Walmart has over 4,500 stores in the United States. It is the world’s largest retailer. As of 2026, Walmart stores do not accept Apple Pay at in-store checkouts. Walmart does not accept any form of NFC tap-to-pay, including Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, or even contactless credit and debit cards. In other words, the NFC functionality on Walmart’s payment terminals is disabled.
Walmart does not accept Apple Pay because they want people to use their own mobile payment system, Walmart Pay. Walmart Pay is a QR code-based system designed exclusively for Walmart shoppers. One common misconception is that Walmart refuses Apple Pay to avoid fees — this is not true. There are no additional fees for a business to accept Apple Pay. Apple’s fee is typically charged to the issuing banks, not the retailer. The primary reason appears to be that Walmart wants to control customer transaction data and purchase history, which is easier to do through their own payment system.
The only mobile payment that Walmart takes in the U.S. is Walmart Pay. You can, however, use Walmart Pay with your iPhone. Here is how:
- Walmart Pay requires the Walmart app. Download the Walmart app from the App Store on your iPhone.
- Open the Walmart app on your iPhone.
- Go to the Wallet or Services section and tap Walmart Pay.
- Tap Set Up Walmart Pay.
- Follow the onscreen instructions and register your card. You can add your Apple Card or any other credit or debit card.
- At checkout, open the Walmart app, tap Walmart Pay, and scan the QR code displayed on the payment terminal.
Note: Walmart locations in Canada do accept Apple Pay and other contactless payment methods. The NFC restriction applies to U.S. stores only.
Many major retailers that previously did not accept Apple Pay have since started supporting it, including Home Depot, Lowe’s, Kroger, and H-E-B. Walmart remains one of the last major U.S. retailers that does not.
You can check if a store near you accepts Apple Pay by looking for the Apple Pay or contactless payment symbols at the checkout.
In conclusion, Apple Pay is not accepted at Walmart locations in the United States. We will update this article if Walmart changes this policy.
