Walmart Plus costs $12.95 per month or $98 per year for a standard membership. For those looking for a quick answer, the annual plan is the most cost-effective route, saving you approximately $57.40 annually compared to paying month-to-month. If you qualify for government assistance or are a college student, the price drops significantly to $6.47 per month or $49 per year.

Understanding the price of Walmart Plus is only the first step. To determine if this membership is actually worth the investment, one must look at the specific tiers, the hidden savings in the fringe benefits, and how the service integrates into daily shopping habits.

Detailed Breakdown of Walmart Plus Pricing Tiers

The pricing structure of Walmart Plus is designed to accommodate different budget cycles and demographic needs. While the base service remains the same across most tiers, the long-term financial commitment varies.

Standard Annual Membership

The $98 annual fee is the flagship offering. When broken down, this equates to roughly $8.17 per month. This plan is aimed at long-term Walmart loyalists who want to set their subscription and forget it. By paying upfront, the cost is significantly lower than a standard Netflix or Spotify subscription, making it one of the more affordable retail memberships on the market.

Standard Monthly Membership

At $12.95 per month, this tier offers the most flexibility. It is ideal for individuals who may only need the service during peak shopping seasons, such as the holidays or back-to-school months. However, staying on this plan for a full year would cost $155.40, which is a steep premium for flexibility.

Walmart Plus Assist for Government Assistance Recipients

Walmart offers a specialized program called Walmart+ Assist. This plan is priced at $6.47 per month or $49 per year (plus applicable taxes). It is available to individuals participating in qualifying government assistance programs, including:

  • SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)
  • WIC (Women, Infants, and Children)
  • Medicaid
  • SSI (Supplemental Security Income)
  • TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families)
  • NSLP (National School Lunch Program)
  • LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program)

Verification for this plan is handled via a third-party service called SheerID. In my experience with these types of verification systems, having your digital documents ready (like an EBT card photo or a benefit letter) makes the process take less than five minutes.

Walmart Plus Student Membership

Similar to the Assist program, college students can access Walmart Plus for $6.47 per month or $49 per year. Given the high cost of textbooks and dorm essentials, the free shipping benefit alone often justifies this cost for a student living away from home without a car.

Does Walmart Plus Offer a Free Trial?

New members can typically access a 30-day free trial. This trial is a full-featured experience, meaning you can test the free delivery from the store, the streaming options, and the gas discounts before the first charge hits your card.

One detail often overlooked is that during the trial, you have access to almost all benefits, though some "early access" deals for major sales events like Black Friday might be reserved for paid members only. It is also important to note that you must provide a payment method upfront, and the subscription will auto-renew into the plan you selected (monthly or annual) once the 30 days are up. To avoid charges, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the trial ends.

Analyzing the Core Benefits: Is the Cost Justified?

To see if the $98 or $12.95 fee is worth it, we need to assign a dollar value to the most frequently used benefits.

Free Delivery from Store

This benefit applies to groceries and general merchandise. There is a $35 order minimum for free delivery. If you were to order groceries twice a week, and each delivery would normally cost between $7.95 and $9.95 in fees, the membership pays for itself in less than two months.

In real-world testing, the delivery service is highly dependent on your local store's staffing. However, the convenience of not having to navigate crowded aisles on a Sunday afternoon is a "soft" benefit that many users value more than the actual dollar savings. The "Returns from Home" feature is an extension of this; a driver comes to your house to pick up items you want to return. For those without a printer or who find the post office daunting, this is a massive time-saver.

Free Shipping with No Order Minimum

Unlike the "Delivery from Store" benefit, Walmart.com shipping has no minimum order requirement for members. This is the direct competitor to Amazon Prime. Whether you are ordering a single $5 bottle of shampoo or a $500 television, the shipping is free. For small, infrequent purchases, this eliminates the "cart padding" behavior where shoppers add unnecessary items just to hit a free shipping threshold.

The Video Streaming Choice: Paramount Plus vs. Peacock

A major value add introduced recently is the ability to choose a streaming service. Members can select either Paramount+ Essential or Peacock Premium. Both are the ad-supported tiers of their respective platforms.

  • Paramount+ Essential: Normally costs $7.99/month. It includes NFL on CBS, UEFA Champions League, and a vast library of movies and shows.
  • Peacock Premium: Normally costs $7.99/month. It is the home of the Olympics, WWE, Premier League, and hits like The Office.

By including one of these, Walmart Plus effectively reduces its "true cost" by nearly $96 per year. If you were already paying for one of these services, the Walmart Plus membership essentially becomes free.

Fuel Savings and Daily Commute Value

Walmart Plus members save up to 10 cents per gallon at over 13,000 participating stations nationwide. This includes:

  • Exxon
  • Mobil
  • Walmart
  • Murphy

Additionally, members get "member pricing" at Sam’s Club fuel stations without needing a separate Sam’s Club membership.

Let's look at the math. If you drive a vehicle with a 15-gallon tank and fill up four times a month, you save $6.00 per month. Over a year, that is $72 in savings. When subtracted from the $98 annual fee, the membership cost drops to just $26 for the entire year, before even considering groceries or streaming.

Why Scan and Go Changes the In-Store Experience

For those who still prefer to shop in person, the Scan & Go feature is a significant perk included in the price. Using the Walmart app, you scan items as you put them in your cart. When you are finished, you go to a self-checkout lane, scan a QR code, and pay via your phone.

In my use cases, this feature shines during the "quick trip" scenarios. Scanning a gallon of milk and a loaf of bread and bypassing the manual scanning process at the register can save 5 to 10 minutes during peak hours. It also provides a running total of your spending, which is an excellent tool for those shopping on a strict weekly budget.

Additional Perks: From Burger King to Auto Care

Walmart has aggressively expanded the "Plus" ecosystem to include partner benefits that many users forget to use.

Burger King Discounts

Members receive 25% off digital orders every day. Additionally, every three months, members can claim a free Whopper with any purchase. If you are a frequent fast-food consumer, this can add up to $10–$15 of savings per month.

Travel and Walmart Cash

Through a partnership with Expedia, Walmart Plus members can earn up to 5% "Walmart Cash" on hotel bookings, car rentals, and flights. This Walmart Cash acts like a store credit that can be applied to future Walmart purchases. For a family booking a $1,000 vacation, that is $50 back in their pocket—nearly half the cost of the annual membership.

Auto Care Benefits

Members get free flat tire repair and a road hazard warranty on tires purchased and installed at Walmart Auto Care Centers. A single flat tire repair usually costs $15 to $20. Having this covered provides peace of mind, especially for high-mileage drivers.

Pet Care via Pawp

The membership includes 24/7 virtual access to veterinary experts through the Pawp app. This is an incredible resource for pet owners who want to avoid a $100 emergency vet visit for minor concerns like a sudden skin rash or dietary questions.

How to Cancel or Manage Your Walmart Plus Plan

Management of the subscription is handled entirely through the Walmart app or website.

  1. Log in to your Walmart account.
  2. Navigate to the "Account" section.
  3. Select "Walmart+".
  4. From here, you can switch from monthly to annual, update your payment method, or cancel the plan.

If you cancel, you will typically maintain access to the benefits until the end of your current billing cycle. Walmart does not usually provide prorated refunds for mid-month cancellations, so it is best to time your cancellation close to your renewal date if you are unsure.

Comparing Walmart Plus to Amazon Prime and Target Circle 360

While the query focuses on "how much is Walmart Plus," the value is relative to its peers.

  • Amazon Prime: Costs $14.99/month or $139/year. It is more expensive than Walmart Plus but includes a more robust streaming library (Prime Video) and Kindle books.
  • Target Circle 360: Costs $99/year (often discounted to $49 for the first year). It focuses heavily on Shipt-powered delivery but lacks the fuel and external partner benefits (like streaming) that Walmart provides.
  • Instacart+: Costs $9.99/month or $99/year. It is strictly a delivery service and does not offer shipping for non-grocery items or fuel discounts.

Walmart Plus occupies a unique middle ground. It is cheaper than Prime and offers more practical "real-world" savings like gas and fast food, whereas Prime focuses more on digital ecosystem benefits.

Is Walmart Plus Worth the Cost?

The answer depends on three factors:

  1. Proximity to a Walmart: If you live within a 10-mile radius of a Walmart, the delivery benefit is a game-changer.
  2. Driving Habits: If you fill up your tank at least twice a month, the gas savings significantly offset the membership fee.
  3. Streaming Usage: If you are already paying for Paramount+ or Peacock, switching that billing to your Walmart Plus membership makes the core retail benefits nearly "free."

For most families who spend at least $100 a week on groceries, the membership is not just a luxury; it is a mathematical net gain. The time saved by not driving to the store and the money saved on fuel usually covers the $98 annual fee within the first three to four months.

Summary of Pricing and Benefits

Walmart Plus is priced at $12.95/month or $98/year, with 50% discounts available for students and government assistance recipients. The membership provides free delivery from stores on orders over $35, free shipping on Walmart.com with no minimum, a choice of a streaming service (Paramount+ or Peacock), and 10 cents off per gallon of gas. Additional perks include 25% off Burger King, Scan & Go in-store shopping, and 5% back on travel bookings.

FAQ

What are the different Walmart Plus plans available? There are two primary plans: a monthly plan for $12.95 and an annual plan for $98. Discounted versions (Assist and Student) are available for $6.47/month or $49/year.

How much does the Walmart Plus annual plan save you? Choosing the annual plan over the monthly plan saves you $57.40 over the course of a year.

Can I get a discount on Walmart Plus? Yes, college students and individuals on government assistance (SNAP, WIC, Medicaid, etc.) are eligible for a 50% discount through the Walmart+ Assist and Walmart+ Student programs.

Is there a minimum order for Walmart Plus shipping? There is no minimum order for shipping items from Walmart.com. However, for "Free Delivery from Store" (groceries and local items), there is a $35 minimum requirement.

Does Walmart Plus include Paramount Plus or Peacock? Yes, members can choose one ad-supported streaming service—either Paramount+ Essential or Peacock Premium—as part of their membership at no extra cost.

Where can I use the Walmart Plus gas discount? The discount is available at over 13,000 stations, including Exxon, Mobil, Walmart, and Murphy stations. Members also get member pricing at Sam’s Club fuel centers.

How do I verify for Walmart Plus Assist? Verification is completed through SheerID during the sign-up process. You will need to provide proof of eligibility, such as a benefit letter or an EBT card.

What happens if I cancel my Walmart Plus trial? If you cancel during the 30-day trial, you will not be charged. You usually continue to have access to the benefits until the 30 days are up.

Can I switch from a monthly to an annual plan? Yes, you can change your billing frequency at any time through the Walmart+ membership hub in your account settings.

Is Walmart Plus available in Puerto Rico? Currently, Walmart Plus is available in the contiguous United States, Alaska, and Hawaii. Some benefits may have limited availability in Puerto Rico.