Walmart Tap to Pay Arrives: Apple Pay and Google Pay Now Accepted in U.S. Stores

Walmart announced on Friday that its long‑awaited Walmart Tap to Pay service will launch in U.S. stores, bringing Apple Pay and Google Pay to checkout lanes.

Walmart Tap to Pay expands to U.S. stores

Starting Monday, Aug. 24, select Walmart and Sam’s Club locations will accept NFC‑based contactless cards and smartphones. The retailer aims for ↑ 100% coverage across all U.S. outlets by year‑end, with fuel stations following by mid‑2027.

“Tap to Pay gives customers and members another familiar and convenient way to pay at checkout using contactless payment methods,” Walmart said.

Until now, U.S. shoppers were limited to cash, checks, gift cards, credit cards, EBT and the app‑only Walmart Pay, which relies on QR codes rather than NFC. Canadian Walmart stores have supported Tap to Pay since 2020, a move Walmart calls part of a broader effort to simplify money management Reuters.

Social‑media chatter on TikTok, Instagram and Reddit has long pressured the retailer; recent posts feature screenshots of users demanding Apple Pay support, overturning a decade‑old narrative that “it will never happen.”

Dispatch from: Julian Reed

Consumer Electronics Expert