Google Wallet allows you to add your card to your phone, enabling contactless payments at participating retailers. It’s convenient and secure, but not every retailer in the US offers Google Wallet as a valid payment method.
We list the major retailers that accept Google Wallet as a payment method. Our guide also shows you how to check if a store accepts contactless payments.
Google Wallet is available for all Android phones running Android 9 or later, including many top budget phones.
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What is Google Wallet?
The Google Wallet app launched in 2011. Comparatively, Samsung Pay and Apple Pay debuted in 2015.
In 2018, Google merged Wallet with Android Pay into a new app called Google Pay. The app was then renamed Google Pay to Google Wallet in 2022.
However, using Google Wallet to pay in stores is still called Google Pay. Stores accepting it may show the Google Pay acceptance mark.
The Google Pay logo you’ll see in participating stores
Google Wallet works similarly to Apple Pay (Apple Wallet) and Samsung Pay (Samsung Wallet). Tap your phone on an NFC terminal to make a transaction.
Behind the scenes, Google Wallet creates a device-specific virtual card known as a device token. Your real card number is not stored on your device or shared with merchants.
Apple Pay works similarly, keeping your information private between you and your bank.
Samsung Wallet works similarly to Google Wallet and has a leg up on Apple and Google. Samsung phones released before 2021 can use NFC and Magnetic Secure Transmission (MST).
NFC allows you to tap your phone or card to make a payment. MST is the slightly older method of swiping the magnetic strip on your bank card along a receiver in the terminal.
Samsung Pay (integrated into Samsung Wallet) allows your phone to spoof this and trick the terminal into thinking a card was swiped, making Samsung Pay available almost everywhere.
Newer Samsung hardware doesn’t support this feature. Instead, you’ll use NFT, like with Google and Apple’s payment platforms.
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Major US retailers that accept Google Wallet
Any place that accepts Apple Pay also accepts Google Wallet. The Apple Pay sticker displayed on shop doors is a generic term for mobile payments, much like calling all tissues Kleenex (a registered trademark of Kimberly-Clark).
This is because both systems rely on NFC. If you can tap your card, you can use a mobile payment app.
An easy way to check if a retailer accepts Google Wallet is through Google Maps. Find the business and scroll down to the bottom of the About section. If you see NFC mobile payments under the Payments heading, you can likely use Google Wallet there.
However, small retailers or pop-up shops may accept it even if Google Maps doesn’t show it.
Not all retailers in the US accept mobile payments. Smaller retailers may not. The reason behind this is transaction fees. Transaction fees on a bank-supplied NFC terminal can eat into a small business’s revenue.
To make it easier on you, we’ve listed some major retailers that accept Google Wallet.
Retail
- American Eagle Outfitters
- Aeropostale
- Best Buy
- Babies R Us
- Bloomingdale’s
- Costco
- Disney Stores
- Famous Footwear
- Foot Action
- Forever 21
- Gap
- J Crew
- JC Penny
- Kohl’s
- Levi’s
- Lucky
- Macy’s
- Nordstrom
- Old Navy
- Petco
- Petsmart
- Sephora
- REI
- Sak’s Fifth Avenue
- Target
- Urban Outfitters
- Victoria’s Secret
- Wayfair
Sporting goods
- Adidas
- Champ’s Sports
- Dick’s Sporting Goods
- Foot Locker
- Nike
- Under Armour
Books and games
- Barnes and Noble
- Books-A-Million
- Half-Price Books
- GameStop
Grocery stores
Most major grocery chains accept Google Wallet and other tap-to-pay systems like Apple Pay.
Here are the grocery stores we found that accept Google Wallet.
- Acme Markets
- Aldi
- Basha’s
- BI-LO
- Costco
- Cub Foods
- Dan’s Fresh Market
- Davis Food & Drug
- Family Dollar
- FoodMaxx
- Harvey’s Supermarket
- Hornbacher’s
- Hy-Vee
- Jewel-Osco
- Kroger
- Lin’s Fresh Market
- Meijer
- Publix
- Raley’s
- Safeway
- Save Mart
- Schnuck’s
- Shaws
- Shop ‘n Save
- Shoppers Food & Pharmacy
- Sprouts
- Star Market
- Stater Bros
- Target
- Trader Joe’s
- United Supermarkets
- Wegmans
- Whole Foods
- Winn-Dixie
Restaurants
While most US restaurants and fast food chains accept Google Wallet, a few franchises may not. Ask a staff member if you’re unsure.
The following accept Google Wallet:
- Applebee’s
- Arby’s
- Baskin-Robbins
- Burger King
- Chick-Fil-A
- Chili’s
- Domino’s
- Dunkin’ Donuts
- Firehouse Subs
- Fuddruckers
- Jamba Juice
- Jimmy John’s
- Johnny Rocket
- KFC
- Krispy Kreme
- Little Caesars Pizza
- McDonald’s
- Moe’s
- Panera
- Pizza Hut
- Rubio’s
- Red Lobster (select locations)
- Sonic
- Starbucks
- Subway
- Taco Bell
- Wendy’s
- White Castle
Gas stations
Gas stations are one of those categories of retailers that may not accept mobile payments. Switching pumps to include NFC payments is expensive, so most gas stations require you to visit the cashier to use Google Wallet.
The following companies accept Google Wallet at many of their pumps (not all):
- Chevron
- Costco
- Circle K
- ExxonMobil
- Red Apple
- Texaco
- 7-Eleven
Movie theaters
The big cinema chains accept Google Wallet.
- AMC
- Regal Cinemas
- Cinemark Theaters
- Showcase
- Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas
Home improvement stores
Not all home improvement chains in the United States accept Google Wallet. A few accept it, including the following:
- Ace Hardware
- IKEA
- Home Depot
These are the major US retailers that do not accept Google Wallet
Most major retailers accept Google Wallet. The ones that don’t are usually hardware stores or smaller businesses.
The following major retailers do not accept any form of mobile payment, including Google Wallet:
- Boston Market
- Carl’s Jr
- Cheesecake Factory
- Gordon Food Service
- Hobby Lobby (not in-store)
- Lowe’s
- Red Lobster (select locations)
- Red Robin
- Sam’s Club
- Walmart
Walmart offers a payment app similar to Apple Pay. Download the Walmart app from the App Store or Play Store to use your phone to make payments.
Fast and easy mobile payments
Google Wallet NFC payments are a fast and secure way to make transactions in person. However, Samsung Pay integrated into Samsung Wallet is available for Samsung phones.
If you own a Galaxy device, consider the pros and cons of using Samsung Wallet instead of Google Wallet.
