Walmart launched a joint annual membership combining Walmart+ and Sam’s Club Plus for $120, undercutting individual subscription costs by nearly $100 as the retail giant targets inflation-weary shoppers.
The retail giant rolled out the combined subscription on Tuesday, creating an all-in-one package that grants access to Sam’s Club wholesale warehouses, free delivery from both store chains, gas station savings, and streaming options from Peacock or Paramount+, according to CNBC. The offering is sold exclusively as an annual plan with no monthly payment choice or trial period available, as Yahoo Finance reported.
How the $120 Bundle Compares to Buying Memberships Separately
For shoppers who previously purchased both services independently, the joint price marks a substantial discount. Buying a standard Walmart+ plan costs $98 plus tax per year—or $12.95 plus tax per month—while a standalone Sam’s Club Plus membership runs $120 annually, according to Yahoo Finance. A basic club membership costs $60.
Current subscribers can adjust their accounts. Annual Walmart+ members can add Sam’s Club Plus for an extra $22 per year, whereas existing Sam’s Club Plus members can activate Walmart+ at no extra charge, Fox Business noted. Customers who already maintain active accounts with both entities can link their profiles to receive the unified rate.
For $120 a year, we’re raising expectations for what a membership can deliver: more money in their pockets and more time to call their own.
John Furner, CEO of Walmart
Rival Subscriptions Across the Retail Landscape
The pricing strategy places Walmart alongside competitors. Amazon Prime costs $140 per year, while Target Circle 360 runs $4.99 per month or $49 annually, figures compiled by Yahoo Finance show. Warehouse rivals maintain their own distinct fee structures: a standard Costco membership is $65 a year, with executive tiers running $130, while BJ’s Wholesale Club charges $60 annually or $120 for its Club+ option.
Analyst estimates place membership totals across the competing ecosystems at scale. Mizuho estimates that Walmart operates with roughly 25 million Walmart Plus subscribers and 30 million Sam’s Club members, with a membership overlap of about 10%, Business Insider reported. Globally, Costco accounts for more than 150 million cardholders, while Amazon Prime is estimated to have more than 220 million subscribers.
Economic Pressures and Retail Strategy Driving the Launch
The timing aligns with broader consumer financial strain. Inflation climbed 3.7 percent in September from a year earlier, Fox Business reported. After five years of elevated inflation, polling cited by CBS News indicates that nine in 10 Americans view prices as the dominant factor shaping their economic outlook.
Bank of America analyst Christopher Nardone noted in a recent research note that Walmart+ members spend approximately four times more than non-members, making subscriber retention a vital growth engine, according to Yahoo Finance. Additionally, employees at both Walmart and Sam’s Club in the United States will receive the combined membership as part of their benefits, 12OnYourSide reported.
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