Can You Use An Amazon Gift Card at Walmart In 2024? The Complete Guide
With over $200 billion in gift card sales in 2022, gift cards remain one of the most popular gifts to give and receive. Amazon and Walmart gift cards are top sellers, which leads many shoppers to ask: can you use an Amazon gift card at Walmart?
Unfortunately, the short answer remains no – Walmart continues to not accept Amazon gift cards in-store or online as of 2023. But why is this policy in place between two of the biggest US retailers? Read on for a detailed guide on using Amazon gift cards at Walmart.
Why Walmart Still Doesn‘t Accept Amazon Gift Cards
According to Walmart‘s current policy, you cannot use an Amazon gift card for any purchases at Walmart, Sam‘s Club or on their websites. This ongoing ban is due to direct competition between the mega-retailers.
In 2022, Amazon captured 45% of the US e-commerce market while Walmart held just 7.9% market share. Amazon also saw over $80 billion in gift card sales alone last year, dwarfing Walmart‘s estimated $10 billion.
With Amazon leading in e-commerce and gift card sales, Walmart has no incentive to support their competitor by accepting Amazon gift cards. Walmart wants shoppers to buy and use Walmart gift cards instead.
Data sources: eMarketer, Digital Commerce 360
Additionally, since Walmart does not sell Amazon products like Fire tablets or Kindles, there is no benefit to accepting Amazon‘s payment method. The lack of corporate affiliation between the retailers also prevents gift card crossover.
Official Policies on Gift Card Usage
Where You Can Use a Walmart Gift Card
Walmart gift cards, both physical and eGift cards, are redeemable at:
- Walmart stores
- Walmart.com
- Sam‘s Club locations
- SamsClub.com
You cannot use a Walmart gift card to buy other gift cards. But it can be applied to any other purchase at a Walmart-owned retailer.
According to Walmart‘s gift card policy, "Walmart gift cards must be used at Walmart stores, Walmart.com, Sam’s Club locations or samsclub.com only."
Where Amazon Gift Cards Are Accepted
Official Amazon policy states that Amazon gift cards can only be used to purchase eligible items on Amazon platforms. Valid places to use an Amazon gift card include:
- Amazon.com
- Amazon Fresh
- Whole Foods Market (owned by Amazon)
- Amazon Books
Amazon gift cards cannot be applied towards Prime subscriptions, Amazon Pay, or other gift card purchases.
According to Amazon‘s gift card usage policy, “Amazon.com Gift Cards can only be used to purchase eligible products and services on Amazon.com and certain related sites.”
Expert Analysis: The Reasons Behind Exclusive Gift Card Policies
As a retail analyst, it is clear that Walmart‘s refusal to take Amazon gift cards is strategic given the intense competition between the two e-commerce giants.
Walmart has a vested interest in gaining customer loyalty through its own gift cards. Accepting Amazon gift cards would undermine that objective and indirectly benefit their top rival. It comes down to each company promoting their own payment ecosystems.
Amazon similarly limits gift card usage to grow their share of customer wallets. Amazon would rather consumers buy more Amazon gift cards instead of cards that can be spent elsewhere.
In my expert opinion, neither company is likely to change course on their exclusive gift card policies any time soon. The race for retail dominance and e-commerce sales continues to heat up.
Gift Card Usage Comparison
While you can‘t combine gift card balances across retailers, here is an overview of what you can buy with each brand‘s offering:
| Gift Card Brand | Where It‘s Accepted | What You Can Buy | Exceptions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walmart | Walmart stores, Walmart.com, Sam‘s Club, SamsClub.com | Any items at Walmart-owned retailers | No gift cards |
| Amazon | Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods, Amazon Books | Anything sold directly by Amazon | Prime, gift cards, Amazon Pay |
Recommendations for Gift Card Shoppers
Since you can‘t use an Amazon gift card at Walmart (and vice versa), keep these tips in mind:
Check the gift card brand before buying – Don‘t assume cards are interchangeable between Amazon and Walmart.
Buy the right gift card for the intended retailer – Match the gift card to where you plan to spend it.
Use retailer-specific cards on that retailer‘s site/stores – Amazon gift cards for Amazon purchases, Walmart gift cards for Walmart buys.
Avoid gift card exclusions – You can‘t buy other gift cards or Prime membership with an Amazon card.
Leverage Visa/Mastercard/Amex gift cards – These work at both Walmart and Amazon, providing flexibility.
Conclusion
While Amazon dominates the current e-commerce landscape, Walmart remains fiercely competitive. The exclusive gift card policies maintained by each retail giant reflect their strategic business priorities.
Hopefully this guide has shed light on why you can’t use an Amazon gift card at Walmart. Instead, opt for a Walmart or third-party gift card to shop Walmart stores and websites. And for Amazon purchases, stick to Amazon-branded gift cards for seamless checkout.
