Costco vs Target

Updated November 2026 · AppBreakup editorial

Costco

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

Paid

Visit Costco Costco profile

Target

US retailer's online store and app with same-day delivery, drive-up pickup and a free loyalty program.

Free plan + paid

Visit Target Target profile

The short answer

Costco is for households and small businesses that buy groceries and essentials in bulk and will pay an annual fee to shop. Target is for US shoppers who want normal pack sizes, Target-only brands and quick drive-up pickup or same-day delivery, with a free loyalty program. The biggest difference: Costco requires a paid membership, while Target is free and its paid tier is optional.

Costco or Target: our take

Costco is a membership warehouse club. You pay a yearly fee to shop warehouses full of bulk groceries, household goods, electronics and its Kirkland Signature brand at low markups. The Executive tier costs $130 a year and pays a 2% reward on most purchases, up to $1,250 a year. Non-members can buy some items online but pay 5% more. Target is free to shop, and Target Circle, its loyalty program, is free to join and gives personalised deals. The paid Target Circle 360 costs $10.99/month or $99/year and adds free fast shipping, unlimited same-day delivery on larger orders through Shipt, an extra 30 days for returns and monthly freebies.

They stock different things. Costco is about quantity and value on staples, which suits big households and small businesses but not people shopping for one or two. Target sells home goods, clothing, beauty, toys and groceries in everyday sizes, with a strong line of Target-only brands for home, kids and clothing. Its catalogue is smaller than Amazon's or Walmart's, but drive-up and in-store pickup are quick and free. Costco's app holds a digital membership card, shows warehouse hours and gas prices, and links to Instacart for same-day grocery delivery.

Reach differs as well. Target trades only in the US, with more than 2,000 stores. A Costco card is valid at any Costco warehouse worldwide, and membership also opens Costco Travel, the pharmacy, optical and tyre services.

Pick Costco if you live near a warehouse and buy enough in bulk to justify the fee. Pick Target if you want smaller quantities, like its own brands, and value fast pickup without paying for a membership. The two overlap less than it seems, so plenty of households use Costco for staples and Target for everything else.

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

Choose Target if…

US shoppers who like Target's own brands and want quick pickup or same-day delivery
You want a free option (Costco is paid only)
Drive-up and in-store pickup are quick and free
Target-only home, kids and clothing brands

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.

What is Target?

Target.com and the Target app sell the same range as Target's US stores: home goods, clothing, beauty, toys, electronics and groceries, with a strong line of Target-only brands. Orders can be shipped, picked up in store, collected through drive-up without leaving the car, or delivered the same day through Shipt, which Target owns. Target Circle, the free loyalty program, gives personalised deals and member-only offers. The paid Target Circle 360 membership adds free fast shipping, unlimited same-day delivery on larger orders, an extra 30 days for returns and monthly freebies, at a lower price for Target Circle Card holders, teachers, students and military members. It runs on the web and in Android and iOS apps. Target trades only in the US, and its catalogue is smaller than Amazon's or Walmart's because it carries fewer marketplace sellers.

Side by side

Attribute	Costco	Target
Pricing	Paid	Free plan + paid
Open source	No	No
Self-hostable	No	No
Platforms	Web, iOS, Android	Web, Android, iOS
Best for	Households and small businesses near a warehouse that buy groceries and essentials in bulk	US shoppers who like Target's own brands and want quick pickup or same-day delivery
Status	Active	Active

Costco vs Target pricing

Costco: paid

We couldn't verify Costco's plan details on its own site yet, so we don't list them.

Costco pricing page

Target: free plan + paid

Circle 360 price: $10.99/month or $99/year source

Platforms

Platform	Costco	Target
Web
iOS
Android

Costco facts

4 of 4 verified

Executive membership: $130 a year; Checked Nov 8, 2026costco.com(opens source in a new tab); “At your next renewal, you will be billed a total of $130 for your Executive Membership.”
Executive reward: 2%, up to $1,250 a year; Checked Nov 8, 2026costco.com(opens source in a new tab); “annual 2% Reward, up to $1,250*, on qualified Costco, Costco.com and Costco Travel purchases.”
Non-member online surcharge: 5%; Checked Nov 8, 2026costco.com(opens source in a new tab); “A nonmember pays 5% more than members for such merchandise.”
Membership card: Valid at any Costco warehouse worldwide; Checked Nov 8, 2026costco.com(opens source in a new tab); “Your membership card is valid at any Costco warehouse worldwide and is not transferable.”

Target facts

5 of 5 verified

Target Circle: Free to join; Checked Nov 8, 2026target.com(opens source in a new tab); “Join free to save even more”
Circle 360 price: $10.99/month or $99/year; Checked Nov 8, 2026target.com(opens source in a new tab); “regular price of $10.99/month or $99/year.”
Circle 360 returns: Extra 30 days; Checked Nov 8, 2026target.com(opens source in a new tab); “No rush returns Get an extra 30 days to return your items.”
Stores: More than 2,000 in the US; Checked Nov 8, 2026corporate.target.com(opens source in a new tab); “Explore section Our Locations Learn more about the more than 2,000 stores we operate, plus our supply chain facilities and headquarters locations.”
Owner of: Shipt and Roundel; Checked Nov 8, 2026corporate.target.com(opens source in a new tab); “Target Corporation also owns Shipt and Roundel.”

Pros and cons of Costco

Low prices on bulk groceries, household goods and Kirkland Signature products
Executive members earn a 2% annual reward on most purchases
Membership card works at Costco warehouses worldwide
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

More Costco alternatives

Pros and cons of Target

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
Smaller catalogue than Amazon or Walmart
Same-day delivery through Circle 360 only at select stores
US only

More Target alternatives

Other apps to consider

Walmart
Instead of Costco
No membership needed for low everyday prices, and Walmart+ adds free delivery if you want it.
Amazon
Instead of Costco
Far bigger online range with fast Prime delivery, better for people who rarely visit a store.
Best Buy
Instead of Costco
A better fit if you mainly went to Costco for TVs, laptops and appliances, with more models and expert help.
Etsy
Instead of Target
Handmade and personalised gifts and decor instead of mass-market products.
eBay
Instead of Target
Good for discounted, used or discontinued items Target no longer stocks.
Wayfair
Instead of Target
Much bigger furniture and home improvement range, with frequent flash sales.

Costco vs Target: common questions

Is Costco better than Target?

Is Costco free?

No. Costco is paid, though it may offer a trial.

Is Target free?

Target has a free plan, with paid plans for more features. See its verified pricing facts above for current limits.

Is Costco or Target open source?

Neither is open source.

Which platforms do Costco and Target support?

Costco: Web, iOS and Android. Target: Web, Android and iOS.