Does Walmart Take Apple Pay in 2024? (Do This Instead…)

Walmart also doesn’t accept any other contactless mobile wallets like Google Pay or Samsung Pay.

Instead, Walmart uses its own digital payment wallet called Walmart Pay, which supports contactless payments at its stores.

This means that if you want to use your iPhone to pay at your local Walmart store or online at Walmart.com, you will have to install and use the Walmart Pay mobile app to do so.

Many contactless payment methods, such as Apple Pay, use Near Field Communication (NFC) to process contactless payments at the checkout. Walmart Pay instead uses QR codes.

I’ll cover how Walmart Pay works in more detail below.

Does Walmart take Apple Pay Online?

No, Walmart doesn’t accept Apple Pay online. So if you are shopping at Walmart.com, you won’t be able to use Apple Pay at the checkout.

Instead, you will be able to use other digital wallets like PayPal or Walmart Pay. So, these can work in a similar way to Apple Pay. With Walmart Pay, you can link your credit and debit cards to the app, just as you can with Apple Pay.

You can also use all of your regular debit or credit cards, as well as installment plans like Affirm when shopping online at Walmart.com.

Does Walmart take Apple Pay at Self-Checkout?

No, you can’t use Apple Pay at Walmart stores, including at the self-checkout.

Walmart won’t accept other similar services like Google Pay or Samsung Pay either. If you want to use a contactless payment option at Walmart, then you will need to use Walmart Pay.

You can download and install the Walmart app to use on your iPhone at the self-checkout, and Walmart Pay can also be used on Android phones.

Alternatively, you can use other payment options at the self-checkout, such as cash, credit cards, and debit cards.

Do Walmart gas stations take Apple Pay?

No, you can’t use Apple Pay at Walmart gas stations. You can, however, use your Walmart Pay app on your iPhone to pay for fuel at participating gas stations. You can find participating fuel stations with the Walmart app.

Walmart Apple Pay “Hack!”

While researching for this post, I came across a Reddit thread where someone claimed “I found a way to use Apple Pay at Walmart!“, explaining that you can technically use Apple Pay to pay for your Walmart purchases through the Ibotta app.

Here’s how to use Apple Pay at Walmart:

Step 1: Download the Ibotta app!

Step 2: Find the item you want to buy from Walmart on the iBotta app.

Step 3: Then choose Apple Pay as your payment option on the app when you are checking out in the store and show the QR code on the app to the cashier to get an instant 2% cashback while getting to pay with Apple Pay!

For those unfamiliar, iBotta is a cashback app that gives you 2% cashback on every purchase. You can read my full review of iBotta for more details. But it only works for certain stores and products.

Why Doesn’t Walmart Take Apple Pay?

Apple Pay is such a convenient payment method for those who have an iOS device like an iPhone, Apple Watch, or iPad, so why doesn’t Walmart accept it as a payment method?

Well, there are a few reasons why Walmart doesn’t accept Apple Pay and other digital wallets such as Samsung Pay and Google Pay.

Here’s why:

Walmart Pay

The main reason why Walmart doesn’t accept Apple Pay is that it has its own mobile payment wallet – Walmart Pay. Obviously, Walmart is going to want to promote its own digital wallet over those from other companies, such as Apple Pay and Samsung Pay, which it sees as competitors.

So, to encourage customers to use its own mobile payment wallet, Walmart doesn’t accept Apple Pay.

Consumer data

Another reason Walmart doesn’t use Apple Pay is that it would miss out on valuable consumer data if it did.

Through Walmart Pay, Walmart can get access to customer data, which it can use for marketing purposes.

For example, Walmart can use the app to track shoppers’ buying habits and target shoppers with personalized promotions or recommend items based on customers’ previous purchases.

Use of QR codes over NFC

Apple Pay uses NFC technology to support contactless checkout, and the Walmart payment system uses QR codes instead to process contactless payments.

This means that it doesn’t accept digital wallets like Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, or Google Pay. Instead, Walmart supports QR code technology.

Minimize transaction fees

Walmart also has to carefully decide on which payment methods it will accept because it wants to avoid processing fees and protect its margins.

What Payment Methods Does Walmart Accept?

Here’s what payments you can use at Walmart online and in-store.

In-store

Here’s how you can pay for your purchases in-store

• Activated Amex gift cards
• American Express
• Cash
• Checks
• EBT
• MasterCard
• Money orders
• Pin-based ATM or debit cards
• SNAP food stamps
• Visa
• Walmart Credit Card
• Walmart gift cards
• Walmart MoneyCard
• Walmart Pay

Online

You can use the following payment methods at Walmart.com:

• Affirm
• Amex Express Checkout
• Chase Pay
• Credit cards
• Debit cards
• EBT (you can use your EBT card online at Walmart in some states)
• PayPal
• Walmart credit cards
• Walmart gift cards
• Walmart Pay

How to Use Walmart Pay on Your iPhone

With Walmart Pay, you can securely store your credit card, debit card, or gift card, and pay quickly and easily using your phone.

Here’s how it works:

• Download the Walmart app on your iPhone. You can also download it on Android phones, making it a good alternative to Samsung Pay.
• Open the app and sign in.
• Tap Services, Walmart Pay, and add a credit card, debit card, or gift card.
• At the store, go to the checkout lane and scan items at the self-checkout counter or cash register.
• The machine or cashier will show you a QR code. Open the Walmart app and tap “Walmart Pay,” to scan the QR code.
• Once scanned, you’ll hear a chime as a confirmation that the transaction has been processed.
• Then, you can simply take your items and go, and you don’t even need to wait for a receipt because Walmart Pay doesn’t use a paper receipt. Instead, you get an e-receipt on your device.

Where is Apple Pay Accepted?

While you can use the Walmart Pay app as an alternative to Apple Pay, it might not be for everyone. Many people still find it more convenient to use their Apple Pay – and if you are one of those people, you’ll need to shop at a different store since Walmart doesn’t accept this payment method.

Thankfully, Apple Pay is accepted at more than 85% of retailers in the United States, so you’ll have plenty of places to use it.

A few places that accept Apple Pay include:

• Acme Markets
• Albertsons
• Best Buy
• Costco
• DoorDash
• Food Maxx
• Instacart
• Meijer
• Publix
• Safeway
• Save Mart
• Schnucks
• Shop N Save
• Target
• Trader Joe’s
• Walgreens
• White Castle
• Whole Foods Market
• Winn-Dixie

You can use Apple Pay in stores that have the contactless payment symbol or the Apple Pay symbol.

Also, you can search for Apple Pay in Maps to see nearby grocery stores and other retailers, like Dollar General, that accept Apple Pay.

Here’s how:

• Open up Maps on your iPhone.
• Then, type “grocery store nearby” or “supermarket nearby” into the search bar.
• A list of grocery stores will appear, so choose the store you want.
• Tap “Useful to Know,” and you’ll get details on whether Apple Pay is accepted at that particular store or not.

Final Thoughts

Unfortunately, Walmart is not one of the places that take Apple Pay. However  you can still use Walmart Pay which works in a similar way. With Walmart Pay, you can use your iPhone to pay for purchases at Walmart.

And as I’ve explained, while officially Walmart doesn’t accept Apple Pay, there is a workaround that lets you pay at Walmart with Apple Pay!