ReviewsWalmart Credit Card Review: 3X Rewards for Online Purchases
Card ReviewWalmart Credit Card
The Walmart Credit Card is a store card that doesn’t offer any benefits unique enough to make it stand out more than a general rewards card. It’s a solid choice for people who do a lot of shopping on Walmart.com, and it can be used for purchases anywhere. But there are other cards that might be a better choice to earn rewards.
ALSO READ: CardCruncher’s Complete Guide to Improving Your Credit Score
Walmart Credit Card Quick Review
Here are the highlights of the Walmart Credit Card:
Annual Fee: $0
APR: 24.65%
Sign-Up Bonus: Save $25 when you spend $25 at the time of applying
Benefits:
- Earn cash back on your purchases
- 3% on Walmart.com and grocery pickup purchases
- 2% on Murphy USA and Walmart gas
- 1% on everything else
- $0 fraud liability
- Get offers of promotional financing with no interest for up to 24 months
Minimum Payment:
- $25 or $35 if you missed a payment in the past six months, or
- The sum of:
- Any past due amount
- 1% of your new balance
- All interest charged in the last billing cycle
- Any applicable fees
Other Fees:
- $5 or 3% for cash advances, whichever is greater
- Up to $38 for late payment
Why to Apply for the Walmart Credit Card
There are a few reasons you might want to apply for the Walmart Credit Card.
- You want a credit card with easy to understand rewards. One of the biggest benefits of credit cards is that you can earn rewards every time you make a purchase. The Walmart Credit Card lets you earn as much as 3% cash back when you shop online. Your earnings are automatically applied to your balance at the end of every billing statement, so you don’t have to worry about manually redeeming the rewards. As a bonus, you’ll save $25 as soon as you apply for the card.
- You need a credit card that you can use anywhere. Many retailers offer store credit cards. They’re a great way to offer loyal customers some bonuses and to get those customers to spend more money. The downside is that most store cards can only be used at the store that issues them. The Walmart store card is different though. You can use it at any store that accepts Mastercard. You’ll even earn rewards when you use it at non-Walmart locations.
Walmart Credit Card: Drawbacks and Downsides
The Walmart Credit Card does have a few downsides to consider.
- You can earn rewards, but in-store rewards are poor. The real benefit of the Walmart Credit Card is its elevated earning rate for Walmart.com purchases. You’ll earn 3% cash back online, but only 1% for purchase you make at physical Walmart stores. It’s pretty easy to earn more than 1% cash back by using a different card at brick-and-mortar stores, making it a lackluster choice unless you do a lot of online shopping.
- The card lacks exciting benefits. Many store credit cards offer special benefits only to cardholders, such as bonus sales and special services. The Walmart card does not have any special features like this. The most exciting benefit is not accessible to all: you might receive an offer of promotional financing for large purchases. You can’t control when this happens, so you might not be able to take advantage of it when you do receive an offer. Many other cards offer more predictable financing deals.
Walmart Credit Card Alternatives
If you’re considering applying for the Walmart Credit Card, you should also consider some alternatives.
Citi Double Cash Card: Get 2x Rewards on All Purchases
If you want to earn the same rewards in-person and online, consider applying for the Citi Double Cash Credit Card. This card offers 2% back on all of your purchases, regardless of where you use the card. While this reduces your earnings by 1% on Walmart.com purchases, it will increase your cash back earnings on in-store purchases and everything else. If you shop more in-stores than online, it’s a good choice. You’ll also earn more rewards if you use it at stores other than Walmart.
Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Card: Prime Members Get 5% Cash Back from Amazon and Whole Foods
If you like shopping online, but prefer to use Amazon.com, apply for the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Card. As long as you’re an Amazon Prime member, you’ll earn 5% back on all of your purchases at Amazon.com and Whole Foods. You’ll also earn 2% back at gas stations, restaurants, and drugstores, and 1% cash back everywhere else. If you do most of your online shopping at Amazon.com or don’t mind switching to Amazon, this card offers a lot more value than the Walmart Credit Card.
Other Things to Know
What does your credit score have to be to get a Walmart Credit Card?
You can get a Walmart Credit Card with a credit score as low as 660. This is on the low end of the range of scores that are considered to be good. As always, other factors like your recent history and income will affect your approval.
How do you apply for a Walmart Credit Card?
You can apply for the Walmart Credit Card when you check out in a store, or online by visiting the card’s website.
How do you pay your Walmart Credit Card bill?
Here is our comprehensive guide on how to make your Walmart Credit Card payment.
Bottom Line: Should You Apply for the Walmart Credit Card?
If you do a lot of shopping at Walmart.com, the Walmart Credit Card can be a good deal with its 3% cash back on online purchases. Otherwise, find another card that offers good rewards regardless of where you shop and you’ll come out ahead.
