Alliant Cashback Visa® Signature Credit Card
vs. Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi

Shield Insurance

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Both the Alliant Visa Signature Card and the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi offer appealing cash back rewards without annual fees. However, the Costco Anywhere edges ahead with its higher cash back rates, particularly on gas, travel and dining, and an exclusive 2% on Costco purchases, making it especially beneficial for frequent Costco shoppers.

The Alliant Visa Signature remains a strong contender with its broad cash back program, especially for those who may not meet the higher credit score requirement of the Costco card.

Credit Card logo for Alliant Cashback Visa® Signature Credit Card
Alliant Cashback Visa® Signature Credit Card
Credit Card logo for Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
MoneyGeek Rating
3.8/ of 5
On Issuer's Site
On Issuer's Site

Which Card Is Better for You?

You might prefer the Alliant Visa Signature if you're looking for a card that offers a high cash back rate on all purchases and you can meet the Tier One Rewards requirements. With no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, it's a solid choice for those who want a simple rewards structure and have good to excellent credit.

You might prefer the Costco Anywhere if you're a frequent Costco shopper and spend a lot on gas, dining and travel. The card's reward structure is tailored to benefit Costco members with higher cash back in these categories. Remember that a Costco membership is required, which comes at an additional cost.

Head-to-Head Comparison: Card Details and Features

Evaluating APRs, fees, credit requirements, rewards, introductory offers and other features will show each card's strengths. For example, if you frequently shop at Costco, the Costco Anywhere card's higher cash back on gas and Costco purchases might sway you. Conversely, the Alliant Visa Signature's higher cash back rate on general purchases could be more appealing if you have diverse spending habits. Use this section to align card benefits with your spending patterns and financial goals.

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    Regular APR: Alliant Visa Signature

    For those concerned with regular APR, the Alliant Visa Signature is preferable. It offers a lower starting APR of 17.49% compared to Costco Anywhere's 20.49% variable rate.

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    Annual Fee: Alliant Visa Signature

    Both cards have no annual fee, but Costco Anywhere requires a Costco membership, which costs $60 annually. The Alliant Visa Signature is better for those seeking a card without any associated membership fees.

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    Introductory 0% APRs: Tie

    Neither the Alliant Visa Signature nor the Costco Anywhere offers introductory 0% APRs on purchases or balance transfers. For those specifically seeking cards with introductory 0% APR offers, consider exploring the best zero interest credit cards.

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    Rewards: Costco Anywhere

    The Costco Anywhere card is better for rewards, especially for Costco members and those who spend a lot on gas, dining and travel. It offers up to 4% cash back on gas and EV charging, 3% on dining and travel and 2% on Costco purchases. The Alliant Visa Signature offers 2.5% cash back on the first $10,000 of purchases each cycle, then 1.5%. Note that it lacks the additional category bonuses of the Costco card.

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    Welcome Offers: Tie

    Neither the Alliant Visa Signature nor the Costco Anywhere offers a welcome bonus with a positive return on investment, making this feature a tie. The Alliant card provides Tier One rewards for the first 100 days, while the Costco Anywhere card does not have a current welcome offer.

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    Recommended Credit Score: Alliant Visa Signature

    The Alliant Visa Signature is more accessible, catering to individuals with good to excellent credit, whereas the Costco Anywhere requires excellent credit.

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    Penalties and Fees: Alliant Visa Signature

    The Alliant Visa Signature offers more favorable terms for penalties and fees. It has a lower late fee of up to $27 and a cash advance fee of either $10 or 3% of the amount, whichever is greater. Both cards do not charge foreign transaction fees.

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    Issuer Satisfaction: Costco Anywhere

    Costco Anywhere is better for issuer satisfaction, with a rating of 4.1 for its issuer, Citibank. Alliant Credit Union, which issues the Alliant Visa Signature card, doesn't have an issuer satisfaction rating.

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    Other Features & Perks: Tie

    Both the Alliant Visa Signature and Costco Anywhere have unique perks. Alliant provides purchase security, extended warranty, auto rental damage waiver and travel insurance. Costco Anywhere offers damage and theft purchase protection, travel accident insurance and access to Citi Entertainment®. The best card depends on your personal preferences and shopping habits.

Rewards Comparison

When it comes to rewards, the Alliant Visa Signature is a powerhouse for those who qualify for Tier One Rewards. It offers a robust 2.5% cash back on the first $10,000 of purchases each billing cycle. After that, or if you don't meet Tier One criteria, you'll still earn 1.5% back on all purchases. This makes it an excellent choice for those who prefer a simple, high-rate cash back on all spending without category restrictions.

On the other hand, Costco Anywhere shines with its category-specific rewards, especially for frequent drivers and diners. It offers 4% cash back on gas and EV charging (up to $7,000 annually, then 1%) and 3% on dining and travel. Costco loyalists will also appreciate the 2% cash back on purchases from Costco and Costco.com. While its 1% on other purchases is less impressive, the targeted bonuses make it a strong contender for those with focused spending habits.

Below is a detailed table of bonus categories for both cards to help you determine where you can earn the most rewards.

Category
Alliant Visa Signature
Costco Anywhere

Gas

2.5% for the first $10,000 annually/1.5% thereafter

4% for the first $7,000 annually/1% thereafter

Restaurants

2.5% for the first $10,000 annually/1.5% thereafter

3%

Travel

2.5% for the first $10,000 annually/1.5% thereafter

3%

Costco Purchases

2.5% for the first $10,000 annually/1.5% thereafter

2%

All Other Purchases

2.5% for the first $10,000 annually/1.5% thereafter

1%

Redeeming Rewards

The Alliant Visa Signature card offers flexibility with no expiration on rewards, allowing for various cash-equivalent redemptions. In contrast, the Costco Anywhere card's rewards are issued annually and must be redeemed by December 31 at Costco locations or for cash back.

Methodology

MoneyGeek analyzes and assesses credit cards like Alliant Visa Signature and Costco Anywhere based on their performance in various use cases. The highest-scoring category for both cards is cash back. The evaluation process assigns scores reflecting how well each card serves its best use case. The most influential factors in cash back scores are the effective reward rate and the return on investment for offers.

FAQ: Alliant Visa Signature vs. Costco Anywhere

What are the cash back rewards for each card?

Do either of the cards have an annual fee?

Can I use these cards for international purchases without extra fees?

What credit score is required for each card?

Are there any introductory offers for new cardholders?

About Doug Milnes, CFA


Doug Milnes, CFA headshot

Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets.

Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.


*Rates, fees or bonuses may vary or include specific stipulations. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. We recommend visiting the card issuer’s website for the most up-to-date information available.
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