Walmart and Zipline this week launched on-demand drone deliveries in Mesquite, Texas. That means that as of now, residents within a two-mile radius of a specific Walmart Supercenter — the one at 200 US-80 — can have items delivered by drone. Zipline and Walmart promise items will come within 30 minutes or less. And the best part of the P2 home delivery service? Delivery is free.

Eligible customers can order anything from baby formula to birthday candles during operating hours from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and starting earlier at 8 a.m. on weekends.

So far, Zipline has already delivered everything from a dozen eggs to a bag of Popcorners to some flower bulbs for spring gardening.

The April launch marks the official debut of Zipline’s home delivery service in Texas, though it’s been a long time coming. Walmart first announced its partnership with Zipline back in 2020. Zipline test deliveries in Pea Ridge, Arkansas began the following year.

And so while Zipline has already been more quietly delivering thousands of items on behalf of Walmart since 2021, this is the first official public launch in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Consider it a key turning point for large-scale U.S. drone delivery, shedding light on two major American companies’ ambitions to redefine fast and sustainable logistics. And it’s another big win for Texas in attracting major drone investment. Perhaps that’s why they call it the Drone Star State.

What to know about Zipline

Founded in 2014, Zipline made its name delivering blood and medical supplies in Rwanda and Ghana. It has since scaled to four continents and completed more than 1.5 million deliveries globally. Zipline claims a perfect safety record over more than 100 million autonomous commercial miles, which is equivalent to driving every road in the U.S. 24 times without a single crash.

But flying drones in developing countries typically means less-crowded airspace. Zipline is now taking its proven track record and tackling American suburbs.

How Zipline’s Texas deliveries work

For the Texas home deliveries, Zipline is using its latest Platform 2 system. It features a silent, hovering drone that gently lowers packages via tether from 300 feet in the air. Zipline claims that the Platform 2 system is quiet and unobtrusive enough for neighborhoods and apartment complexes.

As far as actually ordering, customers place their order via the Zipline app. (That’s different than Wing’s drone deliveries in Walmart, where customers order directly through the Walmart app.) Once in the Zipline app, customers select their items to order. Though they pay for the actual items they want, the delivery is free. Plus, there’s no tipping involved.

Zipline handles the rest. Zipline employees work on-site to manage the drones.

“We’ve already become a part of people’s daily routines,” said Conner Wilkinson, Zipline’s Head of Community Engagement, citing feedback from parents and older adults during the early access phase. “This is the future of delivery — faster, more convenient, and magical.”

How do you know if you’re eligible? Unlike some services where an employee scouts out your property to ensure it’s drone-worthy, this is far more automated. Zipline’s app will show customers eligible sites at their address (such as places in the front yard and backyard). Then, the customer can choose which they prefer to receive their delivery at.

Walmart’s history with drone deliveries

While the Mesquite launch is certainly a win for Walmart, it hasn’t been an easy road to get here. Over the past few years, Walmart has tested drone deliveries with multiple partners including Flytrex and DroneUp — but none have achieved broad consumer adoption. Technical limitations, regulatory hurdles and limited service areas have all contributed to sluggish rollouts. In fact just last year, DroneUp made major cutbacks in its partnership with Walmart, including some significant layoffs.

Up until now, Walmart’s most prominent drone partner has been Alphabet-owned Wing. The Wing and Walmart delivery partnership launched in the Dallas suburbs in 2023, and I even headed to Fort Worth to get a Wing drone delivery for myself. Here’s a video of the time I got my first Wing drone delivery:

Being Alphabet-affiliated, Wing is a huge name. But by many metrics, Zipline is actually the biggest drone delivery company in the world.

Wing’s presence is growing and reasonably strong given Federal Aviation Administration regulations around things like flying drones beyond visual line of sight (most operational drone delivery companies have obtained FAA waivers that allow them to fly BVLOS in certain areas). But even still, both Wing and Zipline are limited in the areas they could serve.

With the Zipline P2 home delivery launch in Texas, the initial service zone includes a two-mile radius around the Mesquite Walmart Supercenter.

Why the P2 home delivery launch is different than competitors

Unlike past rollouts that were limited in scope or required extensive setup from customers, Zipline’s Mesquite model is built for mass adoption. Crucially, it also solves one of the trickiest challenges in drone delivery: where to drop the package.

Zipline’s tethered system doesn’t require special landing pads or yards. Zipline’s P2 “Delivery Droids” can hover and lower goods onto small designated areas. That allows for deliveries not just to homes with big backyards, but even apartment balconies.

What’s next for Walmart with P2 home delivery?

For Walmart, the success of this partnership could finally prove that drone delivery isn’t just a gimmick but rather a way to serve customers that’s either cost-effective, environmentally friendly or scalable (and ideally all three).

Zipline’s tech and track record in tandem with Walmart’s retail dominance (backed by ongoing Wing success) could mean the rest of us living outside the Dallas Fort-Worth area are another step closer to getting drone delivery to our own homes.

For now, service is limited to homes in the immediate vicinity of Mesquite Supercenter. But, Zipline says it has plans to expand to Waxahachie, Kaufman, Weatherford, Greenville, Terrell, Anna, Lewisville, Bedford and other parts of the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Of those, Waxahachie is the next to launch.

Want to know if your house qualifies for Zipline delivery? Download the Zipline app or visit the Zipline website to check your eligibility or join the waitlist.

Oh and by the way, if you happen to be in the Dallas area, then here’s a fun weekend event. Walmart and Zipline are also hosting a public demo on Saturday, April 12, from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Mesquite store at 200 US-80. You can see the drones with your own eyes and — if you live in an eligible area — get signed up.

The post Zipline’s new P2 home delivery service finally launches in Texas appeared first on The Drone Girl.

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