The Best Battery Stores

Tuesday, March 21st

2023 Battery Store Reviews

Walmart

• Return Policy: 90 days, by mail or in-store

Think you need to shop at a specialty retailer in order to get the lowest price and best selection of batteries? Think again. When it comes to having everything, you could need to power your TV, remote control car, cell phone or computer, Walmart leads the pack. In fact, you might be hard-pressed to find a battery that this store doesn't carry. (We tried!)

Because Walmart's inventory is seemingly endless, your best bet is to start by typing the kind of battery you need in the search bar. Your results list can then be refined by price, brands, in-store availability and more, to help you drill down just to what you need. And, because so many people shop for batteries at Walmart, you can take advantage of hundreds (if not thousands) of customer reviews on the products you need.

In comparing batteries across stores, we chose a Duracell 20-pack of basic AA batteries and a replacement battery for a Moto G4 Play cell phone. Did Walmart fare well against its rivals? While they didn't have the exact same 20-pack we considered, their 24-pack was reasonably priced at $16.24. We were also happy to find an OEM replacement battery for the phone, also with a competitive price of $10.99 with free shipping. However, the latter was on offer by a third-party seller, so Walmart's return policies wouldn't apply.

What are those return policies? Simply put, they're the most generous of any online battery store we've found: 90 days, by mail or in-store, no exceptions (that we could find). Keep in mind, as we said, that any non-Walmart sellers (i.e. marketplace vendors with permission to offer their products on the Walmart website) have their own return policies - so it might be worth your time to make sure any batteries you purchase are fulfilled specifically by Walmart itself.

Need your batteries in a hurry? You've got options. If there's a Walmart near you, order online for in-store pickup. Or, place an order of at least $35: most of the batteries we found were eligible for next-day delivery with a minimum order of that amount, and the majority of batteries that didn't qualify for free next-day shipping still came with free 2-day delivery (for the same minimum $35 order). Given how much Walmart carries, it shouldn't be hard to meet that threshold - just throw in some toilet paper, shampoo or dog food along with your batteries and you're good to go.

At the end of the day, there's no need to shop for batteries at a specialty store when you can get them - quickly and for less money - at Walmart. Their selection is unmatched, even by the top batteries-only stores, their return policy is top-notch, and with free and fast shipping on most orders, you can get exactly what you need (and maybe a few things you just happen to want, too). Walmart is our highest-rated online battery store.

Batteries & Bulbs

• Return Policy: Request within 14 days of purchase, return within 45 days of delivery

Whether you know this retailer as Batteries Plus or Batteries & Bulbs, you're already familiar with its many brick-and-mortar locations offering batteries of almost every kind, along with smartphone and tablet repair services, light bulbs, and more. Around since 1998, this retailer is one of the best resources for whatever kind of battery you may need.

We really love the intuitive, easy-to-shop setup of this retailer's online store. Sure, we knew that things like ATVs, cell phones and laptops need batteries, but browsing through their alphabetical list of battery options was strangely interesting. Airsoft? Baby monitors? Dog collar/fence combos? Two-way radios? Sump pumps? Chances are very good that if you need any kind of battery, Batteries & Bulbs has you covered.

When searching for our two comparison items, Batteries & Bulbs' closest match on the Duracell AAs was the 24-pack for $18.99 (and it was listed as in stock at our nearest store if we wanted to choose in-store pickup). The replacement battery for the Moto G4 Play was listed as an in-store repair only, priced at $69.99 (though a pop-up offer of $10 off the repair when scheduling the appointment online saved us some money). In fact, for every model of cell phone we checked out, there were no DIY options: you'd have to go to a Batteries & Bulbs near you to have the battery professionally installed (which isn't a bad idea, especially with an included 6-month warranty on their work).

During our most recent visit to the site, we spotted a pop-up offer. It included a 10% off code when ordering online and picking up in-store; there was an email newsletter sign-up at the bottom of the pop-up, but it wasn't required to give them our information in order to get the discount.

We appreciate the return policy offered by Batteries & Bulbs. You have 15 days to make your request and 45 days to get your product back to them, either by mail or at a convenient in-store location near you.

We did find some negative customer reviews about this store. But, most of them seemed related to customer service received at specific in-store locations, not the online store or the batteries themselves. And, an "A+" rating and accreditation by the Better Business Bureau is a good indication that Batteries & Bulbs does a reputable job overall when taking care of their customers.

Batteries & Bulbs offers a selection across a product range that is unparalleled by most of the retailers we evaluated. Whatever device you need to power, you're going to find the right batteries at this online store.

Battery Junction

• Return Policy: Request return within 7 days, return within 15 days
• 15% restocking fee

From batteries and chargers to flashlights and more, Battery Junction wants to help you "gear up [and] power on". Based in Connecticut, the company has been in business for over 15 years and aims to get you the right batteries at the right price.

If you want to take your understanding of batteries to the next level, check out the Battery Junction Knowledge Center. (We found the link at the top of the site, or through the Deals tab.) Want to know how to keep your batteries stored safely? Curious about which flashlights were the best over the 2010-2020 decade? How about an LED upgrade guide? You'll find all of that and more on this part of the website - or submit any topics they haven't covered through Battery Junction's social media channels.

While you can certainly search for the kind of battery you need, you can also browse by category:

• All Batteries
• Size (complete with helpful thumbnail images, in case you don't know the kind of battery you're trying to replace)
• Chemistry: Alkaline, Lithium, NiMH, Zinc, Li-Ion, and so on
• Brand: nearly 50 to choose from
• Voltage
• Application: shop by what you're using the battery for (e.g. watch, home safe, flashlight, home security system, defibrillator, etc.)
• Type: non-rechargeable, rechargeable, button/coin, etc.

Let's consider how Battery Junction measured up with our two apples-to-apples items. While they didn't have the exact same 20-pack of Duracell coppertop AA batteries, their closest options were the 16-piece package for $16.50 and the box of 24 for $20.40. On the other hand, we came up empty when looking for the replacement battery for our Moto G4 Play. Battery Junction carries just over 40 cell phone replacement batteries, all of which are under the Empire brand and no OEM options. If you've got a Samsung or older model iPhone, you might still be able to find the right off-brand battery here.

When we visited the Battery Junction site, we got a pop-up discount offer of 5% if we signed up for their email newsletter. There was also a promotion in place for free shipping on orders over $50 and a flat rate ground shipping upgrade for $5 on smaller orders.

Battery Junction gets high marks when it comes to customer satisfaction. At the time of our review, this retailer had earned accreditation and an "A+" rating from the Better Business Bureau. Even more compelling were the more than 15,000 independently-verified customer ratings, with an average of 4.5 out of 5 stars. Shoppers say that they consistently find low prices when buying batteries from Battery Junction, with thousands of loyal repeat customers in the mix.

On the other hand, their return policy is a little lackluster. While they do allow returns (some competitor sites don't), you'll have to make your request within a week and get the products back to them within 15 days. You'll also be charged a 15% restocking fee.

Battery Junction is a good option for batteries of almost every type. Their prices are competitive, the site is easy to shop (and very informative!), and their strong track record of customer satisfaction is a definite plus. This is a store worth considering for your next purchase of batteries.

Tenergy Power

• Return Policy: 30 days
• Disposable batteries are non-returnable

Established in 2004 in Silicon Valley, Tenergy Corporation specializes in comprehensive battery and charger products, especially rechargeables. They pride themselves on offering US-based customer support, answering questions about batteries for everyday home usage, providing troubleshooting and technical help, and guiding customers in choosing the right custom battery for projects and applications.

Given that Tenergy is its own brand of battery, you shouldn't be surprised that we didn't find our Duracell or OEM Moto cell phone comparison batteries in their inventory. Their 24-pack of self-branded AA batteries sells for just $6 (less than half of what the Duracell batteries cost). Tenergy Power doesn't carry any cell phone replacement batteries at all.

What you'll find on the Tenergy site that you might not find elsewhere are specialty batteries. Has your Airsoft gone lost its kick? Maybe your drone isn't flying quite as high as it used to? For various recreational items that require a battery, your best bet might actually be Tenergy. You'll find your options most easily under the Hobby & Toys heading. Even your Roomba and IRobot vacuums can get a boost with new batteries from this store. Check under the Application subheading in the Batteries category to see if they carry the specific type you need.

Keep an eye out for special deals. We spotted a free shipping code at the top of the site, for all orders over $50.

The return policy with Tenergy is reasonable. You'll have 30 days to return any rechargeable batteries for a refund; disposable batteries aren't accepted as a return for any reason.

We had originally thought that Tenergy would come in with a higher 4-star rating in our reviews. But, looking at the available feedback, we had to downgrade the company slightly. Why? A "B-" from the Better Business Bureau (under the name of Tenergy's parent company, All-Battery) for failure to respond to a handful of customer complaints was not what we were hoping to find. Our ranking would definitely go up if the BBB grade reflected improvements in the future.

On the other hand, we found nearly 3000 customer reviews giving Tenergy a rating of 4 or 5 stars out of 5. People seemed happy with the quality and pricing of the batteries, the speed of shipping, and the overall buying experience. And, on at least one third-party review site, Tenergy reps seemed to be responding promptly and appropriately to customer concerns and complaints.

You'll definitely get a good value from Tenergy batteries, compared with the familiar name-brand options on the market. (You'll even find Tenergy batteries sold in some of the other online battery stores in our review!) But, if you need name-brand batteries for some reason, Tenergy isn't going to be the retailer for you.

Battery Mart

• Return Policy: 60 days
• Restocking fee may be charged

Battery Mart promises "the best value in batteries - guaranteed". With nearly 40 years in the industry and both accreditation and a perfect "A+" rating from the Better Business Bureau, it's easy to see that this retailer can be trusted with your order the next time you need batteries.

Finding what you need is easy with Battery Mart's online store. Use the search box to type in what you need, or use the dropdown categories across the top of the site to browse by category:

• ATV/UTV
• Alkaline & Lithium
• Chargers
• Motorcycle
• Brands
• Sealed Lead Acid
• Phone

We were impressed with the range of products sold by this store, from traditional household use batteries like AA and hearing aids, to more specific uses like lanterns, mobility scooters and wheelchairs, and motorcycles from BMW to Yamaha.

How did Battery Mart measure up with our two comparison products? The Moto G4 Play replacement battery was priced at $24.95 - which was significantly higher-priced than some competitors - with no OEM options. (But, at least this store has an option; many of the retailers we evaluated didn't have a single one.) And, we didn't find any Duracell batteries under any category; the closest name-brand item was the 24-pack of Energizer Industrial alkaline AA batteries for $9.95.

Shipping costs depend on what you order. Unlike many of their rivals, Battery Mart doesn't offer free shipping if you place an order that meets a certain dollar amount. Instead, you'll have to click "estimate" on the items in your online basket to find out how much you'll spend for delivery.

This store's return policy is not overly impressive: you can return unopened or as-new merchandise within 60 days of purchase. You may be charged a restocking fee, but Battery Mart doesn't get into the specifics. Although the retailer has a 100% satisfaction guarantee, you're responsible for return shipping costs - even if your batteries are defective or dead on arrival.

On the whole, Battery Mart is "good enough" when shopping for batteries. They do offer a good value on the types they carry, so if you're not particularly loyal to a specific brand you'll probably find what you want on this site.

Amazon

• Return Policy: Returns not accepted
• Refunds only on defective products

What other store offers the same level of online shopping as Amazon? It's hard to think of one, isn't it? With more than 100 million members of its Prime loyalty program, this retailer offers free shipping and lots of extra perks - all on top of their in-stock inventory of, well, just about everything.

You won't be surprised to learn that Amazon has an almost uncountable array of batteries. From their proprietary Amazon Basics brand to household names like Energizer, Rayovac and ACDelco, you won't be lacking options when shopping on this site.

You'll also be able to take advantage of editorial recommendations in many battery product categories. For example, we found a helpful article from TheDrive describing the best off-road batteries for maximum power boost on rough terrain. (Granted, we found this article when searching for "marine battery", which isn't as useful, but we still appreciate the info.)

Let's take a look at our two comparison products: the 20-count Duracell AA package and the Moto G4 Play cell phone battery. For the Duracell batteries, you'll pay $12.84 and get free shipping if you're a Prime member. And, if you buy this brand and size of battery frequently, consider Amazon's Subscribe and Save program: you'll earn a discount of 15% on your first order (check the box for the coupon) and anywhere from 5-15% on every future delivery. You'll find lots of options for off-brand Moto replacement batteries, including some under $10. But, if you want to go OEM, you'll pay $13.95 with no extra charge for shipping. In fact, as Prime-eligible items, you could get the Duracell batteries and the Moto replacement battery same-day with no upcharge for the fast delivery.

With all of these positives, you're probably wondering why Amazon earned a middle-of-the-road 3-star rating, below most of the other retailers we evaluated. Simply put: it's the return policy (or lack thereof). While Amazon is known for having a crazy-good return policy on practically everything, batteries are specifically listed as "non-returnable". While we found some batteries that had good manufacturer warranties (usually the larger types for cars, boats, etc.), Amazon's overall policy is that you can only get a refund if a product is defective - not if you ordered the wrong size or just decided you need something different.

Of course, if all you want is a good deal on everyday batteries - and you've already got free shipping with Prime - you may not be so worried about returns, making Amazon a decent choice. On the other hand, if you're going for something specialty like a battery pack for a remote control toy, you may want to leave room for error by shopping with a retailer that will allow you to return it if needed.

Best Buy

• Return Policy: No returns on batteries

Best Buy is probably one of the most well-known names in the electronics business, so it's only natural that you might consider shopping there for your batteries. With thousands of brick-and-mortar locations, you have the advantage of placing an order online and then picking up in-store if you need them right away - and it's helpful that you can see if the batteries you need are in stock in real time.

This retailer carries the following categories of batteries:

• Alkaline
• Camcorder
• Camera
• Cell Phone
• Cordless Phone
• Drone
• Hearing Aid
• Laptop
• Lithium
• Rechargeable
• Specialty

We couldn't find any replacement batteries for the Moto G4 Play, the first of two products we used as a comparison across the retailers in our review. There were only 36 items carried by Best Buy in the Cell Phone Replacement Batteries category, most of which were off-brand options for iPhones. Best Buy fared even worse when it came to the Duracell AA batteries: if you're loyal to that brand, you'll be out of luck here. The closest alternative was the Energizer MAX 20-pack, priced at $17.49 plus shipping costs of $5.99 (unless you opt for in-store pickup).

It should also come as no surprise that Best Buy is great for some specialty batteries - drones, Roombas, routers, and anything else related to electronics - but carries very little for other product categories (like marine batteries or cars/ATVs). If you're looking for a one-stop-shop for batteries, this isn't it.

However, the main reason Best Buy comes in as our lowest-ranked online battery store is their return policy - or lack of one. When it comes to getting a refund, their answer is a solid "no" on batteries. It doesn't matter if they're new in the package and you just happened to buy the wrong size, their policy states that any battery purchase is non-refundable.

Overall, Best Buy has a good reputation, especially if you're looking for batteries related to electronics. But, with a selection that tends to be just average and a return policy that falls short of every other online store in our review, Best Buy doesn't have what it takes to measure up when it comes to batteries. You'll find more options with better customer-friendly perks and policies with most of the higher-rated stores in our review.