Walmart Checkout: You can now use Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Wallet
Walmart is finally giving customers a long-demanded payment method at checkout. The company announced it will add "Tap to Pay" options that support Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Wallet at select Walmart and Sam's Club locations starting Monday, August 24. The rollout is expected to reach all U.S. Walmart and Sam's Club stores by the end of 2026, with fuel stations getting the feature by mid-2027.
The move ends years of Walmart holding out on contactless payments in favor of its own QR-code-based Walmart Pay system (like Walmart Pay and Scan-and-Go), which will remain functional alongside the new tap-to-pay system. Customers will also be able to add eligible Walmart, Sam's Club, and OnePay cards to their digital wallets.
Related: How to set up and use Google Wallet on a Samsung Galaxy Watch.
Walmart didn't name the specific payment services the new tap-to-pay system will support in the press release published on the company's official website, but Apple Insider clarified that it's confirmed with Walmart that Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Wallet will all work with the new system. According to TechCrunch, Walmart customers have pleaded with the company to add modern tap-and-pay technology support at its checkout.
Walmart prefers its customers to commit to using its own payment system (including scanning the Walmart Pay QR code) so that it'll be able to track and monitor consumer spending habits and schedules better. However, the integration of other payment methods now reads like a defeat for the company, because it had to admit that resisting the growing adoption of Apple Pay was putting Walmart itself at a disadvantage.
Apple Pay has grown to the extent that it is now accepted at 85% of retailers across the U.S. Even Walmart, which has rejected the payment system for so long in the U.S., has supported and accepted it in Canada stores for up to six years now.
Note that Walmart hasn't rejected Apple Pay in the US the whole time; when Apple Pay first launched on October 20, 2014, Walmart accepted it briefly and later cut it off to focus mainly on Walmart Pay. In fact, the company partnered with other big retailers in an attempt to take down Apple Pay entirely with an alternative mobile payment system of their own, called CurrentC. But their attempt failed and CurrentC was shut down in 2016.
Now, Walmart is saying “giving customers and members more choice at checkout is part of a broader effort to make managing and using their money easier. Walmart’s financial services help customers and members manage their money and everyday financial needs, including options to save, build credit and pay over time. At Sam’s Club, members have access to Sam’s Cash and Sam’s Club credit, with opportunities to earn Sam’s Cash through qualifying purchases and programs.”
Related: Google adds tap-to-pay pocket money balance with parental control to Wallet.
How to use Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Wallet in Walmart
Now that Walmart now accepts Google Wallet, Apple Pay, and Samsung Wallet through tap-to-pay payment system, using any of the digital wallet in Walmart stores, Sam's Club, and fuel stations is simple and easy. Let's get into it:
- First of all, you need to add your card to your digital wallet. To do that, open your phone's wallet app (be it Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, or Samsung Wallet) and add an eligible debit or credit card. You can also add your Walmart, Sam's Club, or OnePay card directly.
- Once you're done adding your card to your wallet, you can then use the digital wallet for payment at Walmart. After you're done picking your items or fueling your car, just head to the checkout, unlock your phone or smartwatch and use face ID, a fingerprint, or your passcode to authenticate the payment.
- At this point, you will be required to tap your device on the payment terminal. Next, hold your phone or watch near the contactless symbol until you feel a vibration or see a checkmark.
The payment will be successful instantly. You don't even need to open an app, scan a QR code, or hand over your card. This also works at self-checkout lanes, and at fuel pumps but at the time of publishing this article, the feature is still rolling out to fuel stations and the rollout will complete in mid-2027.
Related: Samsung plans to add stablecoin support to its Digital Wallet.
How Walmart Pay (QR Code) Still Works
Walmart said its payment system isn't going away. I mean, Walmart can never let it go away that easily with it previous attempt to over shadow Apple Pay. The company said Walmart Pay will keep running alongside the Tap to Pay options for customers who prefer it. Here's how to continue using the Walmart Pay QR Code:
- Open the Walmart app and add a payment card to your account.
- At checkout, tap "Walmart Pay" in the app to generate a QR code.
- Scan the QR code at the terminal to complete your payment.
Lastly, you can also use “Scan and Go” at Sam's Club if you're a Sam's Club members to skip the checkout line entirely. To do that, open the Sam's Club app and scan each item's barcode as you shop. After that, you can proceed to make payment directly in the app without any further procedures of registering a Walmart Pay account.
Related: Samsung Galaxy Card vs Apple Card.
| Method | Speed | Requires App? | Available Now? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tap to Pay (Apple/Google/Samsung) | Fastest | No | Select stores from Aug 24, 2026 |
| Walmart Pay (QR code) | Moderate | Yes | Yes, all stores |
| Scan & Go (Sam's Club) | Fastest overall | Yes | Yes, Sam's Club only |
If you get value from this article, don't hesitate to share with your family and friends who love to shop on Walmart and at the same time love to use Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Wallet for shopping.
