Amazon Prime vs. Walmart Plus: How Do These Rival Memberships Compare?

A side-by-side look at their costs, shopping benefits and perks

Cameron Huddleston,

AARP

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En español

Published February 20, 2025

Photo Collage: AARP; (Source: 400tmax/Getty Images; Michael Vi/Getty Images; Getty Images (2))

Amazon Prime dominates the world of retail membership and loyalty programs. Launched in 2005, the subscription offers online shoppers the convenience of two-day shipping for a $139 annual fee. Now, according to financial data and news company PYMNTS, 67 percent of U.S. consumers have a Prime membership and, in turn, access not only to fast shipping on practically any product but also video and music streaming, grocery and food delivery, gas discounts, cheap prescriptions and a whole host of other perks.

However, as the benefits of a Prime membership have increased, so has the price, which originally was $79 per year. That might have some consumers debating whether to stick with Prime or switch to a cheaper alternative, such as Walmart Plus.

Walmart’s membership program, launched in 2020, offers a wide range of benefits that rival Amazon Prime’s. But with only 30 percent of U.S. consumers subscribing (according to PYMNTS), Walmart Plus has a long way to go to match the popularity of Prime.

“[Walmart Plus] has a lot of catching up to do if it wants consumers to replace Prime, but I think it could differentiate itself and prove to be the right choice for households where Prime isn't the right fit,” says Jen Smith, host of the Frugal Friends podcast and co-author of Buy What You Love Without Going Broke.

But not all money-saving experts agree that Walmart Plus is a worthy alternative to Prime. “I've always felt like Walmart Plus is the budget version of Amazon [Prime],” says Jim Wang, founder of WalletHacks.com, a personal finance website. “It's cheaper, has fewer benefits, and Walmart simply doesn't have the size of Amazon.”

That said, it’s worthwhile to compare what you get for your money with Amazon Prime and Walmart Plus to determine which membership program is right for you, whether subscribing to both makes sense or if neither is worth the cost.

Price

At $139 per year, an Amazon Prime membership costs substantially more than a $98 Walmart Plus membership. “Price matters, and $40 is significant for some shoppers,” Wang says. “But it comes down to which benefits you'll be using and which retailer has lower prices on the products you're buying.”

Both retailers offer the option to test out their membership programs for free for 30 days. And their memberships are half-price for recipients of some government benefits, including SNAP and Medicaid. Amazon also offers a discounted student membership for $7.49 per month.

Shipping and returns

Amazon Prime and Walmart Plus offer free same-day, one-day and two-day shipping for eligible items. Free shipping is not available for third-party sellers on Walmart Marketplace. Some third-party sellers on Amazon Marketplace offer Amazon Prime members free shipping but not all.

Both membership programs include free returns, although some items may require customers to pay restocking fees.

Grocery delivery

Free same-day grocery delivery is a stand-out feature of Walmart Plus and one of the top reasons consumers subscribe, according to a July 2024 PYMNTS Intelligence report. With more than 4,600 Walmart stores across the U.S., the retailer’s grocery delivery service is widespread.

Amazon Prime members must pay $9.99 a month for unlimited grocery delivery on orders of more than $35. Also, delivery is available only in select areas from Whole Foods Market, Amazon Fresh, and other local grocery and specialty retailers. Prime members also save 10 percent on select Amazon Fresh groceries and get an extra 10 percent off storewide sales at Whole Foods.

Streaming and entertainment

When it comes to streaming and entertainment options, Amazon Prime is tough to beat. More than 12,000 movies and 2,100 TV shows are currently available on Amazon Prime Video, according to streaming guide Reelgood.

“Amazon has the largest catalog of music, TV, movie and original content of any streaming service,” Smith says. “If streaming is important to you, then Prime is going to be the clear winner.”

A Prime membership also includes free video games, photo storage and a rotating selection of thousands of ebooks, magazines, comics and audiobooks.

With Walmart Plus, entertainment benefits are limited to a free subscription to Paramount Plus, a streaming service with about 800 movies and 750 TV shows, according to Reelgood. The service includes content from Paramount, CBS, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., MTV, BET, Comedy Central and the Smithsonian Channel, as well as live sports and news broadcasts.

Sales events and shopping benefits

Both Amazon Prime and Walmart Plus members get access to exclusive deals during sales events throughout the year. The biggest of these is Amazon Prime Day, a two-day sales event in July that saw a record $14 billion in sales in 2024, according to PYMNTS Intelligence. Amazon also offers Prime members two days of exclusive deals during Prime Big Deal Days in October.

Walmart Plus members get access to exclusive deals, including discounts on gas and travel, in June during Walmart Plus Week.

Other perks

An Amazon Prime membership includes free Grubhub delivery and 10 cents off per gallon of gas at 7,000 participating fuel stations. Members also can take advantage of RxPass to get all of their eligible medications for $5 a month and access 24/7 on-demand medical care through One Medical for $9 a month. In addition, Prime members receive free shipping from Shopbop, an online fashion apparel and accessories retailer, and free expedited shipping at Zappos.

Walmart Plus members can use Walmart’s mobile app to scan items as they shop in stores and go through self-checkout without having to rescan each item. They get 10 cents off per gallon of gas at more than 13,000 fuel stations nationwide and member prices at Sam’s Club fuel centers.

Walmart Plus members also get 25 percent off Burger King digital orders, free flat tire repairs at Walmart Auto Care Centers and free 24/7 access to veterinary experts through Pawp. Members can earn Walmart Cash, which can be redeemed for future purchases when booking travel through WalmartPlusTravel.com. Members can also access limited-time perks, such as five free months of Apple Music.

Should you be a member of both Amazon Prime and Walmart Plus?

A majority of Walmart Plus members — 87 percent — are also Amazon Prime members, according to a PYMNTS Intelligence report released in July 2024. However, Smith and Wang both say it doesn’t make financial sense to pay for both programs.

“They are so similar at this point, it doesn't make sense to waste your money on two virtually identical subscriptions,” says Smith.

Amazon Prime might be the right choice if you prioritize entertainment and access to deals on a wide range of products. “Amazon has a huge warehouse of products, third-party vendors and so much product choice,” Wang says. Indeed, Amazon has 2 million active sellers, while Walmart.com’s marketplace has just 150,000.

On the other hand, Smith says a Walmart Plus membership could make sense if you do most of your grocery shopping at Walmart and can take advantage of the gas discounts and auto repair perks.

How to save on membership costs

You may be able to score more than just one 30-day free trial with either program — with the right approach. “Both services offer a discounted annual subscription for trial users who try to cancel,” Smith says. In addition, “Walmart will offer a discount several times a year for former trial users, and Prime will offer another free 30-day trial after a certain amount of time has passed.”

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Cameron Huddleston is an award-winning personal finance journalist and author of Mom and Dad, We Need to Talk: How to Have Essential Conversations With Your Parents About Their Finances. Her work has appeared in Kiplinger.com, Kiplinger's Personal Finance, Forbes Advisor, Chicago Tribune, Business Insider and many more online and print publications.