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Costco alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Nov 8, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rankAll online shopping apps

Top picks

  • Walmart logo

    Best overall

    Walmart

    Starting price: $98 a year (Walmart+ annual)

  • Amazon logo

    Best free option

    Amazon

    Starting price: $14.99 a month (Prime Monthly)

Common reasons people leave Costco: annual membership fee needed to shop in warehouses, and non-members pay 5% more on the items they can buy online. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Costco, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Walmart currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingVerified priceOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Walmart logoWalmartFree plan + paid$98 a year (Walmart+ annual)NoWeb, Android, iOS8 of 868.8
2Amazon logoAmazonFree plan + paid$14.99 a month (Prime Monthly)NoWeb, Android, iOS7 of 764.8
3Target logoTargetFree plan + paid$10.99/month or $99/yearNoWeb, Android, iOS5 of 561.8
4Best Buy logoBest BuyFree plan + paid—NoWeb, iOS, Android3 of 357.2
5Instacart logoInstacartFree plan + paid—NoWeb, iOS, Android3 of 347.8
  1. Walmart logo

    1. WalmartTop pick

    Best for: US households who want low-price groceries and essentials delivered or ready for pickup

    Free plan + paidWeb, Android, iOS

    68.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Costco

    No membership needed for low everyday prices, and Walmart+ adds free delivery if you want it.

    Pros

    • Groceries and general merchandise in one order, with store pickup
    • Walmart+ costs less per year than Amazon Prime
    • Thousands of US stores for pickup and in-person returns
    • Half-price Walmart+ for students and government assistance recipients

    Cons

    • Free grocery delivery needs a $35 minimum even with Walmart+
    • Marketplace sellers mixed with Walmart's own stock make shipping and returns uneven
    • Walmart.com and Walmart+ serve only US customers
    Visit Walmart Compare with CostcoDetails and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Walmart a good Costco alternative?

    Verified facts

    8 of 8 verified
    Walmart+ price
    $98 per year
    Checked Nov 8, 2026walmart.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Walmart+ trial
    30 days for $1
    Checked Nov 8, 2026walmart.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free delivery minimum
    $35 with Walmart+
    Checked Nov 8, 2026walmart.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Student price
    $49 per year
    Checked Nov 8, 2026walmart.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Stores
    More than 10,900 in 19 countries
    Checked Nov 8, 2026corporate.walmart.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Starting price
    $98 a year (Walmart+ annual)
    Checked Nov 8, 2026walmart.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free trial
    30 days for $1
    Checked Nov 8, 2026walmart.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Student discount
    $49 a year or $6.47 a month
    Checked Nov 8, 2026walmart.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Amazon logo

    2. Amazon

    Best for: Shoppers who want the widest selection and fast delivery, especially Prime members

    Free plan + paidWeb, Android, iOS

    64.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Costco

    Far bigger online range with fast Prime delivery, better for people who rarely visit a store.

    Pros

    • Largest selection of almost any online store
    • Fast free delivery on eligible items with Prime
    • Easy returns on most items sold or shipped by Amazon
    • Prime bundles video, music and photo storage

    Cons

    • Search results are crowded with sponsored listings and lookalike brands
    • Marketplace seller quality is uneven
    • Prime is a fairly expensive yearly subscription
    Visit Amazon Compare with CostcoDetails and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Amazon a good Costco alternative?

    Verified facts

    7 of 7 verified
    Photo storage
    Unlimited with Prime
    Checked Nov 8, 2026amazon.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Used goods
    Amazon Resale
    Checked Nov 8, 2026amazon.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free trial
    30 days
    Checked Nov 8, 2026amazon.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Starting price
    $14.99 a month (Prime Monthly)
    Checked Nov 8, 2026amazon.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Prime Annual plan
    $139 a year
    Checked Nov 8, 2026amazon.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Prime for Young Adults plan
    $7.49 a month
    Checked Nov 8, 2026amazon.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Prime Access plan
    $6.99 a month for eligible government assistance recipients
    Checked Nov 8, 2026amazon.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Target logo

    3. Target

    Best for: US shoppers who like Target's own brands and want quick pickup or same-day delivery

    Free plan + paidWeb, Android, iOS

    61.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Costco

    No fee and smaller pack sizes, with same-day pickup and delivery from local stores.

    Pros

    • Drive-up and in-store pickup are quick and free
    • Target-only home, kids and clothing brands
    • Free loyalty program with regular personalised deals
    • Circle 360 adds an extra 30 days to return items

    Cons

    • Smaller catalogue than Amazon or Walmart
    • Same-day delivery through Circle 360 only at select stores
    • US only
    Visit Target Compare with CostcoDetails and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Target a good Costco alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Target Circle
    Free to join
    Checked Nov 8, 2026target.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Circle 360 price
    $10.99/month or $99/year
    Checked Nov 8, 2026target.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Circle 360 returns
    Extra 30 days
    Checked Nov 8, 2026target.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Stores
    More than 2,000 in the US
    Checked Nov 8, 2026corporate.target.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Owner of
    Shipt and Roundel
    Checked Nov 8, 2026corporate.target.com(opens source in a new tab)
  4. Best Buy logo

    4. Best Buy

    Best for: US and Canadian shoppers buying electronics or appliances who want in-store pickup and setup help

    Free plan + paidWeb, iOS, Android

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from Costco

    A better fit if you mainly went to Costco for TVs, laptops and appliances, with more models and expert help.

    Pros

    • More than 1,000 stores for same-day pickup and in-person returns
    • Geek Squad repairs, setup and in-home installation
    • Can see and try many products in store before buying

    Cons

    • Only serves the United States and Canada
    • Narrower range than general marketplaces
    • Best perks need a paid membership
    Visit Best Buy Compare with CostcoDetails and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Best Buy a good Costco alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Stores
    More than 1,000
    Checked Nov 8, 2026corporate.bestbuy.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Countries
    United States and Canada
    Checked Nov 8, 2026corporate.bestbuy.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Employees
    More than 85,000
    Checked Nov 8, 2026corporate.bestbuy.com(opens source in a new tab)
  5. Instacart logo

    5. Instacart

    Best for: US and Canadian households who want groceries from familiar stores without the trip

    Free plan + paidWeb, iOS, Android

    47.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Costco

    Same-day delivery from Costco and other stores, and you can order Costco items without holding a membership, at marked-up prices.

    Pros

    • Shops from many different chains and local stores in one app
    • Same-day delivery or pickup in most US and Canadian cities
    • Chat with your shopper to approve substitutions while they pick

    Cons

    • Item prices at some stores are marked up compared with in-store
    • Delivery fees, service fees and tips add up on small orders
    • Only available in the US and Canada
    Visit Instacart Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.338
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Instacart a good Costco alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Smart cart
    Caper Cart
    Checked Nov 8, 2026docs.instacart.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Retailer storefronts
    White-label sites and apps
    Checked Nov 8, 2026docs.instacart.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Ad network reach
    1,500+ retailer banners
    Checked Nov 8, 2026docs.instacart.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Costco alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Walmart logo

Best Costco alternative for most people

Walmart

No membership needed for low everyday prices, and Walmart+ adds free delivery if you want it.

Amazon logo

Best Costco alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Amazon

Far bigger online range with fast Prime delivery, better for people who rarely visit a store.

Target logo

Best Costco alternative for iPhone and Android

Target

No fee and smaller pack sizes, with same-day pickup and delivery from local stores.

Best Buy logo

Best Costco alternative for working in the browser

Best Buy

A better fit if you mainly went to Costco for TVs, laptops and appliances, with more models and expert help.

Costco alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Costco?

Walmart ranks first right now. No membership needed for low everyday prices, and Walmart+ adds free delivery if you want it. Amazon and Target follow it in our ranking.

Costco vs Walmart: what's the difference?

Costco is a paid product; Walmart is free with paid plans. Both run on Web, iOS and Android.

Is Costco free?

Costco is a paid product. Executive membership: $130 a year; Executive reward: 2%, up to $1,250 a year. Checked on Costco's own site, November 2026.

How much do Costco alternatives cost?

Verified prices for the top-ranked Costco alternatives: Walmart, $98 a year (Walmart+ annual); Amazon, $14.99 a month (Prime Monthly); Target, $10.99/month or $99/year. Each price was checked on the app's own site; see each card below for the date and source.

Is there a free alternative to Costco?

Yes. Walmart (free plan + paid), Amazon (free plan + paid), Target (free plan + paid) and Best Buy (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Costco?

None of the 5 alternatives in this list is open source.

Why do people switch from Costco?

The complaints we hear most: annual membership fee needed to shop in warehouses; non-members pay 5% more on the items they can buy online; bulk pack sizes don't suit small households.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Costco, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.