As one of the largest retail businesses in the United States, Walmart has stores all over the country. Walmart stores have reasonable costs and bulk items, as well as thousands of stores to ensure maximum convenience. The retail behemoth has never shied away from experimenting with new payment methods. With Apple Pay being an ever-increasing source of digital payment for consumers, it begs the question: Does Walmart accept Apple Pay?
What Is Apple Pay?
Apple Pay is a contactless payment system that works with Apple products. It allows you to store your debit and credit cards in digital form on your Apple device. With 507 million users globally, it is the largest mobile payment operator. The goal is to get people away from carrying actual wallets and storing their cards on their iPhones. This allows you to pay with your device rather than a card.
Apple Pay also enables customers to make one-tap purchases in apps that have implemented the Apple Pay API. It is available on the web on iOS 10 or macOS Sierra, or later devices. The iPhone 6 and later can utilize Apple Pay within iOS apps.
Does Walmart Accept Apple Pay?
As of February 2022, Walmart does not accept Apple Pay. Apple Pay uses NFC (near-field communication) technology to apply its linked funds to purchase. Unfortunately, Walmart does not support NFC technology.
The most common forms of payment method at Walmart include: MasterCard, Visa, or American Express credit cards; debit cards; PayPal; checks; and cash.
What Forms of Payment Does Walmart Accept?
Walmart accepts:
- Credit card
- Debit, ATM, or check card
- Capital One Walmart credit card
- Gift card
- Affirm
- Paypal
- Cash
- Chase Pay
- American Express Checkout
- Venmo
Why Doesn’t Walmart Take Apple Pay?
There are three important reasons for why Walmart doesn’t accept Apple Pay:
Processing fees
The processing fee is one of the key reasons Walmart does not accept Apple Pay. Apple maintains that its technology is free to use, but there’s a catch. The card issuer is responsible for making the charges on their behalf. As a result, Walmart has to pay different processing fees depending on the card used via a digital wallet. The processing fee can be quite high, depending on the card.
If Walmart accepted Apple Pay, this would, in theory, reduce profits. Walmart wants to make as much money as possible on each transaction, which includes avoiding payment processing fees whenever possible.
Walmart Pay
Even though Walmart does not accept Apple Pay, they accept their own form of digital payment: Walmart Pay. To avoid competing with its own digital payment method, Walmart does not accept Apple Pay.
In addition to digital payment, the Walmart Pay app also allows the store to send notifications and interact with their customers — all from one place.
Marketing benefits
This might not mean much to the average consumer, but if Walmart can find new ways to allow their customers to pay and engage with the store, that promotes brand awareness. It attracts more customers to stores and simultaneously gets Walmart’s name out there.
A digital wallet like Walmart Pay is a new avenue for promoting brand awareness. The Walmart Pay app is exclusively available for Walmart customers and is part of the company’s strategy to boost customer loyalty.
When Will Walmart Start Accepting Apple Pay?
At the moment, Walmart does not plan to take Apple Pay. If the Walmart Pay app goes away, the company may choose to switch to Apple Pay. However, it does not appear to be in the cards for the time being.
How to Use Walmart Pay
Both online purchases and in-person shopping have never been easier thanks to digital wallets. Payment methods such as Apple Pay and Walmart Pay allow you to make purchases with just the click of a button.
The Walmart Pay app is free for both Android and Apple device users.
To get started:
- Download and open the Walmart app on your device
- Select “Services” from the list of features
- Tap “Walmart Pay”
- Click “Get started”
- Sign in or create a Walmart.com account
- Select credit or debit card
- Accept terms and conditions
- Select “Go to Walmart Pay”
- Create a passcode
- Use Walmart Pay at checkout
To use in a Walmart store:
- Scan your items at any self-checkout counter or visit a staffed checkout lane
- A unique QR code will display on the debit reader screen
- Open the Walmart Pay app
- Enter your 4-digit pin
- Hover your phone over the QR code on the screen until a sound or message signals that your transaction was successful
Benefits of Apple Pay and Other Contactless Payments
Apple Pay and other contactless payment methods, such as Walmart Pay, are popular thanks to native support on the mobile devices. Apple Pay specifically is currently available in 20 countries at participating retail outlets and financial institutions through iOS apps.
Some of its perks include:
Simplicity
Apple Pay allows shoppers to make a purchase simply by holding their phone near the scanner. (Thankfully, there are security features in place to prevent you from accidentally making a purchase by holding your device too close to the reader.) Touch ID enables you to accept the purchase with your fingerprint. Then your transaction goes through in a matter of seconds.
There is no need to enter card numbers or other sensitive information because Apple Pay stores it all securely. This means that you can complete your transaction with just one tap.
Convenience
Apple Pay will be a more convenient way for those who already own an Apple computer to transact business. This results in a shorter buyer’s path. They’d also appreciate the speedy Apple Pay checkout, which eliminates the need to enter credit card information in its entirety. Mobile payments are highly convenient since users can utilize a payment method that they already have on them. No problem if they have forgotten their wallets at home.
Security
Payment security has become a top concern recently, as identity fraud, data leaks, and credit card fraud are on the rise. Apple Pay prioritizes security. It contains protections incorporated into both the hardware and software of compatible devices.
Additionally, Apple Pay saves users’ payment information, but this information is never sent to the recipient or retailer.
Internet-free connection
You don’t need internet access to use Apple Pay. There are no roaming charges. Even if your phone is on airplane mode, you can access it. When you use Apple Pay in a store, the payment moves to the store’s terminal and uses the NFC chip.
Privacy
Apple does not store or monitor customers’ purchases, identity, or other personal information, such as your billing address. This gives you greater privacy. Using device account numbers against credit cards typically makes purchases with stores more confidential.
Additional Information
It’s easy to mix up Walmart Pay and the Walmart mobile app, especially since Walmart Pay has been integrated into the Walmart app. The primary distinction: Walmart Pay is a mobile wallet that holds your payment methods. You can use the Walmart app, on the other hand, for shopping online.
You can use Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, Walmart gift cards, eGift Cards, and prepaid cards with Walmart Pay.
The Walmart app’s barcode scanner enables you to search any barcode, QR code, or Walmart shelf tag. You’ll instantly receive pricing information and other helpful information on the product. This is useful if you come across a misplaced item or aren’t sure of the price of an item.
As of February 2022, you also cannot use Google Pay or Samsung Pay in store or online at Walmart.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get cash back with Walmart Pay?
When shopping at Walmart’s retail locations, you cannot get cash back with Walmart Pay. You can, however, get cash back when you use Walmart Pay if you link a rewards credit card to your account.
How do I know if Apple Pay has been accepted?
When someone sends you money with Apple Pay, you can decide whether you want to manually accept payments. You’ll see “Accept” in the message. You can accept the money within seven days. If you want to reject it and are an iPhone user, you can open the wallet app on your phone and reject the funds under the “Recent Transactions” section.
Can I pay with two credit cards on Walmart.com?
You can use five gift cards and one credit or debit card (six total) at any given time. It is impossible to use two credit, debit, or prepaid cards simultaneously.
What is the difference between Apple Cash and Apple Pay?
Apple Pay and Apple Cash are Apple’s digital payment systems. Both are accessible in your Apple Wallet. Depending on what you want, you can set up one or both. You can fund Apple Cash with a debit card, payments made via Messages, or cash back from an Apple credit card. On the other hand, you can fund Apple Pay with a debit card, credit card, prepaid card, or Apple Cash.
