Does Walmart Have Tap To Pay – Here’s Your Options

In today’s fast-paced world, you might wonder if Walmart offers tap-to-pay options for a quicker checkout experience.

You’ll be pleased that Walmart accepts tap-to-pay, making your shopping trips more convenient and efficient.

Walmart has installed contactless payment terminals in its stores to accommodate tap-to-pay transactions. These terminals are compatible with contactless-enabled credit and debit cards, mobile phones, and smartwatches.

While tap-to-pay is one of my favorite contactless ways to pay, there are other options that the company pushes a bit more. This includes Walmart Pay which is quite handy, and QR code payments. Read on as we dive deeper into Walmart’s tap-to-pay approach.

Contactless Payments With Walmart Pay

Outside of tap to pay, another convenient way to make purchases at Walmart is with their Walmart Pay app. It serves some of the same functionality of a hassle-free checkout experience, allowing you to quickly complete transactions without pulling out your card. You can link it to your account and do it all via your mobile device.

It’s also integrated with Android and IOS devices, making it even more convenient.

I use this all the time when I’m in the store. All you have to do is open the Walmart app, select Walmart Pay, and scan the QR code on the payment terminal. The app will then connect to your preferred payment method, be it a debit card, credit card, or gift card, completing the transaction in just a few simple steps.

And don’t worry; you can still collect your receipt from the terminal to show to the Walmart associate as you exit the store.

QR Code Payments

While Walmart’s payment terminals are equipped with contactless payment technology, the retail giant focuses on its Walmart Pay system and does not currently accept Apple Pay or other similar tap-to-pay services. Instead, Walmart prefers the use of QR code-based payments through its Walmart Pay system.

The main reason behind this approach is to promote the use of Walmart Pay, which provides shoppers with a seamless and secure payment experience that is exclusive to the Walmart ecosystem. This streamlines checkout processes and enables shoppers to access additional features and benefits such as saving receipts and special offers.

Comparing to Other Retailers

At this point, we’ll compare the availability of tap-to-pay options at some of the major US retailers, including Target, Kroger, Albertsons, and Sam’s Club. Considering I shop at all these stores, it helps to see how each type shapes up depending on your desired shopping experience.

Target

At Target, you can enjoy the convenience of tap-to-pay options. They accept contactless payment methods like NFC-enabled payment cards and mobile wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay. I happen to appreciate that a lot considering Walmart won’t allow you to use either of those two methods.

This makes your checkout experience more seamless compared to shopping at Walmart, where contactless payments are not widely available, and you have to use the Walmart App separately.

Kroger

Kroger relies on a proprietary QR code-based app for in-store mobile payments instead of NFC technology. While this still provides a contactless option, it requires customers to download the app, which may not be as convenient as simply tapping your payment card or phone.

You’d be better off just using Walmart Pay if you want more than grocery items.

Albertsons

Albertsons is another retailer that has embraced the convenience of contactless payments.

You can use your payment card or mobile wallet with NFC technology to quickly and securely make in-store purchases. This enhances your shopping experience by reducing wait times at the register and providing a more hygienic payment method.

Sam’s Club

Just like its parent company, Walmart, Sam’s Club also does not widely offer tap-to-pay options. Since they own them, Walmart Pay is also available at Sam’s Club, so it should be pretty seamless.

While this allows you to link your credit, debit, and gift cards to your mobile device for payment, it provides a different flexibility than contactless payment methods available at other retailers.

The Takeaway

So, in the end, Walmart doesn’t have any sort of NFC or tap-to-pay options unless you use their Walmart App. Unless using the app is a huge deal to you, it’s not necessarily a deal breaker. Because you can link payments, it all ends up working out just fine.

If contactless is what you’re going for, it’ll still work, but only on these terms.