Does Kroger Take Apple Pay? (Updated 2022)

 

Shopping at Kroger can sometimes offer you great deals on even greater products, but you may wonder what payment methods they take.

In today’s digital age, there are several different ways to pay for your purchases aside from cash, credit, and personal checks.

Digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay are slowly becoming widely used by many retailers.

You may wonder if Kroger is one of them.

Here’s what you need to know about whether Kroger takes Apple Pay or not.

 

Does Kroger Take Apple Pay?

 

No, Kroger does not take Apple Pay.

In 2020, Kroger experimented with using NFC technology.

They intended to bring in Apple Pay, Google Pay, and several other digital wallets.

However, they do not currently accept Apple Pay.

A reason for this might be because of the launch of their own NFC-related program called Kroger Pay.

It acts similarly to Apple Pay except it also uses your Kroger membership and rewards card to make checking out easier.

To avoid competition, there’s a chance that Kroger decided to drop other digital wallets to promote its own technology.

As of this moment, there is no intention to accept Apple Pay in the future.

 

What Payment Methods Does Kroger Accept?

 

Kroger accepts quite a few different payment methods.

They accept all major forms of credit cards like:

• Visa
• American Express
• MasterCard
• Discover

 

They also accept traditional forms of payment like cash and personal checks.

If you have a WIC card or take part in SNAP/EBT cards, then they’ll also accept those methods of payment.

If you have a Kroger membership, then you can also use Kroger Pay to pay for your purchases.

Kroger Pay takes your grocery total and generates a QR code on your phone.

The QR code details information about your total and the method of payment that you have linked to Kroger Pay.

When you’re at the checkout lane, you only need to scan the QR code.

The transaction proceeds and you’re done.

 

Why Did Kroger Develop Kroger Pay?

 

You may wonder why Kroger bothered to develop their own digital wallet when there are plenty of other digital wallets to use.

Most of it comes down to branding, expense, and convenience.

Before 2020, when Kroger was still considering working with other digital wallets, the COVID-19 pandemic was only starting.

At the time, it didn’t seem as though it was going to be that big of a deal.

Major retailers thought they’d weather it for a month or two and then be back to normal.

That didn’t happen.

Instead, all retailers had to find new ways to make it safer for shoppers to visit their stores.

Part of that was changing how fast and clean the checkout lanes were.

This led to a rise in digital wallets.

Since digital wallets require few touchpoints on machinery, they became appealing during a pandemic.

Those who were considering or using Apple Pay, Google Pay, and other digital wallets found themselves needing to pay more to use those services.

They were also missing out on potential profit.

Kroger, along with other retailers, chose to develop their own form of digital wallet instead of using those of other third parties.

This allows them to maintain their brand throughout the entire shopping experience.

You’re no longer relying on another brand to take care of your checkout.

Kroger is with you from start to finish.

The second reason comes down to the cost.

There’s likely some type of cost that Kroger has to pay to allow their machines to be compatible with Apple Pay and other digital wallets.

That’s money they’re losing needlessly.

By making their own contactless payment method through Kroger Pay, they’re able to cut that expense.

Finally, Kroger made Kroger Pay because it’s convenient.

Members can attach their preferred method of payment to the app.

That might mean linking the app to a credit card or a bank.

They no longer have to worry about having cash in their wallet or remembering zip codes for their cards or writing a check.

The QR code that the app generates takes care of everything.

It allows them to move through the checkout lane faster.

Not only does this cut down on the number of germs left behind, but it also increases customer satisfaction.

No one likes waiting at the checkout lane.

The Kroger Pay app speeds up the lanes which makes its members happier and more likely to stick around.

 

How To Use Kroger Pay

 

If you’re interested in using Kroger Pay, then you’ll need to have an account with the Kroger website first.

Then you’ll need to download the Kroger Pay app on your iPhone or Android phone.

There’s a small chance that your local Kroger store doesn’t accept Kroger Pay.

These are typically Kroger stores that serve a small population or are remote.

You’ll receive a notification that tells you if Kroger Pay isn’t available at your location.

Then you need to set up your Kroger Pay account.

You’ll want to log into the account with the same username and password that you used to sign up with on the Kroger website.

The two entities link together.

You’ll then need to enter a PIN or use biometric security to authenticate yourself.

You can use either facial recognition or your fingerprint for biometric authorization.

The next important step is to set your Shopping List to the Kroger store that you typically shop at.

They consider this your home store.

You can find your store by navigating the home page of the app.

Once your account is ready, you can start entering various payment methods.

You can attach cards, bank, as well as your loyalty rewards card.

When you access the digital wallet portion of your account, you’ll see all your payment methods listed for you.

Choose your preferred payment method and set it as your default payment method.

When you check out, the app will pull money from that specific payment method.

Now that you have a default payment method ready to go, you don’t need to bring your physical wallet with you to the store.

Everything happens via the app.

When you’re ready to go shopping, then you visit the Kroger store that you chose previously on the app.

You can also change that store at any time.

When you’re ready to check out, take your phone and items to a self-checkout lane or a cashier.

Before you scan your items, you need to scan the generated QR code on the app first.

You do this either by holding the screen over the item scanner or by holding it out to the cashier to scan.

Once it scans successfully, you can start to scan your items.

If you’re using a cashier lane, then they’ll scan your items for you.

When you’re done scanning your items, you’ll get a chance to add any coupons.

Then you can review the order and press Mobile on the app to pay for your items.

A cashier will take care of it for you if you’re using a cashier lane.

Otherwise, the payment transfers, and your items are ready to go home with you.

 

How Does Kroger Pay Affect Rewards?

 

As a rewards or loyalty member, you may wonder if you’ll miss out on rewards by using the Kroger Pay app.

That isn’t the case.

In fact, Kroger Pay makes using your rewards and accumulating more rewards even easier.

Since your loyalty account links with your Kroger Pay account, the two different accounts tell each other information.

When you buy something that earns you rewards, then the Kroger Pay app tells your loyalty account.

When you want to use your reward points for something, then the loyalty membership tells the Kroger Pay app.

You have complete control over whether you want to use specific discounts or coupons or not.

Since it’s all handled for you, there’s less need to juggle different accounts, PINs, and cards around.

It’s all handled by the QR code that the Kroger Pay app generates each time you checkout.

Sometimes, Kroger even has special loyalty rewards for members who use Kroger Pay.

It’s a great way to make the most of your loyalty card.

 

How Secure Is Kroger Pay?

 

Considering that you’re using an app to make your purchases rather than a physical card or cash, you may wonder how secure transactions made with Kroger Pay are.

The good news is that they’re very secure.

The information you load onto your digital wallet is something Kroger protects on its website.

The information isn’t actually stored on your phone.

Since Kroger is a corporation, they spend a lot of money to ensure their data is safe.

The information isn’t leaked when you scan your phone either.

Instead, Kroger uses a token to represent your card and its information.

The scanner then recognizes the token and processes the payment accordingly.

At no point is your sensitive information ever displayed or used.

It’s far safer than swiping a card on a terminal that may have a hacking device on it.

 

Can You Switch Payments After Making A Purchase On Kroger Pay?

 

After making a purchase with the Kroger App, you may realize that you used the wrong card to make the purchase.

If you want to move the transaction to a different card after you paid, then you need to visit the Kroger Customer Service desk.

They can move the transaction to your preferred card instead.

To ensure that doesn’t happen in the future, you may want to set your default payment to the correct card.

 

Where Can You Use Kroger Pay?

 

Kroger Pay is usable in almost every part of its store.

You can use it at checkout lanes, self-checkout lanes, and certain pharmacy stores.

You cannot use it at Kroger gas stations or through a pharmacy drive-thru at present.

Some Kroger stores also have various independent merchants inside of them.

Since they’re independent, they might not be part of the Kroger Pay program.

Because of that, they won’t be able to support the technology.

You’ll need to use a traditional form of payment like your card or cash to pay for services or products from an independent merchant inside of a Kroger store.

Not all checkout lanes for alcohol support Kroger Pay either.

If you plan on buying alcohol at one of their special lanes, then it’s a good idea to bring a card or cash just in case.

Finally, their pick-up and delivery services don’t always support Kroger Pay either.

Larger Kroger stores tend to accept it, but smaller stores may not support it.

To determine if your delivery or pick-up service uses Kroger Pay, you should call their store and ask.

 

Does Kroger Accept Other Contactless Methods Of Payment?

 

Yes, Kroger does accept other contactless methods of payment.

They have a Scan, Bag, Go program that also enables their customers to scan their groceries with their phones.

Then they pay for their items through the Kroger app.

This makes shopping faster since customers can scan as they go along.

They don’t need to wait at a checkout lane to scan and pay for their items.

It also means they don’t need to come into contact with certain touchpoints to spread germs.

They also offer benefits for SNAP or EBT users.

You first use the Kroger mobile app to order groceries online.

Then have those groceries delivered to your address or choose to pick them up at the store.

When the groceries arrive at your car for pick-up service, you can simply scan your SNAP or EBT card.

You’ll need to choose the EBT option at checkout to have the machine read your card properly.

 

Why Wasn’t Apple Pay Successful At Kroger?

 

When Kroger ran the trial for Apply Pay, Google Pay, and other digital wallets, they didn’t find that it was worth it for their customers.

Few of their customers actually used Apple Pay to pay for their items.

Others found it confusing and complex to work with their loyalty card.

With little interest in using Apple Pay, Kroger decided not to fully partner with Apple and created their own digital wallet instead.

Kroger Pay tailors to their customers, unlike Apple Pay.

 

Can You Use Apple Pay For Kroger Groceries With Instacart?

 

If you want to use a delivery service to pick up your groceries, then you may consider using Instacart.

When it comes to paying for groceries, however, it can be confusing to figure out if you can use Apple Pay or not.

When using Instacart at Kroger, you cannot use Apple Pay to pay for your groceries.

Their store doesn’t support the software to accept payments via Apple Pay.

Instead, you can use their Kroger Pay app.

You can also use other traditional forms of payment through Instacart like credit and debit cards.

 

Can You Use Apple Pay At Kroger Pharmacies?

 

Picking up prescriptions can be a hassle.

With long lines, you may want to make the process faster and simpler by using a digital wallet.

That may make you wonder as to whether you can use Apple Pay at a Kroger pharmacy.

The answer is no.

Even at Kroger pharmacies, you are unable to use Apple Pay to pay for your medications.

The good news is that you can still use a digital wallet.

You only need to sign up for Kroger Pay to use a digital wallet at a Kroger pharmacy.

Not all pharmacy drive-throughs accept Kroger Pay transactions, however.

If you want to use a digital wallet to pay for your medications, then you’ll need to go inside the store.

 

Can You Use Apple Pay At Kroger Gas Stations?

 

A few gas stations also allow you to use digital wallets to pay for gas.

Since there’s been an increase in the number of scanners installed on gas pumps, many people are looking for safer ways to pay for gas.

One of those ways is with a digital wallet.

Since it involves scanning rather than swiping, it’s harder for hackers to access sensitive information.

At a Kroger gas station, you may wonder if you can use Apple Pay to pay for your fuel.

Unfortunately, that isn’t the case.

Kroger gas stations don’t accept digital wallets at this time.

Eventually, they’ll likely extend their Kroger Pay to their gas stations.

Until then, you need to either use your credit or debit card, cash, or other forms of payment.

 

Conclusion

Kroger performed a trial with Apple Pay to see if it worked with their systems.

They didn’t like its performance and decided to develop their own digital wallet called Kroger Pay.

This digital wallet functions similarly to Apple Pay and comes with loyalty benefits.

You also can’t use Apple Pay at Kroger pharmacies or gas stations.

Kroger Pay takes Apple Pay’s place.