For Walmart and Sam’s Club shoppers who have wondered for years why they couldn’t simply tap their phone or card at checkout — that’s about to change.
Walmart announced Friday that it will begin rolling out Tap to Pay at select Walmart and Sam’s Club locations beginning Monday, August 24. The company plans to expand the technology to all Walmart stores and Sam’s Club locations in the United States by the end of 2026. (Walmart News & Leadership)
The change means shoppers will eventually be able to make contactless payments using an eligible credit or debit card, smartphone or smartwatch.
And yes, that includes two options customers have been asking about for years: Apple Pay and Google Pay. (The Verge)
Why is this a big deal?
Walmart has been one of the most notable holdouts when it comes to traditional tap-to-pay technology. While contactless payments became commonplace at many other retailers, Walmart continued to rely heavily on Walmart Pay, which uses a QR code through the Walmart app rather than the NFC technology used by most tap-to-pay systems. (Axios)
That is now changing.
Customers will also be able to add eligible Walmart, Sam’s Club and OnePay cards to their digital wallets for contactless purchases. Existing payment methods aren’t going away — shoppers can still use cash, traditional credit cards and Walmart Pay. Sam’s Club members can also continue using Scan & Go. (Walmart News & Leadership)
What about the gas pumps?
Those will take a little longer.
Walmart says Tap to Pay is expected to reach all U.S. Walmart stores and Sam’s Club locations by the end of 2026, while the company’s fuel stations are scheduled to receive the technology by mid-2027. (Walmart News & Leadership)
Will Owasso get it Monday?
That part isn’t known yet.
The rollout begins at select locations on August 24, and Walmart has not released a complete list of the stores included in the first wave. So Owasso shoppers may want to keep an eye on the checkout terminals over the coming weeks.
Either way, after years of shoppers asking for it, one of the biggest remaining holdouts in retail is finally joining the Tap to Pay world.
So, Owasso — are you happy to see Tap to Pay finally coming to Walmart and Sam’s Club?
