Comparing Walmart+, Amazon Prime

Membership has its differences

With many shoppers looking to make fewer trips into stores amid the coronavirus pandemic, on-demand grocery shopping has been growing in popularity. Walmart, which has seen tremendous growth in digital sales, is now planning to expand on a pilot of its Delivery Unlimited program with the new Walmart+ membership program that launches Sept. 15 and offers delivery as fast as same-day, an easier store checkout and a fuel discount. The retailer’s subscription program will cost $98 a year, compared with $119 a year for Amazon Prime, which launched in 2005 and offers perks including streaming television and movies, unlimited photo storage and discounts at Whole Foods Market stores. But how does Walmart+ compare? Here’s a rundown of the options.

Amazon Prime

Cost: $119 a year or $12.99 per month. A 30-day free trial is available. Benefits: Free two-day shipping on millions of items with no minimum purchase and other benefits, including streaming of television shows and movies, discounts at Whole Foods Market, free unlimited photo storage and more. For grocery delivery with Whole Foods, a $35 order typically is needed.

Walmart+

Cost: Launching Sept. 15. $98 a year or $12.95 per month. A 15-day trial is available. Benefits: Unlimited free delivery from stores (on orders $35 or more) on more than 160,000 items from groceries, household essentials to tech and toys, a new Scan & Go feature for in-store shopping and a fuel discount of up to 5 cents a gallon at nearly 2,000 Walmart, Murphy USA and Murphy Express fuel stations.

Instacart

Cost: $99 a year or $9.99 per month Benefits: Unlimited free deliveries on orders over $35, reduced service fees, no “busy pricing fees during peak delivery hours” and the ability to shop at “a variety of stores with free delivery on the entire order.”

Participating retailers: Varies by region, but includes national and regional retailers such as Albertsons, Aldi, Costco, CVS, Kroger, Publix, Sam’s Club, Sprouts, Wegmans, 7-Eleven, Big Lots, Total Wine and more.

Shipt

Cost: $99 a year. Shipt offers a fourweek trial when signing up through Target.com and recently added the option to purchase “Shipt passes for one, three or five Shipt shops for $10, $9 or $8 per delivery, respectively.” Benefits: Free delivery on orders $35 or more, which in some markets also includes alcohol orders. Orders under $35 as well as alcohol orders from select retailers are subject to a $7 delivery fee. Participating retailers: Varies by region, but includes Target, Publix, Meijer, Kroger, H-E-B, WinnDixie, Petco, Office Depot and BC Fine Wine & Spirits.

DoorDash DashPass

Cost: $9.99 a month Benefits: With DashPass, get unlimited free delivery fees and reduced service fees when you spend more than $12. Participating retailers: Varies by region, but includes Casey’s, 7-Eleven, Circle K, Wawa, CVS Pharmacy, Walgreens, Smart & Final, Meijer and Fresh Thyme. More stores are coming soon.