You can’t use Apple Pay or Google Pay if you’re shopping in-store at Walmart.
When I stop by Walmart on my way home from the gym, I don’t always have my wallet on me. At most stores, it’s not a big deal because I have my phone with me, so I can use my digital wallet to make a purchase.
But Walmart doesn’t accept Apple Pay or Google Pay. If I want to use a digital payment in store, I’d have to use Walmart Pay on the Walmart App or a digital wallet offered by OnePay, a Walmart majority-owned fintech. You can still use most major credit and debit cards when buying something in-store or online.
Digital wallets offer the convenience of paying without having to carry a credit card, and they can also keep your transactions more secure than using a physical card.
Growing in popularity over the past few years, Apple Wallet and Google Wallet let you store payment options as well as your digital hotel key, boarding passes and concert tickets. The OnePay Wallet can store up to 20 credit or debit cards, but it can only be used at Walmart and on walmart.com and cannot hold other digital documents or passes.
You can also set up a digital wallet within the Walmart app, which lets you store additional payment methods. But that means downloading yet another app to your phone.
We’ll break down all your payment options when shopping at Walmart.
Why doesn’t Walmart accept Apple Pay or Google Pay?
Walmart, with more than 4,600 locations across the country, is one of the last major retailers to refuse to accept popular third-party contactless payment options like Google Pay and Apple Pay. (However, you can use your Apple Card, just not through Apple Pay.)
By sticking to its own mobile payment apps, Walmart avoids paying fees for third-party options and can more easily track your purchase history. However, that exclusivity also makes purchases less convenient for customers who use digital apps and wallets as their primary means of payment.
How to use OnePay
Here’s how to use the OnePay wallet to make a contactless payment for your Walmart purchases:
- Download the OnePay app and sign up for an account
- Add any debit or credit card to your OnePay Wallet — If you already have a OnePay debit card, it will automatically be added to your wallet
- When checking out, scan the QR code that appears on the payment terminal or self-checkout screen
You can also sign up for OnePay Wallet during checkout. You’ll just need a credit or debit card to add to the OnePay Wallet the first time. After that, the OnePay Wallet will become your default payment method at checkout.
If you’re a regular Walmart shopper, the OnePay option could potentially help you save because it lets you earn reward points for every purchase, which can then be redeemed for cash back if you have a OnePay Cash account. New customers who sign up directly with OnePay Wallet can earn $15 cash back when they spend $15 or more in-store at Walmart or on Walmart.com.
How to use Walmart Pay
If you download the Walmart app, you can add payment methods in a wallet within Account Settings, then use them with Walmart Pay. The app allows you to store a variety of payment methods:
- Credit and debit cards from most of the major issuers, including Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover
- Bank account
- Walmart gift cards
- Electronic Benefits Transfer
- Health care benefits cards, like HSA and FSA
- PayPal
If you’re in a store, you can use Walmart Pay within the app and then scan the QR code at checkout to pay for your purchase. When the payment is complete, you’ll receive a digital receipt in the app.
Alternative payment options to Walmart Pay
If you don’t want to use the Walmart app or the OnePay wallet, you can still make purchases at Walmart. If you’re making a purchase in store, you can use cash, credit and debit cards, Walmart gift cards, Electronic Benefits Transfer, HSA and FSA cards, or PayPal (in some locations).
To use PayPal at the register, you’ll need the PayPal app. From the menu, select In-person & QR code to set up in-person payments. Choose “Show to pay” and a QR code will be generated, which can be scanned by the cashier to process your payment.
Walmart also accepts PayPal for online purchases. If your Walmart doesn’t offer PayPal at the register and you want an extra layer of security protecting your bank account or card number, you can order the item online and pay using your PayPal account.
You can also still technically use your other digital wallets to shop online at Walmart online. You’ll just need to enter your credit card number when checking out. In a digital wallet, you can find your card number by clicking on the payment method in the wallet, then going to the menu in the top left corner and clicking on Card Number. You’ll see your card number (or virtual card number, if available), expiration date and security code, which you’ll need to enter in as payment info on the Walmart.com
