Is a Walmart+ Membership Worth It?

The offers are more limited than Amazon Prime's, but you'll get savings on gas, food, and more at a lower fee

By Penelope Wang

If you’re a regular Walmart shopper who enjoys the retail giant’s low prices and huge range of merchandise, you may want to sign up for its membership program, Walmart+.

A relatively new offering, launched in September 2020, Walmart+ membership provides several key benefits, including free shipping, same-day delivery on some orders, discounts on gas, and a scan-and-go app feature for in-store shoppers.

At $12.95 a month or $98 a year, Walmart+ is less expensive than Amazon Prime, which costs $139 a year. And Walmart is adding new incentives to join, including free access to a Paramount+ streaming service and shopping rewards.

Overall, though, Walmart+ doesn’t match the benefits available through Amazon Prime, which offers an enormous number of products, as well as streaming video, music, e-books, and more.

That said, you may come out ahead with a Walmart+ membership, depending on where you do your shopping and your purchasing habits.

“If you live close by to a Walmart and shop there frequently for groceries and gas, or you frequently get deliveries from them, a membership may be right for you,” says Trae Bodge, a shopping expert at TrueTrae.

To help you decide, here’s what you should know about Walmart+.

How Walmart+ Works

It’s simple to join Walmart+ by going to the online sign-up page. As noted, if you pay monthly, you’ll be charged $12.95, or $155 a year. But if you purchase an annual membership, the cost is $98.

You can also start out with a free 30-day trial membership.

But be aware that there are no refunds if you cancel your Walmart+ membership. You will have access to your membership benefits until the end of the paid period.

What You Get With Walmart+

The program’s benefits can add up quickly for frequent Walmart shoppers.

Free shipping and delivery. You can order a much wider range of products than a typical store carries, including groceries and merchandise, and have them shipped free with no order minimum. You can also get next-day or two-day delivery from your local store. (If the order is under $35, you’ll be charged a below-minimum fee of $5.99.) Same-day delivery is also available. For popular time slots, availability is first come, first served.

Gas discounts. Walmart+ members receive up to a 10 cents per gallon discount on gas purchases, which was recently raised from 5 cents a gallon. The discount applies to purchases at Exxon, Mobil, Walmart, and Murphy gas stations. Members can also fill up at Sam’s Club pumps, which generally charge lower fuel prices, although there’s no additional discount.

Scan & Go. When you become a member, you have access this to feature on the Walmart mobile app, which lets you skip long waits in line to check out. Instead, you scan the UPC codes for items as you add them to your cart, which also gives you a running total of your purchases. When you’re ready to leave, you scan the QR code at a self-checkout station. And you can pay with your phone if your payment information is saved in the Walmart wallet. (One downside is that the app doesn’t let you load in coupons.)

Spotify access.  Members receive six free months of Spotify Premium, the ad-free version of the music streaming service. That’s nearly a $60 value, given the cost of a Spotify Premium individual subscription ($9.99 a month).

Early-deal access. Members get early alerts and access to deals and product releases, including Black Friday promotions, which can be especially helpful when there’s a limited supply.

Free streaming. Starting in September, members will have free access to the Paramount+ Essential plan, which is an ad-supported tier. The service would otherwise cost $4.99 a month or $49.99 a year.

Shopping rewards. Walmart+ subscribers can now get access to cashback rebates on certain items, including groceries, household products, and more. The program is being offered in partnership with Ibotta, a cashback rewards platform. The eligible items are available both online and in stores. Members can earn a maximum of $500 per year in these rewards. (You can access the rewards as a trial member.)

In-home delivery. An optional add-on benefit, you can pay an additional $40 per year to have your groceries delivered directly to your refrigerator. Formerly a stand-alone benefit, this service is now wrapped into Walmart+ and is gradually being rolled out nationwide. Members can check the Walmart+ website to see if it’s available where you live.

The Bottom Line

For those who live near a Walmart store and routinely order delivery or purchase gas once a week, an annual membership can easily be worth the cost.

For example, by ordering weekly delivery, you would save about $32 a month in fees. (Without a Walmart+ membership, you would pay $7.95 to $9.95 per delivery.) Those savings alone would far exceed the membership cost.

If you purchase 20 gallons of gas a week, getting a discount of up to 10 cents per gallon, you would save about $8 a month, which would come close to offsetting your Walmart+ fee.

Before you sign up, however, be realistic about your purchasing habits. If you shop at Walmart only occasionally, you may be better off with a free loyalty program at another supermarket or retailer, says Burt P. Flickinger III, managing director at Strategic Resource Group, a retail consulting company.

(For more advice on cutting grocery and fuel costs, see “How to Save Time and Money Food Shopping,” and “How to Save Money at the Gas Pump.”)

Still, if you’re not sure whether you’ll benefit from the Walmart+ program, consider opting for the 30-day free trial. If you realize it’s not right for you after two or three weeks, you can cancel at no cost.

One more tip: If you have a rewards credit card, perhaps one that offers 5 percent cash back on gas and grocery purchases, be sure to link it to your Walmart+ account. That way, you’ll get savings on top of your savings.

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