This site makes a small commission on purchases made through some of the links on this page. It won't cost you anything and helps us pay the server bills.

Costco vs. Sam’s Club Membership

Costco and Sam’s Club shoppers love the convenience that these mega retailers offer when it comes to saving them time and money. There are a lot of pros to each, because both have convenience and low prices built right into their memberships. If you’re not sure which one is right for you, here’s what you need to know.

Benefits of a Costco Membership

Costco offers a 100-percent satisfaction guarantee on all of its products, whether your buy them in store or order online and have your Costco products delivered. You can choose from one of four different types of memberships:

  • Gold Star Membership – $60 per year
  • Gold Star Executive Membership – $120 per year
  • Business Membership – $60 per year
  • Business Executive Membership – $120 per year

Each Costco Gold Star Membership and Costco Executive Membership has customized benefits for your household and business purchases:

Gold Star Gold Star Executive Business Business Executive
Household membership card
Entry to every store globally
Annual reward on eligible purchases
Perks on eligible services
Ability to add members to account
Ability to resell membership

There are also many other benefits Costco members enjoy, including:

  • Food courts
  • Mortgage services
  • Insurance coverage options
  • Automobile repair
  • Reduced-price gasoline
  • Optical and pharmacy services
  • Glasses, hearing aids, and other healthcare supplies
  • Travel deals on hotels, rental cars, and destinations
  • Reduced-price beer, wine, and liquor
  • Personal credit monitoring
  • Business bookkeeping and payroll services

Benefits of a Sam’s Club Membership

Sam’s Club provides convenience and low prices through two different membership types:

  • Club Membership – $45 per year
  • Plus Membership – $100 per year

Both come with unique benefits, and the one that’s right for you depends on how much shopping you plan to do, and whether your prefer to make your purchases in-store or online.

Club Sam’s Plus
Household membership card
Earn cash back
Free shipping on online orders
Early access to stores
Bonus discounts
Eligibility for Sam’s Club Mastercard
Gasoline discounts
Free prescriptions on select medications
Reduced prices on prescription glasses
Complimentary tire repair, wiper blade installation, and car battery testing
Ability to add members to account for reduced price

If that’s not enough to get you excited, Sam’s Club also offers these perks to its members:

  • Pharmacy and healthcare services, including wellness screenings that help detect your risk of diabetes, heart disease, and stroke
  • Hearing and vision services, including hearing aids and glasses
  • Photo and video services
  • Home improvement professionals
  • Vehicle shopping
  • Tire rotation and installation
  • Insurance options
  • Personal and business accounting
  • Business services, including loans, payroll, and printing
  • Legal assistance for yourself and your business

Should I Get a Costco or Sam’s Club Membership?

Both are great options, but Costco has a slight edge over Sam’s Club. Costco has more stores overall, including international locations. Its service offerings are also more widely-available than Sam’s Club, so you’re more likely to have access to all of its fringe benefits no matter which store you shop at. 

Considering all of this, we recommend a Costco membership for most shoppers. However, no matter if you choose a Costco membership or a Sam’s Club membership, you’ll save yourself time, money, and hassle every time you shop!