Walmart Rewards: How Does It Work? - Shop Your Way Blog (2024)

Have you ever left a Walmart store thinking, “I should get rewarded for shopping here!” Well, now you can. You need Walmart Rewards – the program that pays you back for being a loyal Walmart customer.

With Walmart Rewards, you’ll earn cash back rewards and perks every time you shop, whether in-store or online. How does it work? By signing up for an account, you can start earning points and unlocking benefits immediately.

The more you shop at Walmart, the more rewards you’ll reap.

Redeem your hard-earned points for gift cards at your favorite retailers, apply them as credits to your Walmart purchases, or even donate them to charity.

Earning Rewards

With Walmart Rewards, customers can earn points and cash back every time they shop. There are several ways to accumulate rewards:

The Walmart Rewards Mastercard is one of the best ways to maximize earnings. Cardholders receive 5% cash back on Walmart.com purchases, 2% back on in-store Walmart purchases, 2% back at Murphy USA and Walmart gas stations, 2% back at restaurants and on travel, and 1% back elsewhere. The card has no annual fee.

Shopping on Walmart.com is another way to earn accelerated rewards. All online purchases through Walmart.com earn 5% back, including grocery pickup and delivery orders.

This is an easy way to rack up points just by doing your regular online shopping.

Even in-store purchases will earn rewards, albeit at a lower 2% back rate. But for frequent Walmart shoppers, those rewards can still add up over time.

Every dollar spent in-store counts toward the 2% cash back.

In addition to the standard 5% back on Walmart purchases, 2% on fuel stations, and 1% on other purchases, the Walmart Rewards Card runs special promotions to help cardholders maximize earnings.

These can include increased rewards for shopping categories like groceries, electronics, or subscriptions.

The mobile app makes it easy to activate these promotions and keep track of bonus points earned. The card also has no foreign transaction fee, so customers can earn rewards on Walmart purchases when traveling internationally.

Taking advantage of these limited-time promotions throughout the year on top of the card’s regular rewards can help Walmart shoppers get even more value from the program.

The cash-back rate will depend on where and how the purchase was made. However, compared to online and in-store purchases, the Walmart Mastercard generally offers the highest rewards rate.

Just be sure to check current offers to earn the highest rewards on your Walmart spending.

Redeeming Rewards

The great thing about Walmart Rewards is that there are plenty of redemption options. Customers can choose the method that provides the most value to them.

One popular option is redeeming points for Walmart e-Gift cards and gift cards from other major retailers like Amazon and Target.

Denominations range from $5 to $500. Gift cards make great gifts or allow cardholders to earn rewards on future purchases.

Points can be redeemed as a statement credit on your Walmart credit card. This directly reduces your account balance. Statement credits start at just 300 points.

At checkout, rewards can be applied to Walmart.com purchases to lower the total cost. This allows cardholders to redeem points on the spot for instant savings.

For a charitable option, points can be donated to any nonprofit organization in the PayPal Giving Fund network. Donations start at just 100 points.

With flexible redemption and no blackout dates, the Walmart Rewards catalog provides ample options.

Cardholders are empowered to choose whichever redemption method provides the greatest value based on their preference and situation.

Walmart Credit Card

The Capital One Walmart Rewards Mastercard is the official credit card of the Walmart Rewards program. It offers accelerated earnings on Walmart purchases and other bonus categories.

Cardholders earn 5% back on Walmart.com purchases, 2% back in-store at Walmart, 2% back at restaurants and on travel, and 1% back everywhere else. There is no annual fee.

Applying is quick and easy. Customers can apply on Walmart’s website or the Capital One site. Approval decisions are fast, often instant. New cardholders get access to their account number immediately upon approval to start shopping right away.

New cardholders can also take advantage of the generous introductory offer.

This includes 5% back on in-store Walmart purchases for the first 12 months when using Walmart Pay, Walmart’s mobile payment system. This provides an easy way to maximize rewards during the critical first year.

The ongoing rewards rates make this one of the best store-branded credit cards available. The 5% back on Walmart.com purchases is particularly valuable for online shoppers.

And the 2% back in categories like dining and travel gives this card versatility beyond just Walmart shopping.

Membership Levels

All Walmart Rewards members start at the Basic membership tier. To qualify, customers simply have to sign up for an account at the Walmart Rewards website or in the Walmart app. There is no minimum spending requirement.

Higher membership tiers offer additional perks and benefits:

• The Plus tier provides free shipping on online orders with no minimum purchase. To reach this level, members must spend $35+ on Walmart.com or in the Walmart app in a calendar year.
• The Pro tier earns 15% off select merchandise on Walmart.com and free grocery delivery from Walmart stores. It requires spending $1350 or more annually on Walmart.com purchases.
• The Elite tier is the top membership level. It offers 20% off select merchandise and free shipping with no minimum. To qualify for Elite status, members must spend $2400+ per calendar year on Walmart.com.
• Reaching a higher tier extends Walmart Rewards beyond just earning points to provide significant money-saving benefits on future Walmart purchases.

Gift Cards and e-gifts

Unlike many store credit cards, the Walmart Rewards Card offers benefits that go beyond just Walmart purchases.

With cash-back rewards at restaurants, on travel, and everywhere else, it competes with top cash-back credit cards. This makes it a versatile option that is not limited to just loyal Walmart shoppers.

One great way to redeem points is for gift cards and eGifts from other retailers like Target, Amazon, and more. Scan the QR code at checkout or in the app to instantly apply rewards with no balance transfer fee.

With flexible redemption options, the Walmart Rewards Card maximizes the value of your points beyond typical store credit card rewards.

Walmart Pay

Walmart Pay allows Walmart+ members to maximize rewards on travel purchases and more. By using Walmart Pay, the mobile payment system available in the Walmart app, you can earn accelerated Walmart Rewards points on in-store purchases.

Scan the QR code at checkout to activate special card issuer promotions.

The Capital One-issued card also comes with travel benefits like extended warranty protection.

So use Walmart Rewards on hotels, flights, and vacation extras. Walmart Pay makes it easy to earn everywhere while traveling, with instant rewards redemption via QR code.

Streamline earning extra points on travel and maximize the card’s versatile rewards structure.

Tips and Strategies For Earning More Points

Take advantage of special promotions that offer bonus points on certain categories or sitewide point multipliers. These can really add up quickly.

Be on the lookout for emails and notifications advertising these limited-time bonuses.

Get the Walmart Rewards credit card and use it for all Walmart purchases. The card offers the highest earning rates, like 5% back online and 2% in-store. Non-Walmart purchases also earn accelerated rewards in categories like dining and travel.

Don’t forget to earn points on in-store purchases too. While the online earn rate is higher, in-store purchases can rack up points, especially for major shopping trips.

Pay attention to bonuses that apply to in-store purchases.

Link other payment methods, like PayPal or payment apps, to your Walmart account to earn everywhere you shop with Walmart.

Take full advantage of the 5% back intro offer on the credit card by making large purchases in the first year. This can really maximize the welcome bonus value.

Drawbacks

While Walmart Rewards offers great earning potential, there are some drawbacks to consider:

• Points expire if there is no account activity after one year. This means you need to make at least one purchase transaction within a 12-month period to keep points active.
• Redemption options are limited compared to more general rewards programs. Walmart Rewards points can only be redeemed for statement credits, gift cards to select merchants, and as credits on Walmart purchases.
• Points have no value outside of Walmart. This program is really designed for loyal Walmart shoppers rather than general rewards accumulators. Points cannot be transferred to airline miles or hotels.
• The 2% earn rate on in-store purchases is lower than many credit cards offer for general grocery and retail purchases. However, the 5% online earn rate helps offset this drawback.
• There are caps on bonus earn rates: 5% on Walmart.com is capped at $2,000 in spending per year, then drops to 1%.
• The card’s rewards are best maximized by those who do significant shopping at Walmart, both online and in-store. For casual Walmart shoppers, other cards may provide greater value.

While the Walmart Rewards card offers high earnings on Walmart purchases, it lacks flexibility compared to cards that allow cash advances or have better interest rates for those with excellent creditworthiness.

The Walmart card does not offer cash advances and has a high interest rate, around 25%, so it’s not ideal for those looking to access cash or carry a balance.

But for loyal Walmart shoppers who pay their bill in full each month, the high 5% earnings on store purchases will likely outweigh the drawbacks of the no cash advance option and higher interest rates.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Key Takeaways: Walmart Rewards

With great rewards power comes great savings responsibility. As a Walmart Rewards member, you now hold the keys to unlocking phenomenal deals and perks.

But remember – with your newfound savings prowess comes the obligation to shop smart.

Take advantage of all the tips and strategies outlined above. Maximize promos, stack rewards, and squeeze every last point out of your everyday Walmart purchases.

Become the ultimate Walmart Rewards ninja. Soon you’ll be redeeming points faster than you can say “roll back prices”.

You now have an arsenal of savings tools at your fingertips, so get the most out of the Capital One Walmart Rewards Card and take your budget to the next level.Start redeeming points and exclusive offers with the Shop Your Way App today.