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Amazon Prime offers two-day delivery, a video-streaming service, photo storage, PC games, and more, all for $139 per year or $14.99 per month. But it got some competition in late 2020 with the launch of Walmart+, which offers similar perks for a whole lot less.
With a Walmart+ subscription, you get benefits like free delivery and shipping, discounted gas, contact-free checkout, and more. Subscribers also gain access to limited-time offers with other companies and services. If you've signed up or are considering a switch from Prime, here's what you need to know about Walmart's subscription service.
How Much Is Walmart+?
(Credit: Walmart)Like many other subscription services, Walmart+ offers monthly and yearly plans. You can choose to pay $12.95 each month or $98 all at once for the full year. By signing up for the full year, you will save $57 over the month-to-month plan. (By comparison, a yearly Amazon Prime subscription only saves you $41 over the monthly plan.)
Ultimately, which plan is best depends on your shopping habits. If you're a Walmart regular and know you'll be going back over the next 12 months, a yearly subscription makes sense. Just looking for quick shipping and shopping perks over the holidays? Monthly may be the way to go.
Walmart also offers discounted rates of $6.47 per month or $49 per year to students and those who qualify for government assistance through SNAP, WIC, Medicaid, SSI, TANF, TTANF, NSLP and LIHEAP.
What Is Included in a Walmart+ Membership?
(Credit: Walmart)As part of your Walmart+ membership, subscribers unlock several benefits and exclusive offers that can save you money in the long run. They include:
- Early Access: Members get early access to special promotions and events, from Cyber Monday deals to high-profile product releases. Just sign on at the appointed time to potentially snag a discounted must-have item that may be otherwise in short supply. Note that this perk is not available for those on a 30-day free trial, but you can bypass the free trial at sign-up to get early access deals right away.
- Free Delivery: Walmart customers in the retailer's delivery zone (sorry, NYC) can get groceries and other items delivered from their home store. Non-Walmart+ members pay a delivery fee between $7.95 and $9.95. With Walmart+, there's no delivery fee for orders over $35 ($6.99 fee for those under $35).
- Free Shipping: Walmart offers free, two-day shipping on orders of $35 or more for all customers. With Walmart+, there's no $35 minimum. The catch: This doesn't cover third-party sellers (or oversized items and freight orders). To determine which items are eligible, look for the shipped by Walmart label on product pages.
- Return From Home: Don't want to go back to the store for a return? Members can instead choose the Return From Home option when selecting a return method online, and Walmart will come and pick it up. This benefit is limited to certain locations and purchases, and there's a whole list of prohibited items.
- Discount on Fuel: Members get a discount on gas at Exxon, Mobil, Walmart, Murphy's, and (participating) Sam's Club stations, where you can save up to $0.10 per gallon. At the pump, open the Walmart app, select member prices on fuel from your W+ membership page, and follow the instructions.
- Paramount+ Membership: You can sign up for a free Paramount+ Essential Plan, which usually costs $7.99 per month or $59.99 per year. The Essential plan has ads, but you can upgrade to the ad-free Paramount+ with Showtime tier and pay the difference.
- Ad-Free Pluto TV: Live TV streaming service Pluto TV gives Walmart+ members six ad-free, on-demand TV series each month. These exclusive offerings are only visible to subscribers who sign in to a Pluto TV account through a link in the Walmart+ member portal.
- Auto Care Benefits: Members get a number of auto care benefits, including free flat tire repairs and a road hazard warranty (when you purchase tire(s) from Walmart and get them installed at an Auto Care Center). Without W+, Walmart charges $15 per tire for a flat fix and $10 per tire for the warranty.
- Walmart+ Travel: Members get access to Walmart+ Travel, an exclusive travel deals page powered by Expedia. Bookings earn up to 5% Walmart Cash (loyalty points) on hotel bookings, vacation and car rentals, tours, and activities, and 2% on air travel.
- Contactless Checkout: Members get exclusive access to contactless checkout through the Walmart app. Connect a card to Walmart Pay in the store's mobile app, then scan your items as you shop and the app will display a running total. Head to a self-checkout register to weigh any items sold by the pound and scan a QR code to finalize payment.
- Discount on Burger King: Members get 25% off Burger King digital orders and a free Whopper with any purchase every three months.
- Free Online Pet Care: Walmart+ gives members free access to Pawp, a telehealth pet care platform that offers 24/7 access to veterinary experts via text or video.
It's also worth noting that when Walmart+ launched in 2021, it offered free prescriptions and up to 85% in savings on medications through Walmart Pharmacies. However, Walmart quietly ended this benefit in 2022.
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How to Sign Up for Walmart+
(Credit: Walmart)You can sign up for Walmart+ from the Walmart website if you click the Account option and choose Walmart+ from the drop-down menu. If you use the Walmart app, tap the Account tab and then choose Walmart+ under the Subscriptions & plans section. From the sign-up page, you can choose to join with a free 30-day trial or skip the trial and gain instant access to Early Access deals.
How to Get Paramount+ With Walmart+
(Credit: Walmart / Paramount)Everyone who signs up for Walmart+ is eligible to get Paramount+ for free. However, you'll first need to sign up for the service through Walmart. Once you are a member, find the benefits section on the website or app and choose Paramount+ to create an account.
Your streaming account will then be managed through your Walmart+ subscription. This means if you cancel Walmart+, you also cancel Paramount+. If you already have a Paramount+ subscription, you will need to cancel and sign up again through Walmart. Note that you will have to wait until the end of your billing cycle to take advantage of this benefit.
How to Activate and Redeem Burger King Benefits
(Credit: Burger King / Walnart)In order to take advantage of the Burger King benefits, you'll need to activate the perk from the Walmart website or app. Go to Account > Walmart+ membership and select Get started next to the Burger King Savings benefit. Install the Burger King app and set up a BK Royal Perks account, then hit the Link Accounts button.
You'll be able to get 25% off an order from the Offers tab in the BK app or website. Select 25% Off BK and hit the Add to cart button, then complete your order. To get the free Whopper offer, go to Offers > Free Whopper in the app. If you're in-store, choose the My Code tab, select Add Offers, and provide the cashier with your Royal Perks ID.
Bonus: Take Advantage of Limited-Time Offers
(Credit: Walmart)As part of your Walmart+ membership, you also get access to limited-time offers that can save you money on various services. As of this writing, Walmart+ includes three months of Apple News+, five months of Apple Arcade, 25% off four months of Hallmark+, six months of Sirius XM, $20 off live events with Tickets For Less, and $10 Walmart Cash rewards with bus tickets purchased through Busbud.