Photo credit: Walmart (X)
Walmart is finally bringing Tap to Pay to its U.S. stores. The rollout begins Aug. 24 at select Walmart and Sam’s Club locations.
The change will let shoppers pay with eligible contactless cards, phones and smartwatches. Walmart plans to expand the feature to every U.S. Walmart and Sam’s Club location by the end of 2026. Fuel stations are expected to follow by mid 2027.
For shoppers who already use contactless payments elsewhere, the change could make checkout feel more familiar.
Walmart Tap to Pay begins with select stores
The first phase starts Monday. However, Walmart has not identified which stores will receive the feature first. That means shoppers may see different payment options depending on their local store. The company expects the full U.S. rollout to finish by the end of the year.
Customers will be able to hold an eligible contactless card near the payment terminal. Compatible phones and smartwatches will also work. The change removes the need to insert or swipe a card when using a supported contactless payment method.
Digital wallets are part of the rollout
Google has confirmed that Google Pay will work as Walmart introduces Tap to Pay. Shoppers can add a preferred card to Google Wallet and use it at participating locations.
Walmart also says eligible Walmart, Sam’s Club and OnePay cards can be added to supported digital wallets.
OnePay has also expanded Apple Pay support for its CashRewards Card. Its Builder Card is expected to gain Apple Wallet support later this fall. Still, Walmart has not listed every digital wallet that will work with its new payment system. That leaves some details open as the rollout begins.
Walmart Pay is staying
The new payment option does not replace Walmart Pay. Customers can continue using Walmart Pay. Sam’s Club members can also keep using Scan & Go, which lets them scan products and pay through the Sam’s Club app. That gives shoppers several ways to complete a purchase.
For now, the biggest change is simple. Walmart is adding a payment method that many shoppers already use at other retailers. The first stores begin the rollout Aug. 24. By the end of 2026, Walmart expects Tap to Pay to reach its U.S. stores and Sam’s Club locations nationwide.
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