Does CVS Take Google Pay & Samsung Pay in 2024? The Complete Guide

Contactless payments like Google Pay and Samsung Pay have exploded in popularity in recent years. According to research, over 100 million Americans are projected to use proximity mobile payments in 2024, up from just 24 million in 2015.

Retailers like CVS have taken notice and moved quickly to upgrade their payment terminals. But does CVS take Google Pay and Samsung Pay nationwide? What are the benefits of using these tap-and-go payment methods versus old-school cash or cards when shopping at CVS?

In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll explore everything you need to know about paying with your phone at CVS stores across the country.

The Rise of Contactless Payments at Retailers

Contactless payments allow customers to checkout quickly and securely by tapping a card or smartphone on payment terminals. According to Juniper Research, over $1 trillion in transactions will be made using proximity mobile payments by 2023.

Driving this growth is the fact that contactless payments:

• Are faster than cash or cards with no need to insert a card or enter a PIN
• Reduce exposure to germs by minimizing surface contact
• Enable mobile order ahead and curbside pickup with minimal contact
• Provide the security of tokenization and biometrics like fingerprints

With COVID-19 accelerating adoption in 2020, retailers like CVS, Walgreens, and Costco now accept contactless payments nationwide.

Google Pay and Samsung Pay Acceptance at CVS

Google Pay launched in 2015 and Samsung Pay in 2017, allowing Android users to checkout using virtual cards on their devices. CVS began accepting Google Pay via NFC in 2018 in select locations before expanding nationwide.

Here is the rollout timeline for contactless acceptance at CVS:

This means that as of 2023, you can use Google Pay and Samsung Pay via NFC at all CVS Pharmacy stores across the country.

How Google Pay Works at CVS

Google Pay allows you to store your debit and credit cards in the app and tap to pay at compatible terminals. Here is how to use it when shopping at CVS:

1. Download the Google Pay app on your Android device and add your payment cards.

2. When checking out at CVS, wake your phone and hold it near the payment terminal.

3. Your default card will appear on your screen. Tap it to activate NFC.

4. The terminal will show a check mark when it detects your virtual card.

5. Verify your card details and biometrics on your phone to approve the payment.

The payment will complete within seconds once your phone is tapped on the reader.

How Samsung Pay Works at CVS

Samsung Pay works very similar to Google Pay when paying at CVS. Just make sure to:

1. Set up the app and add your cards on your Samsung device.

2. Open Samsung Pay at checkout and pick your payment card.

3. Authenticate with your fingerprint or PIN.

4. Hover your phone over the payment terminal until a checkmark appears.

5. Accept the details on your phone to verify and pay.

An added benefit of Samsung Pay is that it works on both NFC and MST (magnetic strip) readers. This ensures compatibility at all CVS locations.

Security of Digital Wallets at CVS

When using Google Pay, Samsung Pay, or Apple Pay at CVS, your actual payment card details are not shared with the store.

Instead, a unique digital token or disposable card number is sent via NFC to complete the transaction. This means your card details stay protected.

Biometric verification like fingerprints or facial recognition adds another layer of security when approving payments from your device.

Other Contactless Payments at CVS

In addition to the major mobile wallets, CVS also accepts:

• Apple Pay via iPhone or Apple Watch
• PayPal/Venmo QR codes: Scan to pay from your app

This makes CVS one of the most payment-friendly major retailers when it comes to contactless checkout options.

Traditional Payment Methods Still Accepted

For customers who prefer to pay the old-fashioned way, CVS still accepts:

• Cash
• Physical credit/debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover)
• Chip cards
• Magnetic stripe cards
• CVS gift cards and store credit

So you have plenty of payment options when shopping in-store or online.

The Future of Contactless Payments at CVS

Contactless usage rates continue to accelerate across retail, with 75% of consumers embracing tap-to-pay methods since the pandemic began.

As Google Pay and Samsung Pay grow even more popular in 2024, I expect their acceptance to become universal at CVS stores from urban to rural locations. Frictionless mobile checkout is no longer a luxury – it‘s a must-have for busy shoppers.

And CVS is ahead of many rivals in rolling out contactless payments quickly and securely to provide their customers with maximum convenience and peace of mind.