Is Walmart+ Worth the $98 Annual Fee?
Walmart+ is the retail giant’s subscription service that offers free shipping, gas discounts and more. Compared to Amazon Prime’s $139 annual cost, Walmart+ offers a more affordable option for fast shipping and other membership perks. Walmart+ offers some tempting perks and benefits, but are they valuable enough to justify the cost? Let’s figure it out.
How much does Walmart+ cost?
Walmart+ costs $98 per year or $12.95 per month ($155.40 per year if paid monthly). By comparison, Amazon Prime charges $139 per year or $14.99 per month ($179.88 per year if paid monthly). Both services have a 30-day free trial.
What does a Walmart+ membership include?
Free Unlimited Shipping
One of the biggest benefits of Walmart+ is free, unlimited delivery from Walmart stores. This includes same-day delivery of groceries and other essentials from your local Walmart store with no delivery fees. If you frequently order online from Walmart, this benefit could easily cover the cost of your membership.
Fuel discounts
Walmart+ members receive 10 cents off per gallon at Exxon & Mobil gas stations, up to 10 cents off at select Walmart & Murphy stations, and member discounts at Sam’s Club gas centers. For the average driver who fills up once a week, this discount could result in annual fuel savings of approximately $100 .
Mobile scanning and operation
The ability to scan items with your phone while shopping and quickly pay through the Walmart app can save you significant time compared to waiting in checkout lines. This is a convenient bonus similar to the Amazon shopping experience.
Early access to offers
Walmart+ members get early access to special promotions, product releases, and Black Friday events before they become available to the general public. This can help ensure the safety of your most in-demand products.
How Walmart+ differs from Amazon Prime
Free shipping may be Amazon Prime’s standout benefit, but the membership service includes other benefits that Walmart+ doesn’t currently offer. As each program currently stands, you can have access to free delivery on more items—without Walmart’s $35 minimum order—through Amazon Prime, and Amazon Prime offers free access to Prime Video, Prime Music, Prime Photos, and Prime Wardrobe.
On the other hand, Walmart+ offers memberships for $41 less per year. And while Walmart+ requires a minimum order of $35 for free grocery delivery, you may see lower grocery prices at Walmart overall.
Should you buy Walmart+?
The value proposition comes down to how often you order and visit Walmart stores. If you shop weekly at Walmart and fill up on gas regularly, Walmart+ can easily pay for itself in delivery and fuel savings alone. Casual buyers will have to weigh convenience against the $98 annual fee.
Compared to Amazon Prime’s $139 annual cost, Walmart+ offers a more affordable option for fast shipping and other membership perks. But it remains to be seen whether Walmart+ can truly compete with Amazon in product selection and delivery speed. Only you can decide whether the savings and benefits outweigh the annual membership fee based on your typical spending habits.