Walmart to Accept Apple Pay and Google Pay Starting August 24 After Years of Resistance

Walmart will start accepting Apple Pay and Google Pay at select Walmart and Sam's Club stores on August 24. The company plans to expand support to all locations by the end of 2026, with fuel stations following by mid-2027.

Walmart has not given a reason for the change, but the company's recent stock performance is a likely factor. Walmart has been one of Apple Pay's biggest holdouts since the NFC payment system launched in 2014.

Walmart's Long Resistance to Apple Pay and Google Pay

After Apple Pay launched, Walmart and several other retailers supported an alternative called CurrentC. Unlike Apple Pay, it used QR codes rather than NFC. CurrentC was hacked before its public launch and failed to gain traction.

Walmart continued to reject Apple Pay and Google Pay as recently as last year. In the press release announcing the change, the company still promoted Walmart Pay as its preferred option.

Walmart and other former CurrentC backers have not given clear reasons for resisting Apple Pay and Google Pay. Many observers believe customer data was the main concern. Contactless payment systems use biometrics to authenticate purchases and do not share full credit card details with retailers.

Critics say Walmart used CurrentC and Walmart Pay to collect customer data for marketing and possible resale. Payments made through Apple Pay and Google Pay are more anonymous, which limits data collection.

Walmart's Contactless Payment Rollout and Possible Business Pressure

Walmart's decision comes after weak earnings reports in May and earlier this month. The company's stock price is now at its lowest point in nine months. Poor earnings guidance in May led to Walmart's worst single-day stock drop since 2023.

The stock fell nearly 9 percent this week after same-store sales growth missed expectations. Analysts often view Walmart's same-store sales as an indicator of US household spending.

Apple Pay and Google Pay will be available at select Walmart and Sam's Club stores starting August 24. The rollout will reach all locations by the end of 2026, with fuel stations added by mid-2027.

Walmart has not said why it is making the change or which stores will get support first. The company continues to promote Walmart Pay along with the new contactless options.

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