Walmart® offers two credit cards. One is a regular store credit card, the Walmart® Credit Card and the other is a Walmart® Mastercard®. The Walmart® store card is like any other store card, meaning that it is only good for making purchases at Walmart® or one of its family stores, such as Sam’s Club®. The Walmart® Mastercard®, on the other hand, is a credit card that you can use wherever Mastercard® is accepted.
Walmart® Credit Card highlights
| Rewards earned on purchases | 3% back on Walmart.com, 2% back on Walmart and Murphy USA gas stations 1% on other eligible purchases with the Walmart® Mastercard®, 1% on other eligible Walmart® purchases with the Walmart® Credit Card (some exclusions apply) |
| Annual Percentage Rate (APR) for Purchases (Walmart® Mastercard®) | 17.65% to 23.65% Variable APR, based on your creditworthiness and other factors (per the Walmart website this information is accurate as of May 30, 2017 and may have changed after that date) |
| Annual Percentage Rate (APR) for Purchases (Walmart® Credit Card) | 23.65% Variable APR (per the Walmart website this information is accurate as of May 30, 2017 and may have changed after that date) |
| Bonus Offer | If approved for a Walmart Credit Card online, you can save 20% up to $50 on your first online purchase made on the same day as the application. Offer ends June 14, 2017 |
| Annual Fee | $0 |
Walmart® Credit Card basics
Anyone can apply for a Walmart® Credit Card, but we think they may be geared toward consumers who have average or limited credit. The Walmart® Mastercard® has more stringent credit requirements than the store card, so if you are interested in building or rebuilding your credit score, the store card is a good first step.
Both cards allow cardmembers to earn rewards through the 3-2-1 Save Rewards program. Cardmembers can earn:
- 3 percent back on purchases made on Walmart®.com, which include purchases made on the Walmart® App
- 2 percent back on fuel purchases made at either Walmart® or Murphy USA (excluding Murphy Express) gas stations
- 1 percent back on other eligible purchases made at Walmart® locations with the Walmart® Credit Card. With the Walmart® Mastercard®, 1 percent back on other eligible purchases from Walmart locations and from any merchant that accepts Mastercard credit cards
- Cash back is applied as a credit to your statement
We want to help you understand the Walmart® Credit Card pros and cons we identified, so here are a few comparisons with other popular credit cards.
Walmart® Credit Card vs. Citi® Double Cash Card
Although the Walmart® credit card has the 3-2-1 Save program, Citi® Double Cash Card cardmembers can earn cash back rewards. They can earn 1 percent on all purchases and then 1 percent as they pay for those purchases.
There are no category restrictions or caps on the amount of cash back rewards Citi® Double Cash Card cardmembers can earn.
Neither Walmart® Credit Card nor the Citi Double Cash Card have an annual fee.
Conclusion: Walmart® Credit Card has the better deal when it comes to cash back providing you spend more in the selected categories. The Walmart® Credit Card is the way to go if you are looking for those kind of savings.
Walmart® Credit Card vs. Sallie Mae® Rewards MasterCard® (Now known as Upromise® by Sallie Mae)
Editor’s Note: The Upromise® by Sallie Mae Mastercard® mentioned in this article is expired and is no longer available. As far as we know the Upromise® by Sallie Mae Mastercard® issued by Barclaycard is no longer accepting new applications (last time we checked was April 24, 2017)
The Sallie Mae® Rewards MasterCard® from Barclaycard has been discontinued. In its place, Barclaycard now offers the Upromise® by Sallie Mae Mastercard®, which, as we understand is no longer accepting new applications.
The Upromise card pays up to 5 percent cash back on online shopping (eligible purchases made through Upromise.com), 2.5% cash back on your total eligible bill from participating Upromise restaurants; and up to 5 percent cash back on online travel (eligible purchases made through participating travel partners through Upromise.com).
Through the Upromise portal you can visit popular retailers like JCPenny, Kohl’s, Orbitz, Barnes & Noble, and many others. The site currently offers up to 7 percent back on Travelocity.com purchases. Other specials include 3 percent back on selected categories of Amazon.com purchases. The partnership with Orbitz means virtually any travel purchases are likely to be eligible for cash back. Hundreds of retailers are listed by name offering deals and savings.
Anecdotally, some consumers complain that the rewards program is complicated. The best way to avoid confusion is to read and fully understand the terms and conditions on the card. Here are some nice perks to the card:
- Upromise Mastercard® has no annual fee
- No rotating bonus categories
- 0% introductory APR for the first fifteen billing cycles following each balance transfer that posts to your account within 45 days of account opening. After that, (and for balance transfers that do not post within 45 days of account opening) your APR will be 14.74%, 20.74%, or 23.74% based on your credit worthiness. This APR will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate. There is a balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
The Upromise Mastercard® pays more generous rewards than either of the Walmart® cards.
Walmart® Credit Card pros
Consumers with no credit or average credit may have a shot at qualifying for the Walmart® Credit Card (the store card), so it may be an option for those looking to build or rebuild credit.
The bonus offer of 20 percent off online purchases made on the first day can be stacked with in-store sales for real savings.
We always like cards with no annual fee.
It can be hard to earn enough rewards on some fee cards to negate the cost of owning the card.
Walmart® Credit Card cons
You may find that your credit limit is as low as $150. Some consumers complain that this limit doesn’t allow meaningful card use. The way to raise the credit limit is to use the card sparingly and pay it off in full each month. Patience and good financial behavior are key.
Interest rates on both cards run on the steep side. If you tend to carry a balance, look for a financing option that will allow you to pay down your debt at a lower cost.
Should you get this credit card?
While the Walmart® Credit Card certainly isn’t the most advantageous credit card for people with great credit, with responsible use by you, it could help you get back on track or build your credit if you are starting over or starting from scratch, keep in mind this version of the credit card can only be used for purchases at Walmart® or one of it’s family of stores such as Sam’s Club®.
The Walmart® Mastercard®, on the other hand, is a credit card that can be used wherever Mastercard® is accepted.
If Walmart® is your place to shop the Walmart® Credit Card or the Walmart® Mastercard® could be just the ticket to get some nice cash back rewards.