Amazon’s MCF vs. Walmart’s MCS: How Do Their Multichannel Fulfillment Services Compare?

In today’s ecommerce landscape, selling on one platform isn’t enough.

Your customers are shopping across Amazon, Walmart, eBay, Shopify, TikTok and Instagram. Fast, reliable fulfillment across all channels gives you a major edge.

That’s where multichannel fulfillment (MCF) services come in, letting you store inventory in one place and ship across multiple platforms to save time, cut costs, and boost sales.

Two of the biggest players now offer their own solutions:

• Amazon’s Multi-Channel Fulfillment (MCF) has been around for years and is known for its speed, scale, and deep integration with FBA.

• Walmart’s Multichannel Solutions (MCS) is the newer contender, turning heads with competitive pricing and broad channel support, even Amazon.

So which one is better? And do you have to choose just one?

This guide breaks it all down, from channel support and branding control to shipping speed, pricing, and returns, so you can decide which fulfillment strategy works best for your business. (Spoiler: Using both might be your smartest move.)

If you’d rather learn about this topic in podcast form, click here: 

What Are Amazon MCF and Walmart MCS, and How Do They Work?

With Multichannel Fulfillment, you’ll be able to offer convenient, fast delivery on your products, no matter where your customers order them. You’ll save on cost with competitively priced storage, and you can manage your aging and expiring inventory better by offering it on multiple sales channels. 

Let’s take a closer look at these two Multichannel Fulfillment services:

Amazon Multi-Channel Fulfillment (MCF)

Amazon MCF lets you use your existing FBA (Fulfilled by Amazon) inventory to fulfill orders from outside Amazon.

Whether you sell on your own site on Shopify or BigCommerce, or on Walmart, TikTok or other platforms, you can tap into Amazon’s vast fulfillment network to pick, pack, and ship orders. By using one pool of inventory for all your sales channels, you can save time and money. 

It’s part of a fully automated set of services that Amazon calls Supply Chain by Amazon, and it promises fast, reliable fulfillment for multiple ecommerce sales channels in as fast as two days.  

Who is it for?

Amazon MCF is ideal for sellers already using FBA who want to extend their fulfillment capabilities to other platforms without managing a separate logistics partner.

Walmart Multi-Channel Solutions (MCS)

Walmart MCS is Walmart’s brand-new entry into the multichannel fulfillment space. It enables Walmart sellers to use Walmart’s fulfillment infrastructure to ship orders from other platforms like Shopify, eBay, Etsy, and even Amazon.

When a customer orders from another channel—your website, eBay, Temu, Instagram, or TikTok—Walmart picks, packs, and ships it.

Walmart MCS will deliver the order to the customer with either expedited 2-day shipping or standard shipping, which takes 3-5 business days. These orders are shipped in plain packaging without a Walmart logo, so you can leverage Walmart’s large supply chain for efficiency while still maintaining your brand. 

Who is it for?

Walmart MCS is designed for Walmart sellers with inventory in WFS who want a centralized, Walmart-powered solution for fulfilling orders across various non-Walmart sales channels.

TL;DR

• Amazon MCF is a veteran with unmatched speed, scale, and seamless FBA integration.

• Walmart MCS is the newcomer, offering competitive pricing and support for nearly all sales channels, including Amazon.

Choose Amazon MCF for speed and reliability.
Choose Walmart MCS for flexibility, branding control, and lower costs.

But you don’t have to choose just one. Use both strategically and manage them with a tool like Goflow to maximize reach, efficiency, and customer satisfaction.

Which Sales Channels Are Supported by MCF and MCS?

Previously, Walmart MCS had a slight edge here by offering fulfillment for virtually any channel, including its own. The inability to fulfill Walmart orders was a key limitation for Amazon MCF. However, this is no longer true. 

It was recently announced that Walmart now allows sellers to use Amazon’s Multi Channel Fulfillment, as long as you ship in neutral packaging and block Amazon Logistics as a carrier to ensure orders aren’t delivered using Amazon-branded vehicles and to comply with Walmart’s shipping and fulfillment policy. 

That means both options allow you to use the other for fulfillment, removing a major barrier that previously may have prevented many Amazon sellers from expanding to Walmart Marketplace. Now you can maintain your inventory in one location, while selling across multiple platforms.    

Both Amazon MCF and Walmart MCS integrate with OMS systems like Goflow seamlessly, so you can use them for any channel. 

How Do Amazon and Walmart Compare on Inventory and Warehouse Reach?

In terms of scale, Amazon is the clear leader today. However, Walmart is investing heavily in fulfillment infrastructure and could narrow the gap soon.

Amazon:

• Operates one of the largest global fulfillment networks.

• Sellers use existing FBA inventory across channels.

• Predictable, reliable warehouse infrastructure.

Walmart:

• Rapidly expanding fulfillment footprint.

• MCS operates within select WFS fulfilment centers that are specifically enabled for multichannel fulfillment.

• Geographic reach is growing but currently more limited than Amazon.

Which Fulfillment Service Offers Faster Shipping Speeds?

If shipping speed is your top priority, Amazon MCF currently delivers more consistently fast fulfillment.

Amazon:

• Offers 1-day, 2-day, and standard shipping.

• Has a track record of reliable nationwide coverage.

• SLA-driven service levels that meet modern shopper expectations.

Walmart:

• Offers standard 2–5 day shipping

• Promises to improve speed over time as infrastructure expands

• Some regions already support faster shipping options
  

What Kind of Packaging and Branding Control Do You Get?

If brand presentation and white-label packaging matter, the good news is that both of these services offer neutral, unbranded packaging rather than including their labels on the shipments by default. 

Walmart MCS ships orders in unbranded poly bags or brown boxes, with plain tape and dunnage. With Amazon MCF, orders will also be shipped automatically in unbranded packaging, at no additional cost to you. 

This offers more control over customer experience, so you can maintain a neutral, brand-consistent fulfillment look. 

How is Returns Management Handled by MCF vs. MCS?

For sellers who want easier returns across multiple platforms, Walmart MCS offers a more streamlined experience. 

Walmart MCS will provide a return shipping label for the customer to ship items back to a Walmart facility. They will then check the item’s condition and follow your return rules to either restock the item, ship it back to you, or dispose of it. 

If you are using Amazon MCF, you can choose to either follow your own returns process or ask the customer to ship the return directly to Amazon. 

If you choose to have the item returned to Amazon, associates will inspect it based on Amazon’s standards. If it is deemed to be in a sellable condition, it will be added back into your Amazon inventory. If not, you’ll need to follow Amazon’s removal procedure to dispose of the defective product.

Amazon MCF:

• Uses a centralized Amazon returns process.

• Can be rigid and complex for multichannel use.

• Limited flexibility for sellers to control returns flow.

Walmart MCS:

• Designed with simplicity in mind.

• Unified returns portal for all supported channels.

• Allows easy management of returns from non-Walmart orders.

Want to optimize your returns workflow? Check out our blog post: “5 Actionable Tips to Master Ecommerce Returns (and Cut Costs)”

How Do Pricing Models for MCF and MCS Stack Up?

While Amazon’s pricing is mature and flexible, Walmart MCS is aggressively priced to attract sellers, making it appealing, especially for cost-conscious operations.

Amazon MCF:

Amazon’s pricing is based on size tier and units per order. Amazon offers both Standard (3 days) and Expedited (2 days) options. 

Additional Amazon surcharges include:

• $0.11/unit for lithium batteries. 

• 5% extra to block your order from being shipped by Amazon Logistics, so you can use sales channels that don’t yet allow the use of Amazon Logistics as a carrier.  

• 100-200% additional surcharge may apply for deliveries to remote areas. 

When it comes to monthly storage fees, they are tied to the FBA fee structure and they are higher for dangerous goods. Also, storage fees are higher from October to December. 

You can use this transparent online calculator to estimate the monthly cost of your Multi-Channel fulfillment fees. You can also view a detailed breakdown of monthly inventory storage fees, according to product size, time of year, product type and other factors. 

Walmart MCS:

Since Walmart MCS is new, it announced transparent and competitive pricing at its launch. According to the Walmart Marketplace website, the Multichannel Solutions services costs, on average, 15% less than other marketplace fulfillment providers. 

Also, there are $0 referral fees for off-Walmart orders, encouraging sellers to give the service a try even for products not sold on Walmart. 

With Walmart’s pricing structure, you’ll be able to choose between Standard (3-5 days) and Expedited (2 days) options. Order-level discounts are available for multiple units <30 lbs. 

Storage fees are $0.75 per cubic foot from January to September, and $2.25 per cubic foot from October to December for 30 days stored. Oversize and long-term storage fees apply.

How Easy Is It to Set Up and Integrate These Fulfillment Services?

Both services offer integrations, but Amazon MCF is, of course, more established. It offers over 100 integrations (including Goflow) so you can seamlessly automate order fulfillment across all your channels. 

Walmart has fewer plug-and-play integrations available, but it is catching up fast. It’s actively expanding support for popular platforms and more integrations are expected soon. 

The Good News? Goflow connects with both services, so you can manage your inventory, orders, and fulfillment from one centralized system.

Amazon MCF vs Walmart MCS: Pros & Cons Summary Table

Which Multichannel Fulfillment Service is Best for Your Business?

The right option for your needs depends on how your business is structured and your priorities. 

Choose Amazon MCF if you:

• Already use FBA.

• Sell primarily on Amazon and other platforms.

• Require consistent, fast nationwide shipping.

• You want your fulfillment costs to be controlled and predictable. Although Amazon includes several surcharges that can add cost and complexity, the fees are transparent and granular to allow for detailed calculations. 

Choose Walmart MCS if you:

• If you have inventory in WFS and you sell on Walmart and other platforms (including Amazon).

• You want to be able to handle returns under your rules. 

• Are looking for a competitively priced, new solution.

• Want to diversify away from Amazon’s ecosystem.

Pro Tip: Many sellers may benefit from using both services, Amazon MCF for fast national coverage, and Walmart MCS for cost-effective, white-label fulfillment on other channels. Goflow integrates with both Amazon MCF and Walmart MCS, so you can manage orders, inventory, and fulfillment all in one place, no matter what channel the order came from.  

Multichannel Fulfillment Services That Work For Your Business

Multichannel fulfillment is no longer optional, it’s a key part of running a successful ecommerce business. Both Amazon MCF and Walmart MCS offer compelling benefits depending on your business model, goals, and customer expectations.

Amazon MCF gives you the advantage of speed and scale, while Walmart MCS offers flexibility, branding control, and competitive pricing. By understanding the strengths and limitations of each, you can make a more informed choice. 

But you don’t have to put all your eggs in one basket! You can choose to strategically use both with Goflow, so you can spend less time juggling logistics and more time growing your business.

Why not schedule a demo to see how it works?