Walmart Is Finally Getting Tap to Pay: When Will It Come to Your Store?

Tap to pay is finally making its way to Walmart and Sam’s Club stores across the U.S., giving shoppers another way to pay at checkout.

Walmart announced in an Aug. 21 news release that contactless payments will be added at select Walmart and Sam’s Club locations beginning this year. The rollout comes after years of shoppers asking the retailer to offer tap-to-pay options.

The announcement quickly drew reactions on social media, with some shoppers expressing excitement about the long-awaited change.

“Finally. Holy moly!” one Reddit user wrote.

Another shopper said Walmart may have missed sales by not offering contactless payments, writing that they had personally seen a purchase abandoned because tap to pay was unavailable.

So, when will shoppers be able to use the new payment option at their local Walmart or Sam’s Club? Here’s what to know.

When is tap to pay coming to Walmart stores?

Walmart said tap to pay will begin rolling out Aug. 24, with the goal of making the payment option available at all Walmart stores and Sam’s Club locations in the U.S. by the end of 2026.

The company also plans to introduce tap-to-pay capabilities at its gas stations by mid-2027.

Walmart has not announced which individual stores will receive the feature first. A Walmart spokesperson told USA TODAY that the company had no additional information to provide beyond what was included in its Aug. 21 announcement.

As a result, shoppers may need to wait for the feature to reach their specific store during the broader rollout.

What is tap to pay?

Tap to pay is a contactless payment method that allows shoppers to make purchases by holding a compatible credit or debit card, smartphone or smartwatch near a payment terminal.

Instead of inserting or swiping a physical card, customers can simply bring their contactless payment device close to the terminal to complete the transaction.

Walmart also said customers and Sam’s Club members will be able to add eligible Walmart, Sam’s Club or OnePay cards to their digital wallets. This will provide another way for shoppers to use those cards when making purchases.

Sam’s Club members also have another contactless shopping option through Scan & Go. The feature allows members to scan products as they shop and pay through the service without going through a traditional checkout line.

With tap to pay now beginning its rollout, Walmart and Sam’s Club shoppers will gradually have more contactless payment options available at stores nationwide.