Walmart will begin accepting Apple Pay and Google Pay at its stores in the United States, ending its long-standing resistance to third-party contactless payment services.

The retail giant said on Friday that it would introduce Tap to Pay at select Walmart and Sam’s Club locations from August 24, with plans to make the service available across all stores and clubs by the end of the year.

Walmart also plans to extend the payment option to its fuel stations by mid-2027.

The move marks a significant shift in Walmart’s payment strategy.

The company has historically declined to support widely used contactless payment services such as Apple Pay, instead promoting its proprietary options, including Walmart Pay and Scan & Go.

Walmart had previously partnered with other major retailers to develop CurrentC, a mobile payment system intended to compete with Apple Pay.

However, the initiative failed to gain traction and was discontinued in 2016.

“Tap to Pay is a great addition to the other payment options already offered like cash, credit card or Walmart Pay…,” the company stated.

“And giving customers and members more choice at checkout is part of a broader effort to make managing and using their money easier.”

The retailer’s decision comes as contactless payments have become increasingly common across the US. Apple Pay is now accepted at about 85% of retailers nationwide, including most major chains.

Walmart’s adoption of the technology represents a reversal of its previous strategy of directing customers towards its own payment platforms. The company is now framing the move as an effort to give shoppers greater choice in how they pay.