The best credit cards for Costco shopping of 2023

Our experts answer readers’ credit card questions and write unbiased product reviews (here’s how we assess credit cards). In some cases, we receive a commission from our partners; however, our opinions are our own. Terms apply to offers listed on this page.

The information for the following product(s) has been collected independently by Business Insider: Costco Anywhere Visa® Business Card by Citi. The details for these products have not been reviewed or provided by the issuer.

When you need a really good deal on everyday grocery items like bulk frozen food, a massive bag of baby spinach, and almond milk — or larger purchases like car tires, a 600-bottle wine cellar, or funeral caskets, Costco is the place to go. You can even fill up your gas tank on the way out at prices strikingly lower than nearby gas stations.

Costco is a mecca of savings, and just by shopping there, you’re taking a huge cut out of your expenses. With the right membership, you’ll even earn 2% back on all your purchases. But with the right credit cards, there are ways to save even more.

Costco only accepts Visa in-store. If you’re shopping online, however, you can also use Mastercard and Discover.

Here are the best credit cards for Costco shopping. You’d be surprised to know that Costco credit cards aren’t the best option.

We’re focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won’t be worth it if you’re paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it’s important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.

Compare the best Costco credit cards

The best Costco credit card reviews

Citi Costco Anywhere Visa

Why the Citi Costco Anywhere Visa is worth it: As far as personal credit cards go, Costco has one — that’s it. It’s been well-optimized for Costco customers. The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi earns cash back at the following rates:

4% cash back on eligible gas and EV charging worldwide on up to $7,000 in spending each year (then 1%)3% cash back on restaurants and eligible travel purchases worldwide2% cash back on all other purchases from Costco and Costco.com1% cash back on all other eligible purchases

Earning 4% back at gas stations and with EV is just about as good as it gets. You don’t have to fill up at Costco to get this return rate. A 3% return is also respectable for restaurants and travel purchases, but you can do better (as we’ll see in a bit).

Aside from the card’s return rates, its only real benefits are purchase protection and that it doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees.

The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi comes with a Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi annual fee, so it’s free to keep forever.

Welcome bonus: The card does not come with a sign-up bonus at this time, though Costco customers have found themselves occasionally being targeted for an intro offer by inquiring at a Costco warehouse.

Review: Costco Anywhere Visa Card review

To redeem your cash back with this card, you’ll have to wait until after your February billing statement closes. You’ll then get a “reward certificate” that you can claim for the cash back you earned over the previous year. You must also go to a Costco warehouse to redeem.

Citi Costco Anywhere Visa Business Card

Why the Costco Anywhere Visa Business Card is worth it: The Costco Anywhere Visa® Business Card by Citi has many identical benefits to the personal Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi. Its annual fee is Costco Anywhere Visa® Business Card by Citi, and it doesn’t incur foreign transaction fees. It even earns cash back at the same rates:

4% cash back on eligible gas and EV charging worldwide on up to $7,000 in spending each year (then 1%)3% cash back on restaurants and eligible travel purchases worldwide2% cash back on all other purchases from Costco and Costco.com1% cash back on all other eligible purchases

However, this card comes with useful travel benefits you won’t find on the personal Costco credit card:

Worldwide travel accident insuranceWorldwide rental car insurance

Welcome bonus: The card currently offers no sign-up bonus.

Review: Costco Anywhere Visa Business Card review

Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards

Why the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards is worth it: Often the best credit cards for a specific store aren’t the ones branded with the store’s name. The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card offers an equal or greater earning rate for Costco purchases than the above cobranded Costco cards in just about every category except gas stations/EV charging. You’ll receive:

3% cash back in the category of your choice: Gas/EV charging, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores, or home improvement/furnishings*2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs*1% cash back on all other eligible purchases

*Bonus cash is only eligible for the first $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club purchases each quarter. After that, you’ll earn 1%.

In short, you’ll get 2% on purchases when you shop in-store, and 3% when you shop at Costco.com if you choose online shopping as your 3% cash back category. Pretty great for a Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card annual fee card.

Plus, if you’re a Preferred Rewards member, you can earn up to 75% more cash back. Here’s how you qualify:

25% bonus — You must have between $20,000 and $49,999 in combined balances in your Bank of America deposit and/or Merrill investment accounts50% bonus — You must have between $50,000 and $99,999 in combined balances in your Bank of America deposit and/or Merrill investment accounts75% bonus — You must have $100,000+ in combined balances in your Bank of America deposit and/or Merrill investment accounts

Imagine earning 5.25% when shopping online or 3.5% for shopping in-warehouse.

Welcome bonus: The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card also comes with a sign-up bonus: Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card.

Review: Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card review

The cash back you earn with this card is also markedly easier to redeem than the rewards you accrue with a Costco credit card (which only allows you to redeem once per year). You can redeem any time for a statement credit, direct deposit into a Bank of America account, a check, etc. You’ll just need to have earned at least $25 before you can request to cash out.

Chase Freedom Unlimited

Why the Chase Freedom Unlimited is worth it: This card has one of the highest earning rates of a no-annual-fee credit card. You’ll get:

5% cash back (5x points) on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards3% cash back (3x points) on dining and drugstore purchases1.5% cash back (1.5x points) on all other eligible purchases

Unfortunately, Costco doesn’t count as a grocery store with this card. But the ability to earn 1.5% cash back is better than it seems. That’s because the Chase Freedom Unlimited® technically earns 1.5 Chase Ultimate Rewards points per dollar — not 1.5% cash back. You’re welcome to redeem those points at a rate of 1 cent each. But these points are worth significantly more if you also have one of the following cards:

Chase Sapphire Preferred® CardChase Sapphire Reserve®Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

By transferring the rewards you earn on the Chase Freedom Unlimited® to one of the cards above, you can then convert your points into valuable airline miles or hotel points. Insider estimates that the average Chase points value is 1.8 cents each when redeeming this way. In other words, earning 1.5 points per dollar is equivalent to earning 2.7% back.

Other card benefits include:

Purchase protectionExtended warrantyChase Freedom Unlimited® (then Chase Freedom Unlimited®)

The intro APR is generous and extremely valuable if you intend to make a large purchase for which you’ll need to temporarily carry a balance.

Welcome bonus: The Chase Freedom Unlimited® comes with Chase Freedom Unlimited®.

Review: Chase Freedom Unlimited review

Capital One Venture X

Why the Capital One Venture X is worth it: The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a premium travel credit card that earns 2 Capital One miles per dollar on most purchases. Those points are worth at least 1 cent each toward travel — but you can get more out of them if you try.

Insider estimates Capital One miles are worth an average of 1.7 cents each when you transfer them to airline and hotel partners like Air Canada, Turkish Airlines, Wyndham, and more. If you agree with our valuations, earning 2 miles per dollar is equivalent to a 3.4% return.

The card comes with benefits that blow all other cards on this list out of the water:

$300 per year in credits toward Capital One Travel bookingsPriority Pass, Plaza Premium, and Capital One airport lounge access (worth at least $429 per year)10,000-mile bonus each account anniversary (worth at least $100 in travel)Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee creditHigh-grade travel insurancesReturn protectionExtended warrantyCell phone protection

Again, it’s great to use a card with return protection and extended warranty protection when making sizable purchases from Costco.

Welcome bonus: This card comes with Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.

Review: Capital One Venture X review