Why Did Walmart Finally Accept Apple Pay After 12 Years?
For nearly 12 years, one of America's largest retailers refused to accept one of America's most popular ways to pay. Apple Pay launched in 2014 . Walmart kept saying no. Until now. On August 21, 2026, Walmart announced that Tap to Pay is finally coming to its U.S. stores and Sam's Club locations. The rollout begins at select locations on August 24 , with Walmart planning to expand the technology across all U.S. stores and clubs by the end of 2026. Fuel stations are expected to follow by mid-2027. That means customers will finally be able to tap a contactless card, phone or smartwatch to pay at Walmart. And yes — that includes: Apple Pay. So the interesting question is no longer: Does Walmart accept Apple Pay? It's: Why did Walmart resist it for almost 12 years? And why did it finally change its mind? Walmart Already Had Its Own Way to Pay For years, Walmart didn't simply ignore mobile payments. It built its own. Walmart Pay works differently ...