Attention Walmart shoppers: We’ve got the scoop on how to maximize your Walmart Rewards earnings. First, you’ll need a Walmart Mastercard, which is the only way to earn Walmart Rewards.
When you shop with your Walmart Mastercard, you can earn rewards anywhere. But you can only redeem rewards at Walmart.
If you’re unsure whether or not this loyalty program is right for you, we’ll explain how you earn and use the Walmart Reward Dollars. And, if you decide that you’d rather have a different credit card that earns cash back at Walmart, we’ve got you covered with some great recommendations.
Key Takeaways
- Walmart issues two Mastercards, which earn you Walmart Dollars on everyday purchases.
- Each Walmart Dollar is equal to $1 to be spent at Walmart, in-store or online.
- Other cash back credit cards may actually offer more value than the Walmart store credit cards.
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What is Walmart Rewards?
Walmart Rewards is the company’s loyalty rewards program. Unlike other rewards programs, the only way to earn Walmart Dollars is by applying for a Walmart credit card. Every qualifying purchase earns you a percentage back in Walmart Dollars.
With over 400 Walmart locations in Canada, it’s easy to pop into a store and start earning rewards.
Overview
Currency: Walmart Reward Dollars
Redemption options: In-store or online Walmart discount
Pros:
- Straightforward reward value
- Easy to redeem for store discounts
- Includes free supplementary credit cards
- Comes with Mastercard benefits
- Includes six months of free Walmart Delivery Pass every year
- $25 welcome bonus
Cons:
- Walmart credit card is the only way to earn rewards
- Rewards can only be used at Walmart
- Credit card doesn’t include travel insurance
What they’re worth
The Walmart Rewards program uses a simple structure: Every Walmart Dollar is worth an actual dollar and can be used toward any purchase at Walmart or online at walmart.ca.
Under this system, there is no need to figure out what your points are worth or think about what redemption options will give you the best value.
How to earn Walmart Rewards Dollars
Walmart makes it easy to earn rewards: Just make purchases with your Walmart Mastercard, and you’ll earn Walmart Rewards Dollars.
You have two no-fee credit card options to consider, both of them Mastercards.
| Credit Card | Earn Rates | Annual Fee, Income Requirements | Apply Now |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walmart Rewards Mastercard | * 3% back in Walmart Rewards at Walmart * 1% back in Walmart Rewards on all other purchases | * $0 * None | Apply Now |
| Walmart Rewards World Mastercard | * 3% back in Walmart Rewards at Walmart * 1% back in Walmart Rewards on all other purchases | * $0 * $100,000 | Apply Now |
Best Walmart Mastercard with no income requirements
Let's start with the entry level card – the
Here's what you'll earn on all your purchases:
- 3% back in Walmart Rewards at Walmart
- 1% back in Walmart Rewards on all other purchases
For a no-fee credit card, that's quite good – there aren't many credit cards that offer at least a 1% return on all your purchases.
But, there's a catch to the earn rates at Walmart – you only earn rewards on the pre-tax amount. This is different from traditional credit cards, where you earn rewards on the full transaction amount.
If you pay 13% tax on top of your purchases, the real earn rate is 2.65%. Taxes vary based on province and type of purchase, but you’ll always earn a little less than 3%.
| Province | Total Sales Tax Rate | Walmart Earn Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Alberta | 5% | 2.86% |
| British Columbia | 12% | 2.68% |
| Manitoba | 12% | 2.68% |
| New Brunswick | 15% | 2.61% |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 15% | 2.61% |
| Northwest Territories | 5% | 2.86% |
| Nova Scotia | 14% | 2.63% |
| Nunavut | 5% | 2.86% |
| Ontario | 13% | 2.65% |
| Prince Edward Island | 15% | 2.61% |
| Quebec | 14.98% | 2.61% |
| Saskatchewan | 11% | 2.70% |
| Yukon | 5% | 2.86% |
The Walmart Rewards Mastercard is also light on features. There's no insurance included, and there are no special perks to speak of.
If you’re looking for the best Walmart Mastercard available, the sister card, the Walmart Rewards World Mastercard, is the card for you.
Best Walmart Mastercard
The title of best Walmart Mastercard belongs to the
It’s also a no-fee card that offers rewards at the same rates:
- 3% back in Walmart Rewards at Walmart
- 1% back in Walmart Rewards on all other purchases
However, unlike the Walmart Rewards Mastercard, you’ll enjoy some basic insurance – extended warranty and purchase protection are included – and you can access World Mastercard benefits.
Since there’s no annual fee, why not get this card instead? The only possible problem is the income requirement. You'll need a household income of $100,000 to qualify. If you can meet that, there's no reason not to apply for this card. If not, you'll have to stick with the regular Walmart Mastercard.
How to redeem Walmart Rewards dollars
It’s easy to redeem Walmart Rewards in store or online. Just be aware that you have to redeem them in $5 increments. And remember, each Walmart Dollar is worth $1 CAD.
You can redeem your dollars towards almost anything in-store, with a few exceptions. Some of these include:
- Cash
- Tobacco
- Lottery tickets
- Prescriptions
- Alcohol
- Money-transfer services
Other than that, you can purchase anything you want. When shopping online, you can use your dollars towards any marketplace vendor, as well as groceries.
Redeem in-store
How do you redeem your Walmart Dollars in-store?
Simply insert your Walmart Mastercard in the payment terminal. On the screen, you'll see how many Walmart Dollars you have to use. You can then choose how many you want to redeem (in $5 increments).
You'll then continue as usual to pay for the rest of your purchase. On your receipt, you'll see how many Walmart Dollars you’ve used (and how many you have left).
Redeem online at Walmart.ca
It's a similar process when shopping online at walmart.ca.
At the checkout screen, there will be an option for you to click on called "Redeem Walmart Reward Dollars". Once there, you can select how many dollars you want to redeem, again in increments of $5.
You'll then use your credit card to pay for the rest of your purchase.
Are the Walmart Mastercards the best credit cards for shopping at Walmart?
The real question is: Are Walmart Mastercards the best for shopping at Walmart stores?
To help you decide, we compared credit cards that offer solid grocery store or general earn rates.
Since Mastercard recognizes Walmart Supercentres as grocery stores, you'll earn rewards at your card’s grocery earn rate when shopping there – even on non-grocery purchases. Just be aware that if your Walmart isn’t a Supercentre, you won’t get the grocery earn rate.
Unfortunately, American Express does not typically count Walmart as a grocery store. But you can still find competitive earn rates on general spend.
Here are a few no-annual-fee cash-back credit cards to consider.
| Credit Card | Welcome Bonus | Earn Rate at Walmart Supercentres | Annual Fee, Income Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| BMO CashBack Mastercard | 5% cash back for the first 3 months, up to $2,500 in spend (terms) | 3% cash back on the first $500 in monthly spend (0.5% afterwards) | * $0 * None |
| Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card | Earn an extra 10% cash back for the first 2 months, up to $1,000 spent (terms) | 2% cash back (if groceries are one of your top Money-Back Categories) | * $0 * $12,000 |
| SimplyCash Card from American Express | 5% cash back for the first 3 months, up to $2,000 in spend (terms) | 2% cash back | * $0 * None |
The Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card is a special case because your earn rate will depend on your personal spending habits. Tangerine lets you choose your own top spend categories. If you choose groceries, you’ll earn 2% at Walmart Supercentres. Otherwise, you’ll earn 0.5%.
Earn rates
First, here's how these cards compare for earning rewards at Walmart stores.
For both Walmart cards, we've used their adjusted rate of 2.65%, reflecting earn that doesn’t apply to 13% sales tax.
Note: Walmart cards earn Walmart Rewards Dollars, valued at $1. The other cards earn cash back. So the value is equivalent, but Walmart Rewards Dollars can only be spent at Walmart.
The BMO CashBack Mastercard comes out on top, with a 3% return on Walmart purchases, assuming you shop at a Walmart Supercentre. However, keep in mind that this rate is limited to your first $500 per month. If you plan to spend more than $500 per month at Walmart Supercentres and other grocery stores, purchases over the spend cap will only net you 0.5%.
The SimplyCash Card from American Express comes close to Walmart’s own cards, offering 2%. And so does the Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card, as long as you select groceries as one of your high-earn categories.
However, keep in mind that the SimplyCash Card from American Express and Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card offer opportunities to earn 2% outside of Walmart. So the best card for you depends on how much of your shopping you do at Walmart.
Income requirements
Most of these cards, including the Walmart Rewards Mastercard, don’t have income requirements. The glaring exception is the Walmart Rewards World Mastercard, which asks for $100,000 in annual household income.
Insurance included
Of the Walmart cards, only the Walmart Rewards World Mastercard includes insurance (basic purchase protection and extended warranty).
In this category, the SimplyCash Card from American Express has all the others beat since it includes $100,000 in travel accident coverage.
FAQ
What is the best credit card for shopping at Walmart?
Both Walmart Mastercards advertise 3% at Walmart. However, since you earn on before-tax totals, the true earn rate ranges from 2.61%–2.68%, depending on your province. The BMO CashBack Mastercard offers 3% on the total with tax, up to $500 per month. The MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard beats this with 5 points per dollar, but this card has a fee of $120.
Can you spend Walmart Dollars in other stores?
Walmart Dollars can only be used either in-store at Walmart or online at Walmart.ca. They can't be used anywhere else. This is one reason another credit card with good grocery-store cash-back rates might be a better option.
Can you use Walmart credit cards in other countries?
Your Walmart credit card is a Mastercard, so it can be used anywhere in the world where Mastercard is accepted. Mastercard and Visa are widely accepted credit card issuers, so you should have no problem with acceptance.
How do Walmart Rewards work?
It’s easy. You earn Walmart Reward Dollars when you make purchases with a Walmart Mastercard. You can redeem your reward dollars at Walmart stores or on walmart.ca, where 1 reward dollar equals $1 CAD.
How is the Walmart Rewards customer service?
We checked Reddit to see what actual cardholders had to say. According to Redditors, Walmart’s customer service is lacking. Users complained about long wait times on the phone, poor communication, and errors in billing.
How can I redeem Walmart Rewards in Canada?
When you’re ready to use your reward dollars, head to a Walmart location or to the Walmart website. At checkout, specify that you want to use your rewards when you pay with your Walmart Mastercard.
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