Costco only accepts Visa cards, Costco's own Visa card, and a few other payment methods — not all credit cards

Costco stopped accepting American Express, Discover, and Mastercard in 2016. If you show up with any of those cards, the register will decline it. The only credit card Costco takes is Visa — including the Costco Anywhere Visa, their co-branded card with Citi. You can also pay with cash, debit cards, checks, or the Costco Cash Card (a prepaid card you load with money). Mobile wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay work too, as long as the underlying card is a Visa.

This matters because it's not just an inconvenience — it's a real constraint if you carry a different card for rewards or if you're trying to build credit with a specific card. You can't work around it by asking Costco to make an exception, and you can't use a Mastercard or Amex even if you have excellent credit. The rule applies to every Costco warehouse worldwide.

Key Takeaways

  • Costco accepts only Visa credit cards, not Mastercard, American Express, or Discover, no matter what your credit score is.
  • The Costco Anywhere Visa Card (issued by Citi) earns rewards on Costco purchases and is the card Costco promotes most heavily.
  • You can pay with cash, debit cards, checks, or the Costco Cash Card if you don't have a Visa.
  • Mobile payment apps like Apple Pay and Google Pay work at Costco only if your underlying card is a Visa.
  • This Visa-only policy has been in place since 2016 and applies to all Costco locations.

Why Costco switched to Visa only

In 2016, Costco and American Express ended their partnership after 16 years. The two companies couldn't agree on the fees Costco would pay for processing Amex transactions. Costco wanted lower fees; Amex wouldn't budge. Rather than accept multiple card networks at different costs, Costco chose to partner exclusively with Visa, which offered better terms.

This decision was about money, not customer service. Costco negotiated a deal where Visa gave them favorable processing rates in exchange for being the only credit card accepted. For Costco, this meant lower costs per transaction. For you, it meant losing the choice to use your Amex or Mastercard there.

The Costco Anywhere Visa Card and its rewards

Costco's own credit card is the Costco Anywhere Visa Card, issued by Citi. If you shop at Costco regularly, this card is designed to earn you cash back on your purchases. The card earns 2% cash back on Costco purchases and gas (up to $110 per year, then 1%), 1% on all other purchases, and 3% on restaurants and travel.

You don't need this card to shop at Costco — any Visa will work. But if you're going to use a credit card there anyway, the Costco card gives you rewards you wouldn't get with a different Visa. The card has an annual fee (currently $65 for the standard version and $130 for the Executive version), so the math only works if you spend enough to earn back more than the fee in cash back.

Cash back from the Costco card comes as an annual reward certificate that you can use at Costco or on gas. It doesn't go into your bank account — you have to spend it at Costco or a Costco gas station. That's a real limitation if you were hoping to use the rewards flexibly.

What happens if you try to use a non-Visa card

If you hand a Mastercard, American Express, or Discover card to the cashier, the payment terminal will simply decline it. The cashier can't override this — it's a system-level restriction, not a judgment call. You'll need to provide a different payment method on the spot: another Visa, cash, a debit card, or a check.

This can be embarrassing if you didn't know about the policy and you're holding up the line. It's worth checking your wallet before you go to Costco, especially if you're a newer member or if you primarily use a Mastercard or Amex elsewhere.

Other ways to pay at Costco if you don't have a Visa

You have several options if Visa isn't your preference. Cash is always accepted and requires no card at all. Debit cards work regardless of which network they're on — Visa debit, Mastercard debit, or any other. Checks are still accepted at Costco, though you'll need a valid ID and the check must be in your name.

The Costco Cash Card is a prepaid card you can load with money and use like a gift card. You load it online or at the warehouse, and it works at any Costco location. It doesn't earn rewards and doesn't build credit, but it's a way to pay without a traditional credit card.

Mobile wallets like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay work at Costco, but only if the card linked to them is a Visa. If you link an Amex or Mastercard to Apple Pay and try to use it at Costco, it will still decline — the restriction is on the card itself, not the payment method.

Building credit at Costco with a Visa

If you're rebuilding credit or new to credit cards, Costco is a place where you'll use your card regularly, which helps your credit history. But you're limited to Visa options. If you're looking for a beginner-friendly card that reports to credit bureaus, the Costco Anywhere Visa is one path — though you'll pay the annual fee. Alternatively, you could use any other Visa card that reports to the bureaus and use it at Costco like you would anywhere else.

The key is that the card you use has to report your payment history to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Not all cards do this, so check before you open an account. Using any card at Costco won't help your credit unless the card issuer is reporting your activity to the credit bureaus.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my Mastercard or American Express at Costco?

No. Costco only accepts Visa credit cards. Mastercard and American Express will be declined at the register. You can use a Mastercard or Amex debit card, or pay with cash, but not a credit card on those networks.

Does the Costco Visa card have to be my primary card?

No. You can use any Visa card at Costco. The Costco Anywhere Visa Card earns rewards on your purchases, but it's optional. If you already have a Visa you prefer, you can use that instead and skip the annual fee.

Will Apple Pay work with my Amex at Costco?

No. Even though Apple Pay is a mobile wallet, Costco's system checks the underlying card network. If your Apple Pay is linked to an Amex or Mastercard, it will decline. Only Visa cards linked to mobile wallets will work.

What if I forgot my Visa and only have my Mastercard?

You can pay with cash, a debit card (any network), a check, or the Costco Cash Card if you have one loaded. You cannot use a Mastercard credit card, but a Mastercard debit card will work.

Is there any way to use a different card at Costco?

No. The Visa-only policy is a system restriction that cannot be overridden. Your only options are Visa credit cards, debit cards of any network, cash, checks, or the Costco Cash Card.