Best Buy vs Costco

Updated November 2026 · AppBreakup editorial

Best Buy

US and Canadian electronics retailer's online store and app, with store pickup and Geek Squad support.

Free plan + paid

Visit Best Buy Best Buy profile

Costco

Membership warehouse club selling groceries and goods in bulk, in stores and online.

Paid

Visit Costco Costco profile

The short answer

Best Buy is a free-to-shop electronics and appliance specialist with more than 1,000 stores, same-day pickup and Geek Squad setup and repair. Costco is a membership warehouse club where electronics sit alongside bulk groceries and household goods. Pick Best Buy for a deeper tech range and in-person help; pick Costco if you already pay for a membership and want electronics as part of a wider bulk shop.

Best Buy or Costco: our take

Best Buy focuses on technology: laptops, phones, TVs, appliances, games and smart home gear, sold through its website, app and more than 1,000 stores in the United States and Canada. Orders can be shipped or collected from a nearby store, often the same day, and returns can be made in person. Its service side sets it apart: Geek Squad handles repairs, setup and in-home installation, and stores let you see and try many products before buying. Costco sells electronics and appliances too, but as one part of a much broader range that includes groceries, household goods, its Kirkland Signature own brand, and furniture and big-ticket items online.

The pricing model is the main difference. Anyone can shop at Best Buy for free; paid My Best Buy memberships add perks such as extended return windows, protection plans and member pricing. Costco needs an annual membership to shop in its warehouses. The Executive tier costs $130 a year and returns a 2% reward on most purchases, up to $1,250 a year. Non-members can buy some items online but pay 5% more.

Reach also differs. Best Buy only serves the United States and Canada, while a Costco membership card works at any Costco warehouse worldwide, and membership unlocks Costco Travel, the pharmacy, optical and tyre services. The Costco app holds a digital card and links to same-day grocery delivery through Instacart.

For someone buying a laptop, TV or appliance who wants to compare models in person, get it set up, or have a repair handled locally, Best Buy is the more practical choice. For a household that already shops at a Costco warehouse for groceries and essentials, picking up electronics there can make sense, and Executive members earn rewards on those purchases. Shoppers who rarely visit a warehouse or buy in small quantities are unlikely to get value from a Costco membership just for electronics.

Choose Best Buy if…

US and Canadian shoppers buying electronics or appliances who want in-store pickup and setup help
You want a free option (Costco is paid only)
More than 1,000 stores for same-day pickup and in-person returns
Geek Squad repairs, setup and in-home installation

Choose Costco if…

Households and small businesses near a warehouse that buy groceries and essentials in bulk
Low prices on bulk groceries, household goods and Kirkland Signature products
Executive members earn a 2% annual reward on most purchases

What is Best Buy?

Best Buy is the largest specialist consumer electronics chain in the US, and its website and app sell laptops, phones, TVs, appliances, games, smart home gear and accessories. Orders can be shipped or collected from a nearby store, often the same day, and returns can be made in person. What sets it apart from general marketplaces is the service side: Geek Squad staff handle repairs, setup and in-home installation, and stores let you see products before buying. Shopping is free, and paid My Best Buy memberships add perks such as extended return windows, protection plans and member pricing. It operates in the United States and Canada, with separate sites for each country. Prices are usually close to other big retailers, and it runs regular sales around holidays and product launches. The range is narrower than Amazon or Walmart because it focuses on technology and appliances.

What is Costco?

Costco is a membership warehouse club with stores across North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific. Members pay an annual fee to shop its warehouses, which sell groceries, household goods, electronics, appliances and its Kirkland Signature own brand in bulk at low markups. Costco.com and the app sell a wider online range, including furniture and big-ticket items; non-members can buy some items online but pay more. The app also holds a digital membership card, shows warehouse hours and gas prices, and links to same-day grocery delivery through Instacart. Two consumer tiers exist: the basic Gold Star membership, and Executive, which costs more and returns an annual 2% reward on most purchases. Membership also unlocks Costco Travel, the pharmacy, optical and tyre services. Costco suits households and small businesses that buy in quantity and live near a warehouse. People who shop for one or two, or rarely visit a store, often get better value from a free retailer like Walmart, Target or Amazon.

Side by side

Attribute	Best Buy	Costco
Pricing	Free plan + paid	Paid
Open source	No	No
Self-hostable	No	No
Platforms	Web, iOS, Android	Web, iOS, Android
Best for	US and Canadian shoppers buying electronics or appliances who want in-store pickup and setup help	Households and small businesses near a warehouse that buy groceries and essentials in bulk
Status	Active	Active