Walmart+ vs. Amazon Prime | Bankrate

Major retailers are always looking for ways to increase their market share, and subscription shopping services are one way they accomplish this goal. Some commonly used services have even become household names that families rely on, including Amazon Prime and Walmart+.

Both subscriptions help people get the items they need without having to constantly head out to the store, and they come with other benefits that can make their annual fees worth it in the long run. But, which of these subscription services should you go with?

Here are the differences between Amazon Prime and Walmart+, as well as which perks each service offers and how they compare in terms of cost.

Walmart+ and Amazon Prime overviews

Both Walmart+ and Amazon Prime offer free delivery on eligible purchases including groceries, plus a range of entertainment options and additional benefits. Both programs also include discounts on a number of different products and services.

The chart below provides an overview of both programs and the main benefits they include.

Delivery benefits

Walmart+ and Amazon Prime both shine when it comes to their delivery benefits, which can help regular shoppers justify paying a monthly or annual fee for services.

• Walmart+

  Walmart+ promises members free delivery of groceries and other purchases as soon as the same day. You get the same low prices available in Walmart stores since they don’t tack on extra charges, and one-hour delivery windows are available. Note that free deliveries are only available for orders of $35 or more.

• Amazon Prime

  Amazon Prime offers free two-day and one-day delivery on millions of eligible items. Users also get free same-day delivery on eligible orders and free two-hour delivery on groceries.

  There is no longer a minimum order amount to get free same-day shipping through Amazon. Instead, your order must include “at least the stated minimum threshold of eligible items” to qualify. This amount is typically $25. You can also get free no-rush shipping on eligible items.

In-store benefits

Both programs offer some in-store benefits, including discounts at eligible gas stations.

• Walmart+

  In-store benefits at Walmart include Walmart+ mobile scan-and-go access and discounts at 13,000+ Exxon and Mobil gas stations and select Walmart and Murphy stations nationwide.

• Amazon Prime

  Amazon Prime also offers some benefits in certain stores, including savings on eligible grocery items at Whole Foods. Members can also save 10 cents per gallon at over 7,500 bp, Amoco, and ampm gas stations across the country.

Entertainment benefits

Both memberships offer some built-in entertainment benefits, although Amazon Prime offers considerably more perks in this category.

• Walmart+

  Walmart+ members automatically get a free Paramount+ Essential plan, although separate registration is required. This additional subscription lets members access movies, series and more.

• Amazon Prime

  With Amazon Prime, you’ll have access to:

  • Prime Video
  • Prime Video channels
  • Prime Music
  • FreeTime Unlimited game options
  • Prime Gaming content each month
  • Photo storage

  You’ll also get Prime Reading access, which includes unlimited use of thousands of eBooks, magazines, comics and audiobooks.

Additional benefits

Both programs also offer some additional discounts and benefits for their members.

• Walmart+

  Extra perks offered through Walmart+ include:

  • Free pharmacy delivery
  • Free online petcare
  • 25 percent off digital orders at Burger King and a free Whopper with any purchase every three months

  Another benefit applies to cars you have serviced at Walmart. Members of Walmart+ qualify for free flat tire repair and a free road hazard warranty on new tires purchased at Walmart Auto Care Centers.

• Amazon Prime

  Amazon Prime members get 10 percent off hundreds of food items at Amazon Fresh and a free GrubHub+ membership with $0 delivery fees and additional savings.

  Several medical care and prescription benefits also apply, including a membership for RxPass, which lets individuals access some prescriptions for $5 per month. Members can also get free two-day shipping on prescriptions and up to 80 percent off some prescriptions through Amazon Pharmacy.

Walmart+ vs Amazon Prime: Key differences

One of the biggest differences between Walmart+ and Amazon Prime is price. After all, consumers can purchase a Walmart+ membership for around 70 percent of the cost for Amazon Prime. Then again, Amazon Prime offers more entertainment benefits and added features overall.

Can’t decide between Walmart+ and Amazon Prime? Consider the pros and cons of each membership before you decide.

Pros and cons of Walmart+

Pros and cons of Amazon Prime

Walmart+ vs. Amazon Prime: How much can you save?

How much you can save with Amazon Prime or Walmart+ depends on how much you spend with either retailer and whether you’re able to take advantage of included discounts and special perks. The chart below shows the main features of both Walmart+ and Amazon Prime and how they stack up.

Walmart+ and Amazon Prime price comparison

As you can see, you can snag a Walmart+ membership for over $40 less than you’ll pay for Amazon Prime. However, there are a multitude of reasons you might pick one of these services over the other regardless of cost.

For example, Walmart+ stands out in terms of its fuel savings benefits at 13,000+ gas stations nationwide. If you buy 20 gallons of fuel per week and you score 10 cents off each gallon for an entire year, your fuel savings alone would add up to $104 per year — more than the cost of the annual membership.

On the other hand, while Amazon Prime offers discounts at a smaller number of gas stations nationwide, it does offer more entertainment options than Walmart+. Those options include include access to videos, music, ebooks and more. The additional entertainment benefits you get with Amazon Prime could help you cut some entertainment costs out of your monthly budget, leading to savings elsewhere.

Both types of memberships also let you score:

• Free same-day shipping on eligible orders
• Free delivery within a day or two for millions of additional items
• Free grocery delivery options for members

Save more with a credit card for Walmart+ or Amazon Prime

While your savings with Walmart+ or Amazon Prime depend on how much you spend each year and which perks and features you take advantage of, you can supercharge the benefits of either program with the right credit card.

Best cards for Walmart+

Best cards for Amazon Prime

The bottom line

While Amazon Prime and Walmart+ offer similar services, they appeal to different types of consumers. This is mainly because Amazon Prime offers a broad range of entertainment options like video, ebooks and music in addition to delivery perks, whereas Walmart.com focuses more on the shopping side of the experience.

Then again, Walmart+ does come with a Paramount+ Essential plan, plus discounts at Burger King, Walmart Auto Centers and more than 13,000 fuel stations nationwide. Amazon Prime offers a few discounts of its own as well, so make sure to compare subscriptions and all they have to offer before you make your pick.

However, if you decide that you don’t shop enough with either retailer to really take advantage of these memberships, consider getting a general cash back card to help you save where you actually shop, instead.

*Information about the U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards® Visa Signature® Card has been collected independently through Bankrate. Card details have not been reviewed or approved by the issuer.