Costco vs Walmart
Updated November 2026 · AppBreakup editorial
Costco
Membership warehouse club selling groceries and goods in bulk, in stores and online.
Walmart
US retailer's online store and app for groceries, household goods, electronics and pickup or delivery.
The short answer
Costco suits households and small businesses near a warehouse that buy in bulk and don't mind an annual fee. Walmart suits US shoppers who want free shopping, smaller pack sizes and grocery pickup or delivery from thousands of stores. The biggest difference: Costco requires a paid membership to shop its warehouses, while Walmart is free and its Walmart+ membership is optional.
Costco or Walmart: our take
Costco is a membership warehouse club. Members pay a yearly fee to shop warehouses selling groceries, household goods, electronics and its Kirkland Signature brand in bulk at low markups. 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 on Costco.com but pay a 5% surcharge. Walmart costs nothing to shop. Its optional Walmart+ membership, at $98 per year (or $49 per year for students), adds free grocery delivery on orders over $35, free shipping on Walmart-sold items, fuel discounts and a streaming service, and a 30-day trial costs $1.
The shopping itself is different. Costco sells large packs, which pay off for big households and small businesses but often go to waste for one or two people. Walmart sells normal pack sizes and mixes groceries and general merchandise in one order, with same-day delivery or store pickup. Walmart.com also hosts a third-party marketplace, so shipping and return terms vary by seller, while Costco sells its own curated range. Costco's app adds a digital membership card, warehouse hours and gas prices, and links to same-day grocery delivery through Instacart.
Reach matters too. A Costco card works at any Costco warehouse worldwide, and membership unlocks Costco Travel, the pharmacy, optical and tyre services. Walmart.com and Walmart+ serve only US customers, though Walmart runs separate sites elsewhere.
Pick Costco if you live near a warehouse, shop for a large household or business, and spend enough to make the fee, or the Executive reward, worth it. Pick Walmart if you shop for a small household, want groceries delivered or ready for pickup without a membership, or prefer a cheaper optional subscription. Many families use both: Costco for bulk staples, Walmart for top-ups.
Which should you pick?
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 Walmart if…
- US households who want low-price groceries and essentials delivered or ready for pickup
- You want a free option (Costco is paid only)
- Groceries and general merchandise in one order, with store pickup
- Walmart+ costs less per year than Amazon Prime
About each app
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 Walmart?
Walmart.com and the Walmart app are the online side of the largest retailer in the US. You can order groceries and household basics for same-day delivery or store pickup, or have general merchandise shipped, from TVs and toys to clothing and furniture. Alongside Walmart's own stock there is a third-party marketplace, so some listings come from outside sellers with their own shipping and return terms. Shopping is free; the optional Walmart+ membership adds free grocery delivery above an order minimum, free shipping without a minimum on Walmart-sold items, fuel discounts and a choice of streaming service, and it is the most direct alternative to Amazon Prime. Discounted Walmart+ plans exist for students and people on government assistance. It works on the web and in Android and iOS apps; the US store and Walmart+ serve US customers, while Walmart runs separate sites in other countries.
Side by side
| Attribute | Costco | Walmart |
|---|---|---|
| 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 households who want low-price groceries and essentials delivered or ready for pickup |
| Status | Active | Active |
Costco vs Walmart pricing
Costco: paid
We couldn't verify Costco's plan details on its own site yet, so we don't list them.
Costco pricing pagePlatforms
| Platform | Costco | Walmart |
|---|---|---|
| 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.”
Walmart facts
8 of 8 verified- Walmart+ price
- $98 per year
- Checked Nov 8, 2026walmart.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Savings exclude the $98 annual membership fee.”
- Walmart+ trial
- 30 days for $1
- Checked Nov 8, 2026walmart.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Try 30 days of Walmart+ for just $1”
- Free delivery minimum
- $35 with Walmart+
- Checked Nov 8, 2026walmart.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Free Delivery ($35 min.)”
- Student price
- $49 per year
- Checked Nov 8, 2026walmart.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “college students can join for just $49/year or $6.47/month.”
- Stores
- More than 10,900 in 19 countries
- Checked Nov 8, 2026corporate.walmart.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Each week, approximately 280 million customers and members visit our more than 10,900 stores and numerous eCommerce websites in 19 countries.”
- Starting price
- $98 a year (Walmart+ annual)
- Checked Nov 8, 2026walmart.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Savings exclude the $98 annual membership fee.”
- Free trial
- 30 days for $1
- Checked Nov 8, 2026walmart.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Try 30 days of Walmart+ for just $1”
- Student discount
- $49 a year or $6.47 a month
- Checked Nov 8, 2026walmart.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “college students can join for just $49/year or $6.47/month.”
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
Pros and cons of Walmart
- 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
- 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
Other apps to consider
AmazonInstead of Costco
Far bigger online range with fast Prime delivery, better for people who rarely visit a store.
TargetInstead of Costco
No fee and smaller pack sizes, with same-day pickup and delivery from local stores.
Best BuyInstead of Costco
A better fit if you mainly went to Costco for TVs, laptops and appliances, with more models and expert help.
eBayInstead of Walmart
Better for used, refurbished and hard-to-find items at auction or fixed price.
WayfairInstead of Walmart
Wider range of furniture and home decor across budget and premium sister brands.
Costco vs Walmart: common questions
Is Costco better than Walmart?
Costco suits households and small businesses near a warehouse that buy in bulk and don't mind an annual fee. Walmart suits US shoppers who want free shopping, smaller pack sizes and grocery pickup or delivery from thousands of stores. The biggest difference: Costco requires a paid membership to shop its warehouses, while Walmart is free and its Walmart+ membership is optional.
Is Costco free?
No. Costco is paid, though it may offer a trial.
Is Walmart free?
Walmart has a free plan, with paid plans for more features. See its verified pricing facts above for current limits.
Is Costco or Walmart open source?
Neither is open source.
Which platforms do Costco and Walmart support?
Costco: Web, iOS and Android. Walmart: Web, Android and iOS.