Walmart+ vs. Amazon Prime: Which Is Better?

Watch out Amazon Prime, there’s a new delivery subscription service coming. Walmart will launch its Amazon Prime competitor — Walmart+ — on Sept. 15, which will offer super-fast delivery on its groceries and other products, as well as a number of other perks. As with Amazon Prime, there is also an annual fee for Walmart+ — but is it worth it? And which service provides the better deal overall? GOBankingRates is breaking down exactly what each service entails so you can decide for yourself if it’s time to make the switch to Walmart+ or if Amazon is still worth it.

Walmart+ Annual Cost

Walmart+ will cost $98 a year.

Amazon Prime Annual Cost

Amazon Prime costs $115 for an annual subscription.

If you opt for an annual subscription over a monthly subscription, Amazon Prime will cost $17 more than Walmart+.

Walmart+ Monthly Cost

Monthly membership for Walmart+ will cost $12.95.

Amazon Prime Monthly Cost

Amazon Prime costs $12.99 a month if you choose the monthly subscription option.

With just pennies between these two costs, there’s no real money-saving benefit to choosing one subscription service over the other if you plan to pay monthly.

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Walmart+ Free Trial

When you sign up for Walmart+, you’ll get 15 days for free as a trial period.

Amazon Prime Free Trial

New members can try Amazon Prime free for 30 days — that’s twice as long as Walmart+ will offer.

Walmart+ Same-Day Delivery

Walmart boasts that its physical stores will make many items available for same-day delivery: “Walmart+ has the reach of more than 4,700 stores, including 2,700 stores that offer delivery as fast as same day,” the company said in a press release.

Amazon Prime Same-Day Delivery

Amazon Prime members can get same-day delivery on qualifying orders over $35. Items marked eligible for delivery “Today” qualify for the same-day service.

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How Many Products Are Available for Same-Day Delivery With Walmart+

Walmart doesn’t specify the number of items that will be available for same-day delivery with Walmart+, but according to the press release, free delivery “as fast as same-day” will be available on more than 160,000 items.

How Many Products Are Available for Same-Day Delivery With Amazon Prime

Amazon also doesn’t guarantee same-day delivery on a specified number of items, but says that delivery “as fast as today” is available for up to 3 million items in some areas.

This seems to be one area where Amazon has the upper hand, so it might be the better option for those needing instant gratification.

Walmart+ Fuel Discount

In addition to speedy shipping, one of the perks that comes with a Walmart+ membership is a fuel discount. Members can save up to 5 cents a gallon at nearly 2,000 Walmart, Murphy USA and Murphy Express fuel stations. The discount will also apply at Sam’s Club fuel stations in the near future.

Amazon Prime Fuel Discount

Amazon Prime provides lots of member perks, but a fuel discount isn’t one of them. If you’re someone who spends a lot on gas, a Walmart+ membership might be your better choice.

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Walmart+ Grocery Delivery

Walmart+’s unlimited free delivery includes grocery delivery. Members will pay the same prices as they would if they purchased the items in-store.

Amazon Prime Grocery Delivery

Free grocery delivery is available to Prime members in select regions via Amazon Fresh or Whole Foods Market. Orders must meet the local free delivery threshold, which varies by region. In addition, Prime members can shop for household essentials including snacks and beverages via Prime Pantry. Free shipping is available for Prime Pantry orders over $35.

Walmart+ Streaming Services

As of now, Walmart+ membership does not include any streaming services. Walmart’s press release states that new benefits will roll out over time, so it’s possible this could be something the membership includes in the future.

Amazon Prime Streaming Services

The Amazon Prime membership gives you access to the Prime Video streaming service, which includes Amazon Originals, movies and TV shows. However, not all titles available on the streaming service are included with Prime membership — there are additional fees to access certain movies and shows.

The Bottom Line

Choosing between Walmart+ and Amazon Prime will depend on your particular needs and budget. If you are paying an annual membership fee, Walmart+ will cost you less. If same-day delivery is important to you, you will have more options available with Amazon Prime. If you want to save on gas, go with Walmart+. But if you’d rather have the perk of an included streaming service, Amazon Prime is your better option.

It remains to be seen if Walmart’s new offering will tempt any Amazon Prime subscribers to make the switch, or if it will appeal to customers who have no interest in Amazon Prime. Either way, it’s likely to shake up Amazon’s total dominance in the speedy delivery space.

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About the Author

Gabrielle Olya

Gabrielle joined GOBankingRates in 2017 and brings with her a decade of experience in the journalism industry. Before joining the team, she was a staff writer-reporter for People Magazine and People.com. Her work has also appeared on E! Online, Us Weekly, Patch, Sweety High and Discover Los Angeles, and she has been featured on “Good Morning America” as a celebrity news expert. 

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