Which Is the Better Deal: Walmart Plus or Amazon Prime?

Our time is valuable.

That’s why we’re willing to pay for fast and reliable delivery.

Amazon Prime has dominated the online shopping space for well over a decade. Retail giant Walmart introduced a competing service, Walmart Plus, in 2020.

While both offer similar online shopping experiences and free shipping options, it can be difficult to decide which subscription service to join. 

In this article, we lay out the costs, benefits and drawbacks of Amazon Prime and Walmart Plus so you can make an informed decision about which is best for you.

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What Walmart Plus Offers

Walmart Plus may be the new kid on the block, but for $98 a year or $12.95 per month, it offers many services that rival Amazon Prime.

Free Next-Day or Two-Day Shipping

A Walmart Plus membership gives you free next-day or two-day shipping on eligible items shipped by Walmart without any minimum purchase amount.

For instance, if you’re running low on toothpaste or shaving cream, you could put in an order for just that item without having to add more to your cart to get free shipping.

Up to 180,000 items are available for free shipping — and not just groceries. Eligible items include select tech products, toys, clothing and more.

Grocery Delivery

With Walmart Plus, you can get unlimited free same-day grocery delivery if you spend at least $35. (If you’re willing to fork over $6.99, you can get same-day delivery for grocery orders under $35.) 

Grocery delivery service is based upon availability in your area. With nearly 5,000 Walmart stores in the U.S., it’s likely that the service is available near you, but you can check availability for your address during the sign-up process.

Free same-day grocery delivery is also based upon demand in your area. Delivery time slots are limited, and once they fill up, you’ll have to schedule your grocery delivery for the following day. For an additional fee, you can opt for express delivery to get your order within two hours.

There’s no mark-up on items with Walmart Plus grocery delivery. You’re getting the same low prices you’d see shopping in-person at Walmart stores.

Streaming Services With Walmart Plus

Walmart partnered with Paramount+ to give Walmart Plus members the added bonus of a streaming service. Is this an attempt to compete with Amazon Prime Video? Maybe. But it does make it appealing if you want to cut costs for your multiple streaming services. 

As part of your Walmart Plus membership, you can register for a Paramount+ Essentials plan. That gives you access to over 45,000 TV episodes, movies, original content and live sports. If you want ad-free streaming, you’ll have to pay extra to upgrade to a Paramount+SHOWTIME plan.   

Fuel Discounts and Other Perks

Walmart Plus members save up to 10 cents per gallon when they fill up at a Walmart, Exxon, Mobile or Murphy USA gas station. You’ll also get member prices at Sam’s Club fuel stations without needing a Sam’s Club membership.

If you like visiting brick and mortar stores, you can scan items with the Walmart app and check out on your phone using the Walmart Pay feature. It’s a streamlined, contact-free experience — no cashier required. 

Other perks of Walmart Plus include early access to sales, exclusive deals, game-console releases and prescription discounts. You can even explore options for earning cash back for qualifying travel purchases made through the Walmart+Travel platform.

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What Amazon Prime Offers

Amazon Prime has been around for more than 15 years and has acquired 200 million subscribers worldwide. Chances are you already know a thing or two about this service. 

It costs $139 per year or $14.99 a month. It’s pricier than Walmart Plus, but you get a great deal of benefits with this membership. 

One-Day Delivery

Prime members can enjoy free one-day delivery on millions of eligible items without any minimum purchase amount. 

You can even get free same-day delivery services on certain items depending on when you place your order and where you’re located — although you’ll need to purchase at least $25 worth of eligible items.

Depending on availability, you can have your packages delivered directly into your garage. You can also schedule your deliveries so they all arrive on a particular day of the week that you choose.

Grocery Delivery

While Amazon’s grocery footprint isn’t as massive as Walmart’s, you can get unlimited free delivery on groceries with an Amazon Prime membership in select cities for $9.99 a month or $99 a year. 

Groceries are delivered via Amazon Fresh or Whole Foods Market, which is owned by Amazon, and can arrive at your doorstep in as fast as two hours. The minimum purchase amount required for free two-hour delivery varies based on location, but is usually either $35 or $50.

It’s notable to mention that Whole Foods and Amazon Fresh groceries tend to be more expensive than buying food from Walmart. However, Amazon did recently launch a new line of budget-friendly food called Amazon Saver. Most items will be under $5. 

Want to dine out but stay in? Prime members get a free Grubhub+ membership, which means free delivery from your favorite local restaurants.

Prime Streaming and Entertainment

Amazon has more options for streaming entertainment, gaming, music and even photo storage. Prime Video has an ever-growing library of original and classic shows, and Prime members can get discounts by adding channels with Discovery+, Paramount+, EPIX and more for a discounted fee. 

Adding Amazon Music Unlimited gets you access to over 100 million songs and top podcasts for an additional $9.99 per month with Prime.

An Amazon Prime membership also gives subscribers access to free gaming and a library of audiobooks via Prime Reading. Members get unlimited photo storage, too, and another 5GB of video storage with Amazon Photos. 

Other Amazon Prime Perks

With Prime Try Before You Buy (previously Prime Wardrobe), you can have clothing shipped to you for free. You can return what you don’t want and are only charged for what you keep.

Similar to Walmart’s membership program, Amazon Prime members can also benefit from prescription savings. 

Students and low-income individuals receiving government assistance can get a discounted Amazon Prime subscription. A student membership costs $69 a year or $7.49 a month. Individuals on government assistance can get a Prime membership for $6.99 a month. 

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Walmart Plus vs. Amazon Prime: What’s the Better Deal?

Now that we’ve laid out the benefits and drawbacks of each service, you can make a more informed decision about whether Walmart Plus or Amazon Prime is better for you.

If you’re making the call based on price alone, Walmart Plus will save you about $40 a year if you pay annually or $2 each month if you pay monthly.

However, if you’re looking to get entertainment value out of your membership, Amazon offers the most bang for your buck by letting members stream TV shows, movies and music along with free access to audiobooks and gaming platforms.

Amazon Prime members can also get faster and more secure delivery options with same-day shipping and the ability to leave packages in the garage.

However, if you’re on the road a lot, you might really benefit from the gas discounts from Walmart Plus. And frequent Walmart shoppers can save time at checkout with the Scan and Go option at their local store.

The right subscription service for you will ultimately come down to your individual preferences and needs. Location could also play a role in your choice if you live in an area where free grocery delivery isn’t available through Amazon Prime but is available from Walmart Plus.

Fortunately, both Amazon Prime and Walmart Plus offer 30-day free trials. Test out each service for yourself to determine which membership program is right for you.

More from The Penny Hoarder:

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Nicole Dow is a former senior writer at The Penny Hoarder.

Rachel Christian, a senior writer for The Penny Hoarder, and freelancer Adam Palasciano contributed to this story.

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