Citi
Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi
Earn up to 5% cash back at Costco and 1-4% elsewhere with no annual fee for Costco members. Annual cash back reward certificate issued in February, redeemable for cash or merchandise at Costco warehouses.
Annual fee
None
Top rate
5x gas & ev charging
Quick look
Unlimited Cash Back at Costco
5% gas, 3% travel, 2% Costco purchases, 1% everything else
3.7
out of 5
Rewards
Fees
Welcome bonus
Perks
Value
Overall score is a weighted average: Rewards 20% · Fees 20% · Welcome bonus 20% · Perks 20% · Value 20%.
Ideal for
Active Costco members who visit the warehouse weekly and have high gas and grocery spending.
The verdict
The Costco Anywhere Visa Card is a genuinely useful no-fee card for its narrow audience: active Costco members who spend heavily on gas, groceries, and dining. The 5% gas rate ranks second in the catalog, and annual cash back certificates distributed in February mean a meaningful chunk of rewards hit your account at once. But the card's weakness is obvious—the lack of a signup bonus, combined with restricted rewards outside Costco's ecosystem and a membership requirement, makes it a poor fit for anyone not already paying for Costco membership.
The real question isn't whether this card earns good rewards (it does, in its categories), but whether the hassle of annual-only distributions and the need to be a Costco member outweighs alternatives like the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards card, which offers 6% on gas and distributes cash as you spend.
Pros
- 5% back at Costco gas pumps—second-best rate in the catalog—plus 4% on other gas and EV charging for the first $7,000 per year
- No annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, making it a usable travel card for Costco members
- 2% back on all Costco and Costco.com purchases stacks with the 5% gas bonus for frequent warehouse shoppers
- Rental car insurance coverage up to $50,000 and purchase protection ($1,000 per item, $50,000 annual limit) add real value
Cons
- No welcome bonus—a glaring omission when most competitors offer $200 to $500 in opening value
- Annual cash back reward certificate issued only in February means you wait months to redeem earnings, unlike cards that credit rewards continuously
- Requires an active paid Costco membership ($60 for Gold, $120 for Executive), a hard barrier for non-members and an extra $60-120 annual cost to consider
- Rewards flat out outside Costco: 1% base rate ranks 56th in the catalog; dining at 3% ranks 17th
Reward rates
| Category | Rate | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Gas & EV charging | 5x | 5% cash back on gas purchased at Costco warehouse locations worldwide |
| Gas & EV charging | 4x | 4% cash back on other eligible gas and electric vehicle (EV) charging purchases worldwide for first $7,000 per year (then 1%) |
| Dining & restaurants | 3x | 3% cash back on restaurant purchases and eligible travel |
| Flights | 3x | 3% cash back on travel purchases including airfare, hotels, car rentals, cruise lines, and Costco Travel |
| Groceries | 2x | 2% cash back on all other Costco and Costco.com purchases |
| Everything else | 1x | 1% cash back on all other purchases |
The 5% gas rate is genuine and stays second in the catalog behind only the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards card at 6%. The catch: the 4% rate on non-Costco gas caps at $7,000 combined annual spending (gas + EV charging), then drops to 1%. At Costco itself, 2% on purchases and 5% on gas stack—a household buying groceries and filling up at a single location earns 7% on that transaction. Outside Costco, this card's 3% dining rate ranks mid-pack, behind premium cards that charge $400+ annually.
Fees and APR
Does it pay for itself?
Zero annual fee is the card's clearest advantage. But pair it with Costco's membership cost ($60 for Gold, $120 for Executive), and you're effectively paying $60-120 yearly to use this card. The value proposition only works if you're already buying a membership.
Similar cards
Beats this card on gas (6% vs 5%) and has no membership requirement, but lacks the bonus on Costco purchases
Identical rewards for business owners and self-employed who can justify a business card
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a Costco membership to use this card?
Yes. You must be an active paid member to apply and maintain the card. If you don't have a membership, you'll need to pay $60 for Gold or $120 for Executive before opening the card—a hard cost many people skip.
When do I get my cash back rewards?
Once per year, in February, Costco issues an annual reward certificate redeemable for cash or merchandise at Costco warehouses. This is very different from cards that credit cash back monthly or let you redeem anytime. Plan accordingly if you're counting on rewards for a near-term purchase.
What happens if I hit the $7,000 gas spending cap?
After you've combined $7,000 in gas and EV charging in a calendar year, the rate drops to 1% for the rest of the year. For a household filling up a 12-gallon tank weekly at $4 per gallon, that's roughly mid-August. High-mileage drivers will hit the cap.
Is this card better than the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards card?
Not for most people. Bank of America's card offers 6% on gas (vs. 5% here), distributes rewards continuously, has no membership requirement, and often includes a welcome bonus. The Costco card only wins if you're maximizing the Costco warehouse bonus (2% on grocery purchases inside Costco, which stacks with the gas rate at the pump).
Are there travel protections or insurance on this card?
Yes—rental car insurance up to $50,000 and purchase protection ($1,000 per item, $50,000 annual limit) are included. No foreign transaction fees, making it usable internationally for Costco members.
Reviewed by YoungerFinance Editorial · Last updated August 10, 2026