Walmart announced on August 21, 2026, that it will begin accepting Apple Pay (and other contactless/tap-to-pay methods, including Google Pay) after more than a decade as one of the last major U.S. holdouts.
The company is framing the change as expanding customer choice at checkout, while continuing to promote its own options.
The Announcement and Timeline
In an official statement, Walmart said it wants customers and members “to have choice in how they pay, so they can check out in the way that works best for them.” It described Tap to Pay as “a great addition to the other payment options already offered like cash, credit card or Walmart Pay.”
- Start date: Beginning August 24, 2026, at select Walmart stores and Sam’s Club locations.
- Full U.S. stores and clubs: Expected by the end of 2026.
- Fuel stations: By mid-2027.
A detailed internal memo obtained by 9to5Mac outlined a phased, state-by-state rollout (subject to change if issues arise). It begins in Arkansas (Aug. 24–31), followed by groups of states starting in mid-September and continuing into mid-October (covering the Northeast, including New York, Pennsylvania, and others around Oct. 12). Missouri was notably absent from the listed schedule.
What Will Be Supported
This is broader contactless (“Tap to Pay”) support, not limited to Apple Pay. Customers will be able to use:
- Apple Pay (iPhone and Apple Watch)
- Google Pay and Samsung Pay
- Contactless-enabled credit/debit cards
- Supported payment-enabled smartwatches/wearables
- Supported contactless EBT cards
Shoppers can also add eligible Walmart, Sam’s Club, and OnePay cards to digital wallets like Apple Wallet. Existing methods—including cash, traditional cards, Walmart Pay (the QR-code system in the Walmart app), and Sam’s Club Scan & Go—will remain available.
Some reports indicate the options will also apply on Walmart’s websites and apps, though the official announcement focused primarily on in-store/club checkout.
Historical Context: Why Walmart Resisted for So Long
Apple Pay launched in 2014. Walmart (and other retailers) pushed back against NFC-based systems like Apple Pay and Google Pay for years. Key reasons included:
- Preference for proprietary systems that kept more control over customer data, rewards, promotions, and transaction insights.
- Avoiding intermediary fees (even if small, they add up at Walmart’s scale).
- Promoting its own ecosystem.
Walmart and other big retailers backed the failed CurrentC (a QR-code alternative aimed at competing with Apple Pay), which was shut down in 2016 after technical problems and poor adoption. Walmart then launched its own QR-based Walmart Pay in 2016 and stuck with it (along with Scan & Go at Sam’s Club), even as Apple Pay reached about 85% of U.S. retailers. The company disabled NFC readers in U.S. stores, blocking not just digital wallets but also contactless physical cards. (Canadian Walmarts generally accepted Apple Pay earlier.)
Customer frustration was common—people frequently complained about the inconvenience, especially as tap-to-pay became the default expectation elsewhere. Walmart had doubled down on its approach as recently as the prior year.
Why the Change Now?
Walmart’s public messaging centers on convenience, more payment choice, and making everyday shopping (and money management via its financial services) easier. It has not given a detailed strategic explanation beyond that.
Outside analysis points to sustained customer demand (especially among younger shoppers accustomed to Apple Pay), competitive pressure as virtually all other major retailers adopted it, and the practical reality that proprietary alternatives never fully displaced the convenience of native digital wallets. Some coverage also noted the timing after recent softer earnings periods.
In short, after years of prioritizing its own systems and data advantages, Walmart is adapting to widespread customer preferences for standard contactless payments while keeping Walmart Pay and related tools in the mix. The phased rollout means availability will vary by location in the coming months—check your local store starting August 24 if you’re in an early state.
SOURCES:
Walmart admits it watches you shopping on other websites and tracks how you type
Walmart is finally getting Apple Pay — here’s when you can actually use it
Does Walmart have tap to pay? Apple Pay rollout explained
The rise of Tokenized Payments
