shift after years of relying primarily on its proprietary payment methods.
What Happened
Walmart confirmed that starting August 24, select Walmart stores and Sam’s Club locations will initiate the introduction of Tap to Pay functionality. This implementation will allow customers to complete purchases using popular mobile wallets including Apple Pay and Google Pay alongside existing checkout options.
The company announced that the feature is expected to expand across all Walmart stores and Sam’s Club outlets by the close of the year. Following the retail store integration, Walmart plans to bring Tap to Pay technology to all of its fuel stations by mid-2027.
Key Highlights
- Tap to Pay rollout begins August 24 at selected Walmart and Sam’s Club locations.
- All retail stores and club locations are scheduled to support the technology by the end of the year.
- Fuel stations operated by the retailer are slated to receive the feature by the middle of 2027.
- The rollout incorporates Apple Pay and Google Pay, ending Walmart’s long-standing refusal to adopt the contactless standards.
- Previous retailer-backed alternatives, including the shared CurrentC payment initiative, were shut down in 2016.
- Tap-to-pay systems such as Apple Pay are currently accepted across 85% of retail businesses in the United States.
Why This Matters
For several years, Walmart resisted adopting third-party tap-and-pay systems in favor of driving shopper adoption toward its own proprietary options, such as Walmart Pay and Scan-and-Go. Earlier, the retailer also collaborated with other merchants to develop an alternative mobile platform known as CurrentC, which ceased operations in 2016.
With contactless solutions like Apple Pay reaching an adoption rate of 85% across U.S. retailers, consumer demand for standard tap-and-pay capabilities at Walmart had grown consistently. In its official statement, Walmart framed the update around customer flexibility, stating: “Tap to Pay is a great addition to the other payment options already offered like cash, credit card or Walmart Pay…” The company added that “giving customers and members more choice at checkout is part of a broader effort to make managing and using their money easier.”
What to Watch Next
Shoppers can observe the initial rollout of Tap to Pay in select stores starting August 24. A broader rollout will continue through the remainder of the year to encompass all retail and club locations, followed by the planned implementation at fuel stations through the middle of 2027.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will Walmart start accepting Apple Pay and Google Pay?
The implementation begins August 24 at select Walmart stores and Sam’s Club locations, with full availability across all stores and clubs planned by the end of the year.
Will Sam’s Club and fuel stations also receive Tap to Pay?
Yes. Sam’s Club locations will receive the technology alongside Walmart stores this year, while fuel stations are scheduled to adopt Tap to Pay by the middle of 2027.
What will happen to existing payment options like Walmart Pay?
Walmart stated that Tap to Pay will serve as an addition to existing methods, functioning alongside options such as cash, credit cards, and Walmart Pay.
Source: TechCrunch, citing an announcement from Walmart Corporate.