Walmart will accept Apple Pay and Google Pay, starting August 24

# What changed Walmart announced it will start accepting Apple Pay and Google Pay via tap-to-pay. The feature begins at "select" Walmart and Sam's Club locations on August 24, 2026, expands to all U.S. stores by the end of 2026, and will reach Walmart gas stations by mid-2027.

# Why this matters Walmart was one of the last major U.S. retailers to resist NFC-based mobile wallets. The company previously promoted its own solutions: it backed the short-lived CurrentC project and launched Walmart Pay in 2016, which uses QR codes at checkout. Accepting Apple Pay and Google Pay aligns Walmart with the contactless payment options already used widely across other retailers.

# What Walmart is saying Walmart's announcement frames the move as giving shoppers more choice at checkout. The company stated, "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," and described tap-to-pay as an addition to existing options like cash, credit cards, and Walmart Pay.

# What stays the same Existing payment methods won't disappear. Cash, chip cards, Walmart Pay, and Sam's Club Scan & Go will continue to be available alongside the new tap-to-pay capability. The company's QR-based Walmart Pay system — introduced in 2016 and still operational — remains an option.

# Timeline and scope

• August 24, 2026: Tap-to-pay active at select Walmart and Sam's Club locations.
• End of 2026: Tap-to-pay available at all U.S. Walmart and Sam's Club stores.
• Mid-2027: Tap-to-pay support extended to Walmart gas stations.

# Practical implications for shoppers If you already use Apple Pay or Google Pay, you will soon be able to tap your phone or contactless card at Walmart registers instead of scanning a QR code or using a physical card. For shoppers who prefer Walmart Pay or other methods, those options will still be supported. The change should speed up checkout for customers who rely on contactless payments and reduce friction for those who avoided Walmart because it lacked NFC support.

# Background context

# What to watch next

# Bottom line Walmart is adding mainstream mobile wallet support after years of holding out. The rollout starts August 24 and will reach all U.S. stores by year-end 2026, leaving customers with more payment choices while preserving Walmart's existing payment options.