Costco is the gold standard of US warehouse club shopping, with a 4.7 rating and tens of millions of installs. Members save on per-unit cost across bulk staples, gas, prescriptions, and Kirkland-branded private-label goods that often beat name brands on quality. Yet the same complaints repeat across reviews and the Costco subreddit: the membership fee climbed in 2024, the closest warehouse is sometimes a serious drive, pack sizes generate waste in smaller households, and the app’s online catalog often misses Kirkland items the warehouse stocks. These Costco alternatives target those frictions, from membership cost to pack-size mismatch.
We compared seven shopping apps that compete with Costco on Android. The mix covers warehouse-club rivals (Sam’s Club, BJ’s Wholesale), big-box generalists with cheaper per-trip cost (Walmart, Target), grocery-only specialists at lower headline prices (Aldi, Kroger), and Amazon’s catalog-plus-Prime alternative for households that would rather pay per item than per pack.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Membership cost | Pack size | Standout |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sam’s Club | Walmart-owned bulk with Scan & Go | $50-$110/yr | Bulk | Skip checkout entirely with Scan & Go |
| BJ’s Wholesale | East Coast bulk plus manufacturer coupons | $55-$110/yr | Bulk | Stacks coupons unlike Costco |
| Walmart | Smaller pack sizes at low prices | Free, optional Walmart+ | Standard | Closest big-box for most US households |
| Aldi | Lowest US grocery prices | Free | Standard | Curated SKU list, faster trips |
| Target | Cleaner aisles plus Drive Up | Free, optional Circle 360 | Standard | Fastest pickup in retail |
| Kroger | Pharmacy plus full grocery | Free, optional Boost | Standard | Stacked fuel rewards on grocery spend |
| Amazon Shopping | One-stop with same-day delivery | Free, optional Prime | Standard | Prime same-day in most US metros |
Why people leave Costco
The complaints are consistent across reviews and the Costco subreddit. Membership fees climbed in 2024: the Gold Star membership rose from $60 to $65, Executive from $120 to $130, and the increases come on top of inflation across the catalog itself. Warehouse distance matters: Costco operates fewer warehouses than Walmart, so the closest one for many households is a longer drive than alternatives. Pack sizes generate waste: a flat of 60 yogurt cups or a 5-pound bag of arugula moves food out of the kitchen and into the trash for households of one or two. The online catalog misses warehouse SKUs: Kirkland items, particularly seasonal ones, often appear only in store, which means online ordering does not replace the trip.
A fifth complaint: Costco does not stack manufacturer coupons or take outside discounts. The everyday low pricing model is generally good, but it eliminates the optimization layer shoppers use at conventional grocery stores.
Which Costco alternative should you pick
- Sam’s Club for Walmart-owned bulk with Scan & Go convenience.
- BJ’s Wholesale for East Coast bulk that stacks manufacturer coupons.
- Walmart for smaller pack sizes at low prices.
- Aldi for the lowest US grocery prices on a curated SKU list.
- Target for cleaner aisles and the fastest pickup.
- Kroger for grocery, pharmacy, and fuel rewards combined.
- Amazon Shopping for same-day delivery on standard pack sizes.
Stay on Costco when your household is large enough to clear bulk packs, the Kirkland brand is what you actually buy, and the closest warehouse is a manageable drive.
1. Sam’s Club, Walmart-owned bulk with Scan & Go
Sam’s Club is the Walmart-owned warehouse club and the closest direct competitor to Costco. Scan & Go lets members scan items as they shop and pay through the app, skipping the checkout line entirely. Pricing on bulk staples generally trades wins with Costco depending on the SKU, and Plus membership unlocks free shipping on most orders plus 2% Sam’s Cash rewards on qualifying purchases. The grocery and household catalog overlaps significantly with Costco’s.
Costco vs Sam’s Club: Costco wins on Kirkland brand depth, return policy generosity, and the gas station experience in many regions. Sam’s Club wins on Scan & Go (Costco does not yet have a comparable feature in most warehouses) and slightly lower membership cost.
Where it falls short: the warehouse experience is generally rated lower than Costco on staff coverage and food court quality. Some markets have fewer Sam’s Club locations than Costco.
Pricing:
- Free to install and use.
- Club membership $50 per year, Plus membership $110 per year.
Migrating from Costco: if Sam’s Club is closer or you specifically want Scan & Go, the catalog overlap means most of your bulk routine carries over.
Bottom line: the right pick for warehouse club shopping where Scan & Go and slightly cheaper membership matter.
2. BJ’s Wholesale, East Coast bulk that stacks coupons
BJ’s Wholesale is the third major warehouse club in the US, concentrated on the East Coast with around 240 locations. The signature differentiator: BJ’s accepts manufacturer coupons on top of its already-discounted prices, which neither Costco nor Sam’s Club does. For shoppers who clip or download digital coupons, the stack adds up. BJ’s also carries smaller pack sizes than Costco on many SKUs, which fits households that want bulk pricing without family-of-six pack volumes.
Costco vs BJ’s: Costco wins on Kirkland brand depth and per-unit floor on most staples. BJ’s wins on coupon stacking, smaller pack sizes, and East Coast convenience where it is the closest warehouse club.
Where it falls short: BJ’s is regional, so most of the country cannot use it. The private-label brands do not match the consistent quality reputation of Kirkland.
Pricing:
- Free to install and use.
- Club membership $55 per year, Club+ membership $110 per year.
Migrating from Costco: check whether BJ’s is in your region and stack manufacturer coupons against the SKUs you buy most. The savings on a shopping trip often beat Costco when coupons fit.
Bottom line: the right pick for East Coast shoppers who use coupons and want smaller bulk packs.
3. Walmart, smaller pack sizes at low prices
Walmart’s app and store cover the same basic catalog as Costco at standard pack sizes and without the membership barrier. For households that do not need bulk packs but want consistently low prices on staples, Walmart is the no-membership default. Walmart+ adds free delivery, fuel discounts at participating stations, and Scan & Go in many stores, but the base shopping experience is free to use.
Costco vs Walmart: Costco wins on per-unit cost in bulk packs and Kirkland quality. Walmart wins on no membership requirement, smaller pack sizes that fit smaller households, and warehouse footprint that puts a Supercenter closer to most US households.
Where it falls short: quality on Walmart’s private-label Great Value brand varies more than Kirkland. Per-unit cost on bulk staples is generally above Costco when comparing pack size for pack size.
Pricing:
- Free to install and use.
- Walmart+ runs around $98 per year for free delivery and fuel discounts.
Migrating from Costco: if your household is small enough that bulk packs go to waste, Walmart at standard pack sizes often costs less in real terms.
Bottom line: the right pick for small households that do not need bulk and want to skip the membership.
4. Aldi, lowest US grocery prices on a curated list
Aldi consistently posts the lowest grocery prices in the US on a curated set of around 1,500 SKUs, mostly private-label brands that match name-brand quality at materially lower prices. The shorter SKU list means a faster shopping trip with fewer choices. Pack sizes are standard rather than bulk, which fits smaller households without the waste risk.
Costco vs Aldi: Costco wins on bulk per-unit cost and Kirkland depth across categories Aldi does not stock (electronics, appliances, jewelry). Aldi wins on absolute lowest grocery prices at standard pack sizes.
Where it falls short: Aldi’s SKU list is narrow, so households that want specific name brands or specialty items still need a second store. Delivery runs through Instacart with the standard third-party fees and markups.
Pricing:
- Free to install and use.
- No membership required.
Migrating from Costco: swap your weekly grocery run to Aldi for staples and produce. Keep Costco for bulk paper goods, pantry basics, and Kirkland-specific items.
Bottom line: the right pick for grocery-only shopping at lowest prices on standard pack sizes.
5. Target, cleaner aisles and the fastest pickup
Target’s app pairs a slightly more curated catalog with the fastest pickup experience in big-box retail. Drive Up orders are typically ready in under an hour and brought to the car in minutes after arrival. Target Circle membership offers a base free tier with personalized deals, and Target Circle 360 layers same-day delivery. Pricing on staples is generally on par with Walmart, with Costco beating both on per-unit bulk pricing.
Costco vs Target: Costco wins on bulk per-unit cost. Target wins on store experience, Drive Up speed, and curated apparel and home goods Costco does not carry at the same depth.
Where it falls short: Target’s grocery selection is narrower than a Walmart Supercenter or a Costco warehouse. Per-unit cost on staples is materially above Costco for shoppers who do clear bulk packs.
Pricing:
- Free to install and use.
- Target Circle is free; Circle 360 unlocks same-day delivery for an annual fee around $99.
Migrating from Costco: use Target for the apparel, decor, and household categories where Costco’s selection is thin. Keep Costco for bulk groceries.
Bottom line: the right pick for shoppers who want a cleaner store experience and the fastest pickup.
6. Kroger, grocery plus pharmacy plus fuel rewards
Kroger and its banner stores (Ralphs, Fred Meyer, King Soopers, Harris Teeter) cover most of the US with full grocery, pharmacy, and stacked fuel rewards in one app. Boost membership unlocks free delivery on orders above $35 and doubles fuel rewards earned on grocery spend. Pricing on staples is competitive with Walmart, and the digital coupon system stacks discounts before checkout in a way Costco does not allow.
Costco vs Kroger: Costco wins on bulk per-unit cost. Kroger wins on standard pack sizes, pharmacy integration, fuel rewards depth, and digital coupon stacking that lowers the effective price further.
Where it falls short: Kroger does not operate in every US state, and the price advantage over Walmart is narrower than it used to be. The app feels slower than newer competitors during peak hours.
Pricing:
- Free to install and use.
- Boost membership runs around $59-$99 per year depending on tier.
Migrating from Costco: check whether your nearest grocery is a Kroger banner. If so, the digital coupon stacking plus fuel rewards lowers the effective grocery cost without bulk pack size.
Bottom line: the right pick for full grocery plus pharmacy plus fuel rewards in standard pack sizes.
7. Amazon Shopping, same-day delivery on standard sizes
For shoppers who want bulk-style convenience without the warehouse trip, Amazon Shopping plus Prime same-day covers most household and grocery categories. Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market integration handles groceries in many cities. Subscribe & Save stacks 5-15% off recurring orders, which approximates the per-unit savings of Costco bulk packs without forcing a single big purchase.
Costco vs Amazon: Costco wins on per-unit cost for actual bulk packs and Kirkland brand depth. Amazon wins on catalog breadth, same-day delivery in most US metros, and standard pack sizes that suit smaller households.
Where it falls short: counterfeits and quality variability are recurring issues across third-party listings. Amazon Fresh is not in every zip code.
Pricing:
- Free to install and use.
- Prime membership runs around $14.99 per month or $139 per year.
Migrating from Costco: route household consumables to Subscribe & Save and groceries to Amazon Fresh where available. Keep Costco for the bulk packs and Kirkland items that are genuinely cheaper.
Bottom line: the right pick for shoppers who want bulk-style convenience without bulk pack size.
How to choose
Pick Sam’s Club for warehouse club shopping with Scan & Go and slightly cheaper membership. Pick BJ’s Wholesale on the East Coast when coupon stacking and smaller bulk packs matter. Pick Walmart for small households that do not need bulk and want to skip the membership. Pick Aldi for lowest grocery prices on a curated SKU list at standard pack sizes. Pick Target for cleaner aisles and the fastest pickup. Pick Kroger for grocery, pharmacy, and stacked fuel rewards. Pick Amazon Shopping for same-day delivery on standard pack sizes through Prime.
Stay on Costco when your household clears bulk packs without waste, the Kirkland brand is what you actually buy, and the closest warehouse is a manageable drive.
FAQ
Is Sam’s Club cheaper than Costco? On membership, yes. On items, the two trade wins SKU by SKU. Sam’s Club tends to be slightly cheaper on certain household items, Costco on others. Costco’s return policy is generally more generous and the in-warehouse experience is rated higher.
What is the cheapest warehouse club in the US? Sam’s Club has the lowest base membership at $50 per year. BJ’s Wholesale at $55 stacks manufacturer coupons, which often produces the lowest effective per-trip cost for coupon users.
Is Costco worth it for a small household? Worth it when bulk packs do not go to waste (paper goods, pantry staples that store well, frozen foods) and the gas savings or pharmacy use cover the membership. Less worth it when most bulk-pack purchases generate waste.
Where can I buy Kirkland products without a Costco membership? Costco offers some Kirkland items via Costco.com to non-members at slightly higher prices. Many Kirkland items are also resold (without Costco’s involvement) on Amazon and through grocery aggregators, generally at materially higher prices.
Can I use coupons at Costco? Costco does not accept manufacturer coupons. Costco runs its own monthly Coupon Book savings on member-only items, which the app surfaces. BJ’s Wholesale is the warehouse club that accepts manufacturer coupons.
Is Aldi cheaper than Costco for groceries? On standard pack sizes, generally yes. On per-unit cost in bulk packs, Costco often wins. Households that buy in bulk save more at Costco; households that shop weekly often save more at Aldi.
