Does Sam’s Club Offer Mobile Payment Options? (2025 Guide)

In the rapidly evolving world of retail, payment convenience, security, and speed are top priorities for both consumers and businesses. Sam’s Club, as a leading membership-based warehouse chain owned by Walmart, has embraced digital transformation—reimagining the checkout process and leveraging the power of mobile payment solutions. Yet, with a shifting landscape of digital wallets and contactless payment ambitions, the rules can be confusing for shoppers.

If you’re wondering, “Does Sam’s Club offer mobile payment options?”and specifically how options like Scan & Go, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and other contactless checkouts fit in, the answer is nuanced. The mobile payments ecosystem at Sam’s Club is both innovative and distinct, with some key choices available and others notably missing.

This thoroughly researched guide breaks down everything you need to know in 2025 about Sam’s Club mobile payment options, digital wallet compatibility, and how you can maximize your convenience, speed, and security at the checkout.

Sam’s Club Mobile Payment Options- Overview

2024 and 2025 have seen mobile payment volume surge globally, with transaction values reaching $8.1 trillion in 2024 and over 2.7 billion people using mobile payments worldwide. 

In the U.S., digital payments have become so mainstream that over 92% of consumers reported using some form of digital payment last year, and a McKinsey survey found in-app and in-store mobile payment adoption to be the fastest-growing segment.

Retailers who don’t adapt risk obsolescence. According to Chris Nicholas, Sam’s Club President and CEO, “We’re investing with intention—in our fleet, our associates and the member experience—to become the world’s best club retailer,” with a focus on technology-enabled, frictionless checkout systems.

How Do You Pay at Sam’s Club? (2025 Snapshot)

Accepted In-Club and Online Payment Methods

Payment Type	In-Store	Online	Sam’s Club App	Scan & Go	Instacart
Major Credit Cards	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Debit Cards	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Sam’s Club Credit	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
EBT (SNAP)	Yes*	No	Yes	Yes	Select**
Cash/Check	Yes	No	No	No	No
Samsung Pay	Yes	No	No	No	Yes
Google Pay	No	No	No	No	Yes
Apple Pay	No	No	No	No	Yes
Walmart/Sam’s Gift	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
PayPal	No	No	No	No	No

** SNAP/EBT cards can only be used for eligible items in-store and via Scan & Go (not online).
**Instacart accepts EBT for Sam’s Club orders in some regions only. (Reference: Sam’s Club help center and payment policy documentation)

In short, Sam’s Club has developed its own advanced mobile payment technologies, with a proprietary Scan & Go checkout and AI-based “Just Go” exit system, while restricting direct use of popular third-party wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay. 

Samsung Pay is supported in stores. Instacart is a practical workaround for those wanting to use digital wallets at Sam’s Club.

The Sam’s Club Scan & Go Feature

Scan & Go is Sam’s Club’s flagship mobile payment technology—a self-checkout app feature designed to let you scan items as you shop, pay via your linked payment methods in the app, and skip the traditional checkout lane entirely.

How Scan & Go Works (Step-by-Step 2025 Process)

1. Download/Open the Sam’s Club App: Available for both iOS and Android.
2. Sign in with Your Membership: Required for entry and access to Scan & Go.
3. Start Shopping: Use your smartphone’s camera in the app to scan item barcodes as you place them in your cart.
4. Track Spending in Real-Time: The app provides an ongoing tally, helping you budget and eliminate surprises at checkout.
5. Finish Shopping: Tap “Finish” or “Check Out” in the app.
6. Pay within the App: Use a saved credit/debit card, your Sam’s Club credit account, or EBT/SNAP for eligible items.
7. Show Digital Receipt to Exit (or Just Go): Present your digital receipt (QR code) to the associate at the door or, at enabled clubs, walk through the AI-powered checkout archway.

Members overwhelmingly praise Scan & Go for dramatically reducing wait times—often getting in and out “in under a minute” after payment, according to Walmart’s internal data.

Usage & Adoption Rates for 2025

Scan & Go is no longer a fringe option. In fact, adoption has accelerated dramatically

• 30% of Sam’s Club shoppers were using Scan & Go by late 2025, a 50% jump in three years.
• Over 65% of all transactions at clubs supporting Scan & Go used the feature, according to Walmart leadership.
• Once tried, nearly all new users keep using it due to convenience and time savings, confirming CEO Chris Nicholas’ statement: “The adoption curve is rapid and once people have done it, they never go back”.

Real-World Example

A typical trip: A family enters Sam’s Club on a busy Saturday. Instead of waiting in a long checkout line, they scan a week’s groceries as they shop, pay on their phone, and skip the line—from entry to exit, the experience can take less than 20 minutes, even when the club is crowded.

Shopping Limitations

• Alcohol, tobacco, pharmacy items, gift cards, and certain oversized items may require standard checkout.
• Daily purchase limits apply (up to $1,000/day for Scan & Go purchases).
• Must use a smartphone (no tablet support). Battery and connectivity required.

Sam’s Club “Just Go” AI System

2025 marks a major shift: Sam’s Club is actively phasing out all traditional and self-checkout lanes across its nearly 600 U.S. stores, replacing them with a combination of Scan & Go and AI-powered gate systems known as “Just Go”.

How Does the AI Exit System Work?

• After using Scan & Go, members exit through an “airport-style” archway equipped with cameras and sensors.
• AI computer vision technology scans carts, verifies that all items are paid for, and confirms the digital receipt without human intervention.
• This technology eliminates the need for lengthy hand-checked receipts at the door, speeding up the process by 23% on average for all customers.
• For now, the system is present at over 120 clubs (covering 20% of locations), with all clubs expected to support this frictionless exit by the end of 2025.

Why This Matters

Sam’s Club uniquely leads the industry by successfully rolling out member-facing AI payment and verification on a large scale, outpacing competitors like Costco and BJ’s, which have maintained traditional checkout lanes.

Member Experience and Accessibility

The “Just Go” feature not only enhances speed, but is also integrated with Sam’s Club’s app-based ecosystem, reinforcing app-based membership, shopping, and payment as the backbone of the in-club experience.

Over 53% of Americans now use digital wallets more than traditional cash or cards for daily purchases.

Sam’s Club Digital Wallet Compatibility

Does Sam’s Club Accept Apple Pay?

No, Sam’s Club does not accept Apple Pay directly in stores or online for payment.

• This extends to both NFC terminals at registers and through the Sam’s Club Scan & Go feature—Apple Pay cannot be used to pay for merchandise, either in-app or at the point of sale.
• The likely reasons: Transaction fees, customer data management, and brand strategy (Sam’s Club prefers to promote its own app and store cards).

Apple Wallet for Membership

However, you can add your Sam’s Club membership card to Apple Wallet for seamless entry and ID purposes. This doesn’t provide payment functionality but makes club entry and membership verification easier.

Expert insight

“Apple Pay is not currently accepted by Sam’s Club in any channel. The Scan & Go app, not Apple Pay, is the main mobile payment tool. For Apple enthusiasts seeking a workaround, Instacart accepts Apple Pay when you order Sam’s Club products for delivery.” — Steven Austin, Marketing Scoop, 2024

Does Sam’s Club Accept Google Pay?

No, Google Pay is not accepted for direct in-store or online purchases at Sam’s Club.

• Register terminals and the Sam’s Club app do not offer Google Pay as a payment method.
• As with Apple Pay, this is tied to merchant fees, technical integration, and Sam’s Club’s desire to steer members toward store payment products and its app.

Exception – Google Pay Accepted via Instacart

While not a direct checkout option at Sam’s Club, Google Pay is accepted if you shop for Sam’s Club products through the Instacart delivery platform, as they support Google Pay within the Instacart app or website.

Does Sam’s Club Accept Samsung Pay?

Yes, Sam’s Club does accept Samsung Pay for in-store purchases.

• Members can use Samsung Pay on eligible Samsung smartphones at any payment terminal, mimicking a debit/credit card tap with MST or NFC technology.
• Note: Samsung Pay is not supported for online Sam’s Club orders or the Scan & Go app.

Instacart and the Digital Wallet Workaround

Want to use Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay to shop at Sam’s Club?

• Instacart is your solution. Instacart partners with Sam’s Club for local delivery. When you order from Sam’s Club on Instacart, you can pay using any major digital wallet, including Apple Pay and Google Pay, as well as Samsung Pay and traditional cards.
• Delivery through Instacart often includes same-day or scheduled drop-offs and adds digital wallet flexibility that Sam’s Club does not natively provide.

Want to make mobile payments even easier? Learn how the Sam’s Club app enhances your checkout experience in our related post — Does Sam’s Club Have a Mobile App?

Sam’s Club Mobile App Payment Integration

The heart of Sam’s Club’s payment innovation is in app-based transactions. The official Sam’s Club app (iOS and Android) now doubles as your digital membership card, checkout wallet, rewards tracker, and shopping planner.

Payment functions

• Store and use credit/debit cards and Sam’s Club accounts for instant app payments.
• Add EBT/SNAP—Scan & Go supports EBT for eligible food purchases in stores.
• Use Sam’s Club and Walmart gift cards for in-app purchases, including gas stations and in-club food courts.
• Receive and manage digital receipts for purchase tracking and returns.

Membership Card Goes Digital

In 2025, Sam’s Club started to phase out physical membership cards entirely in favor of app-based digital membership. The only way to enter the club and complete purchases is via the digital card inside the app, aligning with trends seen across the retail industry.

Security, Privacy & Two-Factor Authentication

Sam’s Club uses advanced encryption and supports multi-factor authentication (SMS or email code validation) to secure customer app accounts, which are now the default for both entry and payment.

How Safe Are Sam’s Club Mobile Payment Options?

Encryption

All card and transaction data handled by the Sam’s Club app is encrypted at rest and in transit, in line with industry PCI DSS standards.

Biometric Security

For Samsung Pay, members authenticate with fingerprint or facial recognition before a transaction is approved.

Multi-Factor Authentication

For account access, especially after suspicious activity, Sam’s Club requires a combination of password and one-time code, received via email or text.

Privacy Policy

Sam’s Club aggregates shopping and payment data, using it to inform business analytics but commits not to “profile for legal effect” or sell sensitive customer data outside of its business partners. The privacy policy is clear, transparent, and CCPA/GDPR-aligned for member rights and data deletion requests.

“Sam’s Club employs reasonable information security measures, including physical, administrative, and technical safeguards, to protect customer data whether you are using the app or mobile services.” — Sam’s Club Member Privacy Notice, 2025

Potential Drawbacks

• App access means members without compatible smartphones, or with poor connectivity, may be excluded or inconvenienced.
• Relying on digital wallets can create issues if your device battery dies or if there’s an app outage.
• As with all digital services, vigilance with passwords and devices is always recommended.

U.S. Mobile Payment Adoption Rates

Year	% of U.S. Consumers Using Mobile Payments
2019	60%
2022	81%
2024	92%

(Estimates synthesized from McKinsey, Business of Apps, and industry reporting)

Mobile payment growth is not only about technology; it’s also a reaction to consumer demand for safer, cleaner, faster transactions, especially under the influence of pandemic-era behaviors.

Pros and Cons of Sam’s Club Mobile Payment Solutions

Pros	Cons
Faster checkouts with Scan & Go and Just Go	Excludes Apple Pay/Google Pay in-store/Scan & Go
Reduces need to wait in lines	Requires smartphone and app proficiency
Safer, contactless experience	Battery and connectivity dependency
Digital receipts simplify returns	Not all items (e.g., alcohol/gift cards) supported
In-app budgeting and spending tools	No cash/PayPal accepted in app
AI exit system eliminates door queues	Some older/less tech-savvy members may feel left behind
24/7 membership/account access in your pocket	Problems if phone is lost, dead, or stolen

For most tech-enabled members, the pros of Sam’s Club mobile payment options are substantial: lines virtually disappear, security is robust, and day-to-day shopping becomes more transparent and trackable.

The main drawbacks are the lack of support for universal wallets like Apple Pay/Google Pay, the risk of phone issues during a visit, and possible digital divide inconveniences for older members.

Official Statements

On the digital shift and AI drive

“This is one of the fastest, most scalable transformations happening in retail today. We’re investing…to become the world’s best club retailer.”
—Chris Nicholas, President and CEO, Sam’s Club (2025)

On Scan & Go adoption

“The adoption curve is rapid and once people have done it, they never go back.”
—Chris Nicholas, Sam’s Club CEO, Constellation Research Forum 2024

On digital wallet compatibility

“Sam’s Club does not directly take Google Pay… However, Samsung Pay users can tap and pay right at Sam’s Club registers.”
—Charles Scott, Payments Expert, Expert Beacon, 2024

On security

“Sam’s Club employs reasonable information security measures, including physical, administrative, and technical safeguards.”
—Sam’s Club Member Privacy Notice, 2025

Competitor Comparison: Warehouse Clubs & Mobile Payment Policies

How does Sam’s Club stack up against major warehouse club rivals?

Retailer	Apple Pay	Google Pay	Samsung Pay	Proprietary App Payment	AI/Just Go Checkout	Contactless Checkout
Sam’s Club	No	No	Yes	Yes (Scan & Go)	Yes (by 2025 EOY)	Yes
Costco	Yes	Yes	Yes	Limited	No	Yes
BJ’s	Yes	Yes	No	Yes (ExpressPay)	No	Yes

• Costco accepts all major wallets (Apple, Google, Samsung) at checkout. Requires Visa credit cards for most purchases. No rapid AI-enabled frictionless checkout.
• BJ’s supports both Apple Pay and Google Pay, plus its own ExpressPay app for self-checkout.
• Sam’s Club uniquely offers fully app-integrated membership and is further along with AI-driven exit verification, though it excludes Apple and Google Pay in favor of proprietary solutions.

Human-Centric Insights: Real Scenarios & Value-Driven Explanations

Scenario 1

A busy parent wants to get groceries after work—Scan & Go lets them avoid long lines, budget in real time, and get home sooner.

Scenario 2

A tech-forward shopper prefers using Apple Pay for everything. At Sam’s Club, they need to switch to the store’s app and link a credit/debit card, or place their order via Instacart to still use Apple Pay.

Scenario 3

An elderly member without a smartphone finds the new policy challenging; they must ask for a physical card or assistance at the member service desk.

The Value Proposition

Sam’s Club’s mobile payment strategy provides:

• Speed: Checkout is virtually instant for app-savvy users.
• Transparency: Real-time budgeting and spending records.
• Rewards Integration: Plus members can track rewards and receive personalized discounts in-app.
• Security: Less physical contact, encrypted payments, biometric security in cases like Samsung Pay.

The Tradeoff

This innovation comes at the cost of excluding some popular wallets, as well as requiring digital literacy and device ownership—potentially disenfranchising a segment of the member population.

Future Outlook

As mobile payments continue to dominate U.S. consumer habits, retailers are being pushed to accommodate all popular wallets and platforms. Sam’s Club’s focus on proprietary payment solutions and AI exit technology cements its role as an innovator but raises the question: Will member demand force Sam’s Club to eventually support Apple Pay and Google Pay directly?

For now, the combination of Scan & Go and the new Just Go system lead the field in member experience, driving higher mobile payment adoption but placing limitations on the universe of digital wallets accepted.

Final Thoughts

Sam’s Club offers robust mobile payment options, most notably its proprietary Scan & Go feature via the Sam’s Club app, enabling contactless self-checkout using your phone. However, as of late 2025, Sam’s Club does not directly accept Apple Pay or Google Pay in stores. Samsung Pay is accepted for in-club transactions. 

Members seeking alternative digital wallet options can utilize Instacart, which allows Apple Pay and Google Pay for Sam’s Club home delivery. These evolving payment tools, combined with AI-driven checkout systems, solidify Sam’s Club as a leader in retail innovation, though some limitations on third-party mobile wallets remain.