You can use PayPal at Walmart in several ways: pay with a PayPal Debit Mastercard at checkout, add cash to your PayPal balance at a register, or select PayPal as a payment method on Walmart.com and the Walmart app. Each method works a little differently, so here’s how to set up and use each one.
Pay In Store With a PayPal Debit Card
The PayPal Cash Mastercard works like a standard debit card at Walmart registers. Swipe or tap the card at checkout, and the purchase draws directly from your PayPal balance. You can also use it at Walmart ATMs and service desks to withdraw cash from your PayPal account.
To get the card, you need a PayPal Balance account (sometimes called a PayPal Cash or Cash Plus account). You can request the card through the PayPal app or website at no charge. Once it arrives, activate it in the app and make sure your PayPal balance has enough funds to cover what you plan to spend. If your balance is short, the transaction will be declined, since the debit card pulls only from your PayPal balance and not from a linked bank account or credit card.
Add Cash to Your PayPal Balance at Walmart
Walmart registers and MoneyCenter counters let you load cash directly into your PayPal account. There are two ways to do it.
With the PayPal app: Open the app while you’re in the store, go to your accounts, and tap “Add Cash.” Select Walmart as the store, and the app generates a barcode on your screen. Hand the cash you want to deposit to the cashier and show them the barcode to scan. The money typically appears in your PayPal balance within minutes.
With the PayPal Debit Card: If you already have the physical card, you can skip the barcode step. Hand your cash to the cashier and swipe (or hand over) your PayPal Debit Card. The deposit posts to your balance the same way.
Either method carries a service fee of up to $3.95 per transaction. That fee is charged by the cash reload network, not by Walmart itself, and it applies regardless of how much you deposit. If you’re loading small amounts frequently, those fees add up quickly, so fewer, larger deposits will save you money.
Pay on Walmart.com or the Walmart App
Walmart’s website and mobile app accept PayPal as a checkout payment method. When you’re ready to place an order, select PayPal in the payment options. You’ll be redirected to log into your PayPal account, confirm the payment source (your PayPal balance, a linked bank account, or a linked card), and approve the transaction. After that, you’re sent back to Walmart to finish the order.
This works for most items sold on Walmart.com, including groceries ordered for pickup or delivery. Keep in mind that PayPal is not accepted as a payment method through the self-checkout kiosks or traditional registers inside physical Walmart stores. In-store purchases require either the PayPal Debit Card or another form of payment.
Using PayPal Pay in 4 at Walmart
PayPal’s “Pay in 4” feature splits an eligible purchase into four interest-free payments spread over six weeks. You can use this option when checking out on Walmart.com by choosing PayPal at payment and then selecting the Pay in 4 plan if it appears. PayPal runs a soft credit check and shows you the payment schedule before you commit. The first installment is due at checkout, and the remaining three are charged automatically every two weeks to whatever funding source you choose in PayPal.
Eligibility depends on the order total and your PayPal account history. Purchases generally need to fall between $30 and $1,500. Not every transaction will qualify, and PayPal decides on a case-by-case basis. This option is only available for online orders, not in-store purchases.
What You Cannot Do
Walmart’s physical store registers do not accept PayPal as a direct digital payment. You cannot scan a PayPal QR code, use the PayPal app to tap-to-pay at a Walmart terminal, or type in your PayPal credentials at a self-checkout kiosk. The only way to spend your PayPal balance inside a Walmart store is through the PayPal Debit Mastercard.
Walmart also does not support PayPal through its own Walmart Pay feature in the Walmart app. Walmart Pay works with credit cards, debit cards, and Walmart gift cards, but PayPal is not on that list. If you want to pay in store with your phone, you would need to link the PayPal Debit Card to a mobile wallet that Walmart accepts, though support for contactless payments varies by terminal.
Quick Setup Checklist
- For online purchases: Link a funding source (bank account, card, or PayPal balance) to your PayPal account, then select PayPal at Walmart.com checkout.
- For in-store purchases: Request the free PayPal Cash Mastercard, activate it in the app, and fund your PayPal balance before shopping.
- For cash deposits: Download the PayPal app and set up a PayPal Balance account. Bring cash to any Walmart register or MoneyCenter, generate a barcode in the app (or use your debit card), and hand the cash to the cashier. Budget up to $3.95 per deposit for the reload fee.