Walmart is ending its long-standing resistance to NFC-based contactless payments, announcing that it will begin accepting Google Pay and Apple Pay at its checkout terminals. The rollout is scheduled to commence on August 24, 2026, at select Walmart and Sam’s Club locations across the United States.
The company plans a phased expansion of this technology, aiming to have tap-to-pay functionality active in all U.S. Walmart stores and Sam’s Club warehouses by the end of 2026. Following the in-store deployment, the retailer intends to extend contactless payment support to its fuel stations and Murphy USA pumps by mid-2027.
For over a decade, Walmart remained a notable holdout among major U.S. retailers regarding NFC adoption. The company previously funneled customers toward its proprietary Walmart Pay system, which utilizes QR codes scanned within the retailer's own mobile application. This approach allowed the company to maintain tighter control over transaction data and purchasing habits within its internal ecosystem.
Despite the new integration, Walmart stated that it will continue to support existing payment methods, including cash, physical credit and debit cards, and the Walmart Pay QR-based system. The addition of tap-to-pay applies to eligible contactless cards, smartphones, and smartwatches, including those using Google Wallet or Apple Pay.
The shift toward industry-standard contactless payments follows similar moves by other major retailers like Target, Kroger, and The Home Depot. Walmart’s decision to modernize its checkout experience reflects a broader industry trend toward prioritizing customer convenience and leveraging the established muscle memory of shoppers who frequently use mobile wallets.