What Credit Cards Costco Actually Takes—And What They Won't

Costco accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover, but only if you're a member

Costco takes four major credit card brands: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover. But there's a catch that matters more than the card type itself—you have to be a Costco member to shop there at all, and your membership card is what gets you through the door. Once you're inside, any of those four card types will work at checkout, online, or at the gas station.

The card brand you carry does matter for one reason: rewards. Costco has a co-branded credit card with Visa (the Costco Anywhere Visa Card), and if you use that specific card, you earn cash back on your purchases. If you use a different brand—Mastercard, Amex, or Discover—you still pay and leave, but you won't earn Costco's rewards unless you're also a Costco member with their rewards program.

Key Takeaways

• Costco accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover at all locations, but membership is required to shop there.
• The Costco Anywhere Visa Card earns cash back on purchases, while other card brands do not earn Costco-specific rewards.
• Costco does not accept American Express at the gas station, even though it accepts Amex inside the warehouse.
• Debit cards, prepaid cards, and store gift cards all work at Costco alongside credit cards.
• Online shopping at Costco.com accepts the same four credit card brands, plus PayPal.

Why Costco limits which cards it takes

Costco's card restrictions come from business agreements, not random rules. For decades, Costco had an exclusive deal with American Express—Amex was the only credit card accepted. That partnership ended in 2015, and Costco switched to Visa as its preferred partner. That's why Costco created the Costco Anywhere Visa Card and why Visa gets special treatment in some places.

The warehouse still accepts Mastercard, Amex, and Discover because federal law prevents Costco from turning away those cards entirely. But Costco's main partnership is with Visa, which is why you'll see Visa signage and why the Visa card earns rewards at Costco locations. The gas station is different—it only takes Visa and Mastercard, not Amex or Discover, because those networks don't have the same infrastructure at fuel pumps.

The Costco Anywhere Visa Card and how rewards work

The Costco Anywhere Visa Card is a co-branded card issued by Citi Bank. If you use it at Costco, you earn 2% cash back on gas (up to $110 per year, then 1%), 2% on travel, and 1% on everything else. You also earn 4% cash back on may be able to access Costco gas stations and EV charging stations. The cash back shows up as a credit on your Costco account or as a check, depending on how you set it up.

You don't have to use the Costco Visa card to shop at Costco—you can use any of the four accepted brands. But if you use a different card, you won't earn Costco's cash back rewards. You might earn rewards from your own card's program (like points from a Mastercard or Amex you already own), but Costco itself won't add anything on top.

What happens at the Costco gas station

The gas station is more restrictive than the warehouse. Costco gas pumps only accept Visa and Mastercard—not American Express or Discover. This is a technical limitation, not a choice. Amex and Discover don't have the same payment infrastructure at fuel pumps that Visa and Mastercard do, so Costco can't process those cards there even if it wanted to.

If you show up at the pump with an Amex or Discover card, the pump will decline it. You'll need to go inside and pay at the counter instead, or use a different card. This catches people off guard because Amex works fine inside the warehouse, but the gas station is a separate system.

Other ways to pay at Costco besides credit cards

Credit cards are common, but Costco takes other payment methods too. You can pay with a debit card (any network), cash, checks, Costco gift cards, or EBT (food benefits). Online at Costco.com, you can also use PayPal in addition to the four credit card brands.

Prepaid cards work at Costco as long as they run on one of the four accepted networks (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, or Discover). A prepaid Visa card, for example, will work exactly like a regular Visa credit card. The warehouse doesn't distinguish between them at checkout.

Shopping online versus in the warehouse

Costco.com accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover, just like the warehouse does. Online, you also have the option to pay with PayPal, which the physical warehouse doesn't offer. You still need a Costco membership to shop online, and the same rewards apply—the Costco Anywhere Visa Card earns 2% cash back on online purchases too.

If you're buying from Costco Travel (the travel booking service within Costco.com), the same payment methods work. The only difference is that some third-party sellers on Costco.com might have their own payment rules, but Costco's main checkout accepts all four card brands.

What to do if your card is declined

If your card is declined at Costco, the most common reason is that it's not one of the four accepted brands. Check your card—look for the Visa, Mastercard, Amex, or Discover logo. If your card has one of those logos and it's still declined, the issue is probably something else: insufficient funds, a fraud alert from your bank, or an expired card.

At the gas station specifically, remember that Amex and Discover won't work at the pump. If you have one of those cards, pay inside at the counter instead. If you're using a debit card and it's declined, contact your bank—sometimes banks block transactions at gas pumps as a security measure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use American Express at the Costco gas station?

No. Costco gas pumps only accept Visa and Mastercard. American Express works inside the warehouse but not at the fuel pumps. If you have an Amex card, go inside and pay at the counter instead.

Do I need the Costco Visa card to shop at Costco?

No. You can use any of the four accepted card brands—Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover. The Costco Visa card is optional and only gives you cash back rewards if you choose to use it.

What if I don't have a credit card—can I still shop at Costco?

Yes. Costco accepts cash, debit cards, checks, EBT, and Costco gift cards. You don't need a credit card at all. You do need a Costco membership to enter the warehouse.

Does Costco accept PayPal in the warehouse?

No. PayPal is only available on Costco.com for online shopping. In the physical warehouse, you can use credit cards, debit cards, cash, checks, EBT, or Costco gift cards.

Will a prepaid card work at Costco?

Yes, as long as the prepaid card is branded with Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover. It works the same way as a regular credit or debit card at checkout.