Walmart to expand tap-to-pay in the US, with Google Pay and Apple Pay among the options

Walmart is moving to broaden contactless payment options across its US footprint, starting with a phased rollout of tap-to-pay at select stores. The retailer plans to begin offering the feature on Aug. 24, with the company targeting a wider, nationwide rollout by the end of the year.

The update is expected to apply to both Walmart stores and Sam’s Club locations, two of the company’s largest US retail banners. Tap-to-pay typically refers to customers paying by holding a contactless-enabled card or mobile device near a reader at checkout, reducing the need to insert or swipe a card.

In addition to general tap-to-pay availability, the report indicates Walmart is adding Google Pay to its checkout options. Google Pay is a mobile wallet service that enables eligible customers to pay using a phone at contactless terminals, typically through the Near Field Communication (NFC) capability built into many smartphones and payment cards.

Apple Pay also appears to be part of the plan, according to the same report. Apple Pay is Apple’s mobile wallet service, allowing customers to pay in-store using an iPhone, Apple Watch, or other supported devices at terminals that recognize contactless payments. The report does not provide detail on how Apple Pay will be enabled, beyond that it is “in the mix.”

For Apple, the value of in-store wallet support is closely tied to device stickiness and recurring consumer usage. When more large retailers enable multiple wallet providers, customers are more likely to use their primary device at checkout instead of switching to a physical card, which can matter for both transaction frequency and overall customer experience.

For Walmart and the broader retail payments landscape, expanding wallet compatibility is increasingly about friction reduction. As more shoppers become accustomed to tap-to-pay, the speed and reliability of mobile checkout can influence satisfaction, basket completion, and the perceived convenience of a retailer’s in-store experience.

The report does not spell out whether Walmart’s tap-to-pay rollout will include additional wallet providers beyond Google Pay and Apple Pay, nor does it specify which payment terminals in participating locations will be updated first. It also does not describe whether customers will need to use specific devices or account setups, or whether any fallback methods will change at those stores.

What to watch next is whether Walmart provides a more granular implementation timeline, such as which markets receive the feature in the initial phase and how quickly it spreads from early locations to the full nationwide network. In parallel, investors and industry observers are likely to track whether Walmart’s approach aligns with what other major US retailers have been doing: expanding contactless support and adding mobile wallet choices that match consumer expectations at checkout.