Walmart Plus does not include Paramount+ or Showtime

Walmart Plus membership gives you free shipping, fuel discounts, and early access to sales. It does not come with Paramount+, Showtime, or any other streaming video service. You would need to pay for those subscriptions separately, either through their own apps or through a cable provider that bundles them.

Walmart has not added entertainment streaming to its membership benefits, even though other retailers like Amazon Prime Video bundle video content with their shopping memberships. If you want both Walmart Plus and Paramount+, you will pay two separate monthly fees. This is a deliberate choice by Walmart to keep membership costs lower rather than absorb the licensing fees that streaming services require.

Key Takeaways

  • Walmart Plus covers shipping, fuel discounts, and early access to deals, but does not include any streaming video services.
  • Paramount+ and Showtime are separate paid subscriptions you must purchase directly or through a cable bundle.
  • Amazon Prime Video includes streaming as part of its membership, but Walmart Plus does not offer the same benefit.
  • Some cable and internet providers bundle Paramount+ or Showtime with their packages, which may be cheaper than buying subscriptions separately.
  • If you want both Walmart Plus and streaming services, you will need to budget for two separate monthly payments.

What Walmart Plus actually covers

Walmart Plus costs $98 per year or $12.98 per month and focuses on shopping and fuel benefits. Members get free next-day or same-day delivery on may be able to access items, discounts at Walmart gas stations, early access to online sales, and a 5 percent discount on fuel at Murphy USA stations. None of these benefits extend to entertainment or streaming content.

The membership is designed to compete with Amazon Prime, which does include Prime Video. Walmart chose a different strategy: lower the annual cost and focus on the shopping experience rather than adding a streaming service. This approach appeals to shoppers who primarily want delivery speed and fuel savings without paying extra for entertainment they may not watch.

How to get Paramount+ and Showtime separately

Paramount+ costs $5.99 per month with ads or $11.99 per month without ads. Showtime costs $10.99 per month on its own. You can subscribe to either one directly through their apps or websites, or you can bundle them together for a discount.

If you subscribe to both through Paramount's website, you pay $19.99 per month without ads or $11.99 per month with ads on Paramount+ and ads on Showtime. Buying them separately costs more. You can also get both services through cable providers like Dish, DirecTV, or Comcast if you already have a TV package with them. The bundled price through Paramount is usually the cheapest way to get both services if you do not have cable.

Cable bundles that include these services

Some internet and TV providers bundle Paramount+ and Showtime with their packages. Comcast Xfinity, Dish Network, and DirecTV often include Paramount+ with certain TV plans. Showtime is sometimes included with premium cable tiers or available as an add-on for $10 to $15 per month.

If you already pay for cable or satellite TV, check your provider's website or call customer service to see whether Paramount+ or Showtime is included in your current plan. Many providers have added these services to compete with streaming-only options, so you may already have access without paying extra. This is often the cheapest route if you maintain a cable subscription for other reasons.

Why Walmart Plus does not bundle streaming

Walmart Plus focuses on same-day delivery and shopping perks because that is where Walmart competes directly with Amazon. Adding a streaming service would increase the membership cost and require Walmart to negotiate licensing deals with studios, which is expensive and complicated. These licensing agreements often cost retailers millions of dollars per year.

Amazon Prime Video works for Amazon because the company owns the infrastructure to stream video and already had relationships with studios from its entertainment production business. Walmart would have to build or license that capability from scratch. Instead, Walmart keeps the membership price low and lets customers choose their own entertainment subscriptions based on what they actually want to watch.

Comparing Walmart Plus to other membership options

Amazon Prime includes Prime Video, which has original shows and movies, plus free shipping and other shopping benefits. The annual cost is $139 per year or $14.99 per month. If you value streaming content, Prime may offer better overall value even though it costs more than Walmart Plus upfront.

Costco membership does not include streaming either. Costco focuses on warehouse shopping and gas discounts, similar to Walmart Plus. Target Circle is free and offers discounts and early access to sales but no streaming. None of these retailers bundle entertainment the way Amazon does, so Walmart is not unusual in this regard.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get Paramount Plus free with any retail membership?

No retail membership in the United States includes Paramount+ for free. Amazon Prime Video is the only major shopping membership that bundles a streaming service. You can get Paramount+ free through some cable TV packages, but not through shopping club memberships.

Does Showtime come free with anything?

Showtime is sometimes included with cable TV packages from Comcast, Dish, or DirecTV, depending on your plan level. It is not free through any shopping membership or streaming bundle. You can subscribe to Showtime on its own for $10.99 per month.

Is it cheaper to get Paramount Plus through a cable bundle?

It depends on your cable package and provider. If you already pay for cable, adding Paramount+ through your provider might cost $5 to $10 per month. Buying it separately costs $5.99 to $11.99 per month. Compare your provider's offer to the standalone price before deciding.

What if I want both Walmart Plus and streaming services?

You would pay for them separately. Walmart Plus costs $98 per year, and Paramount+ costs $5.99 to $11.99 per month depending on ads. If you want both, budget for two separate subscriptions. You could also check whether your cable provider bundles Paramount+ to potentially save money.

Does Amazon Prime include Showtime?

Amazon Prime Video does not include Showtime automatically, but you can add Showtime as an add-on channel through Prime Video for $10.99 per month. This is sometimes cheaper than buying Showtime separately if you already have Prime membership.