Free Costco alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Nov 8, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

5 of the 5 Costco alternatives we track can be used for free (free, open source, or with a free plan). Walmart, Amazon and Target rank highest, with facts last verified Nov 8, 2026.

Quick comparison

#	App	Pricing	Verified price	Open source	Platforms	Verified facts	Score
1	Walmart	Free plan + paid	$98 a year (Walmart+ annual)	No	Web, Android, iOS	8 of 8	68.8
2	Amazon	Free plan + paid	$14.99 a month (Prime Monthly)	No	Web, Android, iOS	7 of 7	64.8
3	Target	Free plan + paid	$10.99/month or $99/year	No	Web, Android, iOS	5 of 5	61.8
4	Best Buy	Free plan + paid	—	No	Web, iOS, Android	3 of 3	57.2
5	Instacart	Free plan + paid	—	No	Web, iOS, Android	3 of 3	47.8

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 Costco Details 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
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 Costco Details 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
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 Costco Details 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
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 Costco Details 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
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)

Quick comparison

1. WalmartTop pick

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

2. Amazon

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

3. Target

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

4. Best Buy

Pros

Cons

Verified facts

5. Instacart

Pros

Cons

Verified facts