Walmart Vs. Amazon In 2023 (Price, Delivery, Products + More)

Walmart and Amazon are two of the biggest retailers in the world, battling for consumers‘ dollars both online and in physical stores. With over 10,500 locations worldwide, Walmart has long dominated the brick-and-mortar retail space. Meanwhile, Amazon reigns supreme in e-commerce, offering fast shipping and a vast selection of products.

In recent years, these retail giants have increasingly encroached on each other‘s territory. Walmart has beefed up its online shopping options to better compete with Amazon, while Amazon has opened physical grocery stores and experimented with in-person retail concepts.

So how do Walmart and Amazon stack up in 2024 when it comes to price, delivery speed, product selection, and other factors? Let‘s take a detailed look.

Price Comparison: Walmart vs. Amazon

Price is often the foremost consideration for shoppers. In a head-to-head price comparison, who comes out on top — Walmart or Amazon?

Several studies have tackled this question in recent years. The verdict: Walmart tends to offer lower prices overall, but Amazon can be cheaper on some specific products.

A 2018 price study by Taste of Home looked at 50 popular grocery and household items. Walmart was cheaper on 43 of the 50 products. The site found Walmart prices averaged 19% less than Amazon.
In 2016, Bloomberg compared prices on a basket of 54 items across four product categories. Walmart beat Amazon‘s prices by an average of 3.4% when factoring in special offers and discounts.
An investigation by Clark.com in 2021 compared 24 identical products across Walmart and Amazon in categories like electronics, kitchen appliances, toys, and beauty. Walmart was cheaper 62.5% of the time.

However, Amazon can be very competitive on hot tech products like TVs, tablets, and smart home devices. During big sale events like Prime Day and Black Friday, Amazon also slashes prices dramatically on its own devices like Echo speakers and Fire tablets.

The bottom line: Dollar for dollar, Walmart usually comes out several percentage points cheaper than Amazon when factoring in the total basket of goods. But savvy Amazon shoppers can cherry-pick deals on certain items.

Delivery and Convenience: Amazon Prime vs. Walmart+

Over the past decade, Amazon has built tremendous customer loyalty through convenient delivery options. Can Walmart‘s recently launched membership program compete? Let‘s explore how Amazon Prime and Walmart+ compare.

Amazon Prime

Amazon Prime provides free two-day shipping on over 100 million items, with no minimum order size. In many areas, one-day and same-day delivery options are also available.

Prime members get additional perks like:

Access to Prime Video streaming TV shows and movies
Unlimited reading on Prime Reading and Prime Book
Cloud storage with Amazon Photos
Exclusive deals and discounts

Amazon Prime costs $139 per year or $14.99 per month.

Walmart+

Walmart‘s membership program launched in 2020 as a direct competitor to Amazon Prime.

Key benefits of Walmart+ include:

Free unlimited delivery from stores: Get groceries and other items delivered from your local Walmart with no minimum order. Delivery as soon as same-day.
Fuel discounts: Save 5-10 cents per gallon at Walmart and Murphy gas stations. No limit.
Mobile scan & go: Scan items as you shop and pay via the app to skip checkout lines.
Member prices: Special discounts exclusively for Walmart+ members.

Walmart+ costs $98 per year or $12.95 per month.

Delivery Speed

When it comes to delivery speed, most comparisons give Amazon Prime a slight edge over Walmart+.

Amazon offers free two-day shipping on the vast majority of items. Walmart+ two-day shipping has more exceptions and delays.
Amazon Prime provides faster and more widespread access to same-day and next-day delivery.
However, Walmart+ offers unique access to delivery directly from local stores. This can be faster than waiting for warehouse shipping from either retailer.

So Amazon generally ships items quicker thanks to its massive fulfillment infrastructure. But for grocery delivery and other everyday items, Walmart+ offers the convenience of same-day local store delivery.

Additional Benefits

The additional perks make each membership program unique:

Media: Amazon Prime includes Prime Video, Music, Books, and more. Walmart+ doesn‘t offer any media.
Discounts: Walmart+ gets you member prices on gas and in-store goods. Amazon has some exclusive Prime discounts but fewer savings overall.
Convenience: Walmart+ lets you skip checkout lines. But Prime offers greater convenience for urban dwellers without cars thanks to easy online ordering.

Price

On price, Walmart+ pulls ahead:

Product Selection and Availability

When it comes to product selection, Amazon thoroughly dominates the online space. Its "store" offers over 12 million items from toys to furniture to groceries that can be shipped to your door.

Walmart‘s e-commerce selection is also massive — an estimated 75 million SKUs according to Marketplace Pulse. However, Walmart reserves a larger portion of its inventory for in-store purchasing only.

Both retailers offer extensive selections across categories like clothing, shoes, home goods, kitchenware, electronics, movies & music, toys, outdoor equipment, and more. However, here are a few key product differences:

Walmart dominates for groceries. Its online grocery selection outpaces Amazon, and grocery makes up 56% of Walmart‘s annual revenue.
Amazon leads in technology. It offers around 20,000 tech products compared to Walmart‘s 2,000. No one beats Amazon for the latest electronics.
Amazon has morebooks, music, and video games. Walmart‘s selection skews more toward movies, TV, and classics.
Walmart has a bigger baby store. Twice as big as Amazon‘s, with lots of premium brands.
Amazon leads in smart home technology. It dominates the connected home market with Alexa, Echo, Fire TV, and more.
Walmart has wider availability of top toys. It promises to "stock the top 90% of toy brands."

When buying online, Amazon simply provides more choice. But Walmart closes the gap thanks to its wide in-store product selection. Walmart also edges out Amazon when it comes to availability of hot seasonal items like Christmas toys.

In-Store Experience

Amazon made its first moves into physical retail by acquiring Whole Foods in 2017. It has since launched several "Amazon Go" convenience stores. However, Walmart thoroughly dominates the in-person shopping landscape.

Some key differences in the brick-and-mortar experience:

Walmart has over 10,000 stores to Amazon‘s 600+ physical locations. Walmart‘s network of supercenters and neighborhood markets is unmatched.
Amazon Go stores are cashierless, using cameras and sensors to automatically ring up purchases. Shoppers just grab items and walk out. Walmart has started testing similar technology but most locations still have cashiers.
Amazon physical stores emphasize convenience, like groceries, meal kits, and staples. Walmart Supercenters are one-stop shops with groceries plus clothing, home goods, auto care, and more.
Walmart offers in-store pickup for online orders. Only some Amazon Fresh stores provide pickup.
Amazon doesn‘t accept manufacturer coupons in its Whole Foods stores (though it applies discounts automatically for Prime members). Walmart accepts both paper and digital coupons.
Walmart has in-house auto centers for oil changes, tire & battery services, and more. Amazon doesn‘t provide any automotive services.
Amazon prices change frequently based on supply, competition, and other factors. Walmart prices in stores are more standardized nationwide.

The bottom line: Walmart provides a one-stop neighborhood shopping experience. Amazon‘s physical stores cater more specifically to time-crunched city dwellers and Prime members.

Private Label Brands

Alongside brand-name goods, retailers sell their own private label products. Comparing Walmart and Amazon‘s store brands:

Walmart Private Labels

Great Value (food): Walmart‘s flagship private brand includes pantry staples, frozen foods, dairy, snacks, and more. Combines decent quality with very low prices.
Equate (health): Medications, supplements, skin care products, and medical devices comparable to national brands.
Parent‘s Choice (baby): Diapers, wipes, toiletries and baby food popular with parents for affordability.
George (apparel): Walmart‘s clothing line includes basics, activewear, and casual fashion for the whole family.
Mainstays (home): Furniture, kitchen gadgets, bedding, bath items, and decor priced well below other private labels.

Amazon Private Labels

AmazonBasics: Generic tech accessories, office supplies, home goods, clothing, and everyday items.
Amazon Essentials and Goodthreads (fashion): Affordable wardrobe staples like t-shirts, leggings, and men‘s button-downs.
Solimo (household): Amazon‘s budget-friendly line for paper goods, cleaners, over-the-counter medicines and pantry items.
Presto! (household): More premium home goods including paper towels, laundry detergents, and cleaning products.
See Also
Who Wins The Battle Of Walmart Vs. Amazon?
Happy Belly (grocery): Snacks, coffee, spices, baking items, and other non-perishable food.
Wickedly Prime (grocery): Gourmet and organic packaged foods and beverages.
Mama Bear (baby): Diapers, wipes, and baby toiletries without the fancy labels.

Walmart clearly dominates in terms of private label selection, with brands spanning every category. Amazon‘s owned brands are limited mostly to commodity items and basics. However, both retailers use private labels to compete with name-brand items at lower prices.

Special Services

Beyond standard shopping, what other services do these mega-retailers provide?

Walmart Services

Walmart Pharmacy: Pharmacy services including prescriptions, immunizations, and over-the-counter medications. Open extended hours.
Walmart Care Clinics: Walk-in medical clinics for minor illness and injuries when the doctor‘s office is closed.
Walmart Auto Care Centers: Get oil changes, tire services, battery replacement, and more while you shop.
Walmart Financial Services: Products include check cashing, tax preparation, money transfers, credit cards, and insurance.
Walmart Pickup and Delivery: Order online and pick up in-store for free. Also get free home grocery delivery (with $35+ order).
Walmart +: A membership program with free unlimited delivery, fuel discounts and other perks for $98/year.

Amazon Services

Amazon Pharmacy: Prescription medications delivered with big savings for Prime members.
Amazon Books and Kindle: Purchase print books online or visit Amazon‘s physical bookstores. The Kindle e-reader provides digital reading.
Amazon Cash: Add cash to your account at tens of thousands of participating retailers to shop online without a debit/credit card.
Amazon Explore: Virtual live streaming sessions with local tour guides and travel experts worldwide.
Amazon Handmade: Shop a marketplace of artisans selling unique, handcrafted gifts and home goods.
Amazon Prime: A $139/year membership program with fast shipping, media streaming, discounts and other perks.

Walmart clearly provides more varied services for everyday errands. But Amazon offers convenient, digitally-focused solutions for shopping, prescriptions, and content streaming.

Financial Performance

Based on revenue and other financials, Amazon has surpassed Walmart as the world‘s largest retailer:

Amazon annual revenue (2021): $469.8 billion
Walmart annual revenue (2021): $572.8 billion
Amazon net income (2021): $33.4 billion
Walmart net income (2021): $13.5 billion
Amazon market cap (2023): $1.19 trillion
Walmart market cap (2023): $394.3 billion

So Amazon brings in less total revenue but earns much higher profits. It also has over triple Walmart‘s market valuation based on its stock price. Investors clearly expect higher growth from the e-commerce leader.

However, Walmart remains a profit and cash flow machine in its own right. It generated over $44 billion in operating cash flow in 2022. Walmart hopes to turbocharge online growth and unlock new revenue streams like advertising and financial services.

Advertising and Data

As online shopping becomes increasingly important, retailers covet data to enhance their advertising businesses. Here is how Walmart and Amazon compare on advertising capabilities and sophistication:

Amazon has far more shopper data accumulated from customer searches, purchases, Alexa interactions, and more.
However, Walmart‘s data is more focused in key retail categories like groceries and everyday consumer goods.
Walmart acquired Polymorph Labs in 2022 to launch a retail media advertising business. But Amazon‘s advertising platform is years more advanced.
Amazon leverages its data for highly targeted, relevant advertising. Walmart is still ramping up its capabilities.
Walmart+ members and online shoppers have their data used for ads, so both companies face privacy concerns. But Amazon captures far more consumer interactions.

In the battle for retail media advertising, Amazon has a multi-year head start over Walmart based on its troves of shopper data. However, Walmart owns valuable grocery and household product data at a massive scale. Its thousands of physical stores also give it an omnichannel advantage.

Environmental and Social Impact

As leading retailers, Amazon and Walmart have huge environmental and social footprints. Here is how their records compare:

Climate goals: Amazon has pledged net-zero carbon emissions by 2040. Walmart is aiming for zero emissions by 2040 without carbon offsets.
Renewable energy: Amazon is the world‘s largest corporate buyer of renewable energy. But most Walmart electricity still comes from non-renewables.
Waste reduction: Both retailers have set targets to reduce use of plastic and other packaging materials. Walmart aims for 100% recyclable, reusable, or industrially compostable packaging by 2025.
Worker pay and benefits: Amazon raised its minimum wage to $15/hour in 2018, spurring Walmart to follow suit. However, some studies still give Walmart a slight edge for overall compensation.
Worker safety: Walmart fared significantly better than Amazon in a 2021 report ranking retailer warehouse health and safety programs. But both companies‘ warehouse injury rates exceed national averages.
Supply chains: No major retailer is immune to supply chain issues, but Walmart‘s scale gives it massive bargaining power over suppliers to promote ethical practices.
Community philanthropy: Through programs like the Walmart Foundation, Walmart donates about $1 billion annually to community causes versus $300 million for Amazon.

While Amazon has led in areas like renewable energy and climate commitments, Walmart‘s physical scale gives it advantages for reducing waste, supply chain oversight, and community impact. Both companies still have ample room for improving sustainability and worker conditions.

The Bottom Line: Amazon vs. Walmart

Amazon has eclipsed Walmart to become the top-grossing retailer globally. It leads decisively in e-commerce and provides faster, more convenient delivery for most shoppers. However, Walmart remains a formidable omnichannel competitor:

Walmart wins on price with lower costs for routine shopping overall, especially for groceries.
Amazon leads in selection thanks to the vast marketplace of its online platform.
Convenience favors Amazon for online ordering and speedy delivery, especially with Prime membership.
Walmart dominates the in-person experience with thousands of neighborhood supercenters.
Amazon has pulled ahead financially with higher profits and market valuation.
Walmart has a larger social impact through its community giving and American jobs.

While Amazon currently holds the top retailer spot, Walmart remains within striking distance. It has stepped up both its e-commerce capabilities and omnichannel offerings like curbside pickup. Walmart‘s physical scale provides advantages Amazon cannot easily replicate.

This ultra-competitive retail battle shows no signs of slowing down. In the quest to attract consumers however, wherever, and whenever they shop, both retail giants will continue innovating. The real winners are customers who reap the benefits through lower prices, greater selection, and increased convenience.

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Walmart Vs. Amazon In 2023 (Price, Delivery, Products + More) - 33rd Square (2024)