Walmart vendor vs Marketplace seller (1P vs 3P): which one you need

A Walmart vendor, which Walmart's own pages call a supplier, sells to Walmart under a first-party (1P) relationship. A Marketplace seller sells directly to shoppers on walmart.com under a third-party (3P) model. For a small or mid-sized brand, Marketplace is the route you can check yourself against today: it has a published sign-up and published minimum qualifications, while becoming a supplier starts with a registration that Walmart says does not by itself lead to an agreement. This page compares the two routes using Walmart's own supplier and Marketplace pages, checked on October 28, 2026.

Vendor, supplier, 1P and 3P: what the words mean

"Vendor" is the word most people search for. Walmart's corporate pages say "supplier." The page describes selling to Walmart stores, Walmart.com and Sam's Clubs in the U.S. through "a first-party supplier relationship." That is the 1P model: the supplier has a relationship with Walmart as a business partner, and Walmart is the party facing the shopper.

Marketplace is the 3P model. Walmart describes it as a way for sellers to reach customers directly, and says many suppliers use it "to complement their broader Walmart business." So the two are not exclusive. A supplier can also be a Marketplace seller, and Walmart's supplier page lists Marketplace as one of five ways to work with Walmart, next to first-party, international markets, Walmart Brands manufacturing and services or non-resale goods.

Walmart vendor (1P) versus Marketplace seller (3P)

The table only states what Walmart's public pages say. Where the pages are silent, the cell says so, because those points are set in your supplier agreement or inside your seller account and you should read them there before you commit.

How to become a Walmart vendor (1P)

In short, per Walmart's apply-to-be-a-supplier page, a U.S.-based business takes these steps:

1. Read the Supplier Checklist, which lists the information you need before you apply.
2. Create an account on the Retail Link login page, which Walmart says begins the qualification process.
3. Complete qualification. Walmart says self-registering does not guarantee you will be extended an agreement.

Walmart's supplier page sends U.S.-based businesses to two things: a Supplier Checklist that lists the information needed, and an account creation step on the Retail Link login page that starts the qualification process. Walmart says the page is there to help expedite the onboarding process for becoming a qualified supplier. It also states that registering your company does not mean Walmart will extend you an agreement, so treat registration as the first step toward being considered, not as an approval.

The international page repeats the same order for all suppliers: create your Retail Link account, use those credentials to open Supplier Academy, then look at Marketplace as another way to grow. Walmart's main supplier page adds that existing suppliers get further tools through Supplier One.

Requirements Walmart publishes

• Tax identity. A Tax ID (TIN) is required on all U.S.-based suppliers' application documents. Non-U.S. suppliers must provide a current W-8 tax certificate during vendor setup.
• Dun & Bradstreet registration. Walmart expects it. Updating your D&B data is free, and paid monitoring is not required to complete your Walmart registration.
• GS1 Company Prefix. Walmart requires one on your application documents, which gives you unique GTINs and UPCs. GS1 sets initial and annual fees based on how many items you have. This does not apply to service and non-resale suppliers.
• Insurance. Approved product suppliers must carry certain types of insurance, show proof of coverage and stay compliant at all times.
• Audits and testing. You make products, facilities and records available for audits, inspections and tests. Depending on the product this can include food safety, general merchandise product safety, health and wellness product safety, responsible sourcing and supply chain security.
• Factory audit for direct imports. New direct import factories (non-food and non-packaging) need a Factory Capability and Capacity Audit before order commitment. A Walmart-designated third-party auditor performs it and the supplier pays.
• Packaging. Pack, label and ship to the supply chain packaging guide: case durability and size, markings, labeling, palletizing and trailer loading.
• Theft tagging. High-priced products often require anti-theft tagging.

The requirements page does not mention EDI. If a buyer asks for it, that comes from the supplier agreement or onboarding team, not from anything we can cite. A lot of the "vendor list" and "vendor number" content online is about this stage. Walmart's public pages do not publish a vendor list, and the pages fetched give no worldwide vendor count.

How the 3P Marketplace route works

Marketplace publishes its minimum qualifications, so you can check yourself before you apply:

1. A business Tax ID (an SSN is not accepted) or a business license number.
2. Documents that verify your business name and address.
3. A history of marketplace or ecommerce success.
4. Products with GTIN/UPC numbers from a GS1 Company Prefix.
5. A catalog that complies with Walmart's Prohibited Products Policy.
6. Fulfillment through WFS or another B2C U.S. warehouse with returns capability.

Then you apply at seller.walmart.com/signup. Walmart's New-Seller Savings page offers up to $72K off referral fees, or about $75K counting the WFS discount and ad credits, under conditions, with the offer ending January 31, 2027 (source: Walmart Marketplace, checked Oct 2026). Read the conditions on Walmart's page; our new seller savings guide covers how it works. For the account itself, see getting started as a new seller and the Seller Center guide. For the fees, see understanding Marketplace fees.

On fulfillment, Walmart lists two paths. WFS offers end-to-end fulfillment and "doesn't require inventory minimums or maximums." Seller-fulfilled options include Expedited Delivery, Simplified Shipping Settings, Ship with Walmart discounted labels and Enhanced Returns. Our WFS getting started guide walks through the first one.

Which route suits you

One honest limit: the pages above do not say how long a supplier application takes or how often it is approved, so nobody can promise you either one. If you are still weighing Walmart against other channels, our Walmart vs Amazon comparison may help.

A note for Canadian businesses

Walmart's international supplier page lists Marketplace as a way to reach Walmart customers in the U.S., Mexico, Canada and Chile, and points Canadian suppliers to walmartcanada.ca/suppliers. That page says Walmart Canada has worked with Canadian suppliers since 1994, and a 2023 article on it says Walmart Canada works with more than 4,000 suppliers around the world. It does not explain how to apply as a supplier or how to join Marketplace.

It does link to the Walmart Canada Growth Summit, held on June 23, 2026. Walmart's global Growth Summit page sets the rules for its summits: products must be made, grown or assembled in the country of the event, applications go through RangeMe, and Marketplace sellers may be among the first candidates considered for a pitch session. Excluded categories include tobacco, pharmaceutical drugs, smoking accessories, hemp, books, movies, music and any CBD or cannabis products, and individual events can add restrictions. Each country's summit page can add its own requirements, so check the current Canada summit page for the next dates and rules.

The U.S. Marketplace qualification list says fulfillment must come from WFS or another B2C U.S. warehouse with returns capability. Walmart Marketplace Canada has its own onboarding guide with a separate document list, including a Canadian federal or provincial business number, proof of business name and address, and Canada tax registration numbers where they apply; our seller account guide lists them in full. For the Canadian side, read our Canada overview and the Canadian brands page, and confirm tax and customs questions with a licensed broker or accountant for your case.

What Walmart does not tell you publicly

• How long supplier review takes, or what share of applicants get an agreement.
• Payment terms, pricing authority and item setup for suppliers. The supplier application page does not mention them.

Get those in writing from Walmart before you invest in inventory. If you are choosing between routes for a specific catalog, our free audit looks at your products, channels and readiness and tells you what we see.

Frequently asked questions

What is a Walmart vendor?

Walmart's corporate pages call vendors suppliers. A supplier sells to Walmart stores, Walmart.com and Sam's Clubs in the U.S. through a first-party supplier relationship.

How do I become a Walmart vendor?

U.S.-based businesses complete the Supplier Checklist and create an account on Retail Link to begin qualification. Walmart states that registering does not mean you will be offered an agreement.

What are the Walmart vendor requirements?

Walmart's published items include a Tax ID or W-8, Dun & Bradstreet registration, a GS1 Company Prefix, insurance, audits and testing where they apply, and packaging to its specifications. Terms beyond that are in the supplier agreement.

What is the difference between Walmart 1P and 3P?

1P is a first-party supplier relationship with Walmart. 3P is Walmart Marketplace, where you reach customers directly, pay a referral fee by category and sale price (3% to 20% on Walmart's US pricing table, most categories 8% to 15%), and fulfill through WFS or another B2C U.S. warehouse.

Is there a Walmart vendor list I can look up?

Walmart's public supplier pages do not publish one. Suppliers get access to tools through Supplier One and Retail Link after they are set up.

Can I be a supplier and a Marketplace seller?

Yes. Walmart says many suppliers use Marketplace to complement their broader Walmart business.

Does Walmart Canada have a supplier route and a Marketplace?

Yes. Walmart lists a Canada supplier page at walmartcanada.ca/suppliers and says Marketplace reaches customers in Canada. Walmart Marketplace Canada has its own onboarding guide and document list, separate from the US one.

Sources

1. Walmart corporate: Suppliers (checked October 28, 2026)
2. Walmart corporate: Supplier requirements (checked October 28, 2026)
3. Walmart corporate: Apply to be a supplier (checked October 28, 2026)
4. Walmart corporate: Service and non-resale suppliers (checked October 28, 2026)
5. Walmart corporate: Supplier development (international) (checked October 28, 2026)
6. Walmart corporate: Growth Summit (checked October 28, 2026)
7. Walmart Canada: Suppliers (checked October 28, 2026)
8. Walmart Marketplace: Sell on Walmart (checked October 28, 2026)
9. Walmart Marketplace: FAQ (checked October 28, 2026)
10. Before you start selling on Walmart Marketplace Canada (checked October 28, 2026)
11. Walmart Marketplace: Pricing (referral fees by category) (checked October 28, 2026)