which credit cards does costco accept
Costco accepts all Visa credit cards in its warehouses and at its gas stations in the U.S., while Costco.com also accepts Mastercard (and in some regions, additional methods like Discover or PayPal) for online purchases. In- store, non‑Visa credit cards like American Express, Discover, and Mastercard are not accepted, though debit cards from those networks usually are.
In-store (U.S. warehouses & gas)
Costco’s in‑warehouse credit card policy is very strict.
- All Visa credit cards are accepted at the register and at Costco gas stations.
- The Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi is treated like any other Visa and is widely promoted for cash‑back rewards.
- Mastercard, American Express, and Discover credit cards are not accepted in-store, even if you see their logos on your card.
- Most PIN-based debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Discover) are accepted when run as debit with a PIN.
Other common in‑store payment methods include cash, Costco Shop Cards, checks for members, EBT (for eligible items), and mobile wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay) when linked to a Visa card.
Online at Costco.com
Online, the rules loosen a bit compared with the warehouses.
- Visa credit cards are accepted for all Costco.com purchases.
- Mastercard credit cards are also accepted online and in the Costco app.
- Some guides note that Discover and PayPal may be accepted for certain online orders, though this can vary by time and region, so checking the checkout page is wise.
- Debit cards from major networks (Visa, Mastercard, Discover) are generally accepted online as well.
Because these details can change over time (for example, Discover acceptance online has shifted in recent years), always confirm on the payment screen before finalizing a large order.
Why Costco only takes Visa in-store
Costco has an exclusive U.S. partnership with Visa for credit card processing in its warehouses.
- This exclusivity lets Costco negotiate lower processing fees, which supports its low-price, membership-based model.
- Before 2016, American Express had this role, but Costco switched to Visa to secure better economics and broader cardholder coverage.
Because the agreement is at the network level, it does not matter which bank issued your card—if it is Visa, it works in-store; if it is Mastercard, Amex, or Discover, it does not.
Quick reference table (U.S.)
| Location / Method | Credit cards accepted | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Warehouse checkout | Visa only | No Amex, Mastercard, or Discover credit cards; most debit cards OK with PIN. | [7][1][3]
| Costco gas | Visa only | Same Visa-only rule as in-store; mobile pay must use a Visa card. | [3][5][7]
| Costco.com / app | Visa, Mastercard | Some regions and periods also allow Discover and PayPal; check the current checkout options. | [8][1][5]
Bottom note
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.