Costco Anywhere Visa Card Review: An Excellent Choice for Costco Enthusiasts

Overview of the Costco Anywhere Visa Card

The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card from Citi (see rates and fees) stands out as one of the top store credit cards available. If you're a Costco member, this card offers a fantastic way to earn rewards on a variety of purchases, including eligible gas, dining, travel, and at Costco itself—both in-store and online. Card Rating*: ⭐⭐⭐

*Card Rating reflects the views of TPG's editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.

While many cards offer transferable currencies with rewards on groceries, wholesale clubs like Costco are often excluded from the rewards programs.

While most store credit cards often fail to deliver exceptional value—typically lacking a robust rewards structure or benefits—the Costco Anywhere Visa is a notable exception. With a commendable rewards program that extends beyond just Costco purchases, it’s a worthwhile choice for regular shoppers at the wholesaler and elsewhere.

TPG advises that applicants should generally have a credit score of 740 or above.*

*Dinogo credit ranges are based on FICO® Score 8, one of several types of credit scores. If you apply for a credit card, the lender might refer to a different credit score for your application assessment.

Unlike many store credit cards, this one allows you to earn rewards on more than just Costco purchases—the top bonus categories actually include eligible gas stations and electric vehicle (EV) charging. When you consider the potential long-term savings from Costco Travel, this card becomes quite valuable for families and beginner travelers who prefer not to juggle multiple points and miles cards.

Remember that a Costco membership is required to apply for this card. If you already have one or intend to sign up, this card essentially acts as a no-annual-fee card. If you don’t shop at Costco frequently enough to justify a yearly membership, you might want to explore other card options.

Pros and Cons of the Costco Anywhere Visa

Welcome Offer for the Costco Anywhere Visa

Unfortunately, the Costco Anywhere Visa currently lacks a welcome offer. However, it provides long-term benefits that still make it a worthwhile choice for many, especially since there’s no annual fee for Costco members.

Benefits of the Costco Anywhere Visa

In addition to the advantages of being a Costco member, the Costco Anywhere Visa offers cardholders few additional benefits beyond no foreign transaction fees.

Earning Cash Back with the Costco Anywhere Visa

This card is notable for its rewarding earning structure. You’ll receive 4% cash back on eligible gas and EV charging purchases (up to $7,000 annually; then 1%), 3% back on dining and eligible travel expenses, 2% back on in-store and online Costco purchases, and 1% on all other purchases.

If you focus solely on maximizing gas purchases, you could earn $280 in rewards each year from that bonus category alone. However, it's important to note that you’ll only earn 1% back (not 4%) on gas and EV charging from superstores, supermarkets, convenience stores, and warehouse clubs outside of Costco, as well as on non-automobile fuel purchases (like jet or boat fuel).

Costco provides two tiers of consumer membership: Gold Star ($65) and Executive ($130). If you shop at Costco regularly throughout the year, pairing this card with an Executive membership will allow you to earn even greater rewards.

Executive members receive 2% cash back on the first $50,000 spent annually at Costco (up to $1,000 in additional rewards), including Costco.com and Costco Travel. These rewards can be combined with the Costco Anywhere Visa, enabling you to earn up to 5% on Costco Travel and 4% on other in-store and online purchases at Costco (though the 2% Executive benefit does not apply to gas purchases at Costco).

If you don't shop at Costco enough throughout the year to warrant an Executive membership, the extra 2% cash back probably won’t justify the higher cost. However, if you already frequent Costco enough to have the Executive membership, this no-annual-fee card is a fantastic addition to your financial toolkit.

How to Redeem Cash Back on the Costco Anywhere Visa

Cash back from Costco is redeemed annually in the form of a reward certificate. You will receive your reward after your February billing statement is finalized. Once you have the reward certificate, you can redeem it for merchandise or cash at any Costco location.

Depending on the cash back amount and the specific Costco location where you redeem it, you may receive your cash back as a check or via electronic transfer instead.

This redemption process is notably more limited than what you’d find with a typical cash-back card, but it's uncommon for a store card to provide rewards that can be used for anything other than merchandise. While waiting a full year to access your cash-back rewards might be inconvenient, you can redeem them for cash usable for any purpose.

Which Cards Rival the Costco Anywhere Visa?

While the Costco Anywhere Visa offers solid returns across various categories, it may not be the ideal choice for everyone. If you don’t shop at Costco regularly or seek a card that provides rewards usable throughout the year, consider exploring other options:

• If you want higher cash back on gas and groceries: The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is a fantastic choice. You’ll earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 spent each calendar year; then 1% cash back) and on select U.S. streaming services (including Disney+), plus 3% back on transit and gas at U.S. gas stations. It features a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 (see rates and fees). Cash back is given as Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout. For further details, read our full review of the Blue Cash Preferred.
• If you prefer a straightforward earning structure: Check out the Citi Double Cash® Card (see rates and fees). With up to 2% earnings on all purchases—1% when you buy and another 1% when you pay it off—this no-annual-fee card is hard to beat. Additionally, you can convert your cash-back rewards into fully-transferable ThankYou points with another card. For more information, read our full review of the Citi Double Cash card.
• If you’re interested in travel rewards: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card earns 3 points per dollar on dining and 2 points per dollar on travel purchases. With a $95 annual fee, it’s a great option for those wanting to minimize annual fees while earning travel rewards. For more details, check out our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred.

For more options, take a look at our complete list of the best cash-back credit cards.

Is the Costco Anywhere Visa a Good Choice?

For Costco members who frequently shop there, the Costco Anywhere Visa Card is definitely worth considering. With a robust rewards program that includes categories like gas, dining, travel, and Costco purchases, this card provides excellent value, particularly for families and new travelers.

This card has no annual fee and offers extra rewards for Executive members, making it beneficial for regular Costco shoppers. However, be aware of the limitations regarding cash-back redemption.

Conclusion

Although the redemption limitations of the Costco Anywhere Visa can be a bit annoying, it features a strong earning structure and rewards for loyal Costco shoppers. Plus, you can always use the annual cash-back check as a supplementary travel fund for expenses that points and miles don’t cover.