Walmart is officially enabling tap-to-pay with Apple Pay, Google Pay, and other NFC systems at select U.S. Walmart and Sam’s Club stores after more than a decade of blocking the payment type. The move makes Walmart the last major U.S. retailer to begin accepting tap-to-pay, which is accepted by around 85% of U.S. retailers.
Why was Walmart so anti tap-to-pay?
Walmart has avoided allowing tap-to-pay from major digital wallets to favor adoption of its own solution, Walmart Pay, which is built into the Walmart app. It also let Walmart keep control of the checkout data, since a customer paying through the Walmart app hands its purchase history to Walmart rather than routing it through Apple or Google.
I’ve actually used Walmart Pay in the past, and it was a lifesaver when I forgot my physical wallet, but if it didn’t exist, I would’ve just used my Google Pay instead, which already had my card info saved. Walmart Pay doesn’t really add any unique value to my life beyond that one experience, because who needs a digital wallet per store? What is this, Starbucks?
Tap to Pay starts today, August 24, at select Walmart stores and Sam’s Club locations, expands to all U.S. stores and clubs by the end of 2026, and reaches fuel stations by mid-2027.
The reversal landed one day after Walmart posted its weakest U.S. comp growth in six-plus years, which may or may not have been related. I can’t imagine that people weren’t shopping at Walmart because they didn’t accept Apple Pay, but maybe those edge cases add up when doing over $700B in sales per year.
If nothing else, the decision will make the lives of cashiers easier, who don’t have to repeatedly say to customers, “Sorry, we don’t accept Apple Pay.”
