Walmart unveiled its subscription service — Walmart+ — and it’s set to become Amazon Prime’s latest competitor. According to CNN, Walmart is describing the Walmart+ membership plan and its benefits as the “ultimate life hack” for shoppers. Starting September 15, customers can pay $98 a year, or $12.95 a month, for a membership plan, including a 15-day free trial period.
Walmart+ Membership Benefits
While Walmart says more features will be added over time, the initial benefits include:
- Unlimited free delivery: Customers will get free shipping on orders of $35 and up on more than 160,000 items, including groceries and household essentials.
- Scan & Go: Using the Walmart app, customers can scan items as they shop in-person and check out using Walmart Pay for a touch-free payment experience.
- Fuel discounts: Customers can save up to 5-cents-per-gallon at nearly 2,000 Walmart, Murphy USA, and Murphy Express fuel stations. Sam’s Club fuel stations are expected to be added in the future.
How Does It Compare to Amazon Prime?
Walmart+ costs members $21 a year less than Amazon Prime, but also lacks many of Prime’s features.
Prime members have access to Amazon’s streaming services for music, games, TV shows, and movies as well as unlimited photo storage. In addition to free two-hour grocery delivery, Prime members also get discounts at Whole Foods.
This year, CNET reported that Amazon reached over 150 million paid Prime members worldwide. While some of that could be due to the coronavirus pandemic and people wanting to make fewer trips to a grocery store, it still shows significant growth.
However, Walmart boasts the wide availability of its 4,7000 physical stores in comparison to Amazon’s lack of physical stores. According to their website, about 90% of Americans live within 10 miles of a Walmart store. With 2,700 locations available to ship same-day, CNN reports that Walmart is looking to beat out Amazon on delivery speeds in many areas.
Walmart Membership Benefits — Sources
Walmart Newsroom
CNN- Walmart Plus
CNET
Amazon – Prime Insider