Walmart announced that select stores and Sam’s Club locations in the United States will begin offering tap-to-pay options, including Apple Pay and Google Pay, starting Monday.
The move marks a major shift for the retailer, which had previously relied on its own Walmart Pay system that required customers to scan QR codes at checkout.
More payment options for customers
Walmart said the decision is aimed at giving shoppers more flexibility and making the checkout experience easier.
“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,” the company said in a statement.
The rollout will include full tap-to-pay functionality, allowing customers to use popular digital wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Technology rollout across Walmart stores
Walmart has not disclosed which stores or cities will receive the feature first, but the company plans to expand tap-to-pay availability to all Walmart stores and Sam’s Club locations by the end of the year.
The company also expects its fuel stations to support tap-to-pay by mid-2027.
Why Walmart avoided tap-to-pay
For years, Walmart was one of the largest retailers in the United States that did not support contactless payment options from Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Instead, the company promoted its own payment solutions, including Walmart Pay and Scan & Go at Sam’s Club locations.
Many customers had repeatedly requested Apple Pay support, which is already available at a large majority of retailers across the country.
Walmart’s previous mobile payment strategy
Walmart previously worked with other retailers to develop an alternative mobile payment system called CurrentC during the 2010s.
The technology was created as a competing option to Apple Pay but was eventually discontinued in 2016.
The adoption of tap-to-pay represents a new direction for Walmart as the company moves toward broader payment flexibility and a more convenient checkout experience.
