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There is no universal winner. At standard U.S. prices, Walmart+ costs less; Amazon Prime bundles a broader mix of shipping, entertainment, grocery, and healthcare benefits. The better choice depends on which services work at your address and which benefits your household would actually use.

What each membership costs

These are the currently listed standard U.S. prices, before applicable taxes or price changes:

Membership Monthly billing Annual billing Cost of 12 monthly payments
Walmart+ $12.95 per month $98 per year $155.40
Amazon Prime $14.99 per month $139 per year $179.88

The monthly-payment totals are arithmetic based on the listed rates. Annual billing is cheaper if you expect to keep either membership for a full year. Walmart’s current prices and terms are listed on its membership help page; Amazon lists Prime pricing and benefits on its Prime benefits page.

Discounted memberships may change the comparison

Amazon lists eligible students and 18–24-year-olds at $7.49 per month or $69 per year, and eligible Prime Access customers at $6.99 per month. Walmart lists an eligible assistance/student price of $6.47 per month or $49 per year on its enrollment page; a current Kiplinger comparison reports the same Walmart price. Eligibility and offers can change, so verify the price and qualification requirements at signup.

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Shipping and delivery: separate online orders from store delivery

Walmart+

Walmart+ includes free shipping without an order minimum for eligible online items. That is different from delivery of eligible items from a local Walmart store: ordinary store-delivery orders must reach $35 and use an available scheduled time slot. Inventory, address, faster delivery options, and possible fees can affect what is available. Check Walmart’s membership help and terms for the applicable conditions.

Amazon Prime

Prime offers shipping options including One-Day, Two-Day, Same-Day on qualifying orders, standard shipping, and Amazon Day. The speed depends on the item and delivery location; a membership does not guarantee a particular speed for every product or address. Amazon describes the included benefits on its Prime benefits page, and its published figure is more than 300 million U.S. items eligible for free Prime shipping. That is Amazon’s own figure, not an independent comparison with Walmart+.

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Groceries depend on where you live and what you buy

Walmart+ store delivery is based on eligible inventory at Walmart stores serving your delivery area. Prime may provide grocery options through Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market, or participating local retailers, but availability, order thresholds, and terms vary. Neither membership should be treated as a blanket promise of free grocery delivery on every basket.

Before deciding, build a realistic local cart with the groceries you regularly buy. Compare selection, delivery windows, minimums, service fees, tips, and any price markups. Walmart’s terms and the Kiplinger comparison describe availability and service differences; your address and cart determine which ones matter in practice.

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Fuel savings require participating stations nearby

Walmart+ terms describe discounts at Walmart fuel stations and participating third-party providers. The discount and availability depend on the location, provider, and applicable state law. Amazon says Prime members can save $0.10 per gallon at more than 7,500 bp, Amoco, and participating ampm and Thorntons stations. That amount is Amazon’s published claim, not a guarantee at every station; check participation and compare the pump price with nearby alternatives. See Walmart’s terms and Amazon’s Prime overview.

Streaming and digital extras are different bundles

Walmart+ includes a choice of streaming plan

Walmart announced that, starting September 15, 2025, members could choose between ad-supported Peacock and Paramount+ plans and switch their selection every 90 days. The offer and plan names can change, so confirm the current terms on Walmart’s announcement and at enrollment. In that announcement, Walmart senior vice president of Walmart+ Deepak Maini said the Peacock option adds value and choice “without raising the price.” That is a company executive’s description of Walmart’s offer, not an independent assessment.

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Prime has a wider mix of digital benefits

Amazon describes Prime Video, Amazon Music, Prime Reading, Amazon Luna, and other digital benefits. This is a mix of services, not a like-for-like streaming catalog comparison. Count only the content or features your household uses. A service’s inclusion should reduce your personal calculation only if you would otherwise pay for it and would cancel that separate subscription.

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Pharmacy and healthcare benefits need an eligibility check

Walmart+ lists free pharmacy delivery without an order minimum, subject to medication, location, and time-slot exceptions. Amazon describes prescription discounts, Amazon Pharmacy, RxPass, and discounted One Medical access. The relevant benefit can depend on the medication, health plan, pharmacy network, provider, and eligibility. Compare any offer against your actual insurance coverage and providers; membership benefits are not medical advice, and an advertised cash price is not necessarily better than using insurance. Walmart’s conditions are in its terms, and Amazon outlines its services on its Prime benefits page.

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Quick Recap

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Amazon.com Gift Cards never expire and carry no fees.; Multiple gift card designs and denominations to choose from.
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Amazon.com Gift Cards never expire and carry no fees.; Multiple gift card designs and denominations to choose from.
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  • Gift Card is redeemable towards millions of items storewide at Amazon.com
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How to decide which membership is worth it for you

  1. Start with the price you qualify for. Compare annual cost after eligible discounts, then account for taxes and any add-ons. Use annual billing only if you expect to retain the membership long enough to make it cheaper.
  2. Check your actual address. Look up store-delivery inventory and time slots, grocery services, pharmacy delivery, participating fuel stations, and the shipping speeds shown for items you actually order.
  3. Price a normal grocery order. Include order minimums, fees, tips, markups, and the delivery window—not just the membership charge.
  4. Value only benefits you would use. Consider your viewing and listening habits, reading or gaming interest, fuel purchases, and prescription needs. Do not count a benefit as savings if it would not replace spending you already do.
  5. Compare the remaining annual difference. A lower fee is not automatically better value if the services you need are unavailable or cost extra. There is no independent, comparable published statistic establishing which service saves the average household more, so a reader-specific calculation is more reliable than a universal break-even claim.

Which membership fits which household?

  • Walmart+ may be the better fit if its lower standard annual fee matters most and your local Walmart offers useful store delivery, pharmacy delivery, fuel discounts, or a streaming choice you will use.
  • Prime may be the better fit if the shipping options available for your address and orders, Prime Video or other digital benefits, grocery access, or healthcare-related offerings better match your needs.
  • Neither may be worth keeping if you rarely use the benefits, cannot access the services that matter locally, or would spend less paying occasional shipping or delivery charges as needed.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.