Walmart Launches Walmart+ Membership Program Offering Free Delivery, Fuel Discounts And More

Walmart (WMT) is rolling out its new Walmart+ membership program on Sept. 15 as it looks to take on rival Amazon Prime.

The Walmart+ program offers in-store and online benefits, which the retail giant said would “save customers money and time.”

Through Walmart+, members will receive unlimited free delivery of more than 160,000 items from 2,700 stores that offer delivery in addition to fuel discounts and access to shopping tools.

The program costs $98 a year or $12.95 a month and includes a 15-day free trial period. Amazon Prime costs $119.00 a year and $12.99 a month with a 30-day trial period.

The free-delivery option through Walmart+ takes the place of Walmart’s Delivery Unlimited program that also offered an unlimited number of deliveries for a yearly or monthly fee. Members of the Delivery Unlimited program will automatically become Walmart+ members.

Walmart+ will be usable in 4,700 stores. There, customers can use its Scan & Go feature through the app to scan their orders as they shop and pay for their purchases using Walmart Pay.

Fuel discounts include 5 cents a gallon savings at nearly 2,000 Walmart, Murphy USA, and Murphy Express fuel stations. Walmart said it plans to add Sam’s Club fuel stations to the program soon.

Members of Walmart+ will also be able to continue using free-curbside pickup, next-day delivery, and two-day delivery options. Customers that are not members of Walmart+ can continue to pay per delivery as was previously allowed.

“Life feels more complicated than ever. Walmart+ is designed to make it easier – giving customers an option to not have to sacrifice on cost or convenience,” Janey Whiteside, chief customer officer at Walmart, said in a statement. “We know shopping should fit customers’ needs, not the other way around. We have always been a champion for the right item at the right price, but now it’s more than that. We have the right shopping solutions at the right time, too.”

Walmart said it plans to add more benefits for Walmart+ members in the future.

Shares of Walmart were trading at $142.36 as of 9:46 a.m. EDT, up $3.51 or 2.53%.