Walmart+ vs Amazon Prime: How the Shopping Memberships Stack Up
How do the prices and perks compare between Walmart+ and Amazon Prime memberships?
Both Walmart+ and Amazon Prime offer free shipping, flexible delivery options and plenty of extra perks to sweeten the deal. At first glance, it might be hard to tell the difference between the two, aside from the lower price tag on Walmart+.
So we dug into the full package each membership offers, including the differences in their free shipping and return policies, as well as how perks such as entertainment and fuel savings compare.
For a quick overview of what each membership offers, check out the side-by-side comparison below, or keep reading for an in-depth look at each one.
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| Header Cell - Column 0 | Walmart+ |
Amazon Prime |
|---|---|---|
Membership fee |
$12.95/month ($98/year) |
$14.99/month ($139/year) |
Membership discounts |
50% off for government assistance recipients (includes Medicaid) and college students |
50% off for college students, government assistance recipients (includes Medicaid). Discounted memberships are also available for income-verified customers and adults ages 18 to 24. |
Free shipping and delivery |
Yes |
Yes |
Free returns |
Yes, including free returns from home |
Yes, including free drop-off at Whole Foods, other eligible locations |
Deals and sales |
Early access to sales events, exclusive deals throughout the year |
Early access to sales events, exclusive deals throughout the year |
Grocery delivery |
Free on orders over $35 |
Free Same-Day Delivery on eligible grocery orders over $25 in most areas; optional $9.99/month grocery subscription offers unlimited delivery on orders over $35 |
Streaming services |
Peacock Premium or Paramount+ Essentials plan |
Prime Video |
Other entertainment |
No |
Amazon Music, Amazon Luna Cloud Gaming, Prime Reading |
Gas savings |
Save 10 cents per gallon at 13,000+ Exxon, Mobil, Walmart, Murphy stations. Get member's prices at Sam's Club stations. |
Save 10 cents per gallon at 7,500+ bp, Amoco and ampm and Thornton's stations |
Pharmacy |
Free prescription delivery |
Free prescription delivery, exclusive discounts on medication, optional RxPass |
Other services included |
Free Pawp virtual pet care membership, Burger King savings, auto care, Walmart+ Travel |
Free GrubHub+ membership, other add-ons for additional fees |
Skip the checkout shopping options |
Mobile Scan & Go at any Walmart location |
Dash Cart shopping at select Whole Foods Market locations |
| Row 12 - Cell 0 |
Walmart+ vs Amazon Prime: What you get with either membership
Before diving into what makes each membership unique, let's look at how Walmart+ and Amazon Prime compare on the perks offered by both. One of the main draws is fast, free shipping with no order minimum on eligible purchases, although the options and restrictions vary between the two services.
Amazon Prime members have several free delivery options, depending on the item and location. These include One-Day and Two-Day Delivery, as well as Same-Day Delivery on qualifying orders that meet the minimum purchase threshold. Prime also offers free standard and No-Rush Shipping.
If you want your orders on a specific day of the week, Prime offers Amazon Day Delivery. Members can choose a preferred delivery day and have eligible orders placed throughout the week delivered together.
Walmart+ also offers free shipping with no order minimum on eligible Walmart.com purchases. Free next-day and two-day shipping is available on eligible items, although availability depends on the item and location. Walmart+ members can also get free delivery from their local store. Scheduled deliveries generally require a $35 minimum to avoid an additional fee, while faster delivery options may cost extra.
Free shipping doesn't necessarily apply to every third-party Marketplace purchase. Amazon extends Prime shipping to many items fulfilled by Amazon and some items fulfilled by qualifying sellers. Walmart+ free shipping covers items sold or shipped by Walmart and certain items sold and shipped by select Marketplace sellers. Check individual listings for eligibility and potential shipping fees.
Both retailers also offer discounted memberships to eligible shoppers. Walmart+ Assist offers qualifying government assistance recipients Walmart+ for $6.47 per month or $49 per year, 50% off the regular membership price. Walmart+ Student offers the same discounted pricing to qualifying college and graduate students.
Amazon offers Prime Access for qualifying government assistance recipients and income-verified customers. Amazon also offers Prime for Young Adults, which provides discounted membership pricing for eligible customers ages 18 to 24 and college students.
If free shipping is the only perk you really care about, consider whether you order often enough to justify paying for either membership. Both retailers offer ways for nonmembers to qualify for free shipping, although order minimums, eligible merchandise and delivery speeds can vary.
The key benefits of joining either Walmart+ or Amazon Prime
Here's a quick look at all of the main perks you'll get, regardless of which membership you choose.
- Enjoy fast, free shipping with no order minimum on eligible purchases.
- Get free, convenient returns on eligible purchases.
- Get access to members-only shopping events and deals throughout the year.
- Qualifying government assistance recipients can get either membership at a discounted price.
- Get eligible prescriptions delivered for free.
- Save 10 cents per gallon at participating gas stations.
Top perks exclusive to Walmart+
The biggest advantage Walmart+ has over Amazon Prime is price. At $12.95 per month or $98 per year, the membership is cheaper than Prime. If you don't plan to use many of the added perks of either membership beyond, say, free shipping and fuel savings, it might make sense to opt for the lower-priced membership to maximize your savings.
But price isn't the only way Walmart+ stands out. Members can get groceries and other items from their local Walmart delivered for free on orders of $35 or more. Orders below $35 may be subject to a minimum-order fee, and additional fees can apply for faster delivery options.
You can also schedule your delivery for an available time slot that works for you, with same-day delivery available in some areas.
Returns can be convenient, too. In addition to returning eligible purchases to a Walmart store, Walmart+ members in select locations can use Returns from Home for eligible purchases.
With Returns from Home, Walmart can send a driver to pick up eligible items without requiring you to repackage them or print a shipping label. Restrictions apply, and some returns may instead require a FedEx pickup with packaging and a return label.
Another Walmart+ perk is its fuel savings program. Members can save up to 10 cents per gallon at participating Walmart, CITGO, Exxon, Mobil and Murphy stations. They can also access member prices at Sam's Club fuel centers.
You'll also be able to pull up to any Sam's Club fuel station and flash your Walmart+ membership to get Sam's Club member prices on gas, even if you aren't a member of the warehouse club.
Meanwhile, Prime members who want to save on gas need to enroll in the Earnify program to get 10 cents off per gallon. The discount is available at more than 7,500 bp, Amoco and participating ampm and Thorntons locations nationwide.
Other special perks for Walmart+ members include a choice of Peacock Premium or Paramount+ Essential at no additional cost. Both included plans are ad-supported, and members can switch between the two every 90 days.
Walmart+ members can also use Mobile Scan & Go to scan items with their phone as they shop. When they're finished, they can head to self-checkout, scan a QR code and pay without having to rescan each item.
What Walmart+ does better than Amazon Prime
- Lower membership fee
- Free grocery delivery on orders of $35 or more
- More participating gas stations for fuel savings
- Returns from home on eligible purchases in participating areas
- Mobile Scan & Go at participating Walmart stores
- Choice of Peacock Premium or Paramount+ Essential at no additional cost
- InHome delivery options, including having groceries delivered directly to your refrigerator for an additional fee
Where Walmart+ falls short
- Grocery delivery is limited to Walmart, while Prime offers delivery from multiple grocery retailers in eligible areas
- Fewer pharmacy and healthcare benefits than Prime
- Fewer entertainment benefits beyond streaming
- Fewer included digital entertainment services, such as music, reading and gaming
Top perks exclusive to Amazon Prime
Amazon Prime has plenty of notable perks that are missing from Walmart+. In addition to more flexible delivery options, it offers a wider selection of grocery options. Walmart+ grocery delivery is limited to products available through Walmart, while Amazon offers delivery from Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market and participating local grocery and specialty retailers, depending on location.
Prime members in eligible areas can get free Same-Day Delivery on qualifying grocery and everyday-essential orders over $25. Amazon also offers an optional grocery subscription for $9.99 per month, which includes unlimited delivery on qualifying orders over $35 from Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market and participating local retailers.
Groceries aside, Amazon also gives members more ways to save money on healthcare. In addition to prescription delivery, Prime members can get discounts on eligible medications.
Prime members can also sign up for RxPass. The optional add-on costs $5 per month and covers eligible generic medications, with delivery included.
Prime members can also enroll in One Medical at a discounted rate. Membership includes 24/7 access to on-demand virtual care, along with other services.
For those who want more entertainment options, Prime also offers a broader mix of benefits. Walmart+ members can choose between Peacock Premium and Paramount+ Essential at no additional cost, while Prime includes Prime Video along with benefits from Amazon Music, Prime Reading and Amazon Luna.
Amazon also offers Amazon Key In-Garage Delivery in eligible areas for customers with compatible garage equipment. The service allows eligible Amazon orders to be delivered inside a customer's garage, with availability and fees depending on the delivery option and location.
Walmart offers a similar service through Walmart+ InHome for an additional fee. InHome can deliver groceries directly inside your home or garage, including placing eligible groceries in your refrigerator.
What Amazon Prime does better than Walmart+
- Grocery delivery available from Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market and select local stores, depending on location
- More ways to save on medication and other healthcare services
- Earn rewards on eligible No-Rush Shipping orders
- Entertainment options include streaming, music, gaming, digital reading and more
- Eligible members can earn additional rewards with the Prime Visa
- Free Amazon Key In-Garage Delivery with Amazon Day for eligible members
- Grubhub+ membership included at no additional cost
Where Amazon Prime falls short
- Membership costs more than Walmart+
- Fuel savings requires enrolling with Earnify, and there are fewer participating gas stations than with Walmart+
- In-store checkout technology, such as Dash Cart, is available only at select Whole Foods Market locations
The bottom line
Which membership makes the most sense depends largely on how and where you shop. Walmart+ costs less than Amazon Prime and could offer more value if you regularly shop at Walmart and can take advantage of perks such as grocery delivery and fuel savings.
Amazon Prime costs more, but it offers a broader range of benefits. Grocery delivery is available from Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market and participating local retailers in eligible areas, while additional perks span entertainment, healthcare, food delivery and more.
Before signing up, consider which benefits you'll actually use and whether they'll save you enough money or time to justify the membership fee. If you're eligible for a trial, you can also use that time to see how well the service fits into your regular shopping routine before committing to a paid membership.
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