Walmart+ vs. Amazon Prime

Seven questions seniors most commonly ask about these two memberships, answered without the runaround.

• 1
  Which is cheaper — Walmart+ or Amazon Prime? Walmart+ wins at full price: $98/yr vs. Amazon’s $139/yr — a $41 annual difference · For EBT/Medicaid/SSI recipients: Amazon Prime Access at $6.99/month ($83.88/yr) becomes cheaper · AARP members: Walmart+ at up to 40% off can drop below $60/yr

  At standard prices, Walmart+ undercuts Amazon Prime by $41 per year — significant money on a fixed income. But the actual price you pay depends heavily on discounts you may not know you qualify for. If you receive Medicaid, SNAP (food stamps via an EBT card), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), WIC, LIHEAP, TANF, or if your household income falls below approximately $27,315 per year as a single person, Amazon’s Prime Access program cuts the monthly price in half — to $6.99 per month, or $83.88 per year. That makes Amazon the cheaper option for qualifying seniors, and the benefits are identical to full-price Prime. For AARP members, Walmart+ has partnered to offer up to 40% off the annual membership, which can bring it well below $60 for the first year. Both memberships offer 30-day free trials — the lowest-risk way to test either before committing.
• 2
  Which is better for grocery delivery? Walmart+ wins on grocery delivery for most seniors — free same-day delivery from 4,600+ stores nationwide with a $35 minimum · Amazon Prime requires $9.99/month extra for unlimited grocery delivery OR orders over $100 from Amazon Fresh for free delivery

  This is where the two memberships diverge most dramatically. Walmart+ includes free same-day grocery delivery from your nearest Walmart store with a $35 minimum order — no extra monthly charge, no separate subscription. With more than 4,600 Walmart stores nationwide, coverage is broad. For someone who regularly buys groceries online or has difficulty getting to the store, this alone can justify the $98 Walmart+ membership multiple times over in a year. Amazon Prime’s grocery situation is more complicated. Free delivery from Amazon Fresh or Whole Foods is only available in select metro areas. In most parts of the country, grocery delivery requires paying an additional $9.99/month — a fee on top of the $139 annual membership — unless your order exceeds $100, at which point delivery is free. Walmart’s grocery prices are also generally lower than Amazon Fresh or Whole Foods, meaning Walmart+ shoppers save at both the delivery fee level and the per-item price level. For seniors who primarily want affordable grocery delivery at home, Walmart+ is the clearer winner.
• 3
  How do I qualify for Amazon Prime at $6.99 per month instead of $14.99? Apply at amazon.com/primeaccess · Qualifying programs: Medicaid, SNAP/EBT, SSI, WIC, LIHEAP, TANF, Direct Express debit card, NSLP · Also qualifies: household income at or below ~$27,315/yr (single person) — 20-second income check, no documents needed · Re-verify once yearly; discount lasts up to 4 years

  Prime Access is one of the most underused discounts in senior finances — primarily because many eligible people simply don’t know it exists, or assume their Medicare card qualifies them when it doesn’t. The qualifying programs Amazon accepts include: Medicaid (not Medicare — these are different programs), SNAP food assistance (if you have an EBT card, you qualify), Supplemental Security Income or SSI (not Social Security retirement — again, these are distinct programs), WIC nutrition assistance, LIHEAP energy assistance, TANF cash assistance, Direct Express federal benefit debit card, and the National School Lunch Program. If you receive any of these, application takes about five minutes at amazon.com/primeaccess. The income verification path is broader than most people realize: a single-person household earning $27,315 or less annually — which includes many seniors living primarily on Social Security — may qualify without needing any government assistance program. The income check takes 20 seconds and requires only your name, address, and date of birth. Current Prime members already paying full price can switch to Prime Access without canceling — contact Amazon support or apply at the link above to convert your existing membership to the discounted rate.
• 4
  Which has better prescription drug savings? Amazon wins if you take multiple generic medications: RxPass at $5/month covers unlimited fills of 60+ eligible generics · Walmart wins if you only need one or two generics: $4 for a 30-day supply, NO membership required · Walmart’s $4 drug list: no membership needed, just walk in

  The pharmacy picture depends entirely on how many medications you take and which ones. Amazon’s RxPass — an optional $5/month add-on to Prime membership — covers unlimited fills of around 60 common generic drugs treating conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and anxiety. If you take two or more of the eligible generics, RxPass almost certainly beats every alternative. At three or more medications, the savings versus filling at a standard pharmacy can run $100–$300 per year. What most people don’t know: Walmart’s $4 prescription program covers many common generics at $4 for a 30-day supply or $10 for a 90-day supply — and you don’t need a Walmart+ membership to use it. You can walk into any Walmart pharmacy and pay $4 for a covered generic without any membership at all. This changes the calculation significantly: for seniors on one or two generic medications, Walmart’s $4 list without any membership beats both Amazon’s RxPass and standard pharmacy pricing. For seniors on several generics, Amazon’s $5/month RxPass is harder to beat on math alone. Both memberships also offer prescription discounts at other pharmacies through their respective discount programs (Amazon Prime Rx at 60,000+ pharmacies; Walmart+ Rx at Walmart locations).
• 5
  Which membership saves more on gas? Walmart+ wins on gas — 10 cents off per gallon at 13,000+ stations including Walmart, Murphy USA, Exxon, and Mobil · Amazon Prime also gives 10 cents off per gallon but at only 7,500 participating stations (bp, Amoco, ampm) · Walmart+ also gets Sam’s Club fuel center pricing even without a Sam’s Club membership

  Both memberships offer the same headline discount — 10 cents per gallon — but the coverage gap is significant. Walmart+ works at over 13,000 fuel stations across the Walmart, Murphy USA, Exxon, and Mobil networks. Amazon Prime’s gas discount applies at roughly 7,500 bp, Amoco, and ampm stations. In most of the country, the Walmart+ gas network is broader and more accessible, particularly in suburban and rural areas where Murphy USA and Walmart fuel centers are common. There’s also a bonus feature: Walmart+ members get access to Sam’s Club fuel center pricing — without holding a Sam’s Club membership — which is often among the lowest gas prices in a given area. On a 15-gallon fill-up, 10 cents off saves $1.50. Fill up twice a week and that’s $156 per year — more than the cost of the Walmart+ annual membership on its own.
• 6
  I use a phone but not a computer much — which is easier to navigate? Walmart+ is generally simpler to use — fewer service layers, in-store human help available, Scan & Go app for easy checkout · Amazon Prime has more features overall but a steeper learning curve · Both have apps rated well in major app stores

  Technology complexity is a real factor for seniors evaluating these memberships, and the two services have genuinely different profiles. Walmart+ is built around a simpler core: grocery delivery, gas discount, in-store Scan & Go checkout (scan items with your phone as you shop, skip the checkout line), and free streaming via Paramount+ or Peacock. The number of features to learn is manageable, and — crucially — if you encounter a problem, you can drive to your nearest Walmart and speak to a customer service representative in person. Amazon Prime’s value comes from the breadth of its ecosystem: fast shipping, Prime Video, Amazon Music, free Grubhub+ food delivery, RxPass, One Medical telehealth, and more. Each feature is useful; the combined package is genuinely impressive. But navigating all of it through an app or website takes more initial effort to learn, and customer service is phone- and chat-based without walk-in options. For someone who mostly wants grocery delivery and occasional fast shipping, Walmart+ requires less learning. For someone comfortable with apps who wants entertainment, telehealth, and broad shipping access, Amazon’s depth earns its complexity.
• 7
  Is it worth getting both memberships? For many seniors: yes — combined cost at discounted rates can be as low as $110–$140/year total · Use Walmart+ for grocery delivery and gas · Use Amazon Prime for fast shipping, entertainment, and RxPass if on multiple generics · Test both with free trials before committing to any fee

  About 67% of U.S. consumers now hold a Prime membership, and a growing number are adding Walmart+ alongside it because the two services don’t actually overlap much. Walmart+ fills the grocery delivery and local retail gap; Amazon Prime fills the everything-else-online-shipping and entertainment gap. The math at discounted rates is approachable: if you qualify for Prime Access at $6.99/month ($83.88/year) and use the AARP discount on Walmart+ (potential 40% off, bringing it to roughly $59/year), the combined annual cost is approximately $143 — barely more than standard Prime alone. Whether the combination pays for itself depends on how you shop. For a senior who gets grocery delivery from Walmart twice a month (saving $10–$15 in delivery fees each time), uses the gas discount weekly, and fills multiple generic prescriptions through RxPass, the math can return $400–$600+ in annual savings on a combined $140 membership investment. Use both free 30-day trials — test each for a month, track what you actually use, and let real behavior (not aspirations) make the decision.

Current as of mid-2026. Individual perks may change — always verify directly before joining.

Questions about your membership? Walmart customer service is available in-store — find your nearest location below. Use the buttons to locate Walmart stores, pharmacies, gas stations, and Amazon pickup/return points near you.