Walmart locations all across America provide a wide variety of selections in various departments, including clothing, grocery, home improvement, and personal care.
To make shopping a swift experience for their thousands of customers, the retail giant also accepts numerous payment methods (more on this later).
But, with the advent of technology, people now prefer going wallet-less, and mobile payment methods have become popular with many big names in the retail market.
The biggest of all such digital payment methods is arguably Apple Pay.
So, the big question is, does Walmart take Apple Pay? Sadly, the answer is no. Walmart does not accept Apple Pay and has no plans of doing so in the future.
However, they have an alternative exclusive digital payment method in place, which I will discuss further in this article. Read on to find out more on why Walmart does not Accept Apple Pay and what payment methods you can use instead.
Which Forms Of Payments Are Accepted At Walmart?
Since Walmart does not accept Apple Pay, it’s prudent to know what the retailer offers other payment methods.
You can pay at Walmart using cash or any major credit and debit card. Other payment methods include EBT (this option is unavailable online for Louisiana, Montana, and Alaska), Capital One Walmart credit cards, gift cards, PayPal, and Affirm.
You also make contactless payments using Walmart Pay through the Walmart Mobile app at the checkout for a secure and quick payment method.
We will discuss how Walmart Pay works below and why this retailer refuses to take Apple Pay onboard, despite its popularity.
What Is Walmart Pay?
Walmart Pay is Walmart’s Answer to Apple Pay. This contactless payment method allows you to add your credit, debit, or gift card to your phone through the Walmart mobile app and pay using your phone at checkouts.
You can use Walmart Pay at both regular and self-checkout registers. You can download the retailer’s mobile app through Google Play and App Store. Once you sign in, you can start using Walmart Pay.
How to Use Walmart Pay?
To use Walmart Pay, all you have to do is click on Services and then select Walmart Pay in the app. Then, you can add a debit, credit, or gift card and use it with Walmart Pay.
All the cards you have saved with Walmart Pay will be listed when choosing your preferred payment method.
When paying in-store, first, you will need to scan your items and then open Walmart Pay. There will be a QR Code on the register that you will have to scan, and your payment will be made.
You will be indicated about payment completion with a confirmation on screen and a chime. The eReceipt for your purchase will be saved on the app.
One thing to know is that when using Walmart Pay, your gift card value will be used first unless you have turned the particular setting off.
You can also select one or more payment methods to use through Walmart Pay at the checkout. Remember that Walmart Pay does work with a bank account directly. You can also not use it for cashback.
Payment Security with Walmart Pay
Walmart ensures that this contactless payment method is secure and trusted by millions of customers daily. This payment method has simple workings and does not use near-field communication (NFC).
The PIN pads already in place at the checkouts are used to scan the QR code, which sends a signal to the Walmart server to authorize the purchase. However, this scan does not share any financial information.
Moreover, the only credit cards accepted with Walmart Pay are those with CVV codes. Any stored payment method is verified, with no transfer of card information to the retailer. All information is SSL encrypted.
Why Is Apple Pay Not Accepted At Walmart?
We know that Walmart does not take Apple Pay because it has its own contactless payment method in Walmart Pay.
However, even before Walmart Pay came to be, Walmart was going to adopt the CurrentC payments solution from the Merchant Customer Exchange consortium. But, with the launch of Walmart Pay in 2015, it adopted the method in all of its locations.
Even though it was earlier stated that you would soon integrate other digital mobile methods with Walmart Pay, that has still not happened. If this move goes through in the future, then you would, in theory, be able to use Apple Pay in Walmart.
Which Famous Retailers Accept Apple Pay?
Despite Walmart’s resistance to Apple Pay, the contactless payment method remains as popular as ever. In fact, numerous famous retailers take Apple Pay, making it easier for iPhone and Apple Watch users to pay with a simple tap of the finger.
Once you set up Apple Pay on your iPhone or Apple Watch, you can use your debit or credit card in the wallet to pay for your purchases.
Some of the most famous businesses that accept Apple Pay include:
- Costco
- CVS
- Target
- Kohl’s
- McDonald’s
- Office Depot
- Sprouts
- KFC
- Best Buy
- Bloomingdales
- Chevron
- Disney
- Whole Foods
- Walgreens
- Trader Joe’s
- 7-11
- Publix
- Taco Bell
Final Words
Walmart does not accept Apple Pay in-store or online. However, the retailer has a similar alternative payment solution.
At Walmart, you can use Walmart Pay, which works along with the same principle as Apple Pay, in a way that you can add debit, credit, or gift cards for contactless payment for swift purchases.
Walmart Pay works by scanning the QR code, which you can see at any checkout, regular or self. Once you select one of the listed payment methods on the Walmart Pay tab in your Walmart mobile app, scanning the QR code will signal the Walmart servers for the payment to go through.
Once the amount goes through, you will hear a chime along with a confirmation notification. The eReceipt is sent directly to the app and permanently saved.
Even though many top retailers offer Apple Pay, Walmart remains committed to its contactless payment solution with no immediate plans to adopt the Apple alternative.