Capital One Walmart Rewards® Mastercard®
vs. Alliant Visa Signature Card

Shield Insurance

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NOTE

As of May 2024, the Capital One Walmart Rewards® Mastercard® is no longer available for new applicants. Existing Walmart cardholders can continue using their cards, and rewards earned will be transferred to the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card at a rate of one cent per point. Cardholders will keep their rewards and any balances will automatically move to the Quicksilver card, which offers 1.5% cash back on all purchases.

Both the Capital One Walmart Rewards® Mastercard® and the Alliant Visa Signature Card offer enticing cash back rewards without the burden of an annual fee, making them strong contenders for your wallet. If frequent online shopping at Walmart is part of your routine, the Walmart Card, with its higher cash back rate on Walmart.com, may be the superior choice.

However, the Alliant Visa Signature's broader cash back program and lower credit score requirement for eligibility make it a strong option for those with good to excellent credit. While the Walmart Card is a co-branded store card that maximizes benefits for Walmart shoppers, the Alliant Visa Signature Card's no foreign transaction fees and travel protections should not be overlooked if you travel or shop internationally.

Credit Card logo for Capital One Walmart Rewards® Mastercard®
Capital One Walmart Rewards® Mastercard®
Credit Card logo for Alliant Visa Signature Card
Alliant Visa Signature Card
MoneyGeek Rating
3.6/ of 5
On Issuer's Site
On Issuer's Site

Which Card Is Better for You?

You might prefer the Alliant Visa Signature Card if you value a card that offers a high cash back rate on all purchases, not just at a specific retailer. With up to 2.5% cash back on the first $10,000 of qualifying purchases and no foreign transaction fees, it's a solid choice if you have good to excellent credit and meet the Tier One Rewards criteria.

You might prefer the Capital One Walmart Rewards Mastercard if you frequently shop at Walmart, especially online. With 5% cash back on Walmart.com and a special rate for in-store purchases using Walmart Pay, it's tailored for the Walmart enthusiast. Plus, it's more accessible if you have fair to good credit scores.

Head-to-Head Comparison: Card Details and Features

Evaluating features like APRs, fees, credit requirements, rewards and introductory offers will clarify which card is for you. For instance, if frequent online shopping at Walmart is routine, the Walmart Card's higher cash back rate on Walmart.com could be advantageous. Conversely, the Alliant Visa Signature's broader cash back program might suit a wider range of purchases.

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    Regular APR: Alliant Visa Signature

    If you're prioritizing a lower regular APR, the Alliant Visa Signature is the better choice, offering a starting APR of 17.49%, compared with the Walmart Card's starting APR of 19.48%.

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    Annual Fee: Tie

    Both the Alliant Visa Signature and the Walmart Card have no annual fee, making them equally advantageous for individuals looking to avoid extra costs.

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    Introductory 0% APRs: Tie

    Neither the Alliant Visa Signature nor the Walmart Card offers introductory 0% APRs on purchases or balance transfers. If you're specifically seeking cards with introductory 0% APR offers, consider exploring the best zero interest credit cards.

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    Rewards: Alliant Visa Signature

    The Alliant Visa Signature is better for general purchases, offering up to 2.5% cash back on the first $10,000 of qualifying purchases if you meet Tier One Rewards criteria, then 1.5% on all purchases.

    The Walmart Card, however, is ideal for frequent Walmart customers, providing 5% back on Walmart.com, 2% on Walmart store purchases, and additional categories. Despite its co-branded benefits, the Alliant Visa Signature Card's higher overall cash back rate makes it more versatile for a broader range of spending.

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    Welcome Offers: Walmart Card

    The Walmart Card is better for welcome offers, providing 5% cash back on purchases in Walmart stores for the first 12 months when using Walmart Pay. The Alliant Visa Signature Card offers Tier One rewards for the first 100 days, but the Walmart Card's offer is more straightforward and potentially more valuable for frequent Walmart shoppers.

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    Recommended Credit Score: Walmart Card

    The Walmart Card is more accessible, requiring a credit score range of 580 to 740, categorized as fair to good. By contrast, the Alliant Visa Signature targets those with good to excellent credit.

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    Penalties and Fees: Walmart Card

    The Walmart Card is better for penalties and fees because it does not charge a penalty APR, unlike the Alliant Visa Signature, which has a penalty APR of 30.49%. Both cards do not charge foreign transaction fees, and while the Walmart Card has a higher late fee of up to $39, the absence of a penalty APR makes it more favorable in this category.

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    Issuer Satisfaction: Walmart Card

    Capital One's satisfaction rating of 4.2 indicates a higher level of customer satisfaction than Alliant Credit Union's rating.

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    Other Features & Perks: Tie

    Both cards offer unique perks. The Alliant Visa Signature includes benefits like purchase security, extended warranty protection and travel insurance. The Walmart Card allows for rewards redemption in various forms and has no foreign transaction fees. Each card's perks cater to different user needs.

Rewards Comparison

The Alliant Visa Signature potentially offers a higher cash back rate, up to 2.5% on the first $10,000 of purchases if you qualify for Tier One Rewards, then 1.5% thereafter. However, this higher rate is contingent on meeting specific checking account requirements each month. Without Tier One Rewards, all purchases earn 1.5% cash back.

The Walmart Card, on the other hand, provides a robust 5% back on Walmart.com, including pickup and delivery, which is ideal for frequent online shoppers at Walmart. It also offers 2% back on Walmart in-store, Murphy USA and Walmart fuel stations, as well as on dining and travel, and 1% on all other purchases.

While the Alliant card may offer a higher rate on general purchases, the Walmart Card is particularly strong if you shop regularly at Walmart, both online and in-store. The following table outlines the bonus categories for each card, allowing you to compare their rewards programs at a glance.

Category
Walmart Card
Alliant Visa Signature

Walmart.com

5% cash back

2.5% cash back up to $10,000 annually/1.5% thereafter

Walmart in-store

2% cash back

1.5% cash back

Murphy USA and Walmart fuel stations

2% cash back

1.5% cash back

Restaurants

2% cash back

2.5% cash back up to $10,000 annually/1.5% thereafter

Travel

2% cash back

2.5% cash back up to $10,000 annually/1.5% thereafter

Redeeming Rewards

With the Alliant Visa Signature, simplicity is key; you can redeem cash back at any time because rewards do not expire. On the other hand, the Walmart Card offers a broader range of redemption options, from statement credits to travel, all without expiration. This flexibility ensures that rewards align with your spending preferences and redemption desires.

Methodology

MoneyGeek evaluates credit cards like the Walmart Card and Alliant Visa Signature based on their performance in various use cases. This approach ensures that the score reflects the card's performance in the scenario where it provides the most value.

For cash back cards, the primary factors we consider are the effective reward rate and the return on investment for offers. These elements — along with annual fees, introductory purchase rates and issuer satisfaction — contribute to a card's overall score. For a detailed understanding of our process, you can review our ranking methodology.

FAQ: Walmart Card vs. Alliant Visa Signature Card

What are the cash back rewards for each card?
Do either of the cards have an annual fee?
Can I use these cards for international purchases without extra fees?
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About Doug Milnes, CFA


Doug Milnes, CFA headshot

Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets.

Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.


*Rates, fees or bonuses may vary or include specific stipulations. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. We recommend visiting the card issuer’s website for the most up-to-date information available.
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses and recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. Learn more about our editorial policies and expert editorial team.
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