Costco is America’s favorite warehouse club, boasting almost twice as many members as its next-biggest rival, Sam’s Club, despite its more expensive membership fees. Another important distinction between the retailers is the payment methods each one accepts. For instance, while you can use any major credit card to check out at Sam’s Club stores, Costco stores only accept a single credit card brand.
Here’s everything you need to know about what payment methods Costco accepts at its stores, food courts, gas stations, website, and mobile app.
Payment methods accepted at Costco stores & food courts
Accepted Not accepted Cash Mastercard credit cards Checks (including traveler's checks) American Express credit cards Debit/ATM cards Discover credit cards Visa credit cards — Costco Shop Cards — EBT cards — Digital wallets like Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, etc. (if the underlying payment method is a debit card or Visa credit card) —
Payment methods accepted at Costco gas stations & car washes
Accepted Not accepted Debit/ATM cards Cash Visa credit cards Checks Costco Shop Cards Mastercard credit cards Digital wallets like Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, etc. (if the underlying payment method is a debit card or Visa credit card) American Express credit cards — Discover credit cards — EBT cards
Related: Costco vs. Sam’s Club: Memberships, prices & perks compared
Payment methods accepted at Costco.com and on the Costco app
Accepted Not accepted Debit/ATM cards Cash Visa credit cards Checks Mastercard credit cards American Express credit cards Costco Shop Cards Discover credit cards — EBT cards — Digital wallets like Apple Pay, Google Pay, etc.
Does Costco accept EBT cards online? Yes and no
It’s important to note that while you cannot pay for SNAP-eligible items at Costco.com with an EBT card, you can use your EBT card to pay for eligible items for same-day delivery.
This is because Costco’s same-day delivery system is serviced by Instacart, which accepts EBT. You can access Costco's same-day delivery portal and add your EBT card as a payment method at sameday.costco.com, in the Costco app, or through the Instacart app.
Related: How much is a Sam’s Club membership? Club vs. Plus explained
This story was originally reported by TheStreet on Nov 8, 2025, where it first appeared in the Retail section. Add TheStreet as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
View Comments
Every payment method Costco accepts: From EBT to Apple Pay
Published 1 day ago
Nov 8, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Neutral