With Black Friday 2024 just around the corner, you may be considering whether signing up for Walmart Plus is a smart move before the big sales start. Walmart Plus, a subscription service similar to Amazon Prime, offers several perks, and these benefits might make a significant difference during the holiday shopping rush... but it may not be for everyone. Let's take a look at Walmart Plus, its features, and why it could be beneficial to sign up ahead of Black Friday—especially since there will likely be a 50% off deal on an annual membership sometime in early in November.

What is Walmart Plus?

Walmart Plus is Walmart’s membership program, designed to offer shoppers convenience and savings across multiple areas. Launched in 2020, the service provides benefits both in-store and online, including free delivery, discounts on fuel, and access to exclusive deals. While it costs $98 per year or $12.95 per month, Walmart typically runs promotions—such as a 50% discount on an annual membership—ahead of major shopping events like Black Friday. This brings the yearly cost down to just $49, a significant saving for those thinking about joining.

Key Walmart Plus Features

Here’s a breakdown of Walmart Plus benefits and how they might be useful during Black Friday 2024 and beyond:

• Exclusive Access to Deals: Walmart Plus members often receive early access to special sales. Last year, Walmart offered exclusive "members-only" deals during Black Friday events, giving Walmart Plus subscribers a 3-hour head start on grabbing popular items like gaming consoles, televisions, and other electronics before they sold out.

• Free Shipping (No Minimum): One of the most attractive features of Walmart Plus is free shipping on all orders with no minimum purchase required. This is particularly useful during Black Friday, as it allows you to grab smaller deals without worrying about extra shipping costs. Unlike standard online orders, which often require a $35 minimum for free shipping, Walmart Plus members avoid this threshold entirely.

• Free Same-Day Delivery: Walmart Plus offers free same-day delivery on groceries and other eligible items from your local store. For those looking to stock up on groceries or snag local deals without heading to the store, this feature can save both time and money. This perk extends to non-grocery items during Black Friday, which could make it easier to secure in-demand items like electronics and toys without dealing with in-store crowds.

• Member Prices on Fuel: Walmart Plus members receive up to 10 cents per gallon off at more than 14,000 gas stations, including Walmart, Murphy USA, and Sam's Club stations. If you plan on traveling during the holiday season or driving from store to store on Black Friday, this fuel discount can quickly add up, helping you save money on the go.

• Mobile Scan & Go: For those who prefer shopping in-store, Walmart Plus offers the Scan & Go feature, which allows members to scan their items with their phone while shopping. This helps avoid long checkout lines—especially useful during busy Black Friday shopping hours. Once you’re done shopping, you can quickly pay via the Walmart app and be on your way.

Comparison: Walmart Plus vs. Other Retail Memberships

To help decide whether Walmart Plus is worth it, it’s useful to compare it to other subscription services:

• Walmart Plus vs. Amazon Prime: Amazon Prime offers similar benefits, including free shipping, streaming services, and exclusive access to deals. However, Walmart Plus focuses more on in-store benefits like grocery delivery and fuel discounts. While Prime costs more annually at $139, it includes additional perks like Prime Video. If you frequently shop in-store at Walmart and want groceries delivered, Walmart Plus may be the better choice.

• Walmart Plus vs. Target Circle: Target Circle is a free loyalty program offering basic perks like 1% back on purchases and personalized deals. However, it doesn’t provide the extensive benefits of Walmart Plus, such as free delivery or fuel discounts.

Is Walmart Plus Worth It?

Whether Walmart Plus is worth it depends on your shopping habits and how much you use the benefits:

• Frequent Walmart Shoppers: If you regularly shop at Walmart—especially for groceries—the free same-day delivery and shipping benefits can save you both time and money. The membership effectively pays for itself if you make regular small orders online, eliminating shipping fees.

• Black Friday Enthusiasts: If you’re planning on shopping heavily during Black Friday, early access to deals and free shipping could give you an advantage over non-members. Considering the 50% off promotion, it may be worth signing up just for the holiday season just to make sure the deal you want to pick up doesn't sell out before you have a chance to buy it.

• Fuel Discounts: For those who drive often or plan holiday road trips, the fuel discount offers another way to recoup the cost of the membership.

Hope this isn't a big repeat, but I tried searching for this question and didn't find an answer. Too many posts about Walmart in general, I suppose.

I just signed up for a month of Walmart Plus ($12.95) because it was kind of a no brainer for a one time thing. I was ordering groceries for delivery anyway (ran out of time today) and I received a $10 promo code, free delivery (7.95), and a "premium" delivery slot (6pm instead of 8pm). I figured I saved myself $5. Not a big deal and there is a note on my calendar to cancel.

Do any of you guys actually use Walmart Plus? Do you like it? Do you find that it's a good value and you actually use it? Is the order picking usually fairly accurate? Are there any "hidden" benefits other than the free delivery?

Also, I was somewhat confused about the gas discount thing. The wording was kind of confusing. Is that $0.10 off at Walmart but regular price at Sam's? I already have a Sam's membership and typically fill up there anyway. Don't know if I would really be gaining anything there.