Does Walgreens Accept Google Pay & Samsung Pay in 2024?

Mobile wallet usage has skyrocketed in recent years. Over 30% of smartphone owners use services like Google Pay or Samsung Pay to checkout quickly by tapping their devices instead of swiping credit cards.

And major national retail chains like Walgreens want to enable these contactless payments to cater to consumer demand. But how widely supported are they?

Here’s a detailed look at how and where you can use Google Pay and Samsung Pay for easy checkout at Walgreens pharmacy locations across the country.

The Rise of Contactless Payments

Visa reports that over 75% of face-to-face Visa transactions outside the U.S now utilize contactless tech. Adoption rates in America lag behind but are quickly catching up:

This demand is driven by consumers who appreciate the convenience, ease of use, and hygienic benefits of contactless mobile payments. Plus, services like Google Pay and Samsung Pay enable checkout 3-4x faster than inserting and removing your credit card.

Walgreens wants to allow shoppers to tap and go using their mobile devices. But have they enabled this option nationwide?

Walgreens NFC Payment Infrastructure

Contactless payments rely on near-field communication (NFC) technology embedded in smartphones and point-of-sale terminals.

Your phone and the checkout scanner communicate via NFC when held within an inch, allowing payment authorization and completion in seconds.

• Over 95% of Walgreens locations have payment terminals equipped with NFC readers
• This widespread support allows acceptance of mobile wallets like Google Pay
• Samsung Pay also works at 100% of stores by leveraging both NFC and magnetic stripe transmission (MST)

So if you see the contactless symbol on the pinpad scanner, you’re all set to checkout fast with your smartphone!

Next let’s walk through how to pay using Google Pay and Samsung Pay at Walgreens.

Checking Out with Google Pay

Google Pay is pre-loaded on Android devices and leverages NFC for communication with enabled payment terminals.

Follow these simple steps to checkout at Walgreens using Google Pay:

1. Wake your phone – Your phone must be on for NFC communication
2. Unlock your phone if you have a lock screen password/pin/pattern
3. Open the Google Pay app – Your default card will display
4. Hover over the payment terminal keeping your phone 3-4 inches away
5. Wait for the checkmark animation and sound indicating a successful payment

And that‘s it! You‘ve just paid in seconds without grabbing your physical wallet.

Checking Out with Samsung Pay

Samsung Pay works very similarly with compatible Samsung Galaxy smartphones and smartwatches:

1. Wake your device
2. Unlock your screen if you have a lock enabled
3. Open the Samsung Pay app and pick your preferred payment card
4. Hover over the payment terminal keeping a few inches between
5. Wait for the sound and haptic feedback to confirm payment

In addition, Samsung Pay supports Magnetic Secure Transmission (MST) which means it can transmit payment card details to traditional magnetic stripe readers. This gives it 100% compatibility with all Walgreens checkout terminals.

Rewards Program Integration

Walgreens shoppers can sync their Balance Rewards membership card into Google Pay or Samsung Pay. This provides all the same benefits as scanning the physical rewards card:

• Earn points on qualifying purchases
• Redeem accrued rewards dollars on future transactions
• Receive promotion alerts and special member coupons

When setting up Google/Samsung Pay, simply add your Balance Rewards card to the app to start earning and redeeming seamlessly via mobile payments.

Expert Tips for Mobile Wallet Users

When checking out via smartphone at Walgreens, keep these tips in mind:

• Have your phone unlocked and ready before approaching the cashier
• Know which card you want to pay with before tapping to pay
• Wait for visual/audio confirmation before moving your phone away
• Add your Balance Rewards to earn points on mobile purchases
• Enable contactless symbols on your cards for faster checkout
• Use Samsung Pay as a backup if NFC/Google Pay doesn‘t work

Conclusion

Walgreens has embraced the contactless payment revolution, enabling mobile wallet acceptance at 95% of their retail pharmacy locations and counting.

Both Google Pay and Samsung Pay provide Walgreens shoppers with secure, convenient checkout using just their smartphones. And integration with the company‘s loyalty program grants the same ability to earn and burn rewards on the go.

So leave those credit cards behind next time you run to Walgreens – your phone has you covered!