Walmart has started accepting tap-to-pay after previously declining to do so for eleven years.

      Walmart is introducing tap-to-pay at its checkout counters starting Monday, marking the end of over a decade of resisting this technology. However, the retailer has not explicitly stated this in its announcement, which does not mention Apple at all. The rollout is set to begin in select Walmart stores and Sam’s Club locations on August 24, with all U.S. stores and clubs expected to have the feature by the end of 2026, followed by fuel stations by mid-2027. Customers will be able to use eligible contactless cards, phones, or smartwatches for payments.

      For most retailers, this might be a minor detail, but given that Walmart is the largest retailer globally, its past refusal of contactless payment has been noteworthy. The announcement does not refer to Apple Pay or Google Pay by name but only mentions “contactless payment methods,” listing cash, credit cards, and Walmart Pay as the options. Customers can also add Walmart, Sam’s Club, and OnePay cards to their digital wallets.

      In contrast, Google did not hesitate to clarify its role, publishing a post on the same day titled "Tap to pay with Google Pay is coming to Walmart," confirming the timeline and naming the retailer. Apple has remained silent on the matter, though a Walmart spokesperson confirmed to Business Insider that both Apple Pay and Google Pay will be accepted. Reports also suggest that Samsung Wallet will be included, although Walmart has chosen not to mention these brands directly.

      Walmart previously attempted to undermine Apple Pay by joining other major retailers to create CurrentC, a competing mobile payment platform that ultimately failed and shut down in 2016. After briefly accepting Apple Pay following its 2014 launch, Walmart chose to discontinue it in favor of Walmart Pay, which requires shoppers to load a card into Walmart’s app and scan a QR code at the register. This system also allows Walmart to track customer purchases, unlike traditional card payments.

      Walmart Pay will continue to coexist with the new tap-to-pay option, with the company emphasizing it first among payment alternatives. According to TechCrunch, Apple Pay is now accepted by 85% of U.S. retailers, with Walmart being one of the notable exceptions until now. Other retailers like Kroger and Home Depot also resisted for some time but eventually accepted Apple Pay. Interestingly, Walmart has accepted Apple Pay in its Canadian locations for the past six years, while still refusing it in the U.S.

      Public pressure has played a role in this change, especially highlighted when YouTuber MrBeast could not find a tap option at a Walmart checkout last year. The resistance to contactless payment was never based on hardware limitations, as contactless card readers have been commonplace for years. Instead, Walmart Pay keeps transactions within its own ecosystem, providing the company with data that simple bank card transactions do not yield. This data supports the company's broader financial services offerings, such as savings options and credit-building programs.

      As Walmart expands on its payment options, the industry is also shifting towards new avenues. Synchrony recently expressed interest in integrating store cards into ChatGPT to facilitate transactions with an AI agent, and Google’s announcement connects the Walmart deal to advancements in agentic commerce. Regulatory bodies are also paying attention, as the UK’s competition authority proposed allowing developers to redirect users away from Apple and Google payment systems. Notably, Apple's payments division is undergoing leadership changes, with the retirement of Jennifer Bailey, who introduced Apple Pay, just as Walmart signs on with alternative payment options.

      Walmart presents this change as a matter of increasing consumer choice rather than a reversal of policy. The company states that it aims to provide customers and members with more options for managing their money and simplifying the checkout experience. The announcement also promotes this initiative alongside Sam’s Club's Scan and Go feature, which enables members to scan items while shopping and bypass the checkout line altogether.

      Details about which specific stores will be the first to implement this change and how many will be included are still unclear. The rollout is expected to start Monday at selected locations, but no target for scaling has been provided. The announcement also refrains from naming any digital wallets, with confirmations for Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Wallet coming from external sources rather than Walmart itself. Furthermore, it is still unknown whether Walmart's electric vehicle charging stations will accept contactless payments, as the fuel station timeline does not address this. The company has not offered any explanation for its long-standing resistance to contactless payments, nor has any executive commented in the announcement.