Walmart accepts most major credit cards, but the details matter for your wallet
Walmart takes Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover at all of its stores and on Walmart.com. The catch: Walmart also issues its own credit card through Capital One, and using that card gets you rewards that other cards do not. If you do not have a Walmart card, any major credit card will work at checkout — in-store, online, or through the Walmart app.
The real question is not whether your card works, but whether you are leaving money on the table by not using a card that earns rewards on Walmart purchases. A standard Visa or Mastercard might earn 1% cash back on all purchases. The Walmart credit card earns up to 5% back on Walmart.com purchases and 2% at Walmart stores — but only if you use that specific card.
Key Takeaways
- Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover all work at Walmart stores and online, with no restrictions or special requirements.
- The Walmart Mastercard earns 5% cash back on Walmart.com and 2% at physical stores, while other cards typically earn 1% or less on groceries and general purchases.
- Walmart does not accept store credit or gift cards as payment methods — only credit cards, debit cards, cash, and digital wallets.
- If you carry a balance on a credit card, the interest charges will quickly erase any rewards you earn at Walmart.
What credit cards Walmart accepts in stores
At Walmart checkout lanes, you can use Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover. Walmart stopped accepting American Express for a period but brought it back. All four networks work the same way: the card is processed through the payment terminal, and the transaction goes through in seconds.
Walmart also accepts debit cards on all four networks, as well as cash and digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay. If your credit card is linked to Apple Pay or Google Pay, you can tap or scan your phone instead of handing over the physical card. The rewards and terms are the same either way.
One thing Walmart does not accept: store credit or Walmart gift cards as a payment method at checkout. You can use a Walmart gift card to buy things, but you cannot use it to pay off a Walmart credit card bill or make a payment toward an account balance.
Walmart credit card rewards versus other cards
The Walmart Mastercard, issued by Capital One, earns cash back at rates that beat most other cards for Walmart shopping. You earn 5% cash back on Walmart.com purchases, 2% cash back at Walmart stores, 1% at gas stations, and 1% everywhere else. There is no annual fee.
If you use a standard cash-back card instead — say, a card that earns 1.5% on all purchases — you would earn $1.50 on a $100 Walmart purchase. The Walmart card would earn $2.00 at a store or $5.00 online. Over a year of regular shopping, that difference adds up. But this only works if you pay off the balance each month. A 21% interest rate on a carried balance will erase months of rewards.
Other cards to consider: some grocery-focused cards earn 3% to 5% at supermarkets, which may include Walmart's grocery section depending on how the card issuer classifies the transaction. Check your card's terms to see whether Walmart purchases count as groceries or general retail. American Express and Discover cards sometimes offer rotating categories with 5% back for three months at a time, which might include Walmart during certain quarters.
How to use a credit card at Walmart online
On Walmart.com, enter your credit card information at checkout. Walmart accepts the same four major networks online as it does in stores. You can save your card to your Walmart account so you do not have to re-enter it each time.
If you use the Walmart app to shop, the process is identical — add items to your cart and pay with any major credit card at checkout. The app will also let you save payment methods for faster checkout on future orders.
One difference online: Walmart sometimes offers special promotions for Walmart Mastercard holders, such as extra cash back on certain product categories during specific weeks. These deals are advertised on the Walmart website and in the Walmart app, so check before you check out if you are a cardholder.
Credit cards Walmart does not accept
Walmart does not accept store-branded credit cards from other retailers — for example, a Target card or a Costco card will not work at Walmart. It also does not accept cards issued by smaller regional banks or credit unions unless those cards run on one of the four major networks (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover).
If your card is issued by a credit union or a small bank, check the front of the card. If it displays the Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover logo, it will work at Walmart. If it does not, it will not.
Walmart also does not accept payment plans, buy-now-pay-later services like Afterpay or Klarna, or cryptocurrency. You must use a traditional credit card, debit card, cash, or digital wallet.
When your credit card might be declined at Walmart
A major credit card can still be declined at Walmart for reasons unrelated to whether Walmart accepts the card type. Your bank might flag the transaction as suspicious if you are shopping in a different state or country, or if the purchase is much larger than your usual spending. Call your bank before you shop if you know you are making an unusually large purchase.
Your card can also be declined if you have reached your credit limit, if your account is past due, or if your bank suspects fraud. If this happens, you will need to contact your card issuer to resolve the issue — Walmart cannot override a bank's decision to decline a card.
Occasionally, Walmart's payment system goes down temporarily. If the card reader is not working, ask a cashier whether you can pay with cash or try again in a few minutes. This is rare and affects all customers, not just credit card users.
Should you get a Walmart credit card
The Walmart Mastercard makes sense if you shop at Walmart regularly and can pay off your balance in full each month. The 5% back on Walmart.com and 2% at stores is genuinely better than what most other cards offer. If you spend $200 a month at Walmart, that is $24 a year in cash back — not life-changing, but real money.
It does not make sense if you carry a balance. A 21% APR will cost you far more than any rewards can offset. It also does not make sense if you rarely shop at Walmart or if you shop there only occasionally. A general-purpose 2% cash-back card might be better for your overall spending pattern.
The card has no annual fee, so there is no penalty for opening it and not using it. If you think you might shop at Walmart more in the future, opening the card costs nothing and keeps the option available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a credit card to buy a Walmart gift card?
Yes. You can use any major credit card to buy a Walmart gift card in-store or online. The gift card itself is not a credit card and cannot be used to make credit card payments, but you can buy one with your credit card.
Does Walmart accept prepaid credit cards?
Yes, as long as the prepaid card runs on Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover. Prepaid cards with these logos work exactly like regular credit cards at checkout. Check the front of the card to confirm it displays one of these logos.
What happens if I use an expired credit card at Walmart?
The transaction will be declined. Walmart's payment system checks the expiration date, and an expired card will not go through. You will need to use a different payment method or contact your card issuer for a replacement card.
Can I use a credit card to pay my Walmart credit card bill?
No. Walmart does not accept credit card payments toward your Walmart Mastercard balance. You can pay online through your Capital One account, by phone, by mail, or through automatic payments from a bank account.
Does Walmart charge a fee for using a credit card?
No. Walmart does not charge customers a fee for paying with a credit card. The store absorbs the processing fee that the card network charges. You pay the same price whether you use cash, debit, or credit.