Costco is one of the largest and most beloved membership warehouse chains, and for good reason. Best known for its grocery offerings, it also offers savings on gas, electronics, clothing, electronics and more, and has one of the most generousreturn policies.
One quirk about shopping at Costco: your credit card may not be accepted at checkout.
Costco limits which type of credit cards you can pay with to only Visa-backed cards. Originally, Costco shoppers were restricted to Amex-issued cards, but that changed in 2016 when Visa became Costco's exclusive credit card network.
This may cause issues at checkout if your preferred form of payment is a credit card that happens to be backed by a different network.
Below, CNBC Select reviews what credit cards are accepted at Costco warehouses and how that compares to what's allowed at Costco gas stations and for online purchases.
What we'll cover
- Credit cards accepted at Costco warehouses
- Credit cards accepted at Costco gas stations
- Credit cards not accepted at physical Costco stores
- FAQs
Credit cards accepted at Costco warehouses
When you shop at Costco, you can use the warehouse club's co-branded card, the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi, as well as any other credit card backed by the Visa network.
Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
On Citi's secure site
Rewards
4% cash back on eligible gas and EV charging purchases for the first $7,000 per year (then 1%); 3% cash back on restaurants and eligible travel purchases; 2% cash back on all other purchases from Costco and Costco.com; 1% cash back on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
No current offer
Annual fee
$0, Costco membership required
Intro APR
N/A for purchases and balance transfers
Regular APR
20.49% variable
Balance transfer fee
5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum
Foreign transaction fee
None
Credit needed
Excellent
See rates and fees. Terms apply.
Here are some credit cards that can be used at Costco warehouses:
- Chase Freedom Unlimited®
- Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
- PenFed Power Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
At checkout, you can swipe or insert your card, as well as use contactless payment methods, such as tap-to-go and mobile wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay).
Considering the average Costco shopper spends just over $100 per trip, you'll want to pay with a credit card that maximizes your spending. CNBC Select ranked these as the top credit cards for shopping at Costco because of features like their rewards rates, welcome bonuses, introductory and standard APRs and more.
The reason Costco only takes Visa ultimately boils down to a deal it negotiated with the card issuer so that it can pay lower merchant fees, and hopefully pass those savings on to customers.
Keep in mind that the Visa-only restriction only applies to credit cards —Costco accepts most PIN-based ATM/debit cards.
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
On Chase's secure site
Rewards
Enjoy 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services, 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; and 3% cash back on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year). After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
Welcome bonus
INTRO OFFER: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
0% for the first 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers
Regular APR
20.49% - 29.24% variable
Balance transfer fee
Intro fee of either$5or3%of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, on transfers made within 60 days of account opening. After that, either$5or5%of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Foreign transaction fee
3%
Credit needed
Excellent/Good
Member FDIC. Terms apply.
Read our Chase Freedom Unlimited® review.
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
On Wells Fargo's secure site
Rewards
Unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases
Welcome bonus
Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5.
Regular APR
20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR
Balance transfer fee
Intro rate and fee of 3% then a BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5.
Foreign transaction fee
3%
Credit needed
Excellent/Good
See rates and fees, terms apply.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
On Chase's secure site
Rewards
Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, and $50 annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
Welcome bonus
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
Annual fee
$95
Intro APR
None
Regular APR
21.49% - 28.49% variable on purchases and balance transfers
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
Foreign transaction fee
None
Credit needed
Excellent/Good
Terms apply.
Read our Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card review.
Credit cards accepted at Costco gas stations
Similar to the warehouses, Costco gas stations only accept Visa cards, most PIN debit cards and Costco Shop Cards.
When refueling at a Costco gas station, make sure you're using the right credit card to maximize your rewards. For example, the PNC Cash Rewards® Visa® offers a generous 4% cash back on gas station purchases for the first $8,000 in combined purchases in the bonus categories annually.
PNC Cash Rewards® Visa®
Information about the PNC Cash Rewards® Visa® has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.
Rewards
4% cash back at gas stations, 3% cash back on dining, and 2% cash back at grocery stores, for the first $8,000 in combined purchases in these categories annually, 1% cash back on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
$200 bonus after you make $1,000 or more in purchases during the first 3 billing cycles following account opening
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
0% for the first 12 billing cycles on balance transfers
Regular APR
19.24% to 30.24% variable
Balance transfer fee
3%, $5 minimum, within the first 90 days from account opening, then 4%, $5 minimum
Foreign transaction fee
3%
Credit needed
Excellent/Good
Terms apply.
Credit cards not accepted at physical Costco stores
Since Costco has an exclusive contract with Visa, shoppers can't use credit cards backed by the other three main networks — American Express, Mastercard and Discover — at Costco warehouses. However, you can pay with Mastercard for purchases made at Costco.com and the Costco app.
Here are some cards that can be used online or via the Costco app:
- Citi Double Cash® Card
- Citi Rewards+® Card
- Chase Freedom Flex®
- *Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
Citi Double Cash® Card
Rewards
Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, for a limited time, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/24
Welcome bonus
Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
0% for the first 18 months on balance transfers; N/A for purchases
Regular APR
19.24% - 29.24% variable
Balance transfer fee
For balance transfers completed within 4 months of account opening, an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer ($5 minimum) applies; after that, a balance transfer fee of 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum) applies
Foreign transaction fee
3%
Credit needed
Fair/Good/Excellent
See rates and fees. Terms apply.
Read our Citi Double Cash® Card review.
Citi Rewards+® Card
On Citi's secure site
Rewards
As a special offer, earn 5 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com through December 31, 2025. Earn 2X ThankYou® Points at Supermarkets and Gas Stations for the first $6,000 per year and then 1X Points thereafter. Plus, earn 1X ThankYou® Points on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
Earn 20,000 bonus points after you spend $1,500 in purchases with your card within 3 months of account opening; redeemable for $200 in gift cards at thankyou.com
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
0% Intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months from date of first transfer and on purchases from date of account opening.
Regular APR
18.74% - 28.74% variable
Balance transfer fee
There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5)
Foreign transaction fee
3%
Credit needed
Good/Excellent
See rates and fees. Terms apply.
Chase Freedom Flex®
Rewards
5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate (then 1%), 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase Travel℠,3% on drugstore purchases and on dining (including takeout and eligible delivery services),1% cash back on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
0% for the first 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers
Regular APR
20.49% - 29.24% variable
Balance transfer fee
Intro fee of either$5or3%of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, on transfers made within 60 days of account opening. After that, either$5or5%of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Foreign transaction fee
3%
Credit needed
Excellent/Good
Member FDIC. Terms apply. Information about the Chase Freedom Flex® has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.
Read our Chase Freedom Flex® review.
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
Learn More
Information about the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.
Rewards
4% cash back on dining and entertainment, 4% on eligible streaming services, 3% at grocery stores and 1% on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
Earn a one-time $300 cash bonus once you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening
Annual fee
$95
Intro APR
None
Regular APR
19.99% - 29.99% variable
Balance transfer fee
4% for promotional APR offers; none for balances transferred at regular APR
Foreign transaction fee
None
Credit needed
Excellent/Good
Terms apply.
FAQs
What payment methods does Costco accept?
According to Costco's website, for in-store purchases, Costco accepts all Visa cards, cash, personal, business or traveler's checks as well as Costco Shop Cards and a few other forms of payment.
Does Costco only take certain credit cards?
Costco warehouses only accept Visa cards, but you can also use a Mastercard when shopping online at Costco.com.
Does Costco charge a fee for using a credit card?
Costco does not charge extra for using a credit card at checkout.
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Costco Anywhere Visa Card review: Is it the best card for Costco?
Here's how to cancel your Costco membership
*Information about the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card, Chase Freedom Flex® has been collected independently by CNBC Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuers of the cards prior to publication.
Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.
