Walmart to accept Apple Pay, Google Pay in US stores

After years of resisting the industry standard, Walmart is finally adding tap-to-pay options for shoppers in the United States. The retail giant announced it will begin accepting Apple Pay, Google Pay, and other contactless payment methods at select Walmart and Sam's Club locations starting Monday, August 24, 2026. This marks the end of Walmart's long-standing status as a major holdout for the technology used by the majority of American consumers.

The rollout will begin next week at an initial set of stores and clubs. Walmart has stated that all U.S. Walmart and Sam's Club locations are expected to support tap-to-pay by the end of 2026. The expansion will continue into the following year, with plans to add the contactless payment technology to all Walmart fuel stations by mid-2027. The change will allow customers to use digital wallets on phones and smartwatches, as well as tap physical contactless credit and debit cards, at compatible checkout terminals.

Walmart's decision brings it in line with other major retailers like Target, Kroger, Home Depot, and Lowe's that had previously adopted contactless payments after initial resistance. For years, Walmart deliberately excluded...