Costco accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover — but only Visa and Mastercard at the warehouse itself
Costco's payment rules differ between the warehouse and Costco.com. At the physical warehouse, you can pay with Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover. Online, Costco accepts all four of those cards plus a few others. The catch: Costco has a long history of exclusive payment partnerships, and those rules have shifted over time. If you're planning to use a specific card, it's worth confirming before you shop.
The warehouse location is where most people run into surprises. Costco stopped accepting American Express at warehouse locations in 2016 after their exclusive partnership ended. Discover was added back in 2015. If you have an older Costco card or a card you haven't used there in years, the acceptance rules may have changed since your last visit.
Key Takeaways
- At Costco warehouses, you can use Visa, Mastercard, or Discover — but not American Express, even though Amex is accepted online.
- Costco.com accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, and Diners Club, giving you more payment options than the warehouse.
- Costco stopped accepting American Express at warehouse locations in 2016 when their exclusive payment deal ended.
- Costco's Visa card (the Costco Anywhere Visa) earns rewards at Costco and gas stations, but you can also use any other Visa at the warehouse.
What cards work at the warehouse checkout
At the warehouse, Costco takes Visa, Mastercard, and Discover. You can also pay with cash, debit cards (Visa or Mastercard branded), checks, and EBT cards where state law allows it. American Express is not accepted at warehouse checkouts, even if you have a Costco-branded Amex card from years past.
The Costco Anywhere Visa card is Costco's own credit card and earns rewards on Costco purchases and gas station spending. It's a Visa, so it works at any warehouse location. You don't need the Costco card to shop there — any Visa or Mastercard will do — but the Costco card offers higher rewards rates if you shop frequently.
What cards work on Costco.com
Online shopping at Costco.com has looser payment rules than the warehouse. You can use Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, and Diners Club. You can also pay with PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Amazon Pay if you link one of those accounts to a supported card.
The reason for the difference is straightforward: online transactions use different payment processing systems than warehouse checkouts. Costco negotiated different terms with card networks for each channel. If you have an American Express card and want to use it at Costco, the warehouse won't take it, but Costco.com will.
Why Costco has these payment restrictions
Costco's payment rules come from business deals with card networks and banks, not from a preference for certain cards over others. For decades, Costco had an exclusive partnership with American Express — meaning Amex was the only credit card accepted. That deal ended in 2015, and Costco began accepting Visa and Mastercard at warehouses starting in 2016.
When Costco added Visa and Mastercard, they negotiated different terms for the warehouse versus online. The warehouse rules are stricter because in-person transactions have different fraud and processing costs. Costco.com can accept more card types because online payments go through different security systems.
What to do if your card isn't accepted
If you arrive at the warehouse with an American Express or Diners Club card, you'll need to use a different payment method. Your options are cash, a debit card (Visa or Mastercard), another credit card that Costco accepts, or EBT if you're purchasing may be able to access items. Costco doesn't offer a way to pay with Amex at the warehouse even if you call ahead.
If you prefer to use American Express, shop on Costco.com instead. Online, Amex is accepted and you can complete your purchase without switching cards. You'll still need a Costco membership to order online, just as you do at the warehouse.
The Costco Anywhere Visa card and rewards
The Costco Anywhere Visa card earns 2% cash back on Costco purchases and gas station purchases, 1% on all other purchases, and 3% on travel booked through Costco Travel. There's an annual fee of around $65 for the standard card and $130 for the Executive version, which also includes a 2% annual reward on Costco purchases.
You don't need the Costco card to shop at Costco — any Visa will work at the warehouse. The Costco card is useful if you shop there regularly and want to earn rewards on top of any other benefits your regular credit card offers. Since it's a Visa, it works at every warehouse location.
Payment methods that always work at Costco
If you want to avoid card restrictions altogether, Costco accepts cash, debit cards (as long as they're Visa or Mastercard branded), and checks at warehouse locations. EBT cards are accepted for may be able to access food items in states that allow it. These payment methods bypass the credit card rules entirely.
Costco also accepts mobile payment apps like Apple Pay and Google Pay at warehouse checkouts, as long as the card linked to those apps is Visa, Mastercard, or Discover. This gives you a contactless option without needing to carry a physical card.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my American Express card at a Costco warehouse?
No. American Express is not accepted at Costco warehouse locations. It is accepted on Costco.com. If you want to use Amex at Costco, you'll need to shop online instead of visiting the warehouse in person.
Does Costco accept Discover cards?
Yes, Discover is accepted at both Costco warehouses and Costco.com. Costco added Discover to its warehouse payment options in 2015 and continues to accept it at all locations.
What if I only have an American Express card and I'm at the warehouse?
You can pay with cash, a debit card (Visa or Mastercard), a check, or EBT if you're buying may be able to access food items. If you have a mobile payment app like Apple Pay or Google Pay linked to a Visa or Mastercard, you can use that instead.
Is the Costco Visa card required to shop at Costco?
No. The Costco Visa card is optional. You can use any Visa or Mastercard at the warehouse, or pay with cash, debit, checks, or EBT. The Costco card is useful only if you want to earn rewards on your purchases.
Why does Costco.com accept more cards than the warehouse?
Online and in-person transactions use different payment processing systems. Costco negotiated different terms with card networks for each channel. The warehouse has stricter rules, while online shopping allows more card types including American Express and Diners Club.