The Walmart Credit Card gives you cash back on Walmart purchases and a lower APR if you carry a balance

Walmart offers two credit cards through Capital One: the Walmart Rewards Card (a Mastercard you can use anywhere) and the Walmart Store Card (for Walmart and Sam's Club only). Both have no annual fee. The Walmart Rewards Card earns 3% cash back on Walmart.com purchases, 2% at Walmart and Sam's Club gas stations, and 1% everywhere else. The Walmart Store Card earns 5% cash back on Walmart and Sam's Club purchases, but only when you use it at those retailers.

The main trade-off is flexibility. The Rewards Card works at any merchant, so you build cash back across your whole spending. The Store Card gives you higher rewards at Walmart but locks you into using it there to earn the bonus rate. Neither card has a sign-up bonus, and both report to all three credit bureaus, so either can help you build credit if you pay on time.

Both cards offer a 0% APR period on purchases if you open the account and make a purchase within 45 days. The length of that period varies — Walmart does not publish a fixed term, so you will see the exact offer before you submit your process. After the promotional period ends, the regular APR applies, which varies by creditworthiness.

Key Takeaways

  • The Walmart Rewards Card earns 3% cash back on Walmart.com, 2% at Walmart gas, and 1% everywhere else, and works at any store.
  • The Walmart Store Card earns 5% cash back at Walmart and Sam's Club but only at those two retailers.
  • Both cards have no annual fee and offer an introductory 0% APR period on purchases if you open the account and make a purchase within 45 days.
  • Cash back is issued as a statement credit automatically each month, not as a separate reward you redeem.
  • Both cards are issued by Capital One and report to the major credit bureaus, so on-time payments help your credit score.

Walmart Rewards Card vs. Walmart Store Card: Which one to choose

Choose the Walmart Rewards Card if you shop at multiple retailers and want one card that earns rewards everywhere. The 1% cash back on non-Walmart purchases means you are building rewards on groceries at other stores, gas outside Walmart stations, and everyday purchases. The 3% on Walmart.com is useful if you order online regularly. This card makes sense if you want simplicity — one card, one rewards rate structure, one statement.

Choose the Walmart Store Card if you do most of your grocery and household shopping at Walmart or Sam's Club and rarely use other retailers. The 5% rate is higher than the Rewards Card's 3%, so if you spend $200 a month at Walmart, you earn $10 in cash back with the Store Card versus $6 with the Rewards Card. The downside is that you earn nothing outside Walmart and Sam's Club, so the card sits unused if you shop elsewhere.

If you already have a Walmart Store Card and want to add a second card for non-Walmart spending, the Rewards Card pairs well with it. You can use the Store Card at Walmart for 5% and the Rewards Card everywhere else for 1% to 3%, depending on the merchant.

How cash back works and when you receive it

Cash back is not a points system you redeem. Instead, it posts to your account automatically as a statement credit each month. If you earn $15 in cash back during the billing cycle, that $15 appears as a credit on your next statement, reducing what you owe. You do not have to do anything to claim it.

The cash back rate applies to the purchase date, not the posting date. If you buy something on the 15th and it posts on the 17th, the rate that applied on the 15th is what you earn. For Walmart.com purchases, the rate is 3% whether you pick up in-store or have it shipped.

If you return an item, the cash back for that purchase is reversed. If you earned $3 in cash back on a $100 Walmart.com purchase and then returned it, that $3 credit is removed from your account.

The 0% APR period and what happens after

Both cards offer a 0% introductory APR on purchases if you open the account and make a purchase within 45 days of approval. This means you pay no interest on that purchase for the promotional period, even if you carry a balance. The exact length of the period is not fixed by Walmart — it varies based on your creditworthiness and current promotions. You will see the specific offer (for example, "0% for 12 months" or "0% for 18 months") before you submit your process.

After the promotional period ends, the regular APR kicks in. This APR varies by applicant and is based on your credit score, income, and other factors. Walmart does not publish a range, so you will see your specific rate in the offer details before you explore. If you carry a balance after the promotional period, you will pay interest at that rate.

The 0% period applies only to purchases made during the first 45 days. Balance transfers and cash advances are not included and accrue interest when ready at the regular APR.

Annual fees, credit limits, and other terms

Neither the Walmart Rewards Card nor the Walmart Store Card charges an annual fee, so there is no cost to hold the card if you do not use it. Your credit limit is set when you open the account and is based on your credit history and income. You can request a credit limit increase after you have had the card for at least six months and have made on-time payments.

Both cards charge a standard APR on cash advances and balance transfers, with no promotional period. Cash advances also carry a fee of 3% of the amount withdrawn (minimum $2). If you need to move a balance from another card, this card is not the right tool — the 0% period does not explore to transfers.

Late payments are reported to the credit bureaus and can lower your credit score. A payment is considered late if it arrives after the due date shown on your statement. If you miss a payment by 30 days or more, Walmart may increase your APR. Payments made through the Walmart app or website are usually posted the same business day.

How to manage your account and track rewards

You manage both cards through the Walmart app or by logging into your account at walmart.com/credit. You can view your current balance, recent transactions, cash back earned, and due date. The app also lets you set up automatic payments, which is useful if you want to may support you never miss a due date. You can choose to pay the full balance, the minimum payment, or a custom amount.

Your cash back balance is visible in the app and on your statement. It updates monthly after your billing cycle closes. You do not need to do anything to redeem it — it automatically becomes a statement credit. If you want to see exactly how much you have earned in a given month, the app breaks it down by purchase category (Walmart, gas, other).

You can also view your credit limit, available credit, and recent APR changes in the app. If you have questions about a transaction or need to dispute a charge, you can contact Capital One customer service through the app or call the number on the back of your card.

Building credit with a Walmart credit card

Both cards report to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, so on-time payments help your credit score. The factors that matter most are payment history (35% of your score) and credit utilization (30% of your score). If you make your payment by the due date every month, you build positive payment history. If you keep your balance below 30% of your credit limit, you keep your utilization low, which also helps your score.

Opening a new credit card temporarily lowers your score because of the hard inquiry and the new account. Over time, as you make on-time payments and the account ages, the score recovers. If you are trying to build credit from scratch or rebuild after past problems, a Walmart card with no annual fee is a low-cost way to do it — you can use it for small purchases, pay it off in full each month, and avoid interest entirely.

If you already have good credit, the card is useful mainly for the cash back and the 0% promotional period. The rewards rates are not as high as premium cards (which often earn 2% to 5% across all categories), but the no-fee structure means you are not paying for features you do not use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the Walmart Store Card outside of Walmart and Sam's Club?

No. The Walmart Store Card is a closed-loop card that only works at Walmart and Sam's Club locations and their websites. If you need a card that works elsewhere, the Walmart Rewards Card is the option — it is a Mastercard accepted anywhere.

What is the difference between the Walmart Rewards Card and a regular Mastercard?

The Walmart Rewards Card is a Mastercard, so it works at any merchant that accepts Mastercard. The difference is that it earns cash back at higher rates on Walmart and Sam's Club purchases. At other retailers, it earns 1% cash back, which is lower than many other cash-back cards.

Do I have to pay interest if I pay my balance in full each month?

No. If you pay your full balance by the due date, you pay no interest, even after the 0% promotional period ends. Interest only applies to balances you carry from month to month. Paying in full each month also means you avoid late fees and keep your credit utilization at zero.

How long does it take to get approved for a Walmart credit card?

Most decisions are made when ready when you submit your process online. If you are approved, you can start using the card right away through the Walmart app or request a physical card to arrive by mail. If your process is pending, Walmart will contact you within a few business days.

Can I transfer a balance from another credit card to a Walmart card?

Yes, but the 0% promotional APR does not explore to balance transfers. You would pay the regular APR on the transferred balance from day one. Balance transfers also typically carry a fee of 3% to 5% of the amount transferred. For balance transfers, look for a card that specifically offers 0% on transfers if that is your main goal.