Walmart+ is adding Peacock as a free streaming perk to better compete with Amazon Prime
Walmart is celebrating the fifth anniversary of its Walmart+ membership program with a new perk for subscribers called "Video Streaming Choice." Starting Sept. 15, Walmart+ members will get nonconcurrent access to ad-supported Paramount+ and Peacock plans for free.
The new benefit positions Walmart+ as a stronger alternative to Amazon Prime, which includes access to the retail giant's Prime Video streaming platform on top of free delivery. (A Walmart+ membership costs $98 per year after its free 30-day trial, while Prime is $139 per year after a monthlong trial.) Amazon also offers add-on subscriptions to services like Apple TV+, HBO Max, Paramount+, and, most recently, Peacock Premium Plus via Prime Video.
Walmart's announcement comes as Amazon moves to restrict Prime's free two-day shipping perk.
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The big-box store originally introduced complimentary Paramount+ Essential plans (normally $59.99 per year) as a member benefit around its two-year anniversary in September 2022. With annual Peacock Premium subscriptions valued at $109.99 per year, its annual membership fee can now pay for itself and then some.
“The additional option of Peacock Premium adds even more value and more choice to our membership, without raising the price,” said Deepak Maini, senior vice president of Walmart+, in a press release.
Walmart+ members are only allowed to use one of the two streaming services at any given time, but can switch every 90 days if they tire of one library's offerings.
In addition to those free streaming offerings, a Walmart+ membership unlocks additional benefits like free shipping (with no order minimums), fuel discounts, a Scan & Go checkout tool, and early access to deals during Walmart's Black Friday sale, among other major savings events throughout the year. If you can wait a couple of weeks, Walmart+ memberships are usually 50% off during the holidays.
Haley Henschel is a Chicago-based Senior Shopping Reporter at Mashable who reviews and finds deals on popular tech, from laptops to gaming consoles and VPNs. She has years of experience covering shopping holidays and can tell you what’s actually worth buying on Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day. Her work has also explored the driving forces behind digital trends within the shopping sphere, from dupes to 12-foot skeletons.
