There are some things you should buy on Amazon instead of Walmart and I’m going to share them with you!
Everyone has their favorite retailer to shop from, and the reasons are as varied as the shoppers themselves. Whether it’s the sheer convenience of online shopping, the thrill of finding great prices, the appeal of a wide product section, the simple comfort of home proximity, or so many other factors, we all develop our loyalties. However, when the dust settles and the receipts are tallied, shopping experts consistently say that at the end of the year, the two titans of retail, Walmart and Amazon, will be the leaders in terms of overall affordability. Their constant competition is a huge win for consumers who know where to look.
I know you want to save money and get as many things as possible with as little as possible, especially with budgets getting tighter for so many families. That’s why I took some time to do a deep-dive analysis of different product categories, comparing these two retail giants head-to-head. I’ve come across a clear list of items you should almost always buy on Amazon instead of Walmart. In these categories, you get the same, if not better, quality, but you can save a ton of money over the course of a year. If that sounds interesting and you’re ready to become a savvier shopper, keep reading!
Do you purchase any of these products regularly? Which one is your favorite to hunt for a deal on? I’d love to hear your own experiences, so be sure to share your thoughts with us in the comments section at the end!
1. Health and personal care
If you want to take care of your health and appearance but don’t want to spend a fortune doing so, I’ve got you. This is a category where smart shopping really pays off. In the health and personal care section, Amazon provides discounts of up to 4% over Walmart’s prices on average. That might not sound like much, but for items you buy repeatedly, like toothpaste, soap, and deodorant, that 4% adds up to significant annual savings. But the good news doesn’t stop here, because there are certain products in this category where Amazon’s savings far exceed that 4% average.
A key reason for Amazon’s edge here is its “Subscribe & Save” program. By scheduling regular deliveries of items you use consistently, you can unlock discounts of up to 15%. This is perfect for things like skincare products, contact lens solution, or razors, and it automates your shopping while guaranteeing a lower price. Walmart has its own subscription service, but Amazon’s is generally more robust with a wider selection of eligible items.
For example, as mentioned, two 27.7-ounce bottles of Pantene Daily Moisture Renewal Shampoo with Hair Mask Treatment cost just $19.99 on Amazon but can be a staggering $39.99 at Walmart for the same bundle. The price difference is crazy. Look also at items like electric toothbrush replacement heads or high-end sunscreens, where Amazon’s marketplace model allows for more competition and frequent promotional pricing. If you want to save even more, keep reading to discover other things you should buy on Amazon instead of Walmart.
2. Household supplies
When it comes to the essentials that keep your home running smoothly, every penny truly matters. There’s not a huge difference between these two retailers on every single item, but every cent counts when you want to save, right? According to retail analysts, Amazon undercuts Walmart on home goods overall by an average of 3%. For a family that spends a few hundred dollars a month on these supplies, that 3% can translate into over a hundred dollars in savings by the end of the year.
This category is also where the convenience of Amazon Prime delivery really shines. Items like giant packs of paper towels, heavy jugs of laundry detergent, or bulky boxes of trash bags can be a hassle to lug from the store to your car and into your house. Getting them delivered directly to your doorstep for free with Prime is a major perk that saves you time and effort, on top of the monetary savings.
For instance, the multifunctional Durafoam cleaning pads by Mr. Clean Magic Eraser are consistently cheaper on Amazon. A ten-pack of extremely robust foam cushions costs $12.13 on Amazon, and if you get the same thing at Walmart, you will pay $13.24. Another great example is laundry pods; a large container of Tide Pods is often several dollars cheaper on Amazon, especially when digital coupons are available, which are easy to “clip” with a single click right on the product page.
Are you in the mood for a shopping spree? Or maybe just restocking the pantry? Then keep reading to discover what the best things are!
3. Beauty products
We continue with these items you should buy on Amazon instead of Walmart, and this time it’s all about beauty products. From skincare to makeup, the savings can be beautiful. Experts say the largest online retailer in the world offers 2% generally lower pricing than its competitor in the beauty aisle. Beyond the base price, the real advantage for Amazon often lies in its massive selection and bundle deals. You can find niche, indie, and international brands that Walmart would never carry on its physical or virtual shelves. However, whatever store you decide to get your products from, you’ll still save a ton of money compared to other specialty shops that offer the same selection.
For instance, the Olay Skincare Regenerist Vitamin C + Peptide 24 hydrating moisturizer, 1.7 ounces, costs $29.94 at Walmart. The price is the same at Amazon for a single jar, but frequently Amazon offers a deal where you get double the product: you receive two 1.7-ounce containers of the same moisturizing cream for the same price. Long story short, you get twice as much for your money. This “buy one, get one” or “2-for-1” style of promotion is much more common on Amazon for beauty items.
Furthermore, Amazon is a goldmine for discovering new products thanks to its extensive user reviews, complete with photos and videos. When you’re considering a new foundation or serum, being able to read thousands of honest reviews from people with similar skin types is invaluable and something Walmart’s website can’t match. Keep reading to discover other products you should buy on Amazon instead of Walmart!
4. Pet food and supplies
For pet parents, finding the best value is a top priority. In a comprehensive price comparison, this was one of the few times that Walmart didn’t finish in second place; Chewy is the store that had the second-cheapest pet food and supplies. And as you can guess, Amazon had the lowest total pricing for pet food and many other pet-related items. The competition between Amazon and Chewy keeps prices low, often leaving Walmart in a distant third.
Again, the “Subscribe & Save” feature is a game-changer for pet owners. Setting up a recurring delivery for a 40-pound bag of dog food or a heavy box of cat litter not only saves you money but also saves your back from hauling it out of a store. You can rest easy knowing you’ll never run out of your furry friend’s favorite meal.
In any case, shopping at Amazon usually pays off when you’re spending money on the non-human members of your household. For instance, a five-pound bag of Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula natural adult dry dog food with chicken and brown rice costs $17.58 at Walmart. On Amazon, the same five-pound bag of dog food only costs $14.21. That’s a saving of over 19% on a single bag. The savings are similar for things like flea and tick treatments, cat toys, and specialized veterinary diets that you often can’t find at Walmart at all.
5. Baby supplies
If you have a baby in your family, you know they can be pretty expensive. Between diapers, wipes, formula, and gear, the costs add up incredibly fast. You need clothes, special accessories, shoes, and, of course, lots and lots of diapers. However, you can still save money, and if your tiny family member needs several diapers a day, you should almost certainly buy them on Amazon instead of Walmart.
Experts say Amazon undersold its main rival in the baby market by 3% overall, which is pretty good for those who want to save. But the real savings come from specific deals and programs. For instance, Huggies Little Movers size 3 diapers come in 156-count boxes and cost $52.98 at Walmart. The same product costs only $49.36 if you purchase it on Amazon’s website. That’s over $4 less, and using a recurring “Subscribe & Save” order or a digital coupon at checkout will save you an additional amount, often another $3 to $5.
Furthermore, Amazon’s Baby Registry program offers perks that Walmart’s can’t match, such as a free Welcome Box filled with samples and a “completion discount” of 15% off eligible items remaining on your registry. This is a massive saving on big-ticket items like strollers, car seats, and cribs, where a 15% discount can mean hundreds of dollars back in your pocket.
6. Vitamins and supplements
To support a healthy lifestyle, many of us turn to vitamins and supplements. You should buy vitamins and supplements on Amazon instead of Walmart if you want the best price and selection. These products will fuel you with energy, help your muscles be stronger, and keep fatigue at bay. As you already know, they don’t replace healthy food and an active lifestyle, but they can be a great help in your everyday life, and saving money on them makes it easier to stay consistent.
Speaking of health aids, Amazon has prices around 4% lower than Walmart in the vitamins and supplements category. This applies to everyday multivitamins as well as more specialized products like protein powders, collagen peptides, and probiotics. The sheer variety on Amazon is unmatched; you can find specific formulations, dosages, and brands that simply aren’t available at Walmart. For instance, Walmart charges $19.98 for a 250-count bottle of Centrum multivitamin tablets for men, whereas you’ll only pay $16.42 for the same product on Amazon. For athletes, buying a large tub of whey protein can be $10-$20 cheaper on Amazon, which is a substantial saving.
One important tip: When buying supplements on Amazon, always check the seller’s ratings and read recent reviews to ensure you’re buying from a reputable source. Look for products that are “shipped and sold by Amazon” or from the brand’s official storefront for extra peace of mind.
7. Organic produce
For a long time, buying organic meant paying a steep premium. While prices have come down, finding the best deals still requires some strategy. Different shopping experts say Trader Joe’s and Aldi typically offer more affordable organic fruit and veggies than Walmart. However, if you’re an Amazon Prime member and want to save even more without leaving your house, you should check out their Whole Foods section, because you can get bigger discounts on specific items.
Amazon’s acquisition of Whole Foods Market has created a powerhouse for organic grocery savings for Prime members. There are exclusive “Prime Deals” every week, easily identifiable by blue signs in-store and special tags online, which can offer deep discounts on everything from organic berries to grass-fed beef. Furthermore, Prime members get an additional 10% off hundreds of other sale items throughout the store.
Moreover, you can even earn 5% cash back on your purchases at Whole Foods and on Amazon Fresh online grocery orders when you use your Amazon Prime Rewards Visa card to make purchases. This 5% back is on top of all other sales and discounts, creating a stack of savings that no other retailer, including Walmart, can typically match for organic products.
8. Books
Given that Amazon started as an online bookstore, it’s no surprise that it remains the undisputed champion in this category. If you love reading and you don’t want to spend a fortune on books, you should definitely check out one of our favorite retailers. Walmart has a small, curated selection of current bestsellers, but it cannot compete with Amazon’s colossal library. You can get several popular paperbacks for only $10 or less on Amazon, as opposed to Walmart, where new paperbacks cost around $15 or more. On the other hand, if you prefer hardcover books, you can get them from either retailer, but Amazon’s pre-order price guarantee ensures you get the lowest price offered between the time you order and the release date.
Beyond new books, Amazon’s marketplace for used books is a treasure trove for frugal readers. You can often find like-new copies of books for just a few dollars plus shipping. Furthermore, Amazon dominates the digital reading space. With Kindle e-books, you can often find titles for significantly less than their physical counterparts, and there are constant sales and promotions, including the Kindle Daily Deals. This is a market that Walmart has virtually no presence in, making Amazon the default choice for digital readers.
9. Suitcases
Do you want to go on vacation anytime soon? You probably want to get ready ASAP to have the time of your life, so if you’re looking for the perfect suitcase to fit all of your belongings, Amazon should be your go-to destination. Walmart offers a basic selection of luggage, but Amazon’s variety is in a different league entirely.
Luggage is one of the items you should buy on Amazon instead of Walmart because it offers vastly superior options when it comes to size, colors, materials, and brands. You can find everything from budget-friendly Amazon Basics luggage, which receives excellent reviews, to high-end brands like Samsonite, Delsey, and Travelpro, often at prices well below what you’d find in a department store. Even though the price difference on a specific piece might not always be huge compared to Walmart, the quality and selection you get for your money on Amazon are far better. You can put the difference towards the places you want to visit, so it’s a win-win.
The ability to read hundreds of reviews, see customer photos of the luggage in real-world situations, and watch video reviews is also incredibly helpful for making a confident purchase, ensuring the carry-on you buy will actually fit in the overhead bin.
Takeaway
Even though we talk about several things you should get on Amazon instead of Walmart because they’re cheaper and of the same quality, don’t forget to be a diligent shopper and always check out the prices before making a purchase. Prices are dynamic and can change based on demand, promotions, and competitor actions. Being a smart consumer means doing a quick check before you click “buy.”
The price range may vary in different seasons, depending on sales, product availability, and expiration dates for perishable items. Always check out the best offer, and don’t forget to look at other things besides the price range: quantity, quality, and price per ounce or per unit. This simple tip of calculating the unit price will help you save more in the long run and is the secret of all the best bargain hunters. Also, factor in shipping costs if you’re not a member of Prime or Walmart+, as a shipping fee can easily erase any price advantage.
Do you know any other things you should buy on Amazon instead of Walmart? Are there categories where you’ve found Walmart consistently beats Amazon? Let us know in the comments below because we’re always looking for the best deals and insights from our community of savvy shoppers. Speaking of that, there are definitely several products that are cheaper at Walmart than on Amazon, so if you’d like to read the reverse of this article, let us know in the comments!
Until next time, here’s another great article to check out: 9 Scams That Target Costco Members: Don’t Get Fooled
