Imagine being able to order anything you want online and have it delivered right to your doorstep on the same day! Walmart, one of the biggest retail chains in the world, has made that possible with a membership program called Walmart Plus.
Much like Amazon Prime, Walmart Plus offers some useful benefits like super-fast delivery, the ability to scan and pay for products directly from your phone, and even discounts on gas.
But how does Walmart Plus compare to Amazon Prime, and is it worth signing up for? What are the Walmart Plus benefits for the end consumer?
In this Walmart Plus review, I’ll cover the features, benefits, and overall value of Walmart Plus and let you know who the membership program is best suited for.
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What Is Walmart Plus?
Walmart Plus is a subscription-based membership program that offers special perks to Walmart shoppers, such as free grocery delivery, free shipping, access to member-exclusive pricing, fuel discounts, Paramount+ video streaming, and a Mobile Scan & Go checkout service for a small monthly fee of $12.95/month or $98/year.
Walmart Plus was launched in September 2020 to provide an improved shopping experience for its customers, similar to Amazon Prime.
Walmart Plus Benefits
A Walmart Plus subscription offers many benefits for loyal shoppers, including free store delivery, free Walmart Online shipping, mobile scan & go, gas discounts, Paramount+ video streaming, and exclusive deals.
Here’s an in-depth description of the primary benefits you can expect when you sign up with Walmart Plus.
Free Store Delivery
Walmart Plus members receive free delivery when they shop for groceries and other general merchandise at Walmart stores.
The process is easy: shop for your desired items from the Walmart website or mobile app, and add them to your cart.
Upon checkout, you will notice an option for free delivery. If your purchase has met the minimum order threshold ($35 in most locations), Walmart will deliver the items to your doorstep with no additional charge.
It’s important to note that while most items are eligible for free delivery, some exclusions may apply based on factors such as weight, size, and location.
Walmart recommends that you review the product details and any accompanying delivery information to ensure eligibility for free delivery.
Free shipping
Walmart Plus members can enjoy free shipping with no order minimum when purchasing items from Walmart online.
Any items “shipped by Walmart” are included except for oversized and freight items and third-party sellers not shipped by Walmart.
Mobile Scan & Go
Mobile Scan & Go is a convenient Walmart Plus service that allows members to scan and pay for items using the Walmart app.
To use Scan & Go, open the app and use your device’s camera to scan the barcodes of the products as you shop.
The app keeps a running total of your items and allows you to pay for them in the app when you’ve finished shopping, so you can avoid standing in long checkout lines.
It’s important to note that Mobile Scan & Go is not available at all Walmart stores, and certain restricted items, like alcohol and tobacco, may require you to provide age verification at a traditional checkout counter.
Gas Discounts
Walmart Plus members can enjoy fuel savings of 10 cents per gallon at Exxon and Mobil stations, up to 10 cents off at select Walmart & Murphy stations and member prices at Sam’s Club fuel centers.
There are over 14,000 participating gas stations in total. Note that the gas discount varies by location and station and is subject to change anytime.
To take advantage of the discount, you must link a valid payment method to your Walmart Plus account and use it to make your gasoline purchases. You’ll need the Walmart Plus app when you fill up to qualify for the discount.
Video Streaming With Paramount+
When you sign up for Walmart Plus, you’ll get a free Paramount+ Essential Plan subscription at no extra cost. Paramount+ is a streaming service with over 40,000 TV episodes and movies.
To access Paramount +, you need to create an account through the Walmart Plus app. From there, visit paramountplus.com or download the Paramount+ app to start streaming.
If you have an existing Paramount+ subscription, you must cancel your paid account and sign up through Walmart Plus to stream for free.
Walmart Rewards
Walmart Rewards is a new customer loyalty rewards program exclusive to Walmart Plus members. The program allows you to earn rewards on select items. You can then redeem the rewards you’ve earned against future purchases you make in-store and online.
Add the item to your Walmart Plus account at Walmart.com or through the mobile app to claim a reward. When you’re ready to checkout, scan your Walmart Pay QR code, and pay for the item.
Once you’ve completed your purchase, the reward will be added to your account.
Early Deals
Walmart Plus members can access special promotions not offered to non-members and get early access to special events, such as Black Friday deals and product releases.
How Much Does Walmart Plus Cost?
Walmart Plus costs $12.95 per month on a monthly subscription or $98 per year when paid annually, a discount of more than 60%. There is a 30-day free trial, and you can switch between the monthly and yearly plans anytime.
Walmart Plus is a compelling option for frequent Walmart shoppers who can take advantage of the many benefits, especially the free shipping, grocery delivery, member-only pricing, and fuel discounts at Walmart fuel stations.
You also get the added convenience of using Mobile Scan & Go.
How To Get Started With Walmart Plus
To become a Walmart Plus member, you must visit the Plus page at Walmart.com, select the “Start Your 30-Day Trial” button and open an account using your email address.
You will then be asked to provide your first and last name and create a password.
Once your account is open, your 30-day free trial begins, and you can start shopping using your Walmart Plus membership.
Remember to download the Walmart app for added convenience.
Walmart Plus Vs. Amazon Prime
The main difference between Walmart Plus and Amazon Prime is that Walmart Plus is cheaper and offers free grocery delivery and discounts on gas.
Overall, Walmart Plus beats Amazon Prime on affordability, with slightly cheaper monthly pricing ($12.95 vs. $14.99) and even better annual pricing ($98 vs. $139).
And their free grocery delivery service and generous gas discounts are benefits that Amazon can’t match.
But Amazon remains superior when it comes to the online shopping experience. While Walmart is a top Amazon competitor, Amazon remains a much larger online marketplace offering millions more products than Walmart.
When it comes to third-party sellers alone on Amazon vs. Walmart, Walmart’s 150,000 sellers pale compared to the 1.2 million+ who sell on Amazon.
Ultimately, the best membership program depends on the type of shopper you are.
If you’re a loyal Walmart customer and enjoy shopping for groceries and other items at their physical store locations, then Walmart Plus is the better option.
If you don’t shop at Walmart that often but enjoy shopping online, then Amazon Prime is the way to go.
The following table offers a head-to-head comparison of the main benefits of each program.
| Walmart Plus | Amazon Prime | |
| Date Launched | September 15, 2020 | April 17, 2005 |
| Current Members | 11+ million | 200 million |
| Price | $12.95 monthly, or $98 if you pay annually | $14.99 monthly, or $139 if you pay annually |
| Free Trial | 30 days | 30 days |
| Number of Store Locations | Over 4600 in the US, plus 599 Sam’s Club US stores. | Primarily an online marketplace (less than 50 physical stores) |
| Shipping & Delivery Benefits | Free shipping for online orders with no minimum order. Free grocery delivery from all US Walmart locations. ($35 minimum order) | Free two-day shipping on eligible items with no minimum order amount. Same-day delivery is available on eligible items in select cities. |
| Free Streaming Access | Paramount+ Essential Plan | Amazon Prime Video |
| Other Benefits |
|
|
Walmart Plus Pros And Cons
There’s a lot to like about Walmart Plus and it even holds some advantages over Amazon Prime. However, it also has some drawbacks. Here is my list of pros and cons.
Pros Of Walmart Plus
- Well-priced at $12.95 monthly or $98 annually
- 30-day free trial
- Unlimited free grocery delivery
- Generous gas discounts
- Low pricing on thousands of Walmart items
Cons Of Walmart Plus
- Limited product selection compared to Amazon
- $35 minimum order for free grocery delivery
- Not available in Canada
Walmart Plus FAQ
Is Walmart Plus grocery delivery worth it?
If you do most of your grocery shopping at Walmart and appreciate the convenience of having your groceries delivered, then a Walmart Plus subscription is worth the money.
The $98 annual subscription totals just over $8 per month, while the non-member grocery delivery fee is between $7.95-$9.95 per order.
If you place at least two grocery orders per month, you’ll save money, not to mention the many other Walmart Plus benefits.
How successful is Walmart Plus?
Walmart Plus has been very successful, with more than 11.5 million subscribers signing on since their launch in September 2020.
While their membership numbers pale compared to Amazon Prime, Walmart Plus continues to grow quickly.
Do all Walmart locations offer Mobile Scan & Go?
Yes, Scan & Go is available at all of Walmart’s 4000+ locations in the US.
Is it hard to cancel Walmart Plus?
You can cancel your Walmart Plus subscription anytime from your Walmart Plus account page or by contacting Walmart Plus customer care.
Will Walmart refund me if I cancel?
Unfortunately, Walmart does not offer refunds when you cancel. If you cancel before your subscription period has expired, you’ll maintain the membership benefits until the end date.
Your Walmart Plus membership can be shared with any family members living in the same household and sharing the same account.
Is Walmart Plus Worth It?
A Walmart Plus subscription is well worth the investment if you are a loyal Walmart shopper and rely on them for your grocery needs.
The free grocery delivery, along with the Scan & Go feature, add a ton of convenience, while the added perk of fuel discounts is a significant advantage for those who live close to participating gas stations.
That said, if you don’t frequent Walmart locations and primarily shop online, Amazon Prime remains the better choice due to its vast product selection and additional services like Prime Video and Prime Music.
Ultimately, the decision between Walmart Plus and Amazon Prime depends on your shopping habits and priorities, but both programs excel in their respective domains, offering excellent benefits to their members.
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Steve Chou is a highly recognized influencer in the ecommerce space and has taught thousands of students how to effectively sell physical products online over at ProfitableOnlineStore.com.
His blog, MyWifeQuitHerJob.com, has been featured in Forbes, Inc, The New York Times, Entrepreneur and MSNBC.
He's also a contributing author for BigCommerce, Klaviyo, ManyChat, Printful, Privy, CXL, Ecommerce Fuel, GlockApps, Privy, Social Media Examiner, Web Designer Depot, Sumo and other leading business publications.
In addition, he runs a popular ecommerce podcast, My Wife Quit Her Job, which is a top 25 marketing show on all of Apple Podcasts.
To stay up to date with all of the latest ecommerce trends, Steve runs a 7 figure ecommerce store, BumblebeeLinens.com, with his wife and puts on an annual ecommerce conference called The Sellers Summit.
Steve carries both a bachelors and a masters degree in electrical engineering from Stanford University. Despite majoring in electrical engineering, he spent a good portion of his graduate education studying entrepreneurship and the mechanics of running small businesses.
