{"id":8703,"date":"2025-07-01T17:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-01T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.threecolts.com\/blog\/?p=8703"},"modified":"2025-06-26T22:36:18","modified_gmt":"2025-06-26T22:36:18","slug":"amazon-vs-walmart","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.threecolts.com\/blog\/amazon-vs-walmart\/","title":{"rendered":"Selling on Amazon vs. Walmart: Which is better in 2025?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Amazon commands 38% of the US ecommerce market<\/a> while Walmart holds just 6.4%. Yet Walmart’s marketplace is growing rapidly, attracting sellers with its zero monthly fees and less competitive landscape. So, which platform deserves your attention in 2025?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This comparison breaks down what matters most: fees, fulfillment options, customer demographics, and performance requirements. You’ll walk away with a clear framework to decide which marketplace aligns with your business model, products, and growth stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Overview of Amazon vs. Walmart in 2025<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

What is Amazon?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Amazon dominates ecommerce with $638 billion in overall sales<\/a> and a market capitalization of $2.29 trillion<\/a>. The platform hosts over a million US sellers who ship 4.1 billion items worldwide annually<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Third-party sellers account for over 60% of Amazon’s unit sales<\/a>. The company’s Prime membership program boasts 200+ million subscribers<\/a> across the world, creating a massive built-in audience for sellers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amazon’s fulfillment network<\/a> spans 175+ centers globally, handling shipping and customer service for FBA sellers<\/a>. Their AWS cloud segment generated $28.8 billion in revenue in 2024<\/a>, driving nearly half of Amazon’s operating profits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Walmart?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Walmart is the world’s largest retailer by revenue, generating $648 billion globally in 2024<\/a>. Its ecommerce marketplace is growing rapidly, although it currently holds just 6.4% of US online sales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The company maintains 10,616 retail locations<\/a> across 24 countries, serving 255 million weekly customers<\/a> both in-store and online. Walmart’s omnichannel approach integrates physical stores with digital operations, offering advantages in grocery, curbside pickup, and same-day delivery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Walmart Marketplace has also since opened to international sellers and now hosts over 150,000 third-party merchants<\/a>. The platform is investing heavily in its Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS)<\/a> program and Walmart Connect advertising platform<\/a>, which generated $3.4 billion in 2023<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At-a-glance comparison<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Feature<\/strong><\/td>Amazon<\/strong><\/td>Walmart<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Founded<\/td>1994 (Jeff Bezos)<\/td>1962 (Sam Walton)<\/td><\/tr>
Revenue (2024)<\/td>$638 billion<\/td>$648 billion<\/td><\/tr>
Ecommerce market share (US)<\/td>~38%<\/td>6.4%<\/td><\/tr>
Physical presence<\/td>Amazon Go and Amazon Fresh in some US states, but mostly online-first<\/td>10,616 stores across 24 countries<\/td><\/tr>
Membership program<\/td>Amazon Prime (200M+ members)<\/td>Walmart+ (growing rapidly)<\/td><\/tr>
Global reach<\/td>Sells in 100+ countries<\/td>Operations in 24 countries<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Platform requirements & barriers to entry<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Side-by-side eligibility comparison (in the US)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Requirement<\/strong><\/td>Amazon<\/strong><\/td>Walmart<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Business entity<\/td>Individual or business<\/td>US registered business entity (LLC, Corp)<\/td><\/tr>
US tax ID<\/td>Required<\/td>Required<\/td><\/tr>
Payment\/billing methods<\/td>Any bank accepting ACH<\/td>ACH payments and credit cards<\/td><\/tr>
Monthly fees<\/td>$0 but 0.99 per item sold (Individual), $39.99\/month (Professional)<\/td>$0\/month (but with referral fees per item sold)<\/td><\/tr>
Marketplace access<\/td>Global (20+ countries)<\/td>US, Canada, Mexico, Chile<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Amazon allows virtually anyone to become a seller. You can register as an individual with just a government ID, tax information, and a credit card. Their Individual plan carries no monthly fee but charges $0.99 per sale, while the Professional plan costs $39.99 monthly with access to advanced tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Walmart maintains stricter entry requirements. Sellers must have a US-registered business, a US tax ID, and a US bank account. Though Walmart charges no monthly subscription fee, the platform’s manual review process and stricter verification create a higher barrier to entry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recommendation:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amazon works best for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n