Walmart’s claim to fame is offering exceptional value at low prices. Between their in-store Great Value brand and “Save Money, Live Better” motto, Walmart provides shoppers with competitive pricing and a wide selection of products.
Walmart is so confident in their low prices they discontinued their Savings Catcher in 2019. Saving Catcher compared shopper’s receipts to nationally advertised prices. When Savings Catcher found a lower competitor’s price for a product on your receipt, the program credited you with a rebate to your Walmart.com account or your Walmart Pay wallet.
Even without the Savings Catcher, there are still plenty of effective Walmart saving hacks savvy shoppers can use to keep more money in their wallets.
Best Tips to Save Money at Walmart
Shopping at Walmart is already an economical choice because of everyday low prices. But you can still take your savings to the next level by leveraging several money-saving tricks and resources.
1. Find Deals With the Walmart App
The Walmart app is the foundation that allows shoppers to save money when shopping at Walmart. The app is free on the Google Play Store or Apple App Store and has a lot to offer Walmart patrons.
The app has a weekly ads section highlighting local sales and in-store specials for nearby Walmarts. It’s the easiest way to find deals before you shop, and it saves time compared to flipping through coupon books or weekly flyers. Additionally, during the holidays, the app provides early access to sales and exclusive product catalogs.
The app also saves time. Shoppers can check whether specific products are in stock before going to the store or use the app to check in for in-store pickups. Creating shopping lists in the Walmart app also saves time and lets you stay on budget.
2. Buy Priced-to-Go Clearance Items
The simplest way to save money anywhere is often to buy clearance products. But that’s especially true at Walmart, where merchandise on clearance is marked down even further from everyday low pricing.
Some locations have entire clearance aisles to liquidate inventory quickly. Other Walmarts have smaller clearance sections or just mark clearance products throughout the store. Whatever the case, clearance products have a bright yellow tag that shows you the original price versus the clearance price.
For online shopping, check out Walmart.com’s clearance category for more savings.
3. Leverage Walmart’s Free Shipping
If you have an Amazon Prime membership, chances are you do most of your online shopping on Amazon.
But Amazon isn’t always the best place for online orders of your regular groceries. Fortunately, Walmart.com offers free two-day shipping on orders of $35 or more. Some products even qualify for free same-day shipping, and Walmart.com has a robust inventory that offers pretty much anything you would find in stores.
Coupling savings on shipping costs with other saving strategies is an easy way to double down on savings. Whatever you do, never pay for shipping costs unless you have absolutely no choice. You can almost always find an online shopping site that offers free shipping and carries what you need.
4. Use Walmart’s Free Pickup Service
Shopping online at Walmart is an excellent way to find online-only deals. And Walmart now offers discounts on eligible online-only merchandise when you ship them to a Walmart store for pickup.
Walmart’s pickup discount is simple:
- Select a product that has a “pickup discount eligible” tag.
- Select “ship to local store” before checkout.
- Receive the pickup discount on the order’s price before purchase.
This feature won’t save you a lot, but if you’re planning an in-store trip to Walmart, you can line up a pickup purchase on an online-only deal for that day to save time and money.
Walmart also offers free grocery pickup. All you do is place your grocery order online, choose a pickup time, and a Walmart employee loads your groceries into your car at no charge. Since ordering grocery delivery costs $7.95 without a Walmart+ membership, picking up your groceries lets you save on delivery fees without having to spend a couple of hours in the store.
5. Save Money With Walmart+
If you use Walmart grocery delivery, Walmart’s Walmart+ program lets you save even more time and money.
As a Walmart+ member, you get free same-day grocery delivery, a savings of $7.95 per delivery in delivery fees. There’s still a $35 order minimum, but as Walmart notes, ordering weekly through Walmart+ saves $816 in fees in a single year.
Groceries aside, Walmart+ members unlock other benefits, including:
- Free next-day and two-day shipping from Walmart.com with no minimum order requirement
- A savings of $0.05 per gallon on fuel at Walmart and Murphy gas stations and member pricing at Sam’s Club fuel centers, even if you don’t have a membership
- In-store smartphone checkout using your phone’s camera to scan product bar codes and checking out at self-checkout
- Walmart Rewards, a cash-back rewards program that lets you earn rewards on specific items and cash them in for discounts on future purchases
Walmart+ costs $12.95 per month or $98 per year. If you order groceries from Walmart at least 13 times, the annual membership pays for itself in saved delivery fees. Plus, Walmart says members who refuel with 140 gallons per month get an average fuel savings of $84 per year, which itself almost covers the membership cost.
Check out our comparison of Walmart+ and Amazon Prime for more information.
6. Save Money on Low-Cost Groceries
Shopping at a Walmart Supercenter or Neighborhood Market is a step in the right direction for saving money on groceries. However, savvy shoppers can maximize the value of already low-priced groceries by adopting several simple yet effective money-saving tips:
- Create a List. The Walmart app is the perfect tool for creating an exact shopping list to avoid overspending on products you don’t need.
- Shop Seasonally. Seasonal produce is generally cheaper than produce Walmart must transport great distances to stores around the nation. Tailor your grocery list to include more seasonal fruits and vegetables to cut down on costs.
- Time Your Trips. Many supermarkets have specific days each week when bakery or deli products go on sale. Learn when your local Walmart offers discounts, and time your shopping trips accordingly. Additionally, avoid shopping on an empty stomach, as doing so increases the likelihood of impulse spending, according to a 2015 study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.
- Check Unit Prices. A product’s cost per unit, not the price tag, is the ultimate indicator of value. Price tags at Walmart display the cost per unit, so spend more overall on necessities if it saves more money per unit than buying a smaller size. However, listed unit prices occasionally have errors, so double-check prices that seem too good to be true.
- Double-Check Receipts. Everyone is human, and cashiers are no exception. Checking your receipts for errors isn’t just a Walmart saving hack. The practice is worthwhile at every retailer.
- Buy Great Value Brand on Select Items. Walmart’s Great Value brand is generally the cheapest option. And cheap doesn’t always mean low-quality. Great Value is the most economical choice for basic products like eggs and milk, cookware, generic cleaning supplies, and even most spices. Foods like meats and cheese or diet-specific products like gluten-free food aren’t always as high in quality. But for the basics, stick with Great Value.
Many of these tips seem like common sense. But integrating them into your shopping routine can save more money each year, even if you already shop at a more affordable grocery store like Walmart.
7. Use Walmart’s $4 Prescription Program
There are many ways to save money on the cost of prescription drugs. If you have a prescription for a generic medication, shopping at Walmart is one of the best ways to reduce your monthly medical expenses.
Walmart’s $4 prescription program provides affordable generic prescriptions. The program includes up to a 30-day supply of many generic drugs for $4 and 90-day supplies for $10 or more.
Higher dosages cost more, and prices for certain drugs vary between states. Check Walmart’s current list of generic drugs to see if the program covers your prescription.
You can request generic drug prescriptions from your doctor to help reduce medication costs, which is an important money-saving practice. According to a 2013 study published in JAMA Internal Medicine, approximately 40% of doctors default to more costly brand-name prescriptions in place of equally effective generic medication.
And don’t assume having insurance means you don’t need Walmart’s prescription program. Insurance companies’ drug tiers may place the medication you take on a tier that costs more than Walmart’s program. If that’s the case, you could end up paying more for your prescription if you use your card than if you don’t.
That said, prescription drug costs also go toward your deductible. So if you take the medication regularly, it may be worth the added cost unless you can submit a claim for reimbursement.
8. Take Advantage of Walmart’s Generous Coupon Policies
It’s easy to forget tried-and-true methods of saving considering the variety of apps and programs that now cater to frugal shoppers. But while those apps are helpful, using coupons can still save money at Walmart when you’re shopping in-store.
You don’t have to be an extreme couponer to save money with coupons at Walmart. Walmart’s coupon policy is quite simple and outlines some general rules for using coupons at their locations:
- Manufacturer Limitations. Walmart follows manufacturer-specific coupon terms, such as limits on the number of coupons you can use for a single product.
- Coupon Limits. There’s no limit to the number of coupons you can use in a single transaction, provided you don’t exceed manufacturer limitations.
- Coupon Types. Walmart accepts dollars- and cents-off coupons and by-one-get-one-free (BOGO) coupons. Valid Internet coupons or printed coupons from manufacturers are eligible. But Walmart doesn’t double BOGO coupons or allow you to combine them with dollar- or percent-off coupons.
- Cash Overages. Walmart provides cash overages if the shelf price of an item is less than the price discount on a coupon. Walmart accepts Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). However, customers can’t receive cash after overages by applying coupons against SNAP or WIC purchases.
- Prohibited Coupons. Walmart doesn’t accept Internet coupons for free products with no purchase requirements. It also prohibits digital coupons. Finally, Walmart doesn’t honor double or triple coupons.
Your coupons must also be scannable. Walmart has the right to refuse coupons that encounter errors when scanning or coupons employees suspect someone altered.
You can find free printable Walmart coupons on websites like:
- Coupons.com
- CouponCabin
- Coupon Sherpa
- Groupon
- RetailMeNot
Coupons cover categories like food, cleaning products, cosmetics, pet food, and apparel, so finding savings is quite simple.
As long as you follow basic couponing tips and arrive prepared with coupons for a specific shopping list, you can save even more money.
9. Use Walmart-Appropriate Rewards Apps to Earn Cash Back
You have to be a Walmart+ member to use Walmart Rewards. But even without a membership, you can save money after completing a Walmart shopping trip using reward programs like Ibotta.
Ibotta rewards users with cash back for purchasing specific products from partner retailers. There are plenty of Walmart offers on Ibotta, with many cash-back offers ranging from $0.25 to $5.
The Ibotta app is free, and signing up takes just a few minutes. Once you download the app, it’s easy to browse for Walmart offers and add them to your app’s shopping list.
You upload your shopping receipt to provide proof of purchase after shopping, and Ibotta credits you with cash back. Once you reach $20 in cash back in your Ibotta account, you can cash out. Ibotta pays through PayPal, Venmo, or various gift card options. Read our Ibotta review for more information.
Ibotta typically has the most Walmart offers. If you’re new to rewards apps, it’s an excellent starting point to find savings and learn how the world of cash-back apps works. But you should still try other apps to learn what works best in your area for the products you regularly buy to save as much as possible. Other apps that regularly offer Walmart rebates include:
- Fetch Rewards. Earn points for buying products from Fetch Rewards partner brands. Fetch Rewards partners with dozens of food and beverage brands, including Kraft, Knorr, Lipton, and Pepsi, so many Walmart products are eligible. After shopping, upload a receipt using the app to earn points. Points are redeemable for free gift cards, and many gift cards only require 3,000 points ($3) to redeem. Read our Fetch Rewards review for more information.
- Checkout 51. Like Ibotta, Checkout 51 lets you earn cash-back rewards for buying products from specific brands and retailers. You can usually find offers for everyday essentials and groceries Walmart sells. To earn, simply shop for eligible products and upload a picture of your receipt with the Checkout 51 app. You can cash out via check once you reach $20. Read our Checkout 51 review for more information.
- Dosh. Unlike most reward apps, which require selecting rebates, Dosh lets you earn cash back passively. Once you link your credit and debit cards to Dosh, the app detects when you spend at its partners and pays you cash back. At Walmart, Dosh typically lets you earn 1% to 2% cash back, but rates for special promotions have been as high as 10%. Dosh also works with hundreds of other stores, including Dunkin’ (formerly Dunkin’ Donuts), Instacart, Macy’s, and Sephora. You can cash out through PayPal, Venmo, or direct deposit once you earn $25. Read our Dosh app review for more information.
Rewards apps can’t pay for an entire Walmart shopping trip. But if you want to save money by earning free gift cards and cash rewards, these apps are worth downloading.
10. Use Walmart-Friendly Money-Saving Browser Extensions
If you prefer online shopping, there are still plenty of ways to save money at Walmart thanks to the power of online shopping browser extensions.
Shopping browser extensions let you earn cash back for shopping, apply coupon codes at checkout, or both. Popular browser extensions that work at Walmart.com include:
- Rakuten. Earn up to 6% cash back by shopping through Rakuten first. Cash back you earn appears in your Rakuten account balance, and you receive payment quarterly through check or PayPal as long as you have at least $5. Rakuten partners with thousands of other merchants and also lists coupon codes you can use at online retailers in addition to earning cash back. Read our Rakuten review for more information.
- Honey. The Honey browser extension automatically applies coupons for thousands of stores, saving you the hassle of digging up coupon codes yourself. On Walmart.com, Honey users also earn up to 4% cash back on regular purchases and up to a $5 bonus for signing up for Walmart+. You can redeem your cash back, called Honey Gold, for gift cards to retailers like Amazon, Target, and Walmart itself. You need 1,000 Gold, or $10, to redeem a gift card. Read our Honey review for more information.
- Capital One Shopping. Like Honey, Capital One Shopping (formerly Wikibuy) automatically applies coupon codes at thousands of retailers. You can also earn a percentage of your cart total back in Capital One Shopping Rewards at Walmart.com. Rewards appear in your account and you can redeem them for free gift cards to companies like Macy’s, Kohl’s, and Walmart. Most gift cards require $5 or $10 to redeem. Read our Capital One Shopping review for more information.
It’s worth noting that Honey and Capital One Shopping also have built-in price-comparison tools. That means both extensions notify you if they find the same product you’re shopping for on Amazon at a lower price from a different retailer.
Rakuten is best if you just want to earn cash back in the form of real cash instead of gift cards. But Honey and Capital One Shopping have more extensive coupon databases and apply codes automatically.
It’s worth noting that Honey works on many international stores in the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. Similarly, Rakuten works in the United States, the U.K., Canada, and Japan. Capital One Shopping only works in the U.S.
No matter which extensions you choose, you won’t always find coupon codes or cash-back opportunities, but at Walmart.com, all three browser extensions help lower your bill.
Capital One Shopping compensates us when you get the browser extension using the links provided.
11. Leverage the Price-Match Guarantee (In-Store & Online)
Walmart discontinued its Savings Catcher service because it thought the service was redundant. However, Walmart still has a limited price-match guarantee.
For in-store purchases, Walmart says it “will match Walmart.com and Jet.com base price, for identical items purchased in a Walmart store.”
Customers must inform Walmart associates they wish to price-match. Additionally, the product must be in stock on Walmart.com and identical to the in-store purchase.
Online purchases have a different price-match policy. According to Walmart’s policy, if you find a cheaper price from “an online retailer on an identical, in-stock product,” it will match the price.
Walmart doesn’t offer price protection for online purchases, meaning it won’t refund money for products purchased on Walmart.com that later drop in price. As usual, the product in question must also be identical to the cheaper product, which includes sizing, model, brand, and color.
The following scenarios are also exempt from price matching:
- Offers advertised as sales (dollars or percentages off)
- Items marketed as clearance, liquidation, or special event offers
- Black Friday or Cyber Week sales
- Damaged or refurbished products
- Price errors
- Discounts applied at checkout
Walmart’s prices are tough to beat, so it isn’t always possible to price-match. But if you never ask, you’ll never save, so look for opportunities to maximize your savings.
12. Use the Walmart Rewards Mastercard
If you frequently shop at Walmart, one of the most powerful ways to save money is to sign up for the Capital One Walmart Rewards card.
The primary benefits of this zero-fee Mastercard include:
- Incredible Introductory Offer. Earn unlimited 5% cash back in Walmart stores or at Walmart.com for the first 12 months when you use your card with Walmart Pay.
- Additional Cash-Back Opportunities. Earn unlimited 2% cash back on travel expenses and at restaurants, Walmart stores, and Walmart and Murphy USA fuel stations.
- 1% Safety Net. Earn unlimited 1% cash back everywhere else.
The unlimited 5% introductory offer is what makes this card so powerful. You have to use Walmart Pay for the offer to credit 5%, which is another reason to download the free Walmart app. Using Walmart Pay is as simple as linking your Capital One Walmart Rewards card and using the app’s tap-to-pay functionality at checkout.
If this card isn’t for you, use another form of cash-back credit card. For example, the Discover it Cash Back card has a rotation of special cash-back offers throughout the year, including 5% at Walmart.com.
13. Buy Walmart-Certified Refurbished Electronics
If you don’t mind purchasing refurbished merchandise, Walmart’s refurbished electronics program is another effective way to save money on electronic devices.
Buying refurbished electronics isn’t always the best idea. Refurbished devices are slightly different from used devices. They’re typically the ones returned to manufacturers by consumers, and they have to undergo reconditioning before resale.
Therefore, if you don’t purchase refurbished goods from a reputable manufacturer or understand your warranty protection, you risk buying a product that wasn’t adequately reconditioned and has some serious problems.
Thankfully, Walmart’s refurbished electronics program is reputable. Products eligible for resale must meet Walmart’s grading requirements. That means inspecting, cleaning, and repairing refurbished electronics to work like new. Walmart electronics must also be free from dents, screen scratches or cracks, and significant cosmetic imperfections.
Walmart fulfills some refurbished electronics orders and also relies on a network of third-party electronics sellers. All refurbished products come with a 90-day minimum warranty, which provides plenty of time to buy and test a device.
The categories in Walmart’s refurbished electronics program include:
- Smartphones
- Desktop computers
- Laptops and tablets
- Wearable technology
- Headphones
If you plan to shop for technology, check for refurbished options to save more money at Walmart.
14. Try Walmart’s Gadgets to Gift Cards Program
Selling an old phone or electronic device is an effective way to make some quick cash. Platforms like eBay and Amazon and dozens of electronic buy-back websites make it incredibly easy to ship unwanted devices for resale.
But if you want to score free Walmart gift cards to save money on your next online shopping trip, look into Walmart’s Gadgets to Gift Cards program.
It’s easy to use. Simply select your device from a list of eligible products, ship it for free to Walmart’s partner CExchange, and earn an electronic Walmart gift card after they approve your device. You can only redeem the gift card at Walmart.com.
CExchange provides an instant appraisal after you choose your device and enter information about its condition. It sends an updated appraisal if there’s a discrepancy between the initial appraisal and the condition of your device. You can then accept the new offer or have the device returned to you for free.
Eligible categories for the Gadgets to Gift Cards program include:
- E-readers
- Laptops
- MP3 players
- Smartphones
- Tablets
- Video game consoles
- Voice speakers
This program is a relatively quick way to get rid of old gadgets and make some extra money at the same time. You won’t be able to cover a high shopping bill with most gadget sales. But shopping on Walmart.com already offers plenty of ways to save, and adding free gift cards to the mix only sweetens the deal.
Final Word
Walmart offers a wide selection of products at affordable pricing. Between their Great Value brand and competitive online prices, shopping Walmart for groceries and other necessities is already a fiscally responsible move.
You need to stick to your monthly budget regardless of where you shop. But adopting several Walmart savings tips can help maximize your savings without requiring much effort.
