🏪 Introduction: Why Card Acceptance at Costco Matters
Costco is known for two things: unbeatable value on bulk items—and strict rules on payment methods. While most retailers accept a wide range of credit cards, Costco is famously selective.
That often leaves American Express cardholders asking:
“Can I use my Amex at Costco?”
The short answer? Not in U.S. warehouses.
But there’s more to the story.
In this article, we’ll explore:
- Why Costco stopped accepting American Express
- Where you can still use Amex at Costco
- Regional differences (U.S. vs. Canada, Mexico, etc.)
- Smart strategies for Amex users who shop at Costco
❌ Costco U.S. Warehouses Do Not Accept American Express
As of 2024, Costco warehouse locations in the United States do not accept American Express credit cards for in-store purchases.
The only accepted credit card network for Costco in the U.S. is Visa.
🤔 Why Doesn’t Costco Accept American Express?
From 1999 to 2016, American Express was Costco’s exclusive credit card partner. In 2016, Costco ended that partnership and switched to Visa, citing:
- Lower merchant processing fees from Visa
- Broader consumer acceptance
- A better co-branded card deal (Citi Costco Visa)
Once the transition occurred:
- All Amex cards were rejected at the register
- Amex points and rewards became unusable at Costco U.S. stores
🔄 This change impacted millions of cardholders and caused a major stir in the credit card world.
✅ Where Can You Use American Express at Costco?
Although U.S. warehouse registers don’t take Amex, there are a few key exceptions where your American Express card still works.
1. 💻 Costco.com (Online Store)
Yes! You can use American Express on Costco’s website.
When shopping online at Costco.com, accepted credit cards include:
- Visa
- Mastercard
- Discover
- American Express
You can use Amex to buy:
- Electronics
- Furniture
- Bulk groceries
- Gift cards
- Membership renewals
📦 Orders placed online and shipped directly to your home do accept Amex without issue.
2. 🛒 Costco Grocery Delivery (Online)
American Express is also accepted for grocery delivery orders, which are processed through the online platform or via Instacart (in select regions).
Types of delivery include:
- Same-day delivery
- Two-day dry goods shipping
- Local frozen/refrigerated service
Important: If the order is placed via Instacart directly, Amex is accepted according to Instacart’s own policies.
3. 🇨🇦 Costco Canada (and other countries)
In Canada, Costco does not accept American Express either.
Instead, Mastercard is the exclusive network for Costco Canada.
But in some other countries (like Mexico or the UK), Amex may be accepted depending on local store policies.
| Country | In-Store Amex Acceptance |
|---|---|
| USA | ❌ No |
| Canada | ❌ No |
| Mexico | ✅ Yes (select stores) |
| UK | ❌ No |
| Japan | ✅ Yes |
🌎 If you’re traveling or relocating abroad, check with the local Costco location for updated Amex policies.
💡 Workarounds for Amex Users Shopping at Costco
Even if your Amex card is declined at the warehouse register, there are still smart ways to use your rewards, benefits, and cashback at Costco indirectly.
1. 💳 Buy Costco Shop Cards Online with Amex
Go to Costco.com and purchase Costco Shop Cards using your American Express.
These prepaid cards:
- Come in denominations from $25 to $500
- Can be used in-store or online
- Never expire
- Are reloadable (online with Amex)
This is the most reliable workaround for in-store shopping with Amex value.
2. 🔄 Use Amex Points to Redeem Visa or Costco Gift Cards
If you hold an Amex Membership Rewards-earning card (like Amex Gold or Platinum), you can:
- Redeem points for a Visa gift card
- Use the Visa card at Costco stores
- Or redeem for third-party retailers that sell Costco Shop Cards (e.g., Amazon, PayPal Gifts)
🎯 This allows you to turn Amex points into Costco power, even without direct acceptance.
3. 💰 Link Amex to Digital Wallets (When Available)
Although Costco does not directly accept American Express in-store, select locations allow:
- Apple Pay
- Google Pay
- Samsung Pay
If these wallets are configured to draw from a debit account linked to Amex Serve or Bluebird, some users report partial success. However, this is not officially supported and may vary.
🔁 Why Costco Chose Visa Over American Express
The transition to Visa in 2016 was a strategic business move. Here’s why Visa was more attractive to Costco:
| Factor | Visa | Amex |
|---|---|---|
| Merchant Fees | Lower | Higher |
| Global Acceptance | Wider | Limited |
| Co-Branded Deal | Citi Visa | Amex (old) |
| Consumer Reach | Broader | More Exclusive |
By moving to Visa, Costco secured:
- Lower transaction costs
- Stronger cardholder benefits for members
- Broader compatibility with debit and rewards cards
🧾 What Credit Cards Does Costco Accept?
U.S. In-Store Acceptance:
- ✅ Visa (credit and debit)
- ✅ Debit Mastercard (via PIN)
- ❌ Amex
- ❌ Discover
- ❌ Mastercard credit cards
Costco.com (Online):
- ✅ Visa
- ✅ Mastercard
- ✅ Discover
- ✅ American Express
🙋♂️ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Will Costco ever accept Amex again?
There’s no indication of a return to Amex. Costco’s Visa partnership is long-term and highly integrated.
Q2: Can I use Amex to renew my Costco membership?
✅ Yes—if you renew online through Costco.com, Amex is accepted.
Q3: Can I buy gas at Costco with Amex?
❌ No. Costco gas stations in the U.S. only accept Visa credit and debit cards.
Q4: Does Amex Platinum offer any Costco perks?
While the card itself isn’t accepted in-store, you can use points to buy Visa gift cards or redeem travel-related rewards that save you on Costco Travel purchases.
Q5: What’s the best Amex workaround for Costco?
Purchasing Costco Shop Cards online with Amex, then using them in-store, is the most efficient and secure method.
🧠 Maximizing Your American Express Card Benefits—Even Without Costco In-Store Access
Just because Costco doesn’t accept American Express in their physical warehouses doesn’t mean you can’t take full advantage of your Amex card. In fact, there are many smart ways to continue earning rewards and leveraging Amex perks while still being a loyal Costco shopper.
🔄 Amex Membership Rewards Strategy
If you hold an Amex Gold, Platinum, or Green card, you likely have access to Membership Rewards Points. These can be redeemed for:
- Visa or prepaid debit gift cards usable at Costco
- Statement credits for Costco.com purchases
- Travel or hotel bookings via Amex Travel, sometimes overlapping with Costco Travel
Tip: Always compare the value per point—gift card redemptions often yield 0.7–1.0¢ per point, while travel rewards can exceed 1.5¢.
🧾 Using Amex Blue Cash Cards for Costco Prep
Even though you can’t use a Blue Cash Preferred® Card at Costco warehouses directly, you can use it to:
- Buy household supplies from retailers that accept Amex (Target, Walmart, Amazon)
- Purchase Visa gift cards at drugstores or supermarkets
- Buy Costco Shop Cards online with 6% cash back (if eligible store category)
By routing purchases through a supporting channel, you can still earn strong Amex rewards while preparing for your next Costco run.
🏨 Amex Platinum + Costco Travel = Hidden Synergy
Did you know Amex Platinum offers:
- Trip cancellation/interruption insurance
- Premium roadside assistance
- Hotel and rental car upgrades
These perks often apply to travel booked via third parties, including Costco Travel, which you can pay for with a Visa card and still benefit from your Platinum’s coverage.
Pro tip: Book flights or cruises through Costco Travel using a Visa, then add your Amex Platinum for travel protections and airline lounge access.
🎯 Combining Amex + Costco Strategies: A Simple Workflow
Here’s how a smart Costco shopper who uses Amex might optimize their experience:
- Use Amex to buy Visa gift cards or Costco Shop Cards online
- Shop at Costco warehouse using prepaid Visa or Shop Card
- Continue to earn Membership Rewards points
- Use Amex Platinum perks on Costco Travel bookings
- Redeem Amex points for cashback or offset your next bill
💡 Even without in-store acceptance, Amex remains a valuable financial tool for Costco shoppers who think ahead and leverage indirect routes.
✅ Final Answer: Does Costco Take American Express?
| Location | Amex Accepted? |
|---|---|
| U.S. In-Store | ❌ No |
| U.S. Online | ✅ Yes |
| Canada | ❌ No |
| Mexico | ✅ Sometimes |
| Gift Cards (Online) | ✅ Yes |
| Costco Gas | ❌ No |
🧾 Summary: While you can’t swipe your Amex at the U.S. register, you can still use it online and through creative workarounds.