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Both the Capital One Walmart Rewards® Mastercard® and the Navy Federal Credit Union cashRewards World Mastercard® stand out for their cash back rewards and absence of annual fees. But the Navy Federal cashRewards World edges ahead with a higher overall cash back score, making it the superior choice if you’re eligible.
The Walmart Card, as a co-branded store card, offers exceptional value for frequent Walmart shoppers, especially online. Despite its lower score, the Walmart Card's high cash back rates on Walmart.com purchases make it a strong contender for loyal customers of the retail giant.
Capital One Walmart Rewards® Mastercard®
Navy Federal Credit Union cashRewards World Mastercard®
Regular APR
19.48%, 19.48%, or 29.99% variable
14.90%–18.00% variable
0% APR Offer
-
-
Intro Offer
Earn 5% Cash Back
Earn $300 cash back
Rewards Summary
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Earn 1.5% to 1.75% cash back
Balance Transfer Offer
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-
Balance Transfer Fee
3% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that we may offer you
Annual Fee
$0
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Recommended Credit
580-740 (Fair to Good)
(580 – 740) Fair to Good
Penalty APR
-
18.00%
Not sure?
Which Card Is Better for You?
You might prefer the Walmart Card if you're a frequent Walmart shopper. This card offers generous cash back on Walmart.com, as well as on purchases in Walmart stores, dining and travel. With no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, it's also a solid choice for international use.
You might prefer the Navy Federal cashRewards World if you value simplicity and a lower APR. This card provides a flat cash back rate on all purchases, which can increase if you have direct deposit with Navy Federal. It's a straightforward rewards card with the added benefit of no annual or foreign transaction fees.
Head-to-Head Comparison: Card Details and Features
Evaluating APRs, fees, credit requirements, and rewards will clarify the distinct advantages of the Walmart Card and the Navy Federal cashRewards World. Weigh the Walmart Card's high online cash back rates versus the consistent rewards on all purchases with the Navy Federal cashRewards World.
Regular APR: Navy Federal cashRewards World
The Navy Federal cashRewards World offers a more favorable regular APR range of 14.90% to 18.00% variable, compared with the Walmart Card’s APR of 19.48%, 19.48% or 29.99% variable.
Annual Fee: Tie
Both the Walmart Card and the Navy Federal cashRewards World do not charge an annual fee.
Introductory 0% APRs: Tie
Neither the Walmart Card nor the Navy Federal cashRewards World offers introductory 0% APRs on purchases or balance transfers, making them equal in this aspect.
Rewards: Walmart Card
The Walmart Card is better for rewards, offering 5% cash back on Walmart.com, including pickup and delivery, and 2% on in-store purchases. The Navy Federal cashRewards World offers 1.75% or 1.5% cash back on all purchases. The Walmart Card's co-branded benefits provide additional value for frequent Walmart shoppers.
Welcome Offers: Navy Federal cashRewards World
The Navy Federal cashRewards World offers a more compelling welcome bonus, providing $300 cash back when you spend $3,000 within the first 90 days. By contrast, the Walmart Card focuses on earning 5% cash back in Walmart stores for the first 12 months with Walmart Pay.
Recommended Credit Score: Walmart Card
The Walmart Card is more accessible, requiring a credit score of 580 to 740 (fair to good), making it better if you have a lower credit score.
Penalties and Fees: Navy Federal cashRewards World
The Navy Federal cashRewards World offers more favorable terms for penalties and fees, with a lower late fee of up to $20 and no cash advance fee at Navy Federal branches or ATMs, compared with the Walmart Card's up to $39 late fee and cash advance fee structure. The Navy Federal cashRewards World also has a specified penalty APR of 18.00%, providing clear terms for users.
Issuer Satisfaction: Navy Federal cashRewards World
Navy Federal Credit Union outperforms with an issuer satisfaction rating of 4.7, compared with Capital One’s 4.2.
Other Features & Perks: Tie
Both cards offer unique perks that cater to different needs. The Walmart Card provides benefits for online and in-store Walmart shoppers, including $0 fraud liability and no foreign transaction fees. The Navy Federal cashRewards World, on the other hand, offers a one-time statement credit for Walmart+ membership, complimentary collision damage waiver, zero liability policy and free access to credit score.
Rewards Comparison
The Navy Federal cashRewards World generally offers a more consistent rewards rate, with up to 1.75% cash back on all purchases if you have direct deposit. This makes it a strong contender if you seek straightforward, high-value rewards across all spending categories.
The Walmart Card shines with its 5% cash back on Walmart.com, including pickup and delivery, which is ideal for frequent Walmart shoppers. While its in-store rewards rate drops to 2%, it's still a solid choice if you prefer to shop at Walmart, especially considering the additional 5% back for the first 12 months using Walmart Pay.
If you dine out or travel often, the Walmart Card also offers a competitive 2% cash back in these categories. However, for non-category spending, the Navy Federal cashRewards World maintains a slight edge with its higher base cash back rate.
The table of bonus categories for both cards helps you visually compare their rewards programs.
Category | Walmart Card | Navy Federal cashRewards World |
|---|---|---|
Walmart.com Purchases | 5% cash back | 1.75% cash back with direct deposit/1.5% without direct deposit |
Walmart In-Store Purchases | 2% cash back | 1.75% cash back with direct deposit/1.5% without direct deposit |
Restaurants | 2% cash back | 1.75% cash back with direct deposit/1.5% without direct deposit |
Travel | 2% cash back | 1.75% cash back with direct deposit/1.5% without direct deposit |
Gas Stations | 2% cash back at Murphy USA and Walmart fuel stations | 1.75% cash back with direct deposit/1.5% without direct deposit |
All Other Purchases | 1% cash back | 1.75% cash back with direct deposit/1.5% without direct deposit |
Redeeming Rewards
The Walmart Card offers a variety of redemption choices including cash back and statement credits, with no expiration as long as the account remains open. The Navy Federal cashRewards World allows for cash back redemption at any time without a minimum requirement and also features no expiration, ensuring rewards are available whenever the cardholder chooses to use them.
Methodology
MoneyGeek evaluates credit cards like the Walmart Card and Navy Federal cashRewards World using a tailored scoring system for 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. Navy Federal cashRewards World
What are the cash back rewards for each card?
The Walmart Card offers up to 5% cash back on Walmart.com, while the Navy Federal cashRewards World offers up to 1.75% cash back on all purchases.
Do either of the cards have an annual fee?
Both cards offer the benefit of having no annual fee.
How do the APRs compare between the two cards?
The Walmart Card has a variable APR up to 29.99%, whereas the Navy Federal card offers a lower APR range of 14.90% to 18.00%.
Are there any introductory offers available with these cards?
The Walmart Card provides 5% cash back in Walmart stores for the first 12 months using Walmart Pay, while the Navy Federal card offers a $300 cash back bonus.
What are the foreign transaction fees for each card?
The Walmart Card has no foreign transaction fees, making it a suitable option for international use.
About Doug Milnes, CFA
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.
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