How Does LendingTree Get Paid?
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How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appear on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.
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LendingTree is an advertising-supported comparison service. The site features products from our partners as well as institutions which are not advertising partners. While we make an effort to include the best deals available to the general public, we make no warranty that such information represents all available products. We are compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appear on this site (such as the order).
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Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi Review

LendingTree's Review

How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?

Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.
2.2
Costco Anywhere Visa<sup>®</sup> Card by Citi
Rewards Rate
4% cash back on eligible gas and EV charging purchases for the first $7,000 per year and then 1% thereafter, 3% on restaurants & travel, 2% at Costco & Costco.com, 1% on all other purchases
No Foreign Transaction Fee
0% fee for transactions while traveling abroad
Annual Fee
$0 annual fee
Editorial Note: The content of this article is based on the author’s opinions and recommendations alone. It was not reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuer. This site may be compensated through a credit card issuer partnership.

Our take: The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi offers generous cash back rewards on everyday purchases, including one of the highest rates available on gas. However, it’s only available to active Costco members, and redemption options are extremely limited.

Pros and cons

  • One of the highest rewards rates on gas purchases
  • Generous cash back rewards on dining and travel
  • $0 annual fee
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Handful of travel and purchase protections
  • Requires a Costco membership
  • Inconvenient redemption process with limited options
  • $7,000 cap on gas/EV charging bonus
  • No sign-up bonus

Is the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi worth it?

Citi is an advertising partner.
As its name implies, the $0-annual-fee Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi can be used anywhere Visa is accepted. However, it’s best for Costco loyalists who make the majority of their purchases at the popular wholesale club. Along with elevated earning rates on gas, dining and travel, you’ll get 2% back on purchases made online or in store — including the iconic $1.50 hot dog combo.

However, the card is only available to active Costco members, so you’ll have to fork over a $60 annual membership fee to keep it in your wallet. Another big drawback is that you can only redeem your cash back once per year, and your options are limited to cash or Costco merchandise.

First year rewards value: $369 versus $445 for the average cash back card*
Second year rewards value: $369 versus $292 for the average cash back card*

*Based on LendingTree’s value methodology

Quick facts

    • Discover one of Citi's best cash back rewards cards designed exclusively for Costco members
    • 4% cash back on eligible gas and EV charging purchases for the first $7,000 per year and then 1% thereafter
    • 3% cash back on restaurants and eligible travel purchases
    • 2% cash back on all other purchases from Costco and Costco.com
    • 1% cash back on all other purchases
    • No annual fee with your paid Costco membership and enjoy no foreign transaction fees on purchases
    • Receive an annual credit card reward certificate, which is redeemable for cash or merchandise at U.S. Costco warehouses, including Puerto Rico
  • Recommended Credit
    Credit scores ranges may vary. Your individual chance at approval may vary due to factors such as creditors using a particular variation at their discretion
  • 720 850
    Excellent
  • Damage and theft protection
  • Travel and emergency assistance
  • Worldwide car rental insurance
  • Travel accident insurance
  • Citi Entertainment®

Intro Purchase APR

N/A

Regular Purchase APR

20.49% (Variable)

Intro BT APR

N/A

Regular BT APR

20.49% (Variable)

Annual Fee

$0

Cash Advance Fee

5% of each cash advance; $10 minimum

Foreign Transaction Fee

0%

Balance Transfer Fee

Balance transfer fee applies with this offer 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum

What we like about the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi

  • Generous cash back rewards

    With the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi, you’ll earn 4% cash back on eligible gas and EV charging purchases for the first $7,000 per year and then 1% thereafter, 3% on restaurants & travel, 2% at Costco & Costco.com, 1% on all other purchases.

    The 4% rate on gas and EV charging purchases is exceptionally high, making this one of the best gas credit cards available. If you max out the $7,000 spend cap, you can earn $280 cash back for the year. Additionally, the 3% earned at restaurants matches up with some of the best dining credit cards.

    The average family spends about $5,000 a year on gas, so the card’s $7,000 spend cap on gas purchases is more than reasonable.

  • No foreign transaction fees

    A great card for traveling abroad, the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi charges a 0% foreign transaction fee and is accepted in over 200 countries and territories around the world.

  • Travel and purchase protections

    Although not marketed as a travel credit card, the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi is a decent option for road warriors and frequent flyers. Along with a 0% foreign transaction fee and elevated rates on gas/EV charging, dining and travel, it also comes with a handful of travel and purchase protections:

    • Damage and theft purchase protection
    • Travel and emergency assistance
    • Worldwide car rental insurance
    • Travel accident insurance
    • Roadside assistance dispatch service

What to watch out for with the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi

  • Requires a Costco membership

    Although the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi has an annual fee of $0, you’ll need to have an active Costco membership to carry the card. The annual membership fee is $60 for a Gold Star or Business Membership or $120 for an Executive Membership.

  • Inconvenient redemption process with limited options

    The biggest drawback of the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi is its inconvenient redemption process and limited options. Most rewards credit cards let you redeem your rewards as soon as they post to your account (as long as you’ve earned the minimum redemption amount). But with the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi, you’ll receive a “reward certificate” once a year with your February billing statement. The certificate must be redeemed in-store by the end of that same year — otherwise, you’ll lose those rewards. Plus, your only redemption options are cash back or Costco merchandise.

  • No sign-up bonus

    Many cash back credit cards come with a sign-up bonus, which can boost your earnings or offset the cost of an annual fee. The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi lacks this feature, bringing down its first-year value. Check out the table below to see how it compares to some of the best cash back cards:

    Sign-up bonus valueFirst-year value*
    Chase Freedom Unlimited®$300$722
    Discover it® Cash Back$330*$660
    Citi Custom Cash® Card$200$610
    Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card$200$600
    Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card$200$496
    Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi$0$369
    *Based on LendingTree’s value methodology

Alternative cards to the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi

Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi vs. Citi Custom Cash® Card

| Disclosures
Citi Custom Cash® Card
Citi Custom Cash® Card
apply-now-icon Apply Now
on Citibank's secure site
Rates & Fees
0% intro APR for 15 months on Purchases
19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
$0
Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category
  • Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
  • 0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. After that, the variable APR will be 19.24% - 29.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
  • Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter. Also, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. Special Travel Offer: Earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2025.
  • No rotating bonus categories to sign up for – as your spending changes each billing cycle, your earn adjusts automatically when you spend in any of the eligible categories.
  • No Annual Fee
  • Citi will only issue one Citi Custom Cash® Card account per person.
600 660 720 850
Fair/Good/Excellent

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appears on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.

The best feature of the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi is undoubtedly its 4% cash back rate on gas purchases. The Citi Custom Cash® Card beats this by letting you earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter. Also, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. Special Travel Offer: Earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2025. Since gas is an eligible category, you could earn $300 per year if you meet the spend cap each month. Just keep in mind that the Citi Custom Cash® Card is a Mastercard, and Costco only accepts Visa cards for in-store purchases.

The Citi Custom Cash® Card also comes with a $0 annual fee, a sign-up bonus and an intro APR on purchases and balance transfers. Rewards are paid out as Citi ThankYou® points, which are easily redeemed for cash back, statement credits, travel and more.

Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi vs. Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card

| Disclosures
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card
apply-now-icon Apply Now
on Bank Of America's secure site
0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases
18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR
$0
3% cash back in the category of your choice. 2% cash back
  • $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
  • Earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice, automatic 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases) and unlimited 1% on all other purchases.
  • Choose 3% cash back on gas and EV charging station, online shopping/cable/internet/phone plan/streaming, dining, travel, drug store/pharmacy or home improvement/furnishing purchases.
  • If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25%-75% more cash back on every purchase. That means you could earn 3.75%-5.25% cash back on purchases in your choice category.
  • No annual fee and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
  • 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 18.24% - 28.24% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 4%.
  • Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
  • This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
660 720 850
Good/Excellent

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appears on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.

Looking for a card that offers similar rewards but comes with more features and flexibility? The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card lets you earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice. 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs for the first $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases. 1% cash back on all other purchases.

While the bonus categories are set in stone with the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi, the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card gives you the option to choose from six categories each month:

  • Gas and EV charging stations
  • Online shopping (including cable, internet, phone plans and streaming services)
  • Dining
  • Travel
  • Drugstores and pharmacies
  • Home improvement and furnishings

You’ll also earn the same 2% cash back rate (up to the quarterly maximum) on Costco purchases. And while the gas rewards rate is a bit lower, you do get a solid welcome offer and an intro APR on purchases and balance transfers. Plus, Bank of America Preferred Rewards® members can earn 25% to 75% more cash back on every purchase.

Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi vs. Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

| Disclosures
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card*
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
Learn More
on Wells Fargo's secure site
0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening
20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR
$0
Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases
  • Select “Apply Now” to take advantage of this specific offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
  • Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
  • Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
  • 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5.
  • $0 annual fee.
  • No categories to track or remember and cash rewards don't expire as long as your account remains open.
  • Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
  • Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
660 720 850
Good/Excellent
*The information related to the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appears on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.

If you’re looking for a simple way to earn cash back rewards on every purchase, the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is ideal. You’ll earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases. And since it’s a Visa card, you’ll be able to use it at Costco (or any other wholesale club). While the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi offers a higher rate on gas/EV charging purchases, it also has a spending cap of $7,000. Depending on how much you drive, you could potentially save more with the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card‘s unlimited rewards.

The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card also boasts flexible redemption options, an easy-to-earn sign-up bonus and a 15-month intro APR on purchases and balance transfers — all for a $0 annual fee.

Is the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi right for you?

The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi is a solid choice if you’re an existing Costco member and already do most of your shopping there. It offers a high cash back rate on gas and dining, as well as 2% on all Costco purchases. Just know that you can only redeem your rewards once per year, and the options are extremely limited.

If you don’t plan on becoming a Costco member — or you’re simply looking for a more flexible cash back card — there are plenty of other options out there. For example, the Citi Custom Cash® Card lets you earn 5% cash back (on up to $500, then 1%) on your top eligible spending category each month. Plus, it comes with better features and redemption options for a $0 annual fee.

Learn More
on Citibank's secure site

The information related to the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi has been independently collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication.