Walmart launching Amazon Prime competitor Walmart Plus later this month

Walmart
Walmart (Image credit: Walmart)

What you need to know

  • Walmart+ will launch later this month at $98 per year.
  • Perks included with membership will be same-day grocery delivery, discounts at Walmart gas stations, and early access to deals, according to Vox's sources.
  • Walmart+ was originally slated to launch back in the spring but was apparently pushed back due to the pandemic.

There are few subscriptions that offer as many perks under one banner as Amazon Prime, which includes everything from free two-day (or same-day when available) shipping and grocery delivery to the ever-growing Prime Video library to free photo backups and beyond. This ubiquity has made it hard for other retailers to compete with the goliath known as Amazon, but Walmart looks ready to give it another shot with Walmart Plus.

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According to a report by Vox, Walmart+ will be launching later this month at $98 a year for a litany of benefits similar to Prime: free same-day delivery for grocery and general purchases and early access to deals. Walmart will also be offering a discount on gas when shopping at Walmart's gas stations.

Walmart's had record sales since the pandemic began, which is little surprise considering Walmart has one of the easiest grocery pickup systems among national grocery chains. The launch also comes at a time when confidence in Amazon is slipping thanks to the extended shipping times seen in many areas hardest-hit by the pandemic, where Amazon had been focusing on essential items.

It's still not clear if the service will be launching nationally or starting as with a regional test market first, but it will be tempting for the grocery delivery alone. Would you sign up for Walmart+ if it launched where you live?

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Ara Wagoner

Ara Wagoner was a staff writer at Android Central. She themes phones and pokes YouTube Music with a stick. When she's not writing about cases, Chromebooks, or customization, she's wandering around Walt Disney World. If you see her without headphones, RUN. You can follow her on Twitter at @arawagco.