Editor's Note: This story originally appeared on The Penny Hoarder.
Our time is valuable. That’s why we’re willing to pay for fast and reliable delivery.
Amazon Prime has dominated the online shopping space for well over a decade. Retail giant Walmart introduced a competing service, Walmart+, in 2020.
While both offer similar online shopping experiences and free shipping options, it can be difficult to decide which subscription service to join to save the most money.
In this article, we lay out the costs, benefits and drawbacks of Amazon Prime and Walmart+, so you can make an informed decision about which is best for you.
What Walmart+ Offers
Walmart+ may be the new kid on the block, but for $98 a year or $12.95 per month plus applicable tax, it offers many services that rival Amazon Prime.
If you qualify for certain government benefits or you’re a college student, you could also get Walmart+ Assist, which is $49 a year or $6.47 a month plus applicable tax.
Free Next-Day or Two-Day Shipping
A Walmart+ membership gives you free next-day or two-day shipping on eligible items shipped by Walmart without any minimum purchase amount.
For instance, if you’re running low on toothpaste or shaving cream, you could put in an order for just that item without having to add more to your cart to get free shipping.
Thousands of items are available for free delivery — and not just groceries. Eligible delivery items include select tech products, toys, clothing and more.
Grocery Delivery
With Walmart+, you can get unlimited free same-day grocery delivery if you spend at least $35. (Or if you’re willing to fork over $6.99, you can get same-day delivery for grocery orders under $35.)
Grocery delivery service is based upon availability. With nearly 5,000 Walmart stores in the U.S., it’s likely that the service is available near you, but you can check availability for your address during the sign-up process.
Free same-day grocery delivery is also based upon demand in your area. Delivery time slots are limited, and once they fill up, you’ll have to schedule your grocery delivery for the following day.
For an additional fee, you can opt for express delivery to get your order within two hours.
There’s no mark-up on items with Walmart+ grocery delivery. You’re getting the same low prices you’d see shopping in-person at Walmart stores.
Streaming Services With Walmart+
Walmart partnered with Paramount+ and Peacock to give Walmart+ members the added bonus of a streaming service.
Is this an attempt to compete with Amazon Prime Video? Maybe. But it does make it appealing if you want to cut costs for your multiple streaming services.
As part of your Walmart+ membership, you can register for a Paramount+ Essentials plan or a Peacock Premium plan with ads.
You can only select one plan at a time, but you have the option to change after 90 days. If you want ad-free streaming options, you’ll have to pay extra to upgrade.
Fuel Discounts and Other Perks
Walmart+ members save up to 10 cents per gallon when you fill up at a Walmart, Exxon, Mobil or Murphy USA gas station.
You’ll also get member prices at Sam’s Club fuel stations without needing a Sam's Club membership.
If you like visiting brick-and-mortar stores, you can scan items with the Walmart app and check out on your phone using the Walmart Pay feature. It’s a streamlined, contact-free experience — no cashier required.
Other perks of Walmart Plus include early access to sales and exclusive deals, plus 25% off digital orders at Burger King and free online pet care through Pawp.
You can even explore options for earning cash back for qualifying travel purchases made through the Walmart+ Travel platform.
What Amazon Prime Offers
Amazon Prime has been around for more than 15 years and has acquired 200 million subscribers worldwide. Chances are you already know a thing or two about this service.
It costs $139 per year or $14.99 a month. It’s pricier than Walmart+, but you get a great deal of benefits with this membership.
One-Day Delivery
Prime members can enjoy free one-day delivery on millions of eligible items without any minimum purchase amount.
You can even get free same-day delivery services on certain items depending on when you place your order and where you’re located.
Depending on availability, you can have your packages delivered directly into your garage. You can also schedule your deliveries so they all arrive on a particular day of the week that you choose.
Grocery Delivery
While Amazon’s grocery footprint isn’t as massive as Walmart’s, you can get unlimited free delivery on groceries with an Amazon Prime membership in select cities for qualifying orders.
Eligible items are products marked as arriving “Prime FREE Same-Day,” and the minimum purchase is $25 in most areas. For $2.99, you can get same-day orders that are below the minimum threshold.
Want to dine out but stay in? Prime members get a free Grubhub+ membership, which means free delivery from your favorite local restaurants.
Prime Streaming and Entertainment
Amazon has more options for streaming entertainment, gaming, music and even photo storage. Prime Video has an ever-growing library of original and classic shows, and Prime members can get discounts when adding channels with Apple TV, Peacock, Discovery+ and more.
Amazon Music is free for Prime members and lets you shuffle play its music catalog. Adding Amazon Music Unlimited gets you access to over 100 million songs and top podcasts for an additional $11.99 per month with Prime.
An Amazon Prime membership also gives subscribers access to free gaming and a library of books and magazines via Prime Reading.
Members get unlimited photo storage, too, and another 5GB of video storage with Amazon Photos.
Other Amazon Prime Perks
Amazon Prime members can also benefit from prescription savings.
Students and low-income individuals receiving government assistance can get a discounted Amazon Prime subscription.
A student membership costs $7.49 a month. Individuals on government assistance can get a Prime membership for $6.99 a month.
Walmart+ vs. Amazon Prime: What’s the Better Deal?
Now that we’ve laid out the benefits and drawbacks of each service, you can make a more informed decision about whether Walmart+ or Amazon Prime is better for you.
If you’re making the call based on price alone, Walmart+ will save you about $40 a year if you pay annually or $2 each month if you pay monthly.
However, if you’re looking to get entertainment value out of your membership, Amazon offers the most bang for your buck by letting members stream TV shows, movies and music along with free access to audiobooks and gaming platforms.
Amazon Prime members can also get faster and more secure delivery options with same-day shipping and the ability to leave packages in the garage.
However, if you’re on the road a lot, you might really benefit from the gas discounts from Walmart+. And frequent Walmart shoppers can save time at checkout with the Scan and Go option at their local store.
Pick the Right Service for You
The right subscription service for you will ultimately come down to your individual preferences and needs.
Location could also play a role in your choice if you live in an area where free grocery delivery isn’t available through Amazon Prime but is available from Walmart+.
Fortunately, Amazon Prime and Walmart+ offer free trials. Test out each service for yourself to determine which membership program is right for you.
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