Walmart Apple Pay and Google Pay Finally Arrive at Stores

Walmart is adding support for Walmart Apple Pay and Google Pay at its U.S. stores and Sam’s Club locations, ending its long-standing reliance on proprietary checkout options for mobile payments. The rollout begins August 24 at select locations, with nationwide coverage planned by the end of 2026.

Walmart Opens Checkout to Mobile Wallets

The new payment option will allow shoppers to use eligible contactless cards, phones, and smartwatches at participating Walmart and Sam’s Club locations. Google separately confirmed that Google Pay will be available at select stores starting next week, with the same planned expansion to all U.S. stores and clubs by the end of 2026.

The move adds Walmart Contactless payment to an existing mix that includes cash, credit cards, Walmart Pay and, at Sam’s Club, Scan & Go. Walmart also said eligible Walmart, Sam’s Club and OnePay cards can be added to digital wallets.

A Major Shift from Walmart’s Own Payment Tools

Walmart has historically promoted its own mobile checkout tools rather than supporting NFC-based wallets. Its strategy included Walmart Pay, while the retailer was also involved with Merchant Customer Exchange, or MCX, which developed CurrentC as an alternative to Apple Pay and other mobile payment services. CurrentC ultimately failed to achieve a national rollout and its beta program was closed in 2016.

That history makes the new Walmart Digital payments strategy notable. Instead of requiring shoppers to use a retailer-specific application, the company will support widely used wallet-based payment methods alongside its existing services. Apple says Apple Pay is accepted at more than 85% of U.S. retailers and works wherever contactless payments are accepted.

Rollout Timeline and Business Implications

The initial deployment begins August 24 at select Walmart stores and Sam’s Club locations in the United States. Walmart expects the capability to reach all U.S. stores and clubs by the end of 2026. The company then plans to extend tap-to-pay functionality to its fuel stations by mid-2027.

For retailers, the change reflects the growing importance of supporting established digital wallets at physical checkout. The addition of Walmart NFC payments gives customers another option while Walmart continues operating Walmart Pay and Scan & Go. Google said the Google Pay rollout is part of its ongoing partnership with Walmart.

Walmart described the change as an effort to give customers and members more payment choice. The company stated, “Tap to Pay is a great addition to the other payment options already offered like cash, credit card or Walmart Pay.” Walmart corporate announcement

For business leaders, the rollout signals a shift toward broader payment interoperability at one of the largest U.S. retail networks. It also puts third-party mobile wallets alongside Walmart’s proprietary payment ecosystem, giving customers more flexibility at checkout while maintaining the company’s existing digital payment services.