In 2014, Apple launched Apple Pay as a way for iPhone users to pay for purchases without the need for debit and credit cards. Apple Pay is a contactless payment option that allows iPhone users to slowly transition away from digital wallets and instead store their payment information on their phones.
And since there are over 113 million iPhone users in the United States, there are also a lot of people using the service to pay for their different purchases.
To use Apple Pay, all you have to do is use your phone at any store or establishment that accepts the payment option. So, does that mean that you can use Apple Pay when paying for your Walmart purchases?
Since Walmart is one of the most popular retailers with tons of customers, they do accept a variety of payment options. That way, they give customers an easier and more pleasant shopping experience which is what made Walmart popular in the first place.
With that said, Apple Pay is not one of those payment options. And if you’re wondering why and if there are any workarounds to using Apple Pay at Walmart, you’ve come to the right place.
In this article, we take a deep dive into using Apple Pay at Walmart, why you can’t do it, and some other payment options that are available to Walmart customers that you can use in place of Apple Pay.
Read on to learn more.
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How Does Apple Pay Work?
To use Apple Pay, all customers have to do is authorize payment. Apple Pay works by communicating to an NFC (near-field communication) device. So, only establishments with the NFC device will accept Apple Pay.
If you see a sign on an establishment that says “contactless payments accepted” or you see the Apple Pay logo posted anywhere, they will likely accept the payment option.
To use the service to pay for products, you don’t even have to go on the app. All you have to do is enable Apple Pay on your phone, then double press the sleep and wake button on your iPhone. From there, you can authorize the payment.
To authorize the payment, you can either scan your fingerprint, use facial recognition, or type in your passcode.
After authorizing the payment, you will see a “Hold Near Reader” prompt. When you see this, simply place your phone near the NFC device and your payment will be processed. When your payment goes through, there will be a notification sent to your phone.
You can also store all your receipts in the digital wallet so it’s easier to keep track of your finances.
Does Walmart Accept Apple Pay?
As of 2023, Walmart does not accept Apple Pay in its stores. Walmart accepts a variety of other payments such as Mastercard, Visa, credit, checks, cash, PayPal, and Amex. So, if you plan on paying for your Walmart purchases with Apple Pay, they won’t accept that method.
Customers can still use their iPhones to pay through Walmart Pay, but we’ll get into more detail on that later.
Why Doesn’t Walmart Have Apple Pay?
Currently, Walmart has its own contactless payment service called Walmart Pay. This is the main reason that they do not accept Apple Pay at their stores. However, before that, they also had a partnership with the Merchant Customer Exchange (MCX).
This company used QR codes for payment solutions. These codes are called CurrentC. MCX is a direct competitor of Apple Pay, so Walmart doesn’t accept Apple Pay along with Samsung Pay and Google Pay.
One major incentive Walmart has with accepting contactless payments is that it can store that data to send customers customized notifications based on their purchases. If they accept Apple Pay, however, they cannot access this data, which is why they only accept Walmart Pay.
Can I Pay With My iPhone At Walmart?
As mentioned earlier, iPhone users can still use their iPhone for contactless payments at Walmart. However, they can’t do it through Apple Pay. Instead, you have to do it through Walmart Pay.
To use the service, you have to download the Walmart Pay app, create an account, and link your cards. After that, you can use Walmart Pay for any purchases at Walmart or on the website.
To use Walmart Pay in-store, all you have to do is open the app. From there, the app generates a QR code which you can scan at the counter when you see your final total. After that, you will receive a digital receipt with the information about your purchase.
One complaint about Walmart Pay is that it isn’t as seamless as Apple Pay. However, it’s still instant and is currently the only way customers can pay digitally at Walmart stores without a credit or debit card.
Will Walmart Accept Apple Pay In The Future?
There is no current evidence to suggest that Walmart will eventually adopt Apple Pay services in its stores.
This is because their current focus is on promoting Walmart Pay with customers. And since you can use Walmart Pay through iPhone without any added fees, it may be the more practical option for iPhone users at Walmart.
Where Can I Use Apple Pay?
There are thousands of stores that will accept Apple Pay payment options from customers. To do this, they will need an NFC device to communicate with your phone. Usually, establishments will have a sign or sticker with the Apple Pay logo to indicate that they accept Apple Pay payments.
Currently, popular stores like 7-Eleven have begun to accept Apple Pay for purchases. To help you out, Apple also has a guide on their website that shows how you can tell if a store accepts Apple Pay.
With that said, here are some popular retailers that currently accept Apple Pay in their stores;
- Costco
- Albertsons
- Publix
- Food Maxx
- Safeway
- Schnucks
- Whole Foods Market
- Winn Dixie
- IKEA
- Target
- Shop n Save
- Walgreens
On top of being available for use in different stores, Apple Pay is also accepted for a variety of online purchases. And since most people now choose to do their shopping online, this is very convenient.
Online stores such as Disney, Best Buy, Dunkin Donuts, Sephora, Starbucks, Wish, Lyft, and Uber also accept Apple Pay.
So, if you’re in Walmart keep in mind that Apple Pay is not accepted in their stores. Instead, you can use Walmart Pay and other methods such as credit and debit cards, cash, checks, or even PayPal.
Alternatives To Apple Pay At Walmart
Walmart is a very popular place for people to shop. This is because they offer a very wide variety of products, all of which are available at bargain prices. So, if you’re looking to save money and also have a lot of different options for different products, then Walmart is a great place to shop.
But since they don’t accept Apple Pay, you may want to figure out the other payment options available in their stores. Currently, Walmart accepts most other payment options like cash, debit, credit, PayPal, and money orders.
However, these may not offer the same convenience as using Apple Pay’s contactless payment methods. So, here are a couple of Apple Pay alternatives that may interest you the next time you’re shopping at Walmart;
Walmart Pay
Walmart Pay is a direct competitor of Apple Pay and is the store’s equivalent of the service. Like Apple Pay, Walmart Pay is a digital wallet wherein customers can connect their debit cards and use their phone to make payments at Walmart.
When using Walmart Pay, the amount is deducted from whatever card you have attached to your account. To use Walmart Pay, all you have to do is open the app. Unlike Apple Pay, Walmart Pay uses QR codes as opposed to NFC.
So, when you open the app a QR code will be generated. You can scan this QR code at self-checkout or show it to the cashier for them to scan when paying for items at Walmart. From there, the amount will be deducted from your bank account and the bill will be settled.
Walmart Pay is instant, so you don’t have to wait a long time to confirm if the payment went through. On top of that, you will also receive a digital receipt that you can save to keep track of your finances and expenditures.
Affirm
Another option for customers is Affirm Financing. Affirm is partnered with Walmart and offers to finance for customers. With Affirm, you can buy the product now and pay it through 3-month, 6-month, or 12-month installments.
While Walmart accepts another buy now, pay later payment methods, Affirm is directly partnered with the stores so they may offer better rates. With that said, Affirm does require a credit check before they approve you for financing. So, if you have a poor credit score, you may be rejected.
Ideally, customers need a credit score of at least 640 or higher. At times, they may confirm financing for people with credit scores as low as 600, but that is on a case-to-case basis.
Affirm is a good option if you’re in need of a product but can’t afford it right there and then. Remember, you have to be responsible enough to make payments on time as that can affect your credit score and your chances of securing financing again.
Conclusion
If you’re at Walmart, it’s important to remember that you cannot use Apple Pay to pay for your purchases. As of 2023, Walmart has its own contactless payment option called Walmart Pay. When at Walmart, this is the only contactless payment option available and all you need to use it is to download the app, create an account, and link your credit or debit card.
From there, using Walmart Pay is similar to Apple Pay. But instead of placing your phone near the scanning device, Walmart Pay requires you to actually have a QR code scanner for the payment to go through. You can use Walmart Pay at self-checkout, online, and through the normal checkout lanes.
