Walmart Just Announced Walmart+, a New Membership Program to Rival Amazon Prime
Amazon Prime may have finally met its match in Walmart’s new delivery service, Walmart+. The subscription-based program will be available beginning September 15, per a Walmart press release, and it will certainly change online shopping as we know it, especially amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. So, let’s get into the details.
What is Walmart+ and what are its benefits?
Like Amazon Prime, Walmart+ is a membership program offered by the retailer, available for either a monthly fee of $12.95 or $98 per year, including a 15-day free trial. Members will have unlimited access to free, same-day deliveries (on orders $35 or more) of “160,000 items from tech and toys to household essentials and groceries,” per the press release. So it’s not just a grocery delivery service—it’s more all-encompassing.
Members will also have the ability to unlock the Scan & Go feature on the Walmart app, to scan items during in-store shopping and pay with Walmart Pay "for a quick, easy, touch-free payment experience."
Lastly, members will save up to 5 cents a gallon at nearly 2,000 Walmart, Murphy USA, and Murphy Express fuel stations. The press release says Sam’s Club fuel stations will soon be added to the lineup as well.
This list of benefits “will continue to grow over time,” according to Walmart, and comes in addition to preexisting perks like curbside pickup and NextDay delivery. Those currently enrolled in the retailer’s Delivery Unlimited service will automatically become Walmart+ members.
“Walmart will continue to have delivery options with a per-delivery transaction fee so customers can choose the service that’s best for them,” the press release notes.
How can I sign up for Walmart+?
There isn’t an enrollment portal for Walmart+ just yet. The landing page for its website currently says, “Coming Soon.” But when the service launches on Sept. 15, more information should be available on the site. If you’re currently subscribed to Walmart’s Delivery Unlimited service, you will automatically become a Walmart+ subscriber.
How does Walmart+ compare to Amazon Prime?
Walmart+ is slightly more affordable than Amazon Prime, its price point clocking in at $24 under Prime’s annual fee of $119. However, Walmart+ doesn’t include some of the same benefits as Prime, like Prime Video, Prime Music, and Prime Kindle services, which could validate the extra cost. However, if you don’t typically use Amazon’s entertainment services, it might be worth the switch to save some money.
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