How to save more with Walmart+ this holiday season

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If you’re an avid Walmart shopper, you’ll probably want to consider signing up for Walmart+. We know that having to sign up for yet another membership service sounds like a pain, but it may be worth it for you (don’t worry, we’ll tell you why). That’s especially true now that Walmart’s decided to compete with Amazon Prime Day with its very own Holiday Deals event, beginning on October 8.

Although the Holiday Deals event is open to all customers, Walmart+ members will get early access and can start shopping 12 hours earlier than non-members. (Walmart+ members also get early access to Walmart’s Black Friday sales.)

Below, we’ll explain what it is, what you’ll get out of it, and how to sign up. You’ll also find a list of anticipated deals from the holiday sale.

What is Walmart+?

Walmart+ is the big-box retailer’s premier membership program that gets you exclusive benefits, both online and in-store. These include perks like free and fast shipping, early sale access, mobile scan & go at Walmart stores, and lots more. Many compare it to Amazon Prime, though it’s still a bit different.

What are the perks?

The whole reason for signing up for Walmart+ is those sweet perks. Here’s what you’ll get when you become a member:

• Unlimited free delivery: All $35+ orders from Walmart stores will be delivered free of charge.

• Fast shipping: Next-day and two-day shipping is free for Walmart+ members with no minimum required.

• Easy returns: If you need to return something, Walmart will pick it up for you. You won’t need to print any labels or repackage any products.

• Savings on fuel: Walmart+ members save 10 cents per gallon at participating fueling stations like Exxon, Mobil, Walmart, Sam’s Club, and more.

• Auto care: Visit any Walmart Auto Care center for free flat tire repair and road hazard warranty.

• Mobile scan & go: Shopping at a physical Walmart location? Use your smartphone to scan and pay for your items to make the checkout process faster.

• Paramount+ Essential (ad-supported) Plan subscription: Gain access to Paramount+ for no additional fee and enjoy the catalog of movies and TV shows.

• Early access: Members will get first dibs on special product releases and big sale events, including Black Friday.

• Walmart+ travel: Enjoy up to 5% in Walmart Cash when booking hotels, car rentals, tours, and more with Expedia, and up to 2% on flights.

• Burger King savings: Treat yourself to 25% off Burger King every day and a free Whopper with any purchase every three months.

Walmart frequently treats its members to exclusive limited-time perks, adding even more value to your Walmart+ membership. Previous examples include free Apple Music and YouTube Premium.

How much does Walmart+ cost?

A Walmart+ membership costs $98 annually or $12.95 monthly. New members can also redeem a 30-day free trial to test the waters before fully committing, but it has limited benefits, and only some of these offers will be available.

Walmart also offers a Walmart+ Assist membership, a more affordable option available to qualifying government aid recipients of SNAP, WIC, Medicaid, and more. It’s $6.47 per month or $49 per year.

How do you sign up?

Signing up with Walmart+ couldn’t be any easier. Here’s how to get started:

1. Go to the Walmart+ page. Here, you’ll find information on what the service is, what perks you’ll get, and pricing.

2. Click on “Start your free 30-day trial.” (Yes, you get your first month totally free! A recurring billing period will start after the trial ends.)

3. Fill out your personal and payment information for billing and shipping purposes.

4. That’s literally it. You’re now a Walmart+ member, and you can start enjoying your perks immediately!

What is Walmart’s holiday sale?

Walmart’s first-ever Holiday Deals sales event starts on October 8 at 12 p.m. ET, but Walmart+ members can browse the sale at midnight ET on October 8th. In-store savings kick in on October 9, and the deals will run through October 13. You don’t need a Walmart+ membership to shop the sale, but signing up does guarantee early access.

Here are a few examples of what you can expect to find during the sale:

Walmart+ or Amazon Prime?

Though similar, Walmart+ and Amazon Prime still have some pretty big differences between them, and we could make a case for having both. Both services include free and fast shipping benefits, grocery delivery, and access to select streaming services, to name a few shared perks. But, if you had to pick one, we’d say the answer lies in just one question: Do you plan on shopping in-store? If yes, go for Walmart+, but if you think you’ll only be shopping online, Amazon Prime will be your best bet. (One more note to consider: Amazon Prime costs about $40 more annually than Walmart+.)

Both memberships also have special shopping events, like Amazon’s flagship Prime Day, and Walmart’s Walmart+ Week. During Prime Day, the focus is on deals across products, but Walmart+ Week centers extra savings on offers and services exclusive to its members.