Walmart announced on August 21 that it will start accepting Apple Pay in select U.S. Walmart and Sam’s Club stores, effective Monday, August 24. The retailer plans to roll out tap‑to‑pay support to all U.S. locations by the end of 2026 and to its gas stations by mid‑2027.

The decision follows customer feedback and aligns Walmart with other major U.S. retailers such as Home Depot, Lowe’s, Kroger and H‑E‑B, which have already adopted NFC tap‑to‑pay options. Walmart previously relied on its own Walmart Pay system, which requires scanning a QR code, but will now also support Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay and tap‑to‑pay with physical credit or debit cards.

In a press release, Walmart said it wants to give customers and members choice in how they pay. Apple Pay, launched in 2014, allows users to make purchases by holding an iPhone or Apple Watch near a terminal, with the actual card number hidden during the transaction. Existing payment methods, including Walmart Pay, will remain available.

Walmart has accepted Apple Pay in its Canadian stores since 2020 and is evaluating a similar rollout in Mexico. The expansion is scheduled to be completed across all U.S. stores by the end of 2026, with gas‑station integration expected by mid‑2027.