Walmart, which has long resisted contactless Tap to Pay payments, says its stores will get the tech, which supports Apple Pay and Google Pay, by the end of 2026

Apparently, hell has frozen over. Walmart on Friday said it will finally accept payments via both Apple Pay and Google Pay at its stores, including Walmart and Sam's Club.

TechCrunch 2026-08-21 Sarah Perez

Context & Ripple Effects

Walmart built its mobile-checkout strategy around the launch of Walmart Pay and took it nationwide in 2016. It later explored adding outside wallets to that system, but the present move makes the major phone-wallet platforms available directly at Walmart and Sam's Club.

The shift brings Walmart closer to the checkout option set Costco had already deployed through its U.S. contactless rollout, making Walmart's prior resistance an increasingly conspicuous exception among large retailers.

First-order effects

Walmart and Sam's Club shoppers will be able to use Apple Pay and Google Pay once the rollout is complete, expanding payment choice beyond Walmart's proprietary wallet.
Apple Pay and Google Pay gain acceptance across Walmart's store networks, while Walmart must support contactless checkout alongside its established Walmart Pay service.

Second-order effects

Walmart's earlier effort to add external options to Walmart Pay now resolves in broader wallet interoperability, reducing the strategic distinction of a retailer-only mobile-payment path.
Costco's earlier contactless acceptance becomes a more relevant benchmark as Walmart removes a payment-option gap between the two warehouse and retail operators.

Third-order effects

If other large retailers follow Walmart's shift, proprietary retail wallets are likely to compete more on loyalty and in-app commerce than on exclusive access to the physical checkout lane.

The trend: Large retailers are moving from proprietary mobile-payment exclusivity toward interoperable contactless checkout that accommodates dominant device wallets.

Discussion

Amanda Aguilar Amanda Aguilar on linkedin
Tap to Pay is coming to Walmart and Sam's Club! I've only been on this side of Walmart for a short time, but one thing that continues to amaze me is the SCALE behind the technology we build. …
@harrymccracken.com Harry McCracken on bluesky
Wouldn't it have been simpler for everyone involved to have done this many years ago? — (I was relieved when Home Depot, another holdout, finally implemented mobile payments last year.) https://9to5mac.com/2026/08/21/ walmart-finally-launching-apple-pay- support-next-week/
Drew Nagle Drew Nagle on linkedin
Exciting news for Sam's Club Mastercard cardholders: Tap to Pay is coming to select Sam's Club locations beginning Aug. 24, with plans to expand more broadly over time. …
r/AppleWallet r on reddit
Walmart is finally launching Apple Pay support next week
@caseym.org Casey Morell on bluesky
thought this day would never come: walmart is adding apple pay in stores
@walmart @walmart on x
@MacRumors trust that this is as big for me as it is for you
Ed Hernandez Ed Hernandez on linkedin
Today is a big day for our customers. Tap to Pay is coming to Walmart and Sam's Club! — Customers and members will be able to user their contactless card …
@Moltz@mastodon.social John Moltz on mastodon
“When we think about convenience, we think about a lot of things, but making customers wait 12 years to be able to use Apple Pay is a big part. Oh, our convenience, not theirs. Sorry, should have said that up front.” https://corporate.walmart.com/ ...
r/googlenews r on reddit
Tap to pay with Google Pay is coming to Walmart.

Chronicles