What Credit Card Does Costco Accept?
Costco only accepts Visa credit cards at its U.S. warehouse locations and gas stations. If you try to use a Mastercard, American Express, or Discover credit card in-store, it will be declined.
This is one of the most common surprises for new Costco shoppers, especially if you’re used to stores accepting all major credit cards.
Quick Answer: What Credit Cards Does Costco Take?
- Accepted in-store: Visa credit cards only
- Not accepted in-store: Mastercard, American Express, Discover
- Accepted online (Costco.com): Visa and Mastercard
Costco has an exclusive agreement with Visa, which is why only Visa credit cards are accepted inside their warehouses.
All Payment Methods Accepted at Costco
Even though credit card options are limited, Costco does accept several other payment methods.
At Costco Warehouses
- All Visa credit cards
- The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
- Most PIN-based debit/ATM cards
- Cash
- Personal and business checks (members only)
- Costco Shop Cards (gift cards)
- EBT cards
- Mobile payments (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay)
These payment options give you flexibility even if you don’t have a Visa credit card.
At Costco Gas Stations
- All Visa credit cards
- Most debit cards with a PIN
- Costco Shop Cards
- Apple Pay
On Costco.com
- All Visa credit cards
- Mastercard credit cards
- Most debit cards
- Costco Shop Cards
- Affirm financing
Online purchases are more flexible, which is the only place you can use a Mastercard credit card with Costco.
Why Costco Only Accepts Visa
Costco has a long-standing partnership with Visa that allows the company to keep transaction fees lower. Lower fees help Costco maintain its low-price model for members.
Instead of accepting all credit cards (which would increase costs), Costco limits credit card payments to Visa only.
Best Credit Card to Use at Costco
If you shop at Costco regularly, using a Visa card is essential. One of the most popular options is the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi, which is designed specifically for Costco purchases.
This card works anywhere Visa is accepted and offers cash back rewards, making it a natural fit for Costco shoppers.
If you want a full breakdown of how it works, you can read the full review here:
➤ Costco Anywhere Visa Card Review (Benefits, Drawbacks & Rewards)
What If You Don’t Have a Visa Card?
If you don’t have a Visa credit card, you still have a few options when shopping at Costco:
- Use a debit card (any major network)
- Pay with cash
- Use a Costco Shop Card (gift card)
- Shop online and use Mastercard
But if you plan to shop in-store regularly, having a Visa card will make checkout much easier.
Bottom Line
Costco only accepts Visa credit cards in-store and at gas stations. If you want to use a credit card at Costco, it must be a Visa.
For frequent shoppers, getting a Visa—especially one designed for Costco—can make your experience smoother and more rewarding.
Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
- Discover one of Citi's best cash back rewards cards designed exclusively for Costco members
- Earn 5% cash back rewards on gas at Costco and earn 4% cash back on other eligible gas and electric vehicle (EV) charging purchases for the first $7,000 combined spend per year, and then 1% thereafter.
- 3% cash back on restaurants and eligible travel purchases and eligible travel, including Costco Travel.
- 2% cash back on all other purchases from Costco and Costco.com
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
- No annual fee with your paid Costco membership and enjoy no foreign transaction fees on purchases
- Receive an annual credit card reward certificate, which is redeemable for cash or merchandise at U.S. Costco warehouses, including Puerto Rico
FICO® Credit Scores
A FICO® Score is a proprietary credit score created by the Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO). About 90% of top U.S. lenders use it to make lending decisions.
FICO® Score Ranges:
- Exceptional: 800–850
- Very Good: 740–799
- Good: 670–739
- Fair: 580–669
- Poor: 300–579
FICO categorizes scores as Poor, Fair, Good, Very Good, and Exceptional.
What is a Credit Score?
A credit score is a three-digit number (300–850) predicting your creditworthiness. Lenders use it to evaluate risk and determine rates and terms for credit.
Why it matters: A higher score can help you qualify for loans and lower interest rates. A lower score can lead to higher borrowing costs or application denials.
FICO® Credit Score Facts
- Three-Digit Number: Summarizes your credit risk.
- Range: 300–850; higher scores = lower risk.
- Data Source: Uses your credit reports from Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.
- Industry Standard: Lenders rely on FICO for mortgages, auto loans, and credit cards.
Note: Credit scores reflect your creditworthiness but do not guarantee approval for any credit product.
Security Notice: All participating issuers use secure application systems protected by Transport Layer Security (TLS) encryption to help protect your information.
*See the online credit card applications for details about terms and conditions of credit card offers. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accurate information. However all credit card information is presented without warranty. When you click on the " Apply Now " button you can review the credit card terms and conditions on the credit card issuer's web site.
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