Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi Review

What the Costco Anywhere Visa actually is

This is Costco's co-branded cash back card, run by Citi. There's no separate annual fee, but you do need an active Costco membership to hold it, which runs roughly $65 to $130 a year depending on tier. So the 'no annual fee' line comes with an asterisk the size of a warehouse pallet.

The pitch is simple. Up to 4% back on eligible gas (including at Costco's own pumps) on the first $7,000 a year, then 1% after that. You get 3% on restaurants and eligible travel, 2% on Costco and Costco.com purchases, and 1% on everything else. It's a Visa, so it works basically everywhere, which matters because Costco famously only takes Visa in-store.

How it performs day to day

The gas category is the headline and it earns its keep. At 4% on the first $7,000, you're capped at about $280 in gas rewards per year, which fits most households. Commuters who burn through that cap by autumn will watch the rate drop to 1%, and that's worth knowing before you assume it's a 4% card forever.

The frustrating part is the payout. Rewards come once a year, as a single certificate in February, redeemable for cash or merchandise at Costco. You can't redeem monthly, you can't get a statement credit on demand, and if you cancel your membership or the card before that certificate lands, you can lose the rewards you earned. For a card built around everyday spending, getting paid annually feels stuck in 2010.

Pros and cons worth weighing

On the plus side: strong gas and dining rates, no card-specific annual fee, solid Visa acceptance, and Citi's usual travel and purchase protections. For Costco loyalists it's close to a no-brainer as a backup-to-membership card.

The downsides stack up if you look closely. The once-a-year certificate is rigid. The 4% gas cap limits heavy drivers. And the whole thing collapses if you don't want a Costco membership, since the card requires one. Citi's customer service also draws routine complaints, which is the tax you pay for a co-branded product.

Who it's for and who should skip it

Buy in if you already shop at Costco, drive a fair amount, and want a single card that quietly racks up gas and restaurant rewards without a fee on top of membership. For that person it's one of the better value plays available.

Skip it if you don't have or want a Costco membership, since the card is useless without one. Skip it too if you want flexible monthly redemptions or a flat-rate card. A 2% everything card like the Citi Double Cash or Wells Fargo Active Cash is simpler and pays you whenever you want. Heavy gas spenders might also pair this with a card that doesn't cap the gas bonus.

The verdict

The Costco Anywhere Visa is a genuinely good rewards card chained to one big condition. If Costco is already part of your life, it slots in cleanly and pays real money for gas and dining. If it isn't, the math falls apart fast.

Treat it as a Costco membership perk rather than a standalone credit card, and you'll be happy. Expect it to behave like a general-purpose cash back card, and the annual payout and membership requirement will annoy you.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a Costco membership to get the card?

Yes. The Costco Anywhere Visa requires an active Costco membership, which costs roughly $65 to $130 a year depending on the tier. If your membership lapses, the card effectively goes with it.

How do you redeem the rewards?

Rewards are paid once a year as a single certificate in February, redeemable for cash or merchandise at Costco. There's no flexible monthly statement credit, which is the card's biggest drawback.

Is the 4% gas rate unlimited?

No. You earn 4% on eligible gas on the first $7,000 in purchases each year, then 1% after that. That caps gas rewards at about $280 annually, which is fine for most drivers but limiting for heavy commuters.