Costco accepts only Visa, Mastercard, and American Express — not Discover or other networks

Costco stopped accepting Discover cards in 2015 and does not take any other payment networks. At the register, you can use any Visa, Mastercard, or American Express card issued by any bank. Online at Costco.com, the same three networks work, plus you can also pay by debit card, PayPal, or Costco Shop Card (their own branded card).

If you carry a Discover card as your primary card, it will not work at Costco warehouses or on their website. The same applies to cards on the Diners Club, JCB, or UnionPay networks. This is a hard rule — there is no exception process or workaround at the register.

Costco's membership fee is separate from payment method. You must have an active Costco membership to shop there, regardless of which card you use to pay. The card you bring only determines whether the transaction goes through at checkout.

Key Takeaways

  • Visa, Mastercard, and American Express cards work at Costco warehouses and online; Discover does not work anywhere at Costco.
  • Costco stopped accepting Discover in 2015 as part of an exclusive agreement with Visa, though that agreement has since ended.
  • You still need an active Costco membership to shop; the payment card is separate from membership status.
  • If you want to earn rewards on Costco purchases, the Costco Anywhere Visa card (their co-branded card) offers the highest cash back rates inside Costco.

Why Costco only accepts three card networks

Costco's payment restrictions come from a long-standing business decision, not a technical limitation. From 2015 to 2021, Costco had an exclusive contract with Visa that prevented them from accepting Mastercard or American Express. When that contract ended, Costco renegotiated and now accepts all three networks equally.

The reason Discover remains excluded is separate. Costco has chosen not to accept Discover cards, and there is no public timeline for that to change. Discover is a smaller network than Visa or Mastercard, and Costco's volume makes negotiating terms with them less of a priority.

This is Costco's choice, not a rule imposed by the card networks themselves. Other retailers accept Discover without issue. Costco simply decided the cost and complexity of adding Discover did not justify the benefit.

What happens if you try to use a card Costco does not accept

If you attempt to pay with a Discover card or any other unsupported network at the register, the transaction will be declined. The card reader will reject it before you are asked to sign or enter a PIN. You will need to provide a different payment method immediately — another card, cash, or a check.

This happens at the physical register, not online. On Costco.com, the payment page will not even show Discover as an option during checkout. You cannot accidentally select it and then be declined; the system prevents you from reaching that point.

There is no override or manager exception. Costco's payment system is configured to reject non-Visa, non-Mastercard, and non-American Express transactions at all locations. Asking a manager will not change this.

The Costco Anywhere Visa card and rewards at checkout

Costco's co-branded card is the Costco Anywhere Visa Card, issued by Citi. It is a Visa card, so it works everywhere Visa is accepted — not just at Costco. The card offers higher cash back rates inside Costco than other cards do.

Inside Costco warehouses, the Costco Visa card earns 2% cash back on gas, 2% on travel, and 1% on all other purchases. At Costco.com, it earns 2% on all purchases. Outside Costco, it earns 1% cash back on everything else. There is no annual fee for the card.

If you do not have the Costco Visa card, any other Visa, Mastercard, or American Express card will work at checkout, but you will earn whatever rewards that card offers — which may be lower. Some cards offer flat 1% or 2% cash back everywhere, which would match or beat the Costco card outside Costco, but inside Costco the Costco card's 2% rate is hard to beat.

Using a business card or corporate card at Costco

Business Visa, Mastercard, and American Express cards work at Costco the same way consumer cards do. There is no separate rule for business cards. If the card is a Visa, Mastercard, or American Express, it will be accepted.

You do need a Costco membership to shop, and that membership is tied to an individual, not a business. If you are shopping on behalf of your company, you will need either a personal Costco membership or a Costco Business membership (a separate membership tier for businesses). The payment card is independent of the membership type.

Costco does not issue a business-specific card. The Costco Anywhere Visa Card is available to individuals and sole proprietors, but not to larger businesses. Businesses typically use their corporate Visa or Mastercard instead.

Paying with cash, check, or debit at Costco

You do not have to use a credit card at Costco. Cash and checks are accepted at all warehouse locations. Debit cards that carry a Visa or Mastercard logo work the same way credit cards do — they will be accepted because they run on those networks.

On Costco.com, you can also pay with PayPal or the Costco Shop Card (a store-branded card that functions like a gift card). At the warehouse, PayPal is not an option; you must use a card, cash, or check.

If you use a debit card, the transaction still goes through the Visa or Mastercard network, so the same acceptance rules apply. A debit card with a Discover logo will be declined, just as a Discover credit card would be.

International cards and currency at Costco

Visa, Mastercard, and American Express cards issued outside the United States work at Costco if they carry one of those three logos. The card does not have to be a U.S.-issued card. A Visa card from Canada, the UK, or any other country will work at a U.S. Costco warehouse.

Your bank may charge a foreign transaction fee when you use an international card in the United States, but Costco's payment system will accept it. The fee is between you and your bank, not something Costco controls.

Costco does not accept payment in foreign currency. All transactions are processed in U.S. dollars. If you are visiting from another country, you will need a card that works on the Visa, Mastercard, or American Express network and can process U.S. dollar transactions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my Discover card at Costco if I call ahead?

No. Costco's payment system is configured to reject Discover cards at all locations, and there is no exception process. Calling ahead will not change this. You will need to bring a Visa, Mastercard, or American Express card instead.

Does Costco accept Apple Pay or Google Pay?

Yes, if your phone is set up with a Visa, Mastercard, or American Express card. Apple Pay and Google Pay are payment methods that route through the underlying card network. If the card behind them is accepted, the digital payment works. If the card is Discover, the payment will be declined.

What if my credit card is expired but still has the Visa logo?

An expired card will be declined at checkout, regardless of the network. The card reader checks the expiration date as part of the authorization process. You will need to bring a valid, non-expired card.

Can I use a prepaid Visa card at Costco?

Yes, as long as it is a Visa card. Prepaid cards that carry the Visa, Mastercard, or American Express logo work the same way as regular credit cards at Costco. The payment network is what matters, not whether the card is prepaid or traditional.

Does Costco accept contactless payment?

Yes. Costco's registers accept contactless Visa, Mastercard, and American Express cards, as well as digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay that use those networks. You can tap your card or phone instead of inserting or swiping it.