You’re standing in a massive Sam’s Club warehouse, your cart is overflowing with a 48-pack of toilet paper and a rotisserie chicken that smells like heaven, and you reach for your iPhone at the checkout. You double-click the side button, bring up your default card, and... nothing. The terminal stares back at you, cold and indifferent. It's a frustrating rite of passage for new members.
Honestly, the short answer is no. Sam's Club does not take Apple Pay. Whether you are trying to buy a literal gallon of mayonnaise in-person or ordering a new patio set on their website, that sleek Apple interface isn't going to help you. It’s 2026, and despite almost every other major retailer on the planet caving to the convenience of contactless mobile wallets, Sam’s Club (and its parent company, Walmart) remains a stubborn holdout.
Why the Apple Pay blackout exists
It feels like a weird power move, right? Most experts, like those over at SuperMoney and various retail analysts, point toward a mix of data control and transaction costs. When you use Apple Pay, Apple acts as a middleman. They keep your data private. Sam’s Club, on the other hand, really wants to know exactly how many boxes of fruit snacks you buy and when you buy them.
By blocking third-party wallets, they nudge you toward their own ecosystem. They want you using their app. They want you using their branded credit cards. It’s all about the data loop.
The Scan & Go loophole (The actual "Apple Pay" alternative)
If you’re desperate to use your phone to pay because you forgot your wallet at home (we've all been there), there is one saving grace: Scan & Go.
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This is basically the crown jewel of the Sam’s Club mobile app. You walk around the store, scan the barcodes of items as you drop them into your cart, and when you're done, you just hit "checkout" in the app.
- You don't even go to a register.
- You pay right there on your screen using whatever credit card you have saved in the Sam's app profile.
- The app generates a QR code.
- You show that code to the person at the exit door.
Is it Apple Pay? No. But it’s arguably faster because you skip the checkout line entirely. You can link almost any major credit card—Visa, Mastercard, Discover, or Amex—to the app.
What about the Sam's Club Mastercard?
Here is where things get even more confusing. You might think that since the Sam's Club Mastercard is a standard Mastercard issued by Synchrony Bank, you could at least add that card to your Apple Wallet to use at other stores.
Nope.
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Historically, Synchrony and Walmart have blocked the Sam’s Club Mastercard from being added to Apple Pay. Even though the card has "Tap & Go" technology for physical use, it usually won't verify when you try to digitize it in your iPhone's Wallet app. It’s a deliberate restriction that keeps the card firmly planted in the physical world or buried inside the Sam's Club app.
Breaking down the payment methods that actually work
Since you can't tap your watch or phone at the terminal, you need to know what to actually bring with you. Don't be the person holding up the line while digging through a purse for a backup card.
In-Store Accepted Payments:
- Physical Credit Cards: All the big names work (Visa, American Express, Mastercard, Discover).
- Debit Cards: Just make sure you know your PIN.
- Sam’s Club & Walmart Gift Cards: These are interchangeable.
- Cash and Checks: Yes, they still take "old school" money.
- SNAP/EBT: For eligible food items in the warehouse.
- Samsung Pay: Surprisingly, some terminals have been known to play nice with Samsung’s MST tech in the past, but it's hit-or-miss and not officially promoted like their own app.
The Gas Station Problem
If you’re at the Sam’s Club fuel pump, the "No Apple Pay" rule is even more strictly enforced. Those pumps are notorious for requiring a physical card swipe or a scan of your membership card before the gas starts flowing. You can use the Sam's Club app to "Check In" at the pump in many locations, which effectively lets you pay via your phone, but again, it’s through their proprietary software, not the Apple Wallet.
Is there a workaround for Apple Pay die-hards?
If you absolutely must use Apple Pay to get your Sam's Club fix, your only real option is Instacart.
Because Instacart is a third-party delivery service, their app does accept Apple Pay. You can go into the Instacart app, select Sam’s Club, do your shopping, and pay with FaceID at the end. An Instacart shopper will go to the club, use their own payment method at the register, and bring the goods to your house.
You’ll pay more in fees and markup, but it’s the only way to keep the transaction within the Apple ecosystem.
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Actionable Next Steps
If you're a regular shopper, don't wait until you're at the register to figure this out. Here is how to handle the "No Apple Pay" situation like a pro:
- Download the Sam's Club App now. Don't wait until you have zero bars of signal in the back of the warehouse.
- Set up Scan & Go. Link your favorite rewards credit card (like a 2% back card) to the app. This is the closest you will get to a "phone-only" experience.
- Keep a physical backup card. Even if you love the app, sometimes the Wi-Fi in those big metal buildings acts up. Keep a physical Visa or Mastercard in your car or pocket just in case.
- Use the app for gas. If you want to avoid touching the grimy keypad at the pump, use the "Fuel" icon in the Sam's Club app to authorize the transaction from your driver's seat.
Sam's Club likely won't change this policy anytime soon. They are doubling down on "Exit Technology" and AI-powered cart scanning to make the exit process faster, which further integrates everything into their own app. If you want to shop there, you've gotta play by their digital rules.