Which Is Cheaper: Walmart Grocery Delivery or Amazon Fresh? A Complete Cost Comparison

What's In This Article

• Quick Answer: Walmart vs Amazon Fresh Price Comparison
• Detailed Delivery Fee Breakdown
• Membership Costs Explained
• Product Pricing Analysis
• Minimum Order Requirements
• Tipping Policies
• Discount Opportunities
• Why Bargain Boxed Beats Both Options
• FAQs About Online Grocery Delivery Services

Quick Answer: Walmart Grocery Delivery vs Amazon Fresh

If you're looking for the most affordable grocery delivery service between Walmart and Amazon Fresh, Walmart edges out Amazon Fresh in most scenarios with lower delivery fees and no required membership for delivery access. However, both services have drawbacks including membership requirements, higher product prices, and additional fees that make Bargain Boxed the superior choice for budget-conscious shoppers seeking the absolute best value without commitments.

Walmart Grocery Delivery: Cost Breakdown

Delivery Fees

Walmart grocery delivery fees typically range from $7.95 to $9.95 per order, depending on delivery time slots and demand. Peak delivery times often incur higher fees, while off-peak hours may qualify for slight discounts.

For those who order frequently, Walmart offers Walmart+ membership which includes unlimited free deliveries for orders over $35. This can represent significant savings for regular customers who place multiple orders per month.

Product Pricing

One advantage Walmart maintains is consistent pricing between their in-store and online offerings. Unlike some competitors, Walmart doesn't mark up grocery prices for delivery orders, meaning you pay the same prices you would in-store, plus delivery fees.

This transparency makes Walmart a relatively straightforward option for budget calculations, though their base prices are still higher than what we offer at Bargain Boxed for comparable items.

Amazon Fresh: Cost Analysis

Delivery Fees

Amazon Fresh is exclusively available to Amazon Prime members, making the $139 annual Prime membership fee ($14.99 monthly) a mandatory cost factor when evaluating this service. Beyond this membership requirement, delivery fees vary based on order total:

• Orders under $35: $9.99 delivery fee
• Orders between $35-$50: $6.99 delivery fee
• Orders over $50: Free delivery for Prime members

However, these threshold requirements can lead to unnecessary purchases just to avoid delivery fees, ultimately increasing your total grocery spending.

Product Pricing

Amazon Fresh prices tend to be higher than both Walmart and certainly Bargain Boxed prices. Our analysis found that identical grocery baskets cost approximately 10-15% more on Amazon Fresh compared to Walmart, with both significantly more expensive than Bargain Boxed alternatives.

Additionally, Amazon Fresh pricing fluctuates more frequently, making budget planning more challenging for regular shoppers.

Hidden Costs: What Both Services Don't Advertise

Tipping Expectations

Both Walmart and Amazon Fresh have tipping systems built into their checkout process. While technically optional, the social expectation to tip delivery drivers adds another 10-20% to your final cost that isn't reflected in the advertised pricing.

Substitution Markups

When items are unavailable, both services may substitute with higher-priced alternatives. While you can refuse these substitutions, this often means receiving incomplete orders and potentially needing to place additional orders, incurring more delivery fees.

Price Fluctuations

Both services implement dynamic pricing that can change daily or even hourly based on demand, particularly for fresh produce and meat. This inconsistency makes it difficult to accurately budget for grocery expenses when using either service.

Membership Value Assessment

Walmart+ costs $98 annually or $12.95 monthly and includes:

• Unlimited free grocery deliveries (for orders over $35)
• Free shipping on Walmart.com orders
• Fuel discounts
• Scan & Go in-store shopping

Amazon Prime costs $139 annually or $14.99 monthly and includes:

• Access to Amazon Fresh (with additional delivery fees for smaller orders)
• Free shipping on Amazon.com orders
• Prime Video streaming
• Prime Music
• Other digital benefits

For purely grocery delivery purposes, Walmart+ offers better value, especially for frequent shoppers. However, both membership costs represent an expense that budget-conscious shoppers can entirely avoid by shopping with Bargain Boxed instead.

Why Bargain Boxed Offers Superior Value

While comparing Walmart and Amazon Fresh is useful, neither can match the exceptional value offered by Bargain Boxed. Here at Bargain Boxed, we maintain significantly lower prices through our unique business model:

• No membership fees ever
• Direct relationships with manufacturers and distributors
• Selling quality products that might be approaching or slightly past best by dates (but still perfectly good when properly stored)
• Streamlined operations without expensive storefronts
• No return processing costs (all sales final policy keeps prices lower)
• Bulk purchasing opportunities

Our commitment to passing savings directly to customers means grocery budgets stretch considerably further with Bargain Boxed compared to either Walmart or Amazon Fresh.

Budget Shopping Strategy: Making the Most of Each Service

For those who occasionally need same-day delivery for fresh items, using Walmart for those specific needs while purchasing shelf-stable goods and household products from Bargain Boxed represents the optimal strategy for maximizing savings.

We recommend building your pantry essentials through Bargain Boxed, where savings on shelf-stable items can exceed 50% compared to Walmart or Amazon Fresh prices. These products remain perfectly good well beyond their best by dates when stored properly, offering tremendous value without compromising quality.

FAQs About Grocery Delivery Services

Is Walmart grocery delivery cheaper than Amazon Fresh?

Yes, Walmart grocery delivery is generally cheaper than Amazon Fresh when comparing base product prices and delivery fees. Walmart doesn't require a membership for delivery access (though they offer one), while Amazon Fresh requires Prime membership plus additional delivery fees for orders under $50.

How can I avoid delivery fees with Walmart and Amazon Fresh?

With Walmart, signing up for Walmart+ ($98/year) gets you free delivery on orders over $35. With Amazon Fresh, you must be a Prime member ($139/year) AND order at least $50 of groceries to avoid the delivery fee. At Bargain Boxed, we offer exceptional value without any membership requirements.

Do grocery delivery services mark up their prices?

Walmart typically maintains the same prices online as in-store. Amazon Fresh prices are generally higher than both Walmart and Bargain Boxed, with more frequent fluctuations. Bargain Boxed consistently offers the lowest prices across comparable products.

Are there minimum order requirements for grocery delivery?

Walmart and Amazon Fresh both have effective minimum order thresholds to avoid excessive delivery fees. Bargain Boxed focuses on providing maximum value regardless of order size, though larger orders often qualify for additional discounts.

How much should I tip grocery delivery drivers?

The standard tipping range for grocery delivery is 10-20% of your order total. This additional cost should be factored into your budget when comparing services. Shopping with Bargain Boxed eliminates this expense entirely.

Are grocery items from Bargain Boxed safe to consume past their best by date?

Absolutely! Best by dates are manufacturer suggestions for peak quality, not safety cutoffs. Properly stored shelf-stable items remain perfectly good for consumption well beyond these dates. At Bargain Boxed, we carefully select quality products that provide exceptional value while maintaining complete safety and satisfaction.

Which service has the fastest delivery?

Amazon Fresh and Walmart both offer same-day delivery in many areas, while Bargain Boxed specializes in delivering exceptional value rather than speed. For the budget-conscious shopper, planning ahead with Bargain Boxed provides substantially greater savings that outweigh the convenience of same-day delivery.

The Bottom Line: Value vs Convenience

While Walmart edges out Amazon Fresh in direct price comparison, both services come with significant additional costs through delivery fees, memberships, tipping, and higher product pricing. For the truly budget-conscious shopper seeking maximum value, Bargain Boxed remains the unmatched option for grocery savings without sacrificing quality.

We focus on delivering exceptional value through our unique model that eliminates unnecessary costs and passes savings directly to customers. By shopping smart and understanding the true costs behind grocery delivery services, you can make informed decisions that stretch your food budget further than ever.

Visit BargainBoxed.com today to discover how much you could be saving on your grocery essentials compared to traditional delivery services like Walmart and Amazon Fresh!