Amazon, Best Buy, Target, and Walmart membership programs compared

Where Amazon Prime dared to go starting almost two decades ago, other big retailers with online presences have followed. Now consumers have more options than ever when it comes to premium shopping experiences.

Here’s a look at the programs on offer from four big retailers: Amazon Prime, My BestBuy, Target Circle, and Walmart+. There’s a little something for everyone, from members-only savings to expedited shipping and a whole lot more—all at various yearly price points.

Amazon Prime: $15/month or $139/year

Amazon Prime, the program that started it all, is coming up on its 19th year. Feel old yet? It’s the most expensive of the expedited shipping options on our list, but Prime makes a case for itself by throwing the kitchen sink at members (in a good way).

Benefits include:

• Same-day, one-day, or two-day shipping on most items
• Discounts at Amazon-owned grocery stores
• Free movies, TV shows, music streaming, video games, and e-books (read more here)
• Members-only deals
• Prescription savings
• Unlimited photo storage

Though $139 is quite a jump from the original $79 membership fee way back in 2005, there are a lot more perks nowadays. If you use most or all of them, you can justify the yearly outlay.

My Best Buy: Free, $50/year, or $180/year

The only program on our list with multiple membership tiers, My Best Buy offers standard, Plus, and Total plans for free, $50 per year, or $180 per year, respectively.

The free tier, simply called My Best Buy, offers free standard shipping. That’s it—pretty straightforward.

Upgrade to My Best Buy Plus for $50 per year and you get:

• Free two-day shipping
• Members-only pricing and sales events
• A 60-day return window on most products

Pony up for My Best Buy Total for $180 per year and you get everything in Plus, along with:

• Protection plans on purchased products, including AppleCare+, for up to two years
• Free tech support, available around the clock
• VIP member support for purchases
• 20% off labor costs for repairs

If you’re into extended warranties and you think you’ll leverage Best Buy’s support options, $180 per year isn’t insanely unreasonable. Most people should do fine with the $50 option, if only for the faster shipping and longer return windows, though.

Target Circle: Free

The only program you can’t pay for, Target Circle is a no-brainer if you frequent this retailer.

Joining gets you the following perks:

• 1% cash back on Target purchases
• Members-only deals and discounts
• 5% off a single purchase on your birthday
• Extended trials on Apple services

So nothing too crazy but hey, free is free, and the cash-back and birthday savings are a nice touch.

Walmart+: $13/month or $98/year

Walmart really wants to convert some Amazon customers, and its Walmart+ membership makes a decent argument in terms of cost.

There’s a lot to like, including:

• Members-only deals and early releases
• Free store-to-home delivery when spending $35 or more
• Free shipping when shopping online
• 10 cents off per gallon at more than 14,000 gas stations
• Free Paramount+ Essential streaming membership
• Up to 5% cash back on travel bookings

There are some other goodies thrown in as well, like free returns and mobile checkout in stores.

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