- Costco has a partnership with Visa and only accepts Visa credit cards in-store.
- Online and mobile app purchases can be made with Discover and Mastercard in addition to Visa.
- Most Chase credit cards are Visa-branded and can be used at Costco. Capital One credit cards are Visa or Mastercard branded, so some can be used in-store and some can be used online.
- American Express credit cards are not accepted at Costco.
- Costco also accepts mobile wallets, checks, EBT cards, and cash for in-store purchases.
When you buy something using links found on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. This content is reviewed & supervised by The Los Angeles Times Commerce Team.
On This Page
- Key Takeaways
- Instant approval credit cards to use at Costco
- What forms of payment are accepted at Costco?
- What credit cards does Costco accept?
- Credit cards not accepted at Costco
- Does Costco accept debit cards?
- Potential workaround How to use any credit card you want for Costco purchases
- Final thoughts
- FAQ: Costco Payment Methods
- More info on Costco credit cards
On This Page
- Key Takeaways
- Instant approval credit cards to use at Costco
- What forms of payment are accepted at Costco?
- What credit cards does Costco accept?
- Credit cards not accepted at Costco
- Does Costco accept debit cards?
- Potential workaround How to use any credit card you want for Costco purchases
- Final thoughts
- FAQ: Costco Payment Methods
- More info on Costco credit cards
Payment Methods You Can Use At Costco
Holly D. Johnson - Personal Finance
+ 1 other
Reviewed By
Blake Esken - Los Angeles Times
Instant approval credit cards to use at Costco
If you only have a Mastercard, Visa or American Express credit card sitting in your wallet, no need to fret. Plenty of Visa credit cards offer instant access through a mobile wallet, so you can apply today and buy a $5 rotisserie chicken tomorrow.
Here are our top picks:
Visa credit cards
All of these cards are Visa-branded, so they can be used in-store:
Best for No Annual Fee + Visa
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer
Up to $300 cash back
Regular APR
19.99%-28.74% variable
Recommended Credit
Good/Excellent (690 - 850)
EARNING REWARDS
Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services, and 3% 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 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
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Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Annual Fee
$395
Welcome Offer
75,000 miles
Regular APR
19.99% to 29.74% variable
Recommended Credit
Excellent (740 - 850)
EARNING REWARDS
Earn 10X miles on hotel and rental car purchases made through Capital One Travel, 5X miles on airfare and vacation rentals purchased through the portal, and 2X miles per dollar spent on all other purchases.
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Limited Time Offer: Worth Up to $1,050
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Annual Fee
$95
Welcome Offer
Ending Soon! 60,000 points + $300 travel credit
Regular APR
20.99% to 27.99% variable
Recommended Credit
Good/Excellent (690 - 850)
EARNING REWARDS
Earn 5X points on Chase Travel℠ purchases, 3X points on dining, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services, and 1X points on other purchases.
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Mastercard credit cards
These cards are branded with Mastercard, so they can be used online at Costco.com or in the Costco mobile app.
Best for Dining and Entertainment + Mastercard
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer
LTO: $250
Regular APR
19.74% to 29.74% variable
Recommended Credit
Good/Excellent (690 - 850)
EARNING REWARDS
Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), plus 1% back on all other purchases. Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases when you book through the Capital One Entertainment portal. Earn 5% back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
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Best for Flat-Rate Rewards + Mastercard
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer
$200
Regular APR
19.74% to 29.74% variable
Recommended Credit
Good/Excellent (690 - 850)
EARNING REWARDS
Earn 1.5% cash back on all purchases and 5% back on hotels and rental cars booked through the Capital One Travel platform.
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Best for Simple Travel Rewards + Mastercard
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Annual Fee
$95
Welcome Offer
75,000 miles
Regular APR
19.99% to 29.74% variable
Recommended Credit
Good/Excellent (690 - 850)
EARNING REWARDS
Earn 5X miles per dollar on hotel stays, vacation rentals or rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 2X miles on all other purchases.
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What forms of payment are accepted at Costco?
Where the majority of national retailers are willing to accept most major forms of payment, including credit cards from all the major issuers, the warehouse club known as Costco does things differently.
The bulk retailer has a major contract with Visa, which replaced a prior agreement they had with American Express until 2016. Ever since the transition took place, Costco only accepts Visa payments for purchases in their members-only warehouses.
You can use other forms of payment at Costco, including mobile wallets like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay. However, don’t bother trying to sneak a different type of card in your mobile wallet. Only Visa cards will process for in-store purchases.
You can also buy Costco merchandise with Costco Shop Cards, certain types of checks, and EBT cards. If you’re shopping for merchandise in-person at one of the big-box stores, you can also pay with cash.
Below you’ll find a table showing all payment methods you can use at Costco locations, including online and through the app, as well as at Costco gas stations.
| Payment Methods | Costco Physical Store | Costco.com (Online) | Costco Gas Station Pumps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa credit cards | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| American Express | |||
| Discover | ✔ | ||
| Mastercard | ✔ | ||
| Mobile wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay) | ✔ | ||
| Debit cards with a PIN | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Costco Shop Cards | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Cash | ✔ | ||
| Personal checks | ✔ | ||
| Business checks | ✔ | ||
| Travelers checks | ✔ | ||
| EBT cards | ✔ |
What credit cards does Costco accept?
Costco only accepts Visa-branded cards at their warehouse stores and gas stations. For purchases made online and on the Costco app, they accept Visa, Discover, and Mastercard. Costco does not accept American Express credit cards.
Below you’ll find an overview of the credit cards accepted at Costco warehouses and gas stations, as well as through their online store.
Credit cards accepted at Costco warehouses
Costco members can pay for their bulk purchases in warehouse stores with any Visa-branded credit card, including the Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi. This cashback credit card lets customers earn 4% back on eligible gas purchases and EV charging worldwide on up to $7,000 spent each year (then 1% back), 3% back at restaurants and on eligible travel purchases, 2% back on Costco and Costco.com purchases, and 1% cash back on other purchases making it one of the best credit cards to use at Costco.
Other rewards credit cards that are popular among Costco shoppers include the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and the Chase Freedom Unlimited®, both of which are Visa-branded. Where the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card lets consumers earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points on all their purchases, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® lets users earn cash back instead with no annual fee.
Credit cards accepted at Costco gas stations
If you decide to fill up your tank at a Costco gas station, you’re still limited to paying with a Visa credit card. However, this is one area where the Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi shines since it offers an exceptional rewards rate on all gas station purchases.
Still, there are other rewards cards that offer great rates on gas purchases. This includes the Chase Freedom Unlimited®, which offers 5% cash back on the first $6,000 spent on gas purchases the first year (then 1.5% back), 5% back on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases, and 1.5% cash back on other purchases.
Credit cards accepted online at Costco.com
Costco.com and the Costco app let Costco members pay for their purchases with a broader range of cards. In addition to Visa-branded cards, both platforms accept Discover cards (including JCB and Diners Club) and Mastercard credit cards.
This means you can shop online at Costco with any number of rewards and cash-back credit cards. As an example, you could pay online with the Citi® Double Cash Card since it offers 2% cash back on everything you buy — 1% when a purchase is made and another 1% when it’s paid off.
Credit cards not accepted at Costco
Costco doesn’t accept Mastercard or Discover in-store or at the gas pump, but they take them online and through the app. Costco will not accept American Express cards.
Does Costco take Mastercard?
Costco warehouses will not accept Mastercard, but you can pay for Costco.com purchases or Costco app purchases with a Mastercard product like the Chase Freedom Flex.
Why is Mastercard not accepted at Costco? It’s hard to say why the retailer is so specific when it comes to accepted payment methods, but the store does have an existing partnership with Visa as well as a Visa-branded credit card for Costco stores.
Does Costco accept American Express?
Costco once had an exclusivity agreement with Amex, which came to a screeching halt in 2016. Before the transition toward Visa, in fact, the retailer offered several co-branded Amex credit cards including the Costco True Earnings and True Earnings Business cards from American Express.
That all changed in June of 2016 when Costco switched teams and built an in-depth partnership with Visa instead. This means Costco has refused payment from any American Express card since the summer of 2016 — not even through their online store and the Costco mobile app.
Does Costco accept Discover?
Costco does accept Discover cards if you pay online or with their mobile app. However, you cannot pay with a Discover credit card in their brick-and-mortar stores.
Does Costco accept debit cards?
If you are a card member who prefers debit cards over credit, you should also know that Costco accepts debit cards with their own PIN number. The retailer is very specific about this on their website as well, although their payment page does say that “most” PIN-based debit and ATM cards are accepted.
You can also use prepaid gift cards and debit cards to pay for purchases at Costco, but only if they have the Visa logo on the front.
Potential workaround: How to use any credit card you want for Costco purchases
While you can only use Visa cards to shop in Costco stores, there’s one potential workaround you can use to pay with any type of card you want. If you can find a way to purchase a Costco Shop Card with another credit card, you can use the shop card to pay your Costco bill in person, online, or through their app.
As an example, it’s possible to buy Costco gift cards on eBay.com, in which case you can pay with any credit card you prefer. The brand’s gift cards can also be found on Amazon.com.
Final thoughts
Costco membership comes with an array of important benefits, including the ability to buy household items and groceries in bulk. Members also get the chance to save money every time they buy gas at the pump. The Costco Travel portal is a great tool for those who want to save money on vacation packages and cruises while qualifying for extra perks like hotel credits, free breakfast, and shop cards they can use for Costco purchases.
With all this being said, you should know that Costco is pretty limited when it comes to their accepted forms of payment. You can only use Visa credit cards for your in-store purchases.
FAQ: Costco Payment Methods
Does Costco accept credit cards?
Costco only accepts Visa credit cards within their brick-and-mortar stores. However, Costco.com and Costco app shoppers can also pay with Discover or Mastercard.
What cards are accepted by Costco?
Costco has an exclusivity agreement with Visa, so you can only use Visa-branded cards in their warehouse clubs. However, Discover cards and Mastercard can be used for online and in-app purchases.
Does Costco take Visa or MasterCard?
Costco’s partnership with Visa has made it so consumers can only use Visa credit cards for in-store purchases.
What credit cards does Costco accept online?
When it comes to online purchases made with Costco, as well as Costco app purchases, customers can pay with Visa, Discover, and Mastercard.
What credit card does Costco not take?
Costco does not accept Amex as payment in any circumstances, not even for purchases made online or through the app.
Does Costco accept the Apple Card?
The Apple Card is a Mastercard, so it cannot be used for in-store purchases at Costco. However, you can use the Apple card for Costco.com purchases and those made through the Costco app.
Can I use Samsung Pay at Costco?
You can use Samsung Pay for in-store purchases at Costco, but only if you connect a Visa-branded credit card to your account.
More info on Costco credit cards
Advertiser Disclosure
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Up to 6.5% Reward Rate
Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services, and 3% 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 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer
Up to $300 cash back
Regular APR
19.99%-28.74% variable
Recommended Credit
Good/Excellent (690 - 850)
Why we like it
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® card’s reward rate on everyday purchases can be incredibly valuable for many people. And not charging an annual fee means there’s no cost to “make up for” with rewards. It’ll earn 1.5% back at Costco which is also pretty legit.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Up to 10X Reward Rate
Earn 10X miles on hotel and rental car purchases made through Capital One Travel, 5X miles on airfare and vacation rentals purchased through the portal, and 2X miles per dollar spent on all other purchases.
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Annual Fee
$395
Welcome Offer
75,000 miles
Regular APR
19.99% to 29.74% variable
Recommended Credit
Excellent (740 - 850)
Why we like it
Venture X is packed with benefits such as airport lounge access, Priority Pass Select membership, yearly bonus miles and an elevated rewards-earning rate on travel booked through Capital One’s portal. You can earn 2X miles on purchases at Costco, which roughly equates to 2% back when redeeming your miles for travel.
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Card Details
More Card Info
- Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options
- Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
- Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
- Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Elevate every hotel stay from the Premier or Lifestyle Collections with a suite of cardholder benefits, like an experience credit, room upgrades, and more
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
Pros
- Miles can be redeemed for travel purchases, transfers to international airlines, and more
- Can qualify for hundreds of dollars in credits each year
- Huge welcome offer
Cons
- $395 annual fee
- Large spending requirement to earn the welcome bonus
- Excellent credit required
Bottom Line
With a lower annual fee than some premium cards and extremely valuable benefits, this card can easily be worth the annual fee for the frequent traveler.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Up to 5X Reward Rate
Earn 5X points on Chase Travel℠ purchases, 3X points on dining, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services, and 1X points on other purchases.
Annual Fee
$95
Welcome Offer
Ending Soon! 60,000 points + $300 travel credit
Regular APR
20.99% to 27.99% variable
Recommended Credit
Good/Excellent (690 - 850)
Why we like it
The Chase Sapphire Preferred card strikes an impressive balance between a low annual fee and generous rewards. You’ll only earn 1X points on your Costco purchases, but since points on the Sapphire Preferred are worth 25% more through Chase Travel℠, it’s like you’re earning 1.25X points.
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
Up to 8% Reward Rate
Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), plus 1% back on all other purchases. Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases when you book through the Capital One Entertainment portal. Earn 5% back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
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Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer
LTO: $250
Regular APR
19.74% to 29.74% variable
Recommended Credit
Good/Excellent (690 - 850)
Why we like it
Since it’s a Mastercard, you can only use the Savor card online at Costco.com or the Costco mobile app, but it’s a solid card overall. It also has no annual fee so it doesn’t hurt to add to your wallet even if it isn’t your main Costco card.
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Card Details
More card info
- 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months (then 19.74% - 29.74% variable APR).
- Balance transfer fee of 3% for the first 15 months; 4% at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you at any other time
- There are no rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards
- Cash back won’t expire for the life of the account
- No limit to how much cash-back you can earn
- No foreign transaction fees
Pros
- No rotating categories that you need to sign up for
- No spending cap
- No annual fee
Cons
- High APR
- Good or excellent credit recommended
- Low sign-up bonus
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
Up to 5% Reward Rate
Earn 1.5% cash back on all purchases and 5% back on hotels and rental cars booked through the Capital One Travel platform.
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Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer
$200
Regular APR
19.74% to 29.74% variable
Recommended Credit
Good/Excellent (690 - 850)
Why we like it
You can earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on everything you buy with the Quicksilver Cash Rewards card. But since it’s Mastercard-branded, you won’t be able to use it in the physical Costco store.
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Card Details
More card info
- 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers; after that, a variable APR of 19.74%-29.74% applies
- Balance transfer fee of 3% for the first 15 months; Capital One may offer you a promotional 4% APR at any other time
- No rotating categories or sign-ups required to earn cash rewards; cash back won’t expire for the life of the account, and there’s no limit to how much you can earn
- No foreign transaction fees with this card
Pros
- No annual fee
- No cap on cash back
- Intro APR offer
Cons
- Lower welcome bonus than some cards
- Lower rewards rate than some cards with specific categories
- Requires good or excellent credit
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Up to 5X Reward Rate
Earn 5X miles per dollar on hotel stays, vacation rentals or rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 2X miles on all other purchases.
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Annual Fee
$95
Welcome Offer
75,000 miles
Regular APR
19.99% to 29.74% variable
Recommended Credit
Good/Excellent (690 - 850)
Why we like it
There’s no need to track complex bonus categories with the Capital One Venture Rewards Card. All purchases you make earn at least 2X miles and hotels, rental cars and vacation rentals through Capital One Travel earn 5X miles. But you can’t use this card in-store at Costco, only online.
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Card Details
More card info
- Miles don’t expire for the lifetime of the account plus there’s no limit to how many you can earn
- Up to a $120 credit to use toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use miles for reimbursement on any travel purchase—or use them to book a trip through Capital One Travel
- Enhance every hotel stay from the Lifestyle Collection with a range of cardholder benefits, such as $50 experience credit, room upgrades, and more
- Transfer your miles to over 15 travel loyalty programs of your choice
Pros
- Travel insurance protections incuded
- Earn flexible rewards for travel
- Reasonable $95 annual fee
Cons
- Requires good or excellent credit
- No everyday spending bonus categories
- High APR
About the Author
Holly D. Johnson is an award-winning personal finance writer who covers topics like insurance, investing, credit and family finance. As a leading voice in the travel and loyalty space, Johnson has traveled with her family to more than 50 countries over the last decade.
The author has also written extensively on the power of household budgeting, and she even co-authored a book on the topic. Zero Down Your Debt: Reclaim Your Income and Build a Life You’ll Love was originally published in 2017, and it teaches families how to use zero-sum budgeting to reach their financial goals. She is also the co-owner and founder of the family finance and travel website, ClubThrifty.com.
Johnson’s 10+ years of writing have focused on helping families make important financial decisions at each stage of their lives. The author also applies the financial principles she teaches to her own life, and she is currently on track to retire in her late 40’s with her partner. She currently lives in Central Indiana with her husband and children, and she is a regular contributor for Bankrate, CNN, Forbes, U.S. News and World Report Travel and many other notable publications.
* Opinions expressed here are those of LA Times Compare and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser or entities included within this content. See our editorial policy for more details.
All products or services are presented in this content without warranty. The information, including card details such as rates and fees, is accurate at the time of publication. Please visit each bank's website directly for the most current information.