What Payment Does Costco Accept? Visa, Apple Pay, EBT and More
Every payment method Costco lists for its warehouses, gas stations and Costco.com, and the ones it doesn't.
Quick answer: In U.S. warehouses Costco takes any Visa card, most debit cards, cash, checks from members, Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay, EBT and Costco Shop Cards. Visa is the only credit card network it lists for warehouses and gas stations; Mastercard credit cards work only on Costco.com, and American Express and Discover aren't accepted anywhere on Costco's list.
Visa
only credit card in-store
Yes
Apple Pay
Yes
EBT in warehouses
No
Amex or Discover
Costco payment methods by where you shop
From Costco's customer service answers, checked November 4, 2026. U.S. locations.
| Payment method | Warehouse | Gas station | Costco.com |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa credit and debit cards | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Mastercard | FSA/HSA and filtered-spend cards only | Filtered-spend cards only | Yes |
| American Express, Discover | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| PIN-based debit/ATM cards (most) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Apple Pay | Yes | Yes | Not listed |
| Google Pay, Samsung Pay | Yes | Not listed | Not listed |
| Costco Shop Cards | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cash | Yes | Not listed | Not listed |
| Checks | Personal checks from members; business checks from Business members | Not listed | Not listed |
| Traveler’s checks | Yes | Not listed | Not listed |
| EBT (SNAP) | Eligible items, per state law | Not listed | Not listed |
| FSA/HSA cards | Pharmacy, optical and hearing aids | Not listed | Not listed |
| Affirm (pay over time) | Not listed | Not listed | Yes |
Costco notes it can't tell in advance whether a specific item is eligible on filtered-spend, FSA/HSA or InComm and Optum MedFlex cards; that's decided when the card is run.
Credit cards at Costco: why only Visa
Costco accepts one credit card network at a time. Since June 20, 2016 that's Visa, with Citi issuing the co-branded Costco card; before then it was American Express only. So in a warehouse or at the pump, any Visa works, whoever issued it, but a Mastercard, Amex or Discover credit card doesn't.
Online is the exception: Costco.com takes Mastercard as well as Visa, and offers Affirm for paying over time. If you pay with Costco's own card, see how the Costco Citi card's cash back works.
Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay
- Warehouses: Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay.
- Gas stations: Apple Pay is the only mobile wallet Costco lists.
- Costco.com: no mobile wallets on Costco's list.
EBT and FSA/HSA cards
EBT: Costco says all its warehouses accept EBT cards and follow each state's rules on what they can buy; your state SNAP agency has the list of eligible items. EBT isn't on Costco's lists for gas stations or Costco.com.
FSA and HSA: Visa or Mastercard FSA/HSA debit cards work at the pharmacy, optical and hearing aid departments.
However you pay, prices can drop after
If something you bought at Costco goes on sale within 30 days, you can claim the difference, whatever you paid with. CostRefund scans your receipts and alerts you.
Start freeCostco Shop Cards and Costco Wallet
Shop Cards work in warehouses, at gas stations and on Costco.com. You can also load them into Costco Wallet in the Costco app (up to $10,000 at a time) and pay by scanning your digital membership card. Costco says the wallet works at warehouse registers, food courts, pharmacies, gas stations and on Costco.com, but not at Costco Travel or for home installation services. Shop Card funds in the wallet don't expire. Buying discounted gift cards at Costco? See Costco gift cards.
Frequently asked questions
What credit cards does Costco accept?+
In U.S. warehouses and at Costco gas stations, Visa is the only credit card network Costco lists, including the Costco Anywhere Visa by Citi. Costco.com also takes Mastercard. American Express and Discover aren’t on Costco’s list anywhere.
Does Costco take Apple Pay?+
Yes, in U.S. warehouses and at Costco gas stations. Warehouses also take Google Pay and Samsung Pay; at the gas pump Costco lists only Apple Pay. Costco.com doesn’t list mobile wallets.
Does Costco take EBT?+
Yes. Costco says all its warehouses accept EBT cards, for the items your state’s SNAP rules allow. Costco’s lists for gas stations and Costco.com don’t include EBT.
Does Costco take Mastercard?+
On Costco.com, yes. In warehouses, only Mastercard FSA/HSA debit cards (at the pharmacy, optical and hearing aid departments) and filtered-spend cards are listed, not regular Mastercard credit cards.
Why does Costco only take Visa?+
Costco runs on an exclusive arrangement: since June 20, 2016, Visa has been its card network and Citi the issuer of the Costco credit card. Before that, Costco took only American Express.
Does Costco take cash and checks?+
Warehouses take cash, personal checks from Costco members, business checks from Business members, and traveler’s checks. Gas stations don’t list cash or checks.
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Get CostRefund freePayment lists from Costco customer service: accepted payment methods, EBT and Costco Wallet, checked November 4, 2026. “Not listed” means Costco's list doesn't include it. The 2016 switch to Visa as reported by the Deseret News. Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash. CostRefund is independent and not affiliated with Costco, Visa or Citi.