Get more from your Amex perks: New Peacock subscription with Walmart+

The Walmart+ membership benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express and the American Express® Business Gold Card is getting more valuable. Beginning Sept. 15, Walmart+ members will have a new choice between two streaming services for no extra cost.

Currently, Walmart+ members can subscribe to the ad-supported Paramount+ Essential plan. But starting next week, members will be able to instead pick the ad-supported Peacock Premium plan. And members won’t be locked into the selection permanently; you can switch between the two services every 90 days.

The standard Walmart+ membership costs $98 plus tax annually (or $12.95 plus tax per month). However, Amex Platinum and Business Gold cardmembers can receive a monthly statement credit for Walmart+ (up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes), offsetting the cost of the membership. Enrollment is required; Plus Ups excluded.

What is Walmart+?

Launched in 2020, Walmart+ is a paid membership program that offers free shipping from Walmart with no order minimum and free same-day grocery delivery on orders of $35 and up (within a reasonable distance).

The program offers several other money-saving benefits. In addition to the new choice between Paramount+ and Peacock streaming, the perks for Walmart+ include:

• Free pharmacy delivery (no order minimum)
• Free 24-hour online support from veterinary experts
• Save on fuel, up to 10 cents off per gallon, at participating gas stations (Exxon, Mobil, Murphy and Walmart) and member prices at Sam’s Club fuel centers
• Auto care benefits, including free flat tire repair, regardless of where the tire was purchased from, and a free road hazard warranty with the purchase and installation of new tires at Walmart
• 25% off Burger King purchases — and a free Whopper every three months
• Free returns from home (no printing or repackaging necessary)
• Up to 5% in Walmart Cash when booking travel through Walmart+ Travel

Note: Walmart+ previously included ad-free access to select content on the Pluto TV streaming service, but that benefit was discontinued as of Sept. 2.

Related: Walmart Cash rewards program: How to earn ‘cash,’ save on your bill and enjoy perks

How to get a complimentary Walmart+ membership

Both the Amex Platinum and Business Gold include up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes in monthly statement credits toward a Walmart+ membership (enrollment required).

To receive the credits, sign up for a monthly Walmart+ membership with automatic renewal or log in to your existing Walmart+ membership account and enter your Platinum or Business Gold card number as the payment method. Statement credits are typically received a few days after the membership is charged each month, but can take up to six to eight weeks.

Annual Walmart+ memberships and the Plus Ups enhanced delivery service do not qualify for the Amex statement credits. If you currently have an annual Walmart+ membership, you must change to the monthly membership plan before your annual membership renews.

Related: Here’s how much value you can get from the Amex Platinum card in your first year

Other ways to get a free Peacock subscription

If you have Walmart+ and don’t want to choose between the two services or switch every 90 days, there are a few ways to still keep your Paramount+ subscription and also subscribe to Peacock for free.

Instacart+

Peacock is free with the Instacart+ grocery delivery service, to which you can get a complimentary three-month membership as an eligible Chase credit card holder or U.S. Mastercard credit or debit card holder. If you continue with your Instacart+ membership after the complimentary three months, the cost is $99 per year or $9.99 per month.

Amex Platinum digital entertainment

The Amex Platinum includes up to $20 in statement credits each month for eligible purchases on Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock and The Wall Street Journal when you purchase directly from one or more of the providers (enrollment required).

Peacock currently has three paid plans: Select for $7.99 per month, Premium for $10.99 per month and Premium Plus for $16.99 per month. Select and Premium have ads, while Premium Plus is ad-free. Your Amex Platinum monthly $20 digital entertainment credit can be put toward any of these Peacock plans.

However, if you’re already using your digital entertainment credit for Peacock but aren’t watching it regularly, you may want to switch between Paramount+ and Peacock every 90 days with your Walmart+ benefit. Then your digital entertainment credit will be freed up to subscribe to one of the other providers.

Eligible Spectrum or Xfinity customers

Spectrum customers with a Spectrum TV Select package receive Peacock Premium for no additional cost.

The following Xfinity subscribers can receive Peacock Premium at no charge:

• Customers with an X1 TV box or Xfinity Flex streaming TV box
• Internet customers with gigabit speeds (free for 24 months)
• Diamond or Platinum Xfinity Rewards members with any level of Xfinity internet service
• Now TV streaming customers

Bottom line

Walmart+ members will be able to choose between two streaming options — a Paramount+ Essential plan or Peacock Premium plan — included for no extra cost as of Sept. 15. Switching between the two plans is allowed every 90 days. This is a nice new benefit — especially if you’re receiving complimentary Walmart+ from your Amex Platinum or Business Gold (separate enrollment required for Paramount+).

Related reading:

• 6 ways to save on Netflix and streaming services
• 4 credit cards that save you money on streaming subscriptions
• Quick Points: Stream more, pay less with these credit cards
• 8 lesser-known ways your credit card can save you money