What Stores Take Apple Pay? 2026 List of Who Accepts It

Apple Pay works at any store whose card reader takes contactless payments, and that now covers most national chains. Look for the contactless symbol (four curved lines) or the Apple Pay logo on the reader. If you see either one, you can tap your iPhone or Apple Watch and go.

The big change is Walmart. Walmart and Sam’s Club started turning on tap to pay on August 24, 2026, and Walmart says every U.S. store and club will have it by the end of 2026. A few other stores still make you pull out a card, and we name them below.

Stores that accept Apple Pay, by category

Here is what stores take Apple Pay, one category at a time. Every Yes and No below comes from the store’s own payment page, help center or newsroom as of this update. Where a chain does not publish a policy, we say so and tell you what to look for. Franchise and independently owned locations can differ, so the reader at the register always has the final word.

Grocery stores and warehouse clubs

Big-box and department stores

Pharmacies

Home improvement

Restaurants and coffee

Subway, Wendy’s, Burger King and Panera do not publish an in-restaurant Apple Pay policy on their own sites, so we left them out of the table. Check the reader or ask before you order.

MoreDoes McDonald’s take Apple Pay?

Gas stations and convenience stores

Gas is where it gets uneven. Some brands let you tap your phone on the pump. Others only take Apple Pay inside their own app, where you pick the pump number and pay from your phone. Several brands say it depends on the station, so two stations with the same sign can work differently.

Websites and apps

Online is a separate decision for every retailer. Several stores that take Apple Pay at the register leave it off their websites, so look for the Apple Pay button at checkout before you count on it.

Stores that don’t take Apple Pay (and what to use instead)

The list of holdouts is short and getting shorter. Here is what to do at each one.

Walmart. If your store has not been switched on yet, use Walmart Pay, the pay-from-your-phone option inside the Walmart app. Walmart says its older payment options are not going away, so swiping or inserting a card still works too. Walmart.com does not list Apple Pay at all.

Sam’s Club. It is on the same rollout as Walmart. Until your club has tap to pay, use a card at the register or Scan & Go in the Sam’s Club app. Walmart’s own FAQ says Apple Pay cannot be used inside Scan & Go.

Kroger. Kroger has tested tap to pay since a 2020 pilot at its QFC stores, but it still does not publish a chain-wide Apple Pay policy. If the reader at your store has no contactless symbol, Kroger Pay is the phone option. It is a QR code in the Kroger app that applies your loyalty card, your digital coupons and your payment in one scan.

WinCo Foods. WinCo does not accept credit cards anywhere. Bring a debit card, cash or EBT. If your store offers tap to pay, Apple Pay only helps when the card behind it is a debit card.

Amazon and other websites. Amazon, Walmart.com, HomeDepot.com, Costco.com, DollarTree.com and CVS.com do not list Apple Pay. Type your card number in once and save it to your account, or use PayPal where the site offers it.

CVS, Dollar General and Meijer. None of the three publishes an in-store Apple Pay policy we could confirm, so we will not guess. Check the reader for the contactless symbol before you get in line.

MoreHow to get cash back at Walmart

How to pay with Apple Pay in a store

Once your card is in the Wallet app, paying is quick. These are Apple’s own steps.

1. iPhone with Face ID: double-click the side button, then look at your phone or enter your passcode.
2. iPhone with Touch ID: double-click the Home button.
3. Apple Watch: double-click the side button. Your default card opens on its own.
4. Hold the top of your iPhone, or the face of your watch, near the reader. On the phone you will see Done and a checkmark. On the watch you will feel a tap and hear a beep.

Want a different card? Tap your default card on the screen before you hold the phone to the reader, then pick another one.

How to find places that take Apple Pay near you

Open Apple Maps and search for Apple Pay. Apple says that brings up nearby stores that accept it. It is the fastest way to check an unfamiliar neighborhood or a road trip stop.

At the store, look at the card reader. The contactless symbol or the Apple Pay logo means you can tap. Two catches are worth knowing. Apple warns that some readers show the symbol but have not been set up for contactless yet. And the store has to take your card’s network. Costco is the classic example, because it only takes Visa credit cards whether you swipe or tap.

If it matters, call ahead. Apple’s own advice is to confirm with the merchant.

Need cash instead? Look for the same contactless symbol on the machine, and see which ATMs take Apple Pay near you.

Is Apple Pay safe, and does it cost anything?

It costs nothing. Apple says it does not charge any fees when you pay with Apple Pay in stores, online or in apps. Your card works the way it always does, so any fee or reward comes from your bank or card issuer.

On safety, Apple says Apple Pay is designed to be more secure than using your physical card. Paying in a store takes Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode. The store gets a device-specific number and a one-time security code, not your real card number. Apple says it does not store your card number on its servers and does not keep transaction details that can be tied back to you.

If you lose your phone, you can put it in Lost Mode with Find My to suspend Apple Pay. The usual rules for keeping online banking safe still apply: use a strong passcode and turn on alerts for every purchase.

Apple Pay store FAQ

Store payment policies change. This list reflects what each company publishes on its own site as of this update. If a reader does not respond to your phone, the store may not have switched tap to pay on yet.

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