Amazon Prime vs Walmart+ vs Target Circle 360: which membership is worth it?

With Black Friday a month away, Amazon, Walmart and Target all want you on their paid membership programs. Each gets you free shipping, same-day delivery and early access to holiday deals, but the prices, minimum orders and extras are different, and there's a new $120 deal that adds Sam's Club to Walmart+.

We've compared Amazon Prime, Walmart+ and Target Circle 360 using the companies' own websites and newsrooms, checked on October 26, 2026. Amazon's and Walmart's shopping sites wouldn't load for us, so their figures come from Amazon's newsroom (aboutamazon.com) and Walmart's corporate site, with Walmart+'s monthly price confirmed by local business press. Prices are before tax.

At a glance

• Cheapest standard price: Walmart+ at $98 a year.
• Cheapest for Target Circle Card holders: Target Circle 360 at $49 a year, half the usual $99.
• Lowest same-day minimum: Amazon Prime, free on orders over $25 in most cities, against $35 at Walmart and Target.
• Most extras: Amazon Prime, with Prime Video, Amazon Music, Grubhub+ and more, but it costs the most at $139 a year.
• New this month: Walmart+ and Sam's Club Plus together for $120 a year.

The three programs compared

Amazon Prime

Prime costs $14.99 a month or $139 a year, so paying yearly saves $40.88. Amazon says Prime members get free delivery on more than 300 million items, with free same-day delivery on orders over $25 in most cities (smaller orders pay $2.99) across more than 110 US metro areas.

The extras are what set Prime apart: Prime Video with ads, ad-free Amazon Music, unlimited photo storage in Amazon Photos, Prime Reading, Prime Gaming, Grubhub+ (which Amazon values at $120 a year), RxPass for eligible generic prescriptions at $5 a month, and 10 cents a gallon off at bp, Amoco and ampm stations. Ad-free Prime Video now costs an extra $4.99 a month.

There are two cheaper versions. Prime for Young Adults, for ages 18 to 24 and college students, has a six-month free trial and then costs $7.49 a month or $69 a year. Prime Access, for people on qualifying government assistance such as SNAP EBT or Medicaid, costs $6.99 a month after a 30-day trial.

Walmart+

Walmart+ costs $98 a year or $12.95 a month, so paying yearly saves $57.40. You get free delivery from your local store on orders over $35, fuel savings of up to 10 cents a gallon, and your choice of Peacock Premium or Paramount+ Essential, both with ads, which you can switch every 90 days. Walmart says annual members save an average of $382 a year, not counting the fee. Students and people receiving qualifying government assistance can get 50% off.

New on October 20, Walmart+ and Sam's Club Plus can be combined for $120 a year. That adds Sam's Club's Plus membership, which on its own also costs $120, with free shipping on Sam's Club orders over $50 and 2% back in Sam's Cash, capped at $750 a year. Walmart+ annual members can switch for $22 more a year, and existing Sam's Club Plus members can activate Walmart+ at no extra cost.

Target Circle 360

Target Circle 360 costs $99 a year or $10.99 a month. It includes same-day delivery on orders over $35, the fastest free shipping available to your ZIP code, 30 extra days for returns, monthly freebies and early access to big sales. There's a 14-day free trial with limited benefits.

The price halves to $49 a year or $4.99 a month if you have a Target Circle Card saved to your account, or if you're a verified teacher, college student, military member or government assistance recipient. The Circle Card itself has no annual fee and gives 5% off at checkout, free standard shipping on most items and 30 extra days for returns, so some card holders won't need 360 at all. Target's free Target Circle program gives automatic deals, rewards and a birthday gift.

Holiday early access

Walmart's Early Black Friday Deals run from November 12 to 15 and its Black Friday Deals from November 23 to 29. Walmart+ members get in a day early online on November 12 and 23, and some online deals are reserved for members for the first 24 hours. Cyber Monday deals run from November 30 to December 2. Target has a new Deal of the Day every day from November 1 to December 24, with early Black Friday deals from November 5 to 7. Amazon hadn't announced its Black Friday dates when we checked.

Which should you choose?

• Amazon Prime if you already shop on Amazon most weeks and use Prime Video or the other extras. The $25 same-day minimum is the lowest of the three. But it costs $40 a year more than the others.
• Walmart+ if you buy groceries online and want a streaming service included. And if you also shop at Sam's Club, the $120 combined deal is hard to beat. But the $35 minimum applies to free delivery.
• Target Circle 360 if you have a Target Circle Card or qualify for the discount, since $49 a year is the cheapest membership here. But there's no streaming or fuel benefit.

Before you sign up

1. Check your ZIP code. Same-day delivery and delivery speeds vary by location.
2. Look for discounts you qualify for. Students, SNAP and Medicaid recipients can get large discounts on all three.
3. Time your trial. A free trial that starts in mid-November covers Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
4. Set a reminder. Trials and monthly plans renew automatically unless you cancel.

FAQs

Is paying yearly worth it?

If you'll use the program all year, yes. Annual plans save between $32.88 (Target Circle 360) and $57.40 (Walmart+) against paying monthly for 12 months.

Do I still need to meet a minimum order?

For free same-day delivery, yes: $25 at Amazon in most cities, and $35 at Walmart and Target.

Can I share a membership?

Benefit sharing varies. Sam's Club lists benefits sharing as a Walmart+ perk, and Sam's Club Plus includes a second membership card. Check each program's terms for who counts as a household member.

Sources: Amazon: Prime membership cost and benefits, Amazon: Prime Access, Amazon: Prime Video Ultra, Walmart+, Walmart: Walmart+ and Sam's Club Plus for $120, Walmart: holiday shopping events, Talk Business & Politics: Walmart and Sam's Club combine memberships, Sam's Club: membership, Target: Target Circle 360, Target: Target Circle Card, Target: about Target Circle, Target: holiday 2026