*amex platinum* has a metric ton of perks – so many, in fact, keeping track of them can feel like a full-time job. But if there’s one benefit that gets dismissive laughs, it’s the monthly credit to cover the cost of a Walmart+ subscription. Yes, really: A Walmart tie-in on a premium travel credit card.
Yet it’s become one of my favorite (and frequently used) benefits on my own Platinum Card. The $12.95 a month you save on Walmart+ may not cover much of the Platinum Card’s hefty $695 annual fee (see rates & fees). But after putting aside my skepticism, complimentary Walmart+ has saved me a ton of money – and unlike many of the other “money-saving” credits on the card, it doesn’t require jumping through a bunch of hoops to use.
Think of it as the big box store’s version of Amazon Prime, and maybe you’ll feel the same way I do. With free same-day delivery on groceries and in-store items (with a $35 order minimum) and uncapped free shipping on other items (including those sold by third-party retailers through walmart.com), you can get nearly anything you want delivered right to your door for free. Plus, it opens the door to some additional benefits like 24/7 telehealth for your pets, Paramount+, discounted gas, and more.
Read on to see why I’m re-evaluating Walmart+ as one of the most underrated (and valuable) perks of holding the Amex Platinum Card … seriously.
A Brief Overview of Walmart+
Here’s a hypothetical question for you: What if American Express gave Platinum cardholders a free Amazon Prime membership? I don’t think any of us would be laughing then.
But that’s the reality. Walmart+ is a near-carbon copy of Amazon Prime, offering free shipping on the thousands (or maybe millions?) of items available on walmart.com – including purchases made with many third-party sellers. Plus, that membership unlocks a handful of additional partnerships and discounts.
Like the rest of you, I mostly overlooked this Walmart+ benefit for years … simply because it had Walmart in the name. While I’m definitely not above shopping at a big-box retailer like Walmart, I try to spend my money with local businesses first.
After finally giving in and giving Walmart+ a serious try, it has proven invaluable. Here are some of my favorite perks.
Fast, Free Shipping (Plus, Local Delivery)
This is the marquee benefit of Walmart+ and what puts it nearly on par with Amazon Prime. But what I like most is that includes same-day delivery from local stores – including “express delivery” for a moderate up-charge.
Last month, I found myself in a pinch: I needed some over-the-counter medication and other supplies to help care for a sick kid. Leaving the house wasn’t really an option, so I fired up the Walmart app and added what I needed to my cart and chose the express delivery option.
Thirty-six minutes later, my order was on my doorstep.
I was impressed. That was way faster than driving to the store, grabbing the items myself, and heading back home – and leaving a sick kid behind, too.
Now, this benefit isn’t exactly unique to Walmart+ – Amazon also offers same-day delivery in select areas. But Walmart’s brick-and-mortar footprint makes it a far more likely option for much of the country. With so many stores in towns big and small, getting something delivered to your doorstep (in a hurry) is a huge benefit … and one that has won me over.
I’ve been actively using Walmart+ for about four months. In that short span, Walmart says I’ve saved just over $142 – and that’s not even counting the $12.95 a month I’m not paying for the membership itself!
Paramount+ Essential
I need another streaming service like I need a hole in my head.
But since a Paramount+ Essential plan is included for “free” with Walmart+, I may as well take advantage of it. And at a regular cost of $7.99 per month, it’s a fairly valuable add-on for anyone who’d otherwise be paying for it outright.
Here’s what you get with Paramount+ Essential:
- Stream TV shows from channels including BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures, and the Smithsonian Channel, including Paramount Plus original series like “Special Ops: Lioness” and “Tulsa King”
- Hundreds of popular movies, including Paramount Plus originals
- Live stream of CBS News (but not your local CBS News channel)
- Live stream all CBS sports events including football, golf, soccer, and more
- Limited ads
As a parent with two young kids, having Nickelodeon on demand has been a real lifesaver.
Save More Walmart Cash
Walmart Cash is a kickback you get when purchasing certain items from Walmart, kind of like a rebate. While much of the Walmart Cash you can earn is available to everyone, some of the biggest offers are exclusive to Walmart+ members.
For example, you can currently earn an additional $100 Walmart Cash when booking a hotel, car rental, or vacation package of $500 or more through Walmart+ Travel. While we generally recommend avoiding online travel agencies (OTAs) like Walmart+ Travel, getting a 20% discount could certainly make it worth some of the risks that come with booking through a third-party.
Looking at hotels in a vacation hotspot like Tulum, I could earn $161 in Walmart Cash by booking the Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya – a property I’d love to return to – through Walmart+ Travel.
Comparing the price directly with Hilton, Walmart+ Travel is charging about $6 more for the exact same room. Ordinarily, this would make booking direct even more of a no-brainer, but given that I’d earn $161 in Walmart Cash, I might consider it.
Since you can use Walmart Cash online or in-store for a future purchase – or even cash it out for real money at any Walmart MoneyCenter – this is solid.
Flexible Return Options
Sometimes, online shopping just doesn’t work out and the best option is to get your money back. With Walmart+, returns are easy.
For some, the easiest option will be simply taking their unwanted items directly back to a Walmart store. You can even begin the return process online or in the app ahead of time and then just show the return details to a Walmart rep for scanning. It’s virtually identical to how most Amazon Prime members handle returns.
But you can also drop your item off at a FedEx office location, mail it back, or, my personal favorite, schedule a pick up.
With Walmart’s “Return from home” option, you can schedule a free pick up for eligible returns online or via app and have a delivery driver come collect the item right from your house. You don’t even need to worry about repackaging your item or printing a shipping label.
It couldn’t be easier.
Why It’s One of The Amex Platinum’s Best Perks
Maybe you’re still not sold on Walmart+ being one of the Amex Platinum’s best perks. And truthfully, it might not be – at least not for everyone.
But the real reason I think Walmart+ is so valuable has nothing to do with money. Instead, it’s all about convenience and the time it’s saved me.
And unlike many of the other credits that come with Amex cards, there’s no trick to using this one.
Once you’ve enrolled in the benefit in your Amex account and signed up with Walmart+, you’re done. You don’t need to remember to use it month-in and month-out, like you do with the Amex Platinum’s monthly Uber Cash. Or make sure your purchase qualifies, like the Amex airline fee credits. It’s really as straightforward as it seems.
And best of all, the service keeps getting better without it costing me an extra dime. In just the last year, we saw Walmart+ add a new discount (and free whoppers) at Burger King, as well as a partnership with Pawp for 24/7 telehealth for your pets.
Are free Whoppers enough for me to declare this the Amex Platinum’s best benefit? Hardly. But it is nice to see some additional benefits added to the service without driving up the price.
I’m sure the price of Walmart+ will increase eventually. But so long as Amex continues offering this benefit to cardholders, I don’t envision that higher cost getting passed on to me. That alone is a stark contrast to Amex’s own playbook: Adding new perks while increasing annual fees.
One final thing that I appreciate about this Walmart+ benefit is that you can often stack them with Amex Offers.
If you haven’t used Amex Offers before, think of them like digital coupons – add one to your Amex card, make an eligible purchase, and get something back. Because Amex and Walmart have existing ties, we often see offers like this one: 25% back on walmart.com purchases, to earn up to $25 back.
Since Amex Offers are often targeted and changing all the time, there’s no telling if we’ll continue to see promotions like this. But when they are, it just adds to the cost savings of the service for Amex cardholders.
Bottom Line
Is Walmart+ one of the Amex Platinum’s best travel perks? It is not. Is it one of its best perks, period? Maybe not … but after writing off this benefit as a joke for years, I’m starting to see its value.
With money- and time-saving benefits like fast free shipping, a complimentary Paramount+ Essentials plan, and yes, even free Burger King, there’s a lot of value in Walmart+. I save $12.95 a month by using my Amex Platinum Card to sign up for Walmart+, which in turn truly saves me even more money every month.
I can’t say that about many other Amex card benefits.
