Amazon vs Walmart

Updated November 2026 · AppBreakup editorial

Amazon

The world's largest online store, selling almost everything with fast Prime delivery.

Free plan + paid

Visit Amazon Amazon profile

Walmart

US retailer's online store and app for groceries, household goods, electronics and pickup or delivery.

Free plan + paid

Visit Walmart Walmart profile

The short answer

Amazon and Walmart are the two biggest US online stores, each with a paid membership for free delivery. Amazon has the larger selection, operates in many countries, and Prime bundles video, music and photo storage. Walmart is stronger on groceries and store pickup, and Walmart+ costs less per year. Pick Amazon for range and Prime extras; pick Walmart for groceries, pickup and a cheaper membership.

Amazon or Walmart: our take

Both stores sell almost everything online, from their own stock and from third-party marketplace sellers, and both are free to shop. The difference shows up in what you buy most and how you want it delivered. Amazon has the widest selection of almost any online store and separate stores in many countries. Walmart.com is the online side of the largest US retailer, and it is strongest on groceries and household basics, with same-day delivery or pickup from thousands of US stores.

The memberships are the main point of comparison. Amazon Prime starts at $14.99 a month or $139 a year, with a 30-day free trial, $7.49 a month for young adults and $6.99 a month for eligible government assistance recipients. It adds fast free shipping on eligible items plus Prime Video, music and unlimited photo storage. Walmart+ costs $98 per year, with a 30-day trial for $1 and a $49 per year student price. It includes free shipping without a minimum on Walmart-sold items, fuel discounts and a choice of streaming service, but free grocery delivery needs a $35 minimum.

Both share a weakness: mixing their own stock with marketplace sellers makes quality, shipping and returns uneven. Amazon's search results are also crowded with sponsored listings and lookalike brands. Amazon is known for easy returns on items it sells or ships; Walmart lets you return in person at its stores. Walmart.com and Walmart+ serve only US customers, while Amazon's Prime price differs by country.

US households whose big weekly spend is groceries and essentials, who like picking up orders at a nearby store, or who want a cheaper membership will get more from Walmart. Shoppers who want the broadest range, live outside the US, or will actually use Prime Video and the other bundled perks are better served by Amazon.

Choose Amazon if…

Shoppers who want the widest selection and fast delivery, especially Prime members
Largest selection of almost any online store
Fast free delivery on eligible items with Prime

Choose Walmart if…

US households who want low-price groceries and essentials delivered or ready for pickup
Groceries and general merchandise in one order, with store pickup
Walmart+ costs less per year than Amazon Prime

What is Amazon?

Amazon is the biggest online retailer in the US and many other countries, with separate stores such as amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.de and amazon.in. It sells almost every category of goods, from books, where it started, to electronics, groceries, clothing, household supplies and car parts, both from its own stock and from a large marketplace of third-party sellers, many of whom use Amazon's warehouses and delivery network. Shopping is free; Prime is the paid membership that adds fast free shipping on eligible items, Prime Video, music, photo storage and other perks, and its price differs by country. Amazon is known for quick delivery, an easy return process on most items and a very large review base. Downsides include search results crowded with sponsored listings and lookalike products, and uneven quality from some marketplace sellers. It runs on the web and in Android and iOS apps.

What is Walmart?

Walmart.com and the Walmart app are the online side of the largest retailer in the US. You can order groceries and household basics for same-day delivery or store pickup, or have general merchandise shipped, from TVs and toys to clothing and furniture. Alongside Walmart's own stock there is a third-party marketplace, so some listings come from outside sellers with their own shipping and return terms. Shopping is free; the optional Walmart+ membership adds free grocery delivery above an order minimum, free shipping without a minimum on Walmart-sold items, fuel discounts and a choice of streaming service, and it is the most direct alternative to Amazon Prime. Discounted Walmart+ plans exist for students and people on government assistance. It works on the web and in Android and iOS apps; the US store and Walmart+ serve US customers, while Walmart runs separate sites in other countries.

Side by side

Attribute	Amazon	Walmart
Pricing	Free plan + paid	Free plan + paid
Open source	No	No
Self-hostable	No	No
Platforms	Web, Android, iOS	Web, Android, iOS
Best for	Shoppers who want the widest selection and fast delivery, especially Prime members	US households who want low-price groceries and essentials delivered or ready for pickup
Status	Active	Active

Verified facts, compared

Facts both apps publish, checked on each vendor's own site.

Fact	Amazon	Walmart
Starting price	$14.99 a month (Prime Monthly)	$98 a year (Walmart+ annual)
Free trial	30 days	30 days for $1