Walmart Plus vs Amazon Prime: A Head-to-Head Comparison
Walmart Plus has at last rolled out! How does it compare to Amazon Prime?
Debuted on September 15, Walmart+ competes head to head with Amazon on groceries and other products. YAY! But, maybe you have wondered as we did… “Which delivery service gets you more? Which is the better choice?”
Our deal team manager, Stacy, dives deep and tells you all you need to know. Here’s how the two heavy-hitting, members-only subscription services stack up.
Be sure to leave a comment below to let us know what YOU think about Walmart Plus!
BOTH Offer Exclusive Membership Perks
Because demand for online shopping for groceries and household needs has become even more popular during the pandemic, Walmart’s launch of Walmart+ (Walmart Plus), makes them a good rival to Amazon Prime. Hopefully, that translates to only good news for shoppers! But which one is right for you?
Sign up for Walmart Plus starting on September 15
Amazon Prime Benefits
First and foremost, this one is HUGE to me, and the main reason I have Amazon Prime! To get your stuff in 1-2 days shipping at Amazon is FREE on most items with no minimum. However, now that Walmart Plus also offers FREE shipping with no minimum cost on a huge assortment of eligible items- its become a good competitor. Additionally, not as vital but still something to consider, is the number of products available. 10 million at Amazon vs 160,000 at Walmart.
Another big difference between Amazon Prime and Walmart Plus is streaming. With your Amazon Prime subscription, you score FREE Prime Video with all of the fantastic programming there. You also get Amazon Music Prime, Prime Gaming with FREE games, loot and Twitch channels, and Prime Reading which lets you borrow digital books and magazines. Plus, Amazon First Reads gives you a FREE new Kindle book download each month. Prime Wardrobe also lets you try on some clothes on the site before you buy them.
Prime members in select markets get as fast as 2-hour grocery delivery from Whole Foods Market or Amazon Fresh. If you have an Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Card, you also get 5% cash back on Whole Foods purchases. There is no grocery delivery minimum for delivery, unless you want free two-hour delivery. Then, your order must be$35, or you’ll have to pay a $4.99 delivery fee.
Prime members also get extra discounts through the Subscribe & Save option on certain products, like diapers with Amazon Family.
You also get access to Amazon Prime Day and exclusive Prime discounts
Amazon Prime Pantry also gets you groceries for less! Orders over $35 ship FREE for Prime members.
Read more: Amazon Prime Member Benefits
Walmart Plus Benefits
Why Walmart Plus? The main difference is brick and mortar: Walmart Plus members get FREE unlimited delivery from 2,700 physical Walmart stores. Walmart Plus offers some in-store benefits, too: subscribers will get access to Scan & Go, a feature in the Walmart app that let’s you scan items as you shop and then check out using Walmart Pay, so you won’t have to stand in a checkout line or have contact with a cashier. Plus, with Walmart being the largest grocer in the US, prices are typically way cheaper than Whole Foods. And unlike other services like Instacart, there is NO upcharge on items. You pay in store prices.
Members will also save up to 5¢/gallon on fuel at 2,000 Walmart fuel stations, Murphy USA and Murphy Express stations nationwide. Sam’s Club fuel stations will be added to that list of fuel stations soon, too.
While Prime offers far more in terms of streaming and product range, Walmart still has the edge when it comes to groceries in terms of both price and selection.
Walmart hinted that more membership perks are on the way. We would not be surprised to see some media streaming or shipping benefits added before the holidays!
Here’s a head-to-head look at how Amazon Prime and Walmart Plus compare:
| Amazon Prime | Walmart Plus | |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | Now | Now |
| Yearly cost | $119 | $98 |
| Monthly cost | $12.99 (also discounts for students or government assistance) | $12.95 |
| Free trial | 30 days | 15 days |
| Same-day delivery minimum | $35 | $35 |
| 1-2 Day Delivery Minimum | $0 on most items | $0 on most items |
| Products eligible for same-day delivery | 3 million + Free release date delivery on many pre-orders. | 160,000 |
| Grocery delivery | Yes, plus options like Amazon Family and Prime Pantry | Yes |
| Stream Video, Music. Read Books, Magazines. Free Cloud Photo Storage. | Yes | No |
| Fuel discount | No | Yes 5¢ a gallon |
| Try clothes for free/personal shopper | Yes | No |
| Amazon Prime Day and exclusive discounts | Yes | No |
Price & Free Trial
Amazon Prime: An Amazon Prime membership costs $119 a year, or $12.99 a month. Let’s be honest: the main attraction is that it includes FREE shipping with NO minimum purchase. Amazon’s Prime’s 150 million paid subscribers and 15 years of experience attest to its success. You can get a 30-day Amazon Prime free trial if you have never had one before. College student or receive government assistance? You score a discounted Prime membership.
Walmart Plus: Your Walmart Plus membership will cost $98 a year, or you can pay monthly for $12.95. There will also be a 15-day free trial. Walmart has not offered any discounts for students or others.
Same Day Delivery and Shipping of Groceries and More
Amazon Prime: Get your orders with one to two day shipping in the US, on a staggering 10 million items. Get free same-day delivery on an additional 3 million items in certain market areas, with just a $35 purchase. Amazon Prime account holders can also get Prime Pantry deals, with free shipping on orders of $35 or more.
Walmart Plus: Unlimited same-day delivery for 160,000 grocery items, tech products, and household essentials — just about anything in-store can be at your door the same day or the next day, with no additional fees.. This service was previously known as Delivery Unlimited. Current subscribers will automatically become Walmart+ members. Walmart will continue to have delivery options like free store pick-up, or options with a per-delivery transaction fee so customers can choose the service that’s best for them. NextDay delivery and two-day delivery will continue to be available online.
Curbside Pick-up
Amazon Prime: Members can select 1-2 weekly Amazon delivery days, so you can make planning even easier and save on packages/boxes arriving at your door unplanned.
Walmart Plus: Curbside pick-up time slots will continue to be offered to everyone, regardless of Walmart+ membership.
Streaming Media (Video, Music, Books and More)
Amazon Prime: Members get a host of customer loyalty perks and access to music, films, original television shows, Twitch benefits, and channels like HBO, Showtime, and Starz. You get FREE Prime Video with all of the fantastic programming there. You also get Amazon Music Prime, Prime Gaming with FREE games, loot and Twitch channels, and Prime Reading which lets you borrow digital books and magazines. Plus, Amazon First Reads gives you a FREE new Kindle book download each month. Prime Wardrobe also lets you try on some clothes on the site before you buy them.
Walmart Plus: The subscription service could include entertainment options in the future. Because of this, Amazon is the clear winner here.
Photo and Video Cloud Storage
Contact Free Shopping
Amazon Prime: Amazon’s contactless Amazon Go convenience stores are open to the public. The Amazon Go app lets customers shop and pay for breakfast, lunch, snacks and even groceries at Amazon Go neighborhood stores.
Walmart Plus: Members can unlock Scan & Go in the Walmart app to scan items as they shop, and then pay using Walmart Pay: a quick, easy, and touch-free payment experience.
Fuel Discounts
Amazon Prime: None at this time. However, Prime members who are also Prime Visa Signature Card holders get 2% back at gas stations.
Walmart Plus: Walmart Plus members save up to five cents a gallon on fuel at nearly 2,000 Walmart, Murphy USA, and Murphy Express gas stations, and Sam’s Club fuel stations will soon be added.
Wardrobe and Personal Shopper
Amazon Prime: Amazon Prime subscribers have access to Prime Wardrobe, so members can try before they buy. With Personal Shopper, members can choose from a personal stylist picks!
Walmart Plus: Nothing at this time.
Read more: 10 Reasons to CANCEL your Amazon Prime membership
Bottom Line: Which one is the right choice for YOU?
Both memberships have some things in common, but the differences can affect your choice. Amazon Prime and Walmart Plus both have a NO minimum shipping. While Amazon Prime has the sheer variety of products available and the extra streaming and whole variety of other benefits. Walmart Plus may be the better choice for convenient and affordable grocery delivery, with the added bonus of more convenient in-store shopping, too.
Shopping once a week and using Walmart Plus works out to only $1.89/week at the $98 annual rate – and that is cheaper than Amazon by $21. That is a pittance to get your groceries delivered! This will certainly save you time, sanity, and can help to socially distant shop. Walmart is likely available in more markets than Amazon is for fresh, same day delivery! With both online and in-store benefits and Scan & Go access, Walmart Plus is a solid choice for anyone who prefers contact free shopping at nearly 5000 physical stores nationwide.
Even though Walmart Plus has waived the $35 minimum on shipping to match that of Amazon Prime, Amazon Prime wins for me. AND until it offers video streaming on its growing list of benefits, then Amazon Prime is best for anyone looking for a cheaper option to cable or dish – again, a win for me.
And, it’s also worth noting that you can still take advantage of many of the Walmart Plus and Amazon delivery services without subscribing. Walmart customers who aren’t Plus members get free same day (some markets), next day or two-day deliveries for millions of items on orders of $35 or more. And Amazon customers who aren’t Prime members can get free standard shipping on orders of $25 or more, plus can also participate in programs like Amazon Subscribe & Save.
In the long run, both Walmart Plus and Amazon Prime offer enough membership perks that you do save money and time, and I can see myself having, and using, BOTH. If you prefer to shop online for essentials and groceries like I do, you’ll love and appreciate the unlimited free same day delivery options both of these subscription services provide.
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I’m going to pass on W+ until they offer more for your $ compared to Amazon. As a singleton, I don’t consider it to be FREE delivery w/a $13/month service fee and $35 minimum spend before any benefits kick in. I LOVE Amazon for so many reasons! IMO W+ has yet to shine in comparison. It will either flop or eventually offer more.
I agree about the $35 minimum spend. That is the biggest issue I have with the new program.
I hate amazon. I consistently receive bad customer service, even though I have been a prime member for 7 years. I am cancelling prime this month. I would totally sign up for walmart plus, but they don’t delivery groceries to my address. ☹️
Oh that’s a bummer that you can’t get the grocery delivery! Bummer to hear you’ve had poor customer service from Amazon. I’ve always had excellent experiences with their customer service. Did you read our blog about 10 reasons why to cancel Amazon Prime?
Walmart is using third party delivery services with drivers expecting tips. This increases the overall cost of Walmart+ membership. It is true customers are not required to tip, however online driver discussions tells us their side.
I have both and I wish I hadn’t signed up for the Walmart+ program. To be honest, it is pretty worthless to me. I sign up for groceries and they never have delivery available until 1-2 days later. If you pay the extra $10 for 2 hour delivery it NEVER shows up and then I have to get everything refunded. It has happened at least 3 times. Even selecting pickup is a hassle. I will not be renewing my Walmart+ membership.
Amazon has declined in delivery time, but it is still the clear winner.
Thanks for your review, Stephanie. I’m sorry that you’ve had a bad experience with Walmart+!
I use both. Amazon is monthly but paid W+ for the year. What I can’t find at one the other one has. I’ve also compared prices and quantities. Sometimes Amazon is cheaper and better buy and sometimes not. Especially if I’m only wanting maybe a quantity of 1 or 2 of an item but on Amazon you gotta buy like 10. To me that is wasted money. I like W+ alot because I can get same day groceries delivered free if I need them and if I’ve forgotten something I can add it within a certain time period. Amazon may offer more selection because of its size but W+ has bailed me out quite often. Especially around the holidays. Using both plus one other grocery store chain keeps this momma home safe and out of this madness.
I agree, I use both to my advantage. Thanks for the comment!