Walmart Finally Starts Accepting Apple Pay and Google Pay

Walmart, one of the world’s largest retail chains, has officially announced that it will introduce Apple Pay and Google Pay payment systems in its stores after years of resistance. According to ixbt.com, this change is an important step toward greater convenience for shoppers and shows that the company was forced to change its position. Techcrunch.com reports .

According to the company’s statement, contactless payments via "Tap to Pay" will be gradually introduced at selected Walmart and Sam’s Club stores starting August 24 of this year. The new service is expected to cover all retail locations nationwide by the end of 2024.

After that, the convenience is planned to launch at all company-owned gas stations by mid-2027. This will provide millions of shoppers with an important option that had been unavailable for years.

The History of Independent Payment Systems

The decision came as a major surprise in the retail world, as Walmart had rejected popular digital wallets and instead promoted its own solutions, such as Walmart Pay and Scan-and-Go. In the past, it even attempted to create an alternative payment system called CurrentC with other major retailers to compete with Apple Pay.

However, the effort failed and was shut down as early as 2016. Despite this, Walmart’s leadership continued to favor its own systems, while shoppers never stopped demanding modern contactless payment methods that had already become standard at other major retail chains in the United States.

Market Demands and Customer Choice

Today, Apple Pay and similar technologies are successfully used at 85% of retail locations in the United States, including most major stores. Walmart’s move is being viewed as a notable defeat, as the company was ultimately forced to admit that it had been putting its own customers at a disadvantage.

Company representatives are trying to present the news as an effort to give consumers greater freedom. “Tap to Pay is an excellent addition to cash, credit cards, Walmart Pay and other payment methods, giving shoppers more choice at checkout,” the company said in a statement.