Amazon Prime vs. Walmart+ vs. Target Circle 360: Which is Best?

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At a glance: Prime vs. Walmart+ vs. Circle 360

Winner: Amazon Prime

Target just launched Circle 360, a new membership program designed to compete with Amazon Prime and Walmart+. Like those older (and very successful) membership programs, Target's Circle 360 ​​offers special deals and perks for an annual fee.

One of the big advantages of Circle 360 ​​is its shipping offer: Unlimited same-day delivery for orders over $35 through the Shipt marketplace. The program's pricing is also very competitive. Normally $99 for the year, Target is currently running a 50% off deal to promote the new program, dropping the price to just $49 (this runs through May 18th). That makes it very attractive when you consider Amazon Prime's annual price of $139 or even Walmart+'s $98 fee.

Curious about Target Circle 360? Continue reading. Below is a full rundown of how Circle 360 ​​stacks up to Walmart+ and Amazon Prime, including its shipping, offers, and additional perks.

Amazon Prime, Walmart Plus or Target Circle 360: Shipping

One of the most attractive perks of Circle 360 ​​is free same-day delivery at local Target stores. This applies to orders over $35 and you can do this as many times as you like throughout the day. Obviously, your problem is that all the items you want have to be in stock at a nearby Target, but this is a great way to buy groceries and everyday items without paying fees.

However, Walmart+ and Amazon Prime also offer free same-day delivery. Walmart+'s same-day delivery offer is essentially identical (free same-day delivery on orders of $35 or more), but Amazon Prime's offer is slightly different. With Prime, you can get same-day grocery delivery through Amazon Fresh, but the minimum order amount is $100 and you'll have to choose a 2-hour delivery window (faster delivery requires a fee). Depending on your location, a large number of non-grocery Amazon products are also eligible for free same-day delivery.

Edge: Amazon Prime

Amazon Prime, Walmart Plus or Target Circle 360: Catalog

The product selection is hard to qualify when talking about three of the largest retailers in the country, but one thing is clear: Target comes in third. Walmart is the largest brick-and-mortar retailer in the country (and the world) with 5,330 stores in the US, but it also has a huge online catalog. However, in our opinion, it is still not on par with Amazon. It's nicknamed the “Everything Store” for a reason, so it wins here, too.

Edge: Amazon Prime

Amazon Prime, Walmart Plus or Target Circle 360: Deals

One of the benefits that Walmart+, Prime, and Circle 360 ​​all have is access to deals. Amazon Prime Day — a sales event with lots of deals exclusive to Prime Members — is probably the most well-known of the three, but Target and Walmart run events at the same time.

Walmart+ also offers gas savings, which the other two don't. Members receive 10 cents per gallon off at more than 13,000 gas stations nationwide, including Exxon, Mobil, Walmart and Murphy stations. We think this perk gives Walmart+ the edge here.

Edge: Walmart+

Amazon Prime, Walmart Plus or Target Circle 360: Return Policy

Walmart, Amazon, and Target all have a lot of products you won't like once you get them in the mail. However, another draw with any membership program is the special return benefits.

With Target Circle 360, you have an extra 30 days beyond the standard 90 to make returns, making it the longest return window of the three services. With Prime, it's not much different: You can return most products for free, usually within 30 days of purchase. Walmart offers a 90-day return policy on most items, and with Walmart InHome, someone will actually come to your home to pick up the return. However, Walmart InHome is an additional $7/month or $40/year.

Edge: Target Circle 360

Amazon Prime, Walmart Plus or Target Circle 360: Extras

We've looked at the core value proposition of these membership programs — fast, free shipping options, deals, and better return policies — but Walmart+ and Prime have a few other extras to sweeten the deal (Target Circle 360, however, does not )

With Walmart+, the two big ones are Paramount+ and Auto Care. Your subscription includes Paramount+, which has quickly grown into one of the best streaming services out there, offering live sports and events as well as thousands of popular titles on demand. Auto Care offers things like free flat tire repair.

Amazon Prime slightly beats Walmart+ with access to Prime Video, Prime Music, Audible, Kindle Books, a free year of Grubhub+, and more. In reality, most Prime members don't realize or take advantage of all these extra benefits that membership offers.

Edge: Amazon Prime

Amazon Prime, Walmart Plus or Target Circle 360: Price

Target Circle 360 ​​is very competitively priced right now at $49 for your first year, but that deal ends on May 18th. Once that's done, Circle 360 ​​will cost $99 a year. Walmart+ costs $12.95 per month or $98 per year if you pay annually. Amazon Prime is more expensive at $14.99 per month or $139 per year.

Walmart+ and Prime both offer a 30-day free trial, but Circle 360 ​​does not have a free trial.

Edge (currently): Target Circle 360

Which membership is the best deal: Amazon Prime, Walmart Plus or Target Circle 360?

Regardless of personal taste and location, Amazon Prime is winning the retailer membership program war. Yes, it's the most expensive, but the virtually endless selection of goods, the fast (usually free) shipping on all goods, and the huge variety of add-ons are worth that extra fee. Walmart+ is a close second and Target Circle 360 ​​comes in last. Target says it will expand its Circle 360 ​​program in the near future, so we can check back with a revised ranking.

Also, the best membership plan depends on your current situation. If you live closer to Walmarts or Targets, or just shop at one of them more often, this might be the best membership plan for you. But, for most people, Prime is the best bet.