Whether you’re a frequent shopper at Walmart or a Walmart-owned company like Sam’s Club, Moosejaw or Bonobos, a Walmart Plus subscription offers a variety of perks from their membership — like free unlimited deliveries from the store to mobile scan and go.
SKIP AHEAD Walmart bestsellers
Like other subscription services (think Amazon Prime), Walmart Plus also offers its members early access to upcoming sales promotions, deals and game-console releases, as well as discounts on fuel across its partners’ gas stations. They’ve also entered the grocery delivery service space with limited deliveries to a handful of major cities in New York and California — as well as Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Moreover, Walmart Plus members get early access to Walmart’s Black Friday sales seven hours before they drop to the general public. That’s a major advantage; while early Walmart Black Friday discounts may already be rolling in, members will have first dibs on the even bigger electronic, home, toy, and apparel deals that officially drop on Monday, Nov. 7at 7 p.m. EDT, thanks to their exclusive start time of 12 p.m. EDT. The same goes for the following weeks on Monday, Nov. 14 and Monday, Nov. 21. For those who take their Black Friday Deals for Days seriously, this member benefit gives them extra time to add their picks to cart and check out before the rush — and possible out-of-stock notifications.
Walmart Plus
Walmart Plus costs $98 for its annual plan or $13 monthly. If you’re interested, you can get started with a free, 30-day trial membership. Certain credit cards like the Amex Platinum also cover the cost of a Walmart Plus membership up to a certain amount. Walmart Plus also comes with benefits that we touched on above: unlimited free deliveries on orders over $35, member prices on fuel at Walmart and Murphy stations, and access to a mobile scan and go feature so you can pay as you shop in-store — which is especially nice if you’re still cautious due to the Covid pandemic or are otherwise on a time crunch.
To help determine whether Walmart Plus is the right shopping subscription for you — and how it compares to Amazon Prime — we looked at the benefits and drawbacks of the service. Plus, to give you an idea of what’s available at Walmart, we put together highly-rated products we’ve recommended that you can pick up online or during your next trip to the store.
Walmart Plus benefits
Walmart Plus is a paid subscription service for purchasing a plethora of products that Walmart carries online and in stores, including groceries. If you sign up, you’ll receive perks and benefits when shopping at Walmart and Walmart-owned companies like Sam’s Club, Jet.com, and Bonobos. Those perks include:
- Free unlimited deliveries from the store, as long as you spend at least $35 per order. But keep in mind that unlimited delivery is not available in all areas. Check your eligibility by entering your address on Walmart’s site.
- Free next day and two-day shipping on items from Walmart.com. Unlike unlimited deliveries from the store, there is no minimum fee.
- Special prices on fuel, with savings up to 10 cents per gallon at 14,000 Walmart, Sam's Club, Murphy USA, Murphy Express, Exxon and Mobil fuel stations.
- Mobile scan and go, which allows in-store shoppers to pay for items while shopping to save time — and to make it easier for those of us still trying to remain six feet apart from others, per indoor social distancing guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If you decide to use this feature, you’ll have to finalize your payment at a self-checkout register.
- Select prescriptions for free and up to 85 percent off thousands more select prescriptions at Walmart pharmacies.
- Paramount+ Essential Plan subscription for no additional fee. Members will have access to the subscription beginning in September, according to Walmart, allowing them to steam original shows and movies as well as content from Nickelodeon, MTV, CBS and more.
- Early access to the Walmart Black Friday Deals for Days, which begin at 12 p.m. EDT on Monday, November 7 for members only (instead of the 7 p.m. EDT for everyone else).
- Walmart Rewards is a new benefit where members earn loyalty currency on eligible purchases, which can be redeemed on future purchases at Walmart. Walmart Rewards can be earned on in-store and online purchases, and items are eligible for rewards for a limited time.
- Other perks included limited-time offers, like the free six months of Spotify Premium that Walmart is currently offering through March of 2023.
How does Walmart Plus compare to Amazon Prime?
One of Walmart (and Walmart Plus)’s primary competitors is, of course, Amazon Prime, which offers similar benefits, like free two-day shipping — and even one-day shipping on eligible items. There are more perks from the online sales giant, too. Amazon’s subscription service includes Prime Video, Twitch, Amazon Fresh, for instance, and those additional benefits mean that Prime memberships cost $40 more than Walmart Plus or $139 annually.
Walmart Plus features may seem limited compared to Amazon Prime on the surface, but its unique offerings — and edge on Amazon — are in its numerous store fronts all across America, and the benefits Walmart Plus offers to in-store shoppers, such as mobile scan and go and discounts on fuel. In fact, it might be financially smart to consider investing in both memberships if you live near a Walmart brick-and-mortar store.
Even though Walmart Plus makes it easier than ever to shop in-stores, you can still shop online at Walmart for a variety of items — from tech to furniture. Here are six bestsellers to shop at Walmart, including sheet sets, Bluetooth speakers and fitness equipment.
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Our favorite Walmart bestsellers
To give you an idea of what you can find online or in stores with a Walmart Plus subscription, we highlighted various highly rated products that we recommend across categories, from sleep, exercise and to electronics, home and travel.
Mellanni Bed Sheet Set
The Mellanni Bed Sheet Set is a set of low-maintenance microfiber sheets that are made from 100-percent polyester with an 18000 thread count. The Mellanni bedding comes in seven sizes, from Twin to Split King. Not only are they machine-washable — wash them cold — they’re also labeled fade-, stain-, shrink- and wrinkle-resistant for easier care, which makes them even more durable than cotton, according to Mellanni.
Sunny Health Fitness Indoor Exercise Cycle Bike
The budget-friendly and 49-pound Sunny Health Fitness Indoor Exercise Cycle Bike offers an adjustable resistance knob, a built-in water bottle-holder for your workouts and it doesn't require a membership fee (though you get no classes, of course). It’s also possible to move the seat and the handlebars up and down for your comfort. That said, it doesn’t have a screen like some of the other exercise bikes we recommend — but that may not be something you need.
Oral B Pro 1000
In our guide to the electric toothbrushes, dentists recommended the highly rated Oral B Pro 1000 as a great affordable option. The Oral B Pro 1000 has pressure sensors to let you know when you’re brushing too hard, as well as an oscillating brush head that Oral-B says will break up plaque. It also has a handy timer that buzzes every 30 seconds so you know when to focus your brushing on a different part of your mouth.
Ninja CP307 Hot and Cold Brew System
If you’re looking for a coffee maker, we recommend the Ninja CP307 Hot and Cold Brew System after talking to experts. The Ninja lets you brew multiple sizes, including a single-cup, half carafe or full 10-cup carafe. If you’re looking to make iced coffee instead, the Over Ice function brews at a low temperature in 10 to 15 minutes, according to the brand. It also features a thermal carafe and a fold-away milk frother that Ninja says can be used to froth both hot and cold milk.
JBL Flip 5 Portable Speaker
Tech expert Whitson Gordon considers the JBL Flip 5 to be the best all-around portable speaker for its size and price —After testing a number of Bluetooth speakers and using our expertise, he determined the JBL Flip 5 was the best all-around portable speaker for its size and price — with decently strong bass and a clear midrange that’s perfect for bringing out guitars and vocals. Once you combine that with tons of customizability — color options and the ability to pair it with other JBL products for a multi-speaker setup — it’s one of best speakers we’ve found. Just keep in mind that you may not be able to pump the volume too loud.
Epicgadget Passport Holder Travel Wallet
The Epicgadget Passport Holder Travel Wallet is a synthetic leather passport holder that features a simple, sleek design and RFID protection for added security while you travel. In addition to a passport pocket, it also has three credit card slots and two interior pockets that you can use for your vaccine card, business card, boarding pass and more.
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