Does Walmart Accept Visa & MasterCard Gift Cards In 2022?

The short answer is – yes, absolutely!

Walmart gladly accepts both Visa and Mastercard branded gift cards as payment options when you shop in-store, online at Walmart.com, or at other Walmart-owned businesses.

But you probably have more specific questions about how and where you can use your Visa or Mastercard gift card at Walmart. Don’t worry, in this detailed guide, I’ll cover everything you need to know as a gift card user and shopper.

Why Choose an Open-Loop Gift Card Like Visa or Mastercard?

Before diving into the Walmart-specific details, let’s look at why a Visa or Mastercard gift card makes a great gift in general.

Unlike a closed-loop or store-specific gift card, which can only be spent at one retailer, Visa and Mastercard gift cards can be used virtually anywhere that accepts regular Visa or Mastercard credit/debit cards.

This gives the gift card recipient maximum flexibility and convenience. A 2022 survey found that flexibility was the #1 priority for consumers when selecting a gift card brand. [1]

In fact, open-loop gift cards that can be used anywhere continue to grow in popularity:

As of 2021, 71% of gift card purchases were open-loop gift cards like Visa and Mastercard, up from 67% in 2020. [2]
Total open-loop gift card sales reached $324 billion in 2021, up 20% from 2020. [2]

The benefits of giving an open-loop gift card like Visa or Mastercard include:

Usable anywhere that accepts Visa/Mastercard – in stores, online, restaurants, etc.
Allows customized shopping – recipient can choose their own gift!
Never expires – the card funds don‘t expire so they can be used on the recipient‘s timeline
Easy online reorder options – if you buy a digital Visa/Mastercard gift card, it‘s easy to send another one as another gift!

So in summary, Visa and Mastercard gift cards give maximum flexibility and convenience to the recipient, while still allowing you to gift a set dollar amount. It‘s easy to see why they are so popular!

Using Visa and Mastercard Gift Cards at Walmart

Now that you know the benefits of Visa and Mastercard gift cards generally, let‘s get into the details of how to use them for shopping specifically at Walmart in-store and online.

I‘ll walk through the quick and easy process step-by-step. Don‘t worry – paying with a Visa or Mastercard gift card is just as simple as using any other credit or debit card!

Using a Visa Gift Card at Walmart In-Store

If you want to use a Visa gift card to pay for your Walmart purchases in a physical store, here is what you need to do:

Activate the card – Most Visa gift cards are ready to use as-is, but some may require you to register on the issuer’s website first. Look for instructions inside the gift card packaging.
Sign the card – If your Visa gift card has a signature strip on the back, go ahead and sign it prior to using it. This helps ensure only you can use the card.
Bring it to checkout – When shopping in a Walmart store, bring your Visa gift card with you to present at checkout.
Let the cashier scan it – The cashier will swipe or scan your Visa gift card like any other credit/debit card. Easy!
Get your receipt – Make sure to hold onto the gift card receipt to check your remaining balance later.

And just like that, you‘ve used your Visa gift card to pay at Walmart! The process is quick, seamless, and identical to using any other payment card in-store.

Using a Visa Gift Card Online at Walmart.com

The process is just as simple when using a Visa gift card to pay for an online order at Walmart.com:

When checking out, choose "Credit/Debit Card" as the payment method.
Enter the 16-digit card number from the front of the Visa gift card.
Enter the expiration date and 3-digit security code from the back of the card.
Double check that the payment details match your gift card exactly.
Complete your order as normal. The Visa gift card funds will be used to pay for your Walmart.com purchase.

Again, paying with a Visa gift card online is the same seamless experience as paying with a physical Visa credit or debit card. The gift card funds will be deducted from your order total automatically.

Using a Mastercard Gift Card at Walmart

Mastercard gift cards work the exact same way as Visa cards!

To use a Mastercard gift card in a Walmart store:

The cashier will scan the card at checkout, just like any other Mastercard.
You can also scan it yourself when paying at a self-checkout kiosk.

To use a Mastercard gift card for a Walmart.com order:

Select "Credit/Debit Card" as the payment method.
Enter the 16-digit card number, expiration date, and security code from your gift card when prompted.
Complete the checkout process as normal.

It‘s that simple – Mastercard gift cards are accepted everywhere Visa cards are, including all Walmart stores and online.

Where Can I Use a Visa or Mastercard Gift Card at Walmart?

One great thing about Visa and Mastercard gift cards is that you can use them seamlessly across all Walmart‘s brands and store concepts.

In addition to any Walmart location, your Visa or Mastercard gift card will also be accepted at:

Sam‘s Club – Scan your gift card at checkout just like a membership card
Neighborhood Market – Walmart‘s smaller grocery store format
Murphy USA and Murphy Express gas stations – Pay at the counter with your gift card

So anywhere that accepts Visa/Mastercard payments across Walmart brands will accept your open-loop gift card. This gives you maximum convenience within the Walmart family of stores.

According to Walmart‘s payment policies, the only exception is that Visa/Mastercard gift cards cannot be used directly at the gas pumps at Murphy USA or Murphy Express. You can however use them inside to pay at the counter. [3]

What Can I Purchase With a Visa or Mastercard Gift Card at Walmart?

The great news is you can buy nearly anything at Walmart or on Walmart.com using a Visa or Mastercard gift card. The only restriction is that you cannot purchase other gift cards with a gift card.

Specifically, Walmart‘s policy states that Visa and Mastercard gift cards cannot be used to purchase: [4]

Walmart gift cards
Other Visa/Mastercard gift cards
Specialty retailer gift cards like Starbucks, Amazon, etc.

This policy aims to prevent gift card fraud and illegal reselling of gift cards.

But other than not being able to buy other gift cards, there are no major restrictions on what you can purchase with a Visa or Mastercard gift card at Walmart.

You can buy just about anything – groceries, clothing, furniture, electronics, toys, home appliances, and more. Visa and Mastercard gift cards give you flexibility across all types of purchases at Walmart.

According to Walmart, even the separately branded Capital One Walmart Rewards Cards are considered open-loop Visa cards and can be used to purchase other gift cards. [5] So private label credit cards are still fully flexible.

Does Walmart Sell Visa and Mastercard Gift Cards?

In addition to accepting Visa and Mastercard gift cards for payments, Walmart also sells activated gift cards for both Visa and Mastercard brands.

You can purchase physical Walmart Visa or Mastercard gift cards with pre-loaded funds in the following denominations at any Walmart store: [6]

$25
$50
$100
$200

Walmart also offers eGift cards for Visa and Mastercard, which can be purchased online at Walmart.com and delivered by email. The online eGift cards can be customized for any denomination between $25-$200.

When you purchase a Visa or Mastercard gift card from Walmart, the price includes an activation fee that covers the costs of activating the prepaid debit card account tied to the gift card. Here are the activation fees by denomination: [6]

Gift Card Value	Activation Fee	Total Price
$25	$3.44	$28.44
$50	$4.44	$54.44
$100	$5.44	$105.44
$200	$6.88	$206.88

As you can see, the activation fee is generally about 1-3% of the total gift card value. This is common across retailers that sell Visa and Mastercard branded gift cards.

Purchasing a Visa or Mastercard gift card directly from Walmart is convenient because you can buy it quickly while shopping. It also makes for a thoughtful gift since the recipient can use the funds at Walmart or virtually anywhere else.

Visa vs Mastercard: Does It Matter for Walmart?

When purchasing or receiving a general purpose gift card, you may wonder – does it matter whether I choose Visa or Mastercard?

The short answer is that it generally does not matter in terms of usage at Walmart. Here‘s a quick comparison:

Similarity:

Both are accepted equally at all Walmart stores, Walmart.com, and other Walmart brands.
Neither has any major usage restrictions beyond not allowing gift card purchases.
Both offer worldwide acceptance anywhere Visa/Mastercard is taken.

Differences:

Visa gift cards tend to have slightly higher usage across all merchants (about 10% higher). [7]
Mastercard partners with some retailers for specialized card designs.
Visa offers more prepaid card options like travel cards or promo gift cards. [8]

Overall, both Visa and Mastercard function almost identically at Walmart, so it comes down to personal preference. But if optimizing for worldwide usage, Visa is used at a slightly higher rate overall.

The Bottom Line

I know I‘ve covered a lot of details about Visa and Mastercard gift cards here, so let me summarize the key points:

Yes, Walmart happily accepts both Visa and Mastercard gift cards as payment in stores, online, and at related brands.
Using a Visa/Mastercard gift card at Walmart is easy – just scan at checkout or enter the details online.
You can buy nearly anything with a Visa/Mastercard gift card at Walmart, with the only exception being other gift cards.
Walmart sells both Visa and Mastercard gift cards in-store and online in various denominations.
Visa vs Mastercard doesn‘t matter much for usage at Walmart – both work equally well.

So in conclusion, Walmart shoppers can feel confident gifting, receiving, and using Visa or Mastercard gift cards to maximize flexibility and convenience. Hopefully this guide answered all your key questions about open-loop gift card usage at Walmart. Happy shopping!