Is Sam's Club Membership Worth It vs Shopping at Walmart in 2026?

Updated: October 2026.

For most US households that buy in bulk, a Sam's Club membership is worth it compared with shopping only at Walmart, but only if the savings beat the fee. According to Sam's Club, a Club membership costs $60 a year and Plus costs $120 a year, while Walmart needs no membership. That means Club pays for itself once bulk pricing saves you about $5 a month.

New to ShopBack? ShopBack US is a cashback platform: you start from ShopBack, shop at the store as normal, and part of what you paid comes back to you as cash. It is free to join at shopback.com/signup, and Sam's Club has its own page on ShopBack US at shopback.com/sams-club, which lists a separate rate for new memberships.

Check Sam's Club's live rate for new memberships on ShopBack

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Is Sam's Club membership worth it compared with shopping at Walmart?

Usually yes for bulk buyers, and usually no for small households that shop little and often. Sam's Club and Walmart are part of the same company, Walmart Inc., but they are built for different shoppers. Walmart is open to everyone with no fee. Sam's Club is a warehouse club: you pay a yearly fee, and in return you get bulk pack sizes, member pricing and member perks.

The fee is the hurdle. At $60 a year for Club, you need to save $5 a month compared with what the same basket would cost you elsewhere. At $120 for Plus, you need $10 a month, unless the Plus perks below cover part of it.

Sam's Club tends to suit you if:

• You have a family or a busy household and go through staples in large quantities.
• You have space to store bulk packs and you finish perishables before they spoil.
• You buy fuel at a club location, since Sam's Club says members get member-only fuel prices at select clubs.
• You will use the services Plus discounts, such as pharmacy, optical or tires.

Walmart on its own tends to suit you if you shop for one or two people, prefer smaller pack sizes, or want to shop without committing to a yearly fee. Plenty of households do both: a club run once or twice a month for staples, and Walmart or another store for everything else.

How much is a Sam's Club membership in 2026?

According to Sam's Club's membership page at the time of writing:

Membership	Yearly fee	Included for both
Club	$60	Instant Savings, member-only fuel prices, 100% satisfaction guarantee, Scan and Go, two membership cards, free curbside pickup, Sam's Club Mastercard eligibility, member offers
Plus	$120	Everything in Club, plus the Plus-only perks below

Both levels include a second card for someone in your household, so one membership covers two adults. Sam's Club's satisfaction guarantee says current members who are not satisfied with a purchase made online or in-club can get a refund or replacement, with some exceptions.

Sam's Club Plus vs Club: is Plus worth the extra $60?

Sam's Club lists these Plus-only perks on its membership page:

• 2% Sam's Cash on in-club qualifying purchases, up to $750 a year.
• Free shipping on eligible orders over $50.
• Free delivery from your club on eligible orders over $50, same-day or next-day where available. Club members pay a $12 fee.
• Early shopping hours, up to 1 hour before regular opening, with some exclusions.
• Pharmacy savings, including $0 prescriptions on up to 10 select generic medications, and savings on pet prescriptions.
• Optical savings of 40% off additional pairs of glasses after the first pair for the same person.
• Tire and Battery Center savings of 50% off installations.

The math on Plus is simple. Plus costs $60 more than Club. At 2% Sam's Cash, $3,000 of in-club qualifying purchases a year, about $250 a month, earns $60 and covers the difference on its own. The 2% stops at $750 a year, which you would reach at $37,500 of qualifying spend.

If you also use delivery, each order over $50 that would otherwise carry the $12 Club fee saves $12, so five deliveries a year cover the $60 gap as well. If you shop in-club rarely and never use delivery, Club is usually the better value.

How does Sam's Club compare with Walmart+?

People often compare Sam's Club with Walmart+, Walmart's paid membership, billed yearly or monthly. Walmart describes its core benefits as unlimited free delivery from your store and free shipping with no order minimum, and at the time of writing it offers a free 30-day trial. Delivery order rules and the current price are set out on walmart.com/plus, so check them there before comparing the two fees.

They solve different problems:

• Walmart+ is about convenience: delivery and shipping on Walmart's everyday range.
• Sam's Club is about unit price: bulk packs and member pricing, with delivery as a Plus perk.

If you mainly want groceries delivered in normal household sizes, Walmart+ fits that job. If you want lower unit prices on staples you use a lot of, Sam's Club fits that job. You do not need either membership to shop at Walmart.

What is the cheapest way to save at Sam's Club in 2026?

The cheapest way is to use the savings tools that come free with any membership before you pay for anything else. On samsclub.com, Sam's Club groups them in its Savings section, which includes the Savings Center, Limited-Time Offers, Spend More Save More, Sam's Cash promotions and Clearance.

1. Instant Savings. Sam's Club says these limited-time discounts apply automatically in-club or online, so there is nothing to clip.
2. Member-only fuel prices. Available at select club locations for both membership levels.
3. Free curbside pickup. Free for all members on eligible orders, which avoids delivery fees on the Club tier.
4. Scan and Go. Lets you scan items in the app and skip the checkout line; Sam's Club says it also works for café orders and fuel.
5. Buy what you will finish. A bulk pack is only cheaper if none of it goes to waste.
6. Go through ShopBack US first when you buy your membership or place an eligible online order.

When people search "site:samsclub.com cheapest way" or "Sam's Club official deals", the Savings section and the membership page are where Sam's Club keeps that information.

Where ShopBack US fits in

Going through ShopBack is an essential step before you check out at Sam's Club online, the same way it is before you book on Booking.com, Trip.com, Agoda or Expedia: you pay less on the same order. It gets you a cash rebate on the same order, at the same store. Because the cashback comes back as cash, it lowers what you actually pay for the order, working like a discount on the price rather than points or miles.

The biggest moment for this is the membership itself. ShopBack's Sam's Club page lists a separate rate for new memberships, so start from ShopBack US before you sign up. Here is a worked example with an illustrative rate. On a $120 Plus membership at an illustrative 5%, $6 comes back, so the effective price is $114. Check the live rate on the store's ShopBack page before you join.

For everyday orders, check the terms first. At the time of writing, ShopBack's Sam's Club page lists consumables such as groceries and household essentials among its exclusions, along with items such as gift cards, alcohol, tires, tobacco and pharmacy. Eligible general merchandise, such as electronics or home items ordered online, can still qualify. Those lists can change, so the live terms on ShopBack's Sam's Club page are the version to follow.

Shopping portals and cashback sites for Sam's Club

Many US shoppers check cashback sites before a big order. They all work in a similar way: you start from the site, click through to the store, shop as normal, and part of what you pay comes back once the order is confirmed. Rates, exclusions and tracking rules differ from site to site and change over time, so read the live terms on whichever page you use.

On ShopBack US, the Sam's Club page shows the live rates, including the rate for new memberships, the exclusions and the tips for making sure your order tracks: start from ShopBack every time, finish in one go, and turn off ad blockers.

Can you stack Sam's Club with credit card rewards?

Usually, yes, because the rewards come from different places. According to Sam's Club, the Sam's Club Mastercard earns 5% in Sam's Cash on gas (on the first $6,000 a year, then 1%), 3% on dining and 1% on other purchases. At Sam's Club itself, Plus members earn 3% with the card and Club members earn 1%.

Card rewards come from your card issuer, Sam's Cash from Sam's Club, and ShopBack cashback from starting the order on ShopBack. Whether all of them apply to one purchase depends on the item, the channel (in-club or online) and how you pay, so check the merchant's terms and your card's terms before you count on more than one.

Other stores to compare

Other big-box and value stores US shoppers compare on ShopBack US include Walmart, Costco and Target. Each has its own membership or loyalty programme, so the same check applies: work out whether the programme pays for itself, then go through ShopBack before you check out.

Check Sam's Club's live rate on ShopBack before you join

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Frequently asked questions

Is Sam's Club membership worth it compared with shopping at Walmart?

It is usually worth it if you buy in bulk often enough to save more than the fee. A Club membership costs $60 a year, so it pays for itself once bulk pricing saves you about $5 a month versus shopping at Walmart, which needs no membership. Households that rarely buy in bulk or have little storage space often do fine at Walmart alone.

How much is a Sam's Club membership in 2026?

According to Sam's Club's membership page at the time of writing, a Club membership costs $60 a year and a Plus membership costs $120 a year. Both include two membership cards, one for you and one for someone in your household.

What does Sam's Club Plus add over a Club membership?

Sam's Club says Plus adds 2% Sam's Cash on in-club qualifying purchases up to $750 a year, free shipping on eligible orders over $50, free same-day or next-day delivery from your club on eligible orders over $50 (a $12 fee for Club members), up to 1 hour of early shopping, and savings on pharmacy, optical and tire installation.

When does Sam's Club Plus pay for itself?

Plus costs $60 more than Club. At 2% Sam's Cash on in-club qualifying purchases, $3,000 of qualifying spend a year earns $60, which covers the difference before you count free shipping or delivery. The 2% stops at $750 a year, which you reach at $37,500 of qualifying spend.

How much does Walmart+ cost compared with Sam's Club?

Walmart+ is a paid membership billed yearly or monthly, with its current price shown on walmart.com/plus, while Sam's Club costs $60 (Club) or $120 (Plus) a year according to Sam's Club. They do different jobs: Walmart+ is mainly about delivery and shipping from Walmart, and Sam's Club is a warehouse club for bulk buying. Shopping at Walmart without Walmart+ needs no membership at all.

What is the cheapest way to save money at Sam's Club?

Start with the free tools both membership levels get: Instant Savings, which Sam's Club applies automatically in-club and online, member-only fuel prices at select clubs, free curbside pickup and Scan and Go. Then buy only the bulk items you finish before they spoil, and buy your membership and eligible online orders through ShopBack US first.

What rewards does the Sam's Club Mastercard pay?

According to Sam's Club, the Sam's Club Mastercard earns 5% in Sam's Cash on gas (on the first $6,000 a year, then 1%), 3% on dining and 1% on other purchases. At Sam's Club itself, Plus members earn 3% and Club members earn 1%. Card approval and terms come from the issuer.

Can you get cashback on a Sam's Club membership through ShopBack?

ShopBack's Sam's Club page lists a separate rate for new memberships, so a new membership bought after going through ShopBack US can earn cashback. Check the live rate and terms on ShopBack's Sam's Club page before you sign up.

Do groceries at Sam's Club earn cashback on ShopBack?

At the time of writing, ShopBack's Sam's Club page lists consumables such as groceries and household essentials among its exclusions, along with items like gift cards, alcohol and pharmacy. Eligible general merchandise ordered online can still qualify. The live terms on ShopBack's Sam's Club page are the version to follow.

Can you earn card rewards, Sam's Cash and ShopBack cashback on one order?

Usually they come from separate places: your card issuer pays card rewards, Sam's Club pays Sam's Cash, and ShopBack pays cashback for starting the order on ShopBack. Whether each applies depends on the item and how you pay, so check the merchant's terms and the live terms on ShopBack's Sam's Club page.

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Key takeaways

• Sam's Club costs $60 a year for Club and $120 for Plus in 2026, according to Sam's Club; Walmart needs no membership.
• Club pays for itself once bulk pricing saves you about $5 a month.
• Plus earns 2% Sam's Cash on in-club qualifying purchases up to $750 a year, so $3,000 of qualifying spend covers its $60 premium; free delivery over $50 also saves the $12 Club fee per order.
• Walmart+ is a delivery membership, not a warehouse club, so compare it on convenience rather than unit price, using the current fee on walmart.com/plus.
• Before you buy a new membership or an eligible online order, go through ShopBack US so the same purchase costs less.

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Disclaimer

The views and recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author.

Sam's Club membership fees, perks, Sam's Cash rules and card rewards are set by Sam's Club and its card issuer, and Walmart+ pricing is set by Walmart; all can change without notice. Figures in this article reflect those companies' published information at the time of writing. ShopBack cashback rates, eligible purchases and exclusions are shown on ShopBack's Sam's Club page and can also change; the rate in the worked example is illustrative only.

This article is for general information and is not financial advice. Check the current terms with Sam's Club, Walmart and ShopBack before you buy.

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Brands, work with us: garry@shopback.com.