Walmart will begin accepting tap-to-pay methods, including Apple Pay and Google Pay, across its U.S. stores. This decision reverses a long-standing strategy of using the proprietary QR-based Walmart Pay system to maintain data control and avoid transaction fees.
The rollout begins at select Walmart and Sam’s Club locations on August 24, 2026. All U.S. stores are scheduled to support the technology by the end of 2026. Support for fuel stations is expected to follow by mid-2027.
This move aligns Walmart with major retail competitors that have already adopted NFC-based contactless payments.