USAA® Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card
vs. Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi

Updated: June 18, 2024

Advertising & Editorial Disclosure

Shield Insurance

MoneyGeek partners with leading industry experts and advertisers to help you get to your financial happy place. Our content is accurate when posted but offers may change over time. We may receive compensation for partner advertisements, but our editorial team independently reviews and ranks products. Learn more about our editorial policies.

Both the USAA® Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card and the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi offer enticing cash back rewards and no annual fees, making them strong contenders for your wallet. The Costco Anywhere edges ahead with higher cash back rates on gas, travel and dining and is especially rewarding for frequent Costco shoppers due to its 2% cash back on Costco purchases.

The USAA Preferred Cash Rewards card offers a valuable introductory APR offer and is accessible to those with a military connection.

Ultimately, the best card for you depends on your affinity for Costco and your eligibility for a USAA membership.

Credit Card logo for USAA® Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card
USAA® Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card
Credit Card logo for Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
MoneyGeek Rating
3.5/ of 5
Rates & Fees
MoneyGeek Rating
3.8/ of 5
Rates & Fees
REVIEW & APPLY
On Issuer's Site
REVIEW & APPLY
On Issuer's Site

Which Card Is Better for You?

You might prefer the USAA Preferred Cash Rewards if you value a straightforward cash back program that rewards you equally for all purchases. With no annual fee and an introductory APR offer, this card is a solid choice for USAA members who want simplicity and consistent rewards.

You might prefer Costco Anywhere if you're a frequent Costco shopper and spend a lot on gas, dining and travel. The card's tiered cash back rewards can maximize your returns, especially with the added benefit of 2% cash back on Costco purchases, all without an annual fee with your Costco membership.

Head-to-Head Comparison: Card Details and Features

Evaluating APRs, fees, credit requirements, rewards and other features will clarify the strengths of each card. Specifics, like Costco Anywhere's high cash back on gas vs. the USAA Preferred Cash Rewards' flat-rate rewards, can help you tailor your decision to your spending and lifestyle.

    discount icon

    Regular APR: USAA Preferred Cash Rewards

    The USAA Preferred Cash Rewards card offers a better regular APR, starting at 17.15%, compared to the Costco Anywhere's 20.49% variable APR. The lower regular APR makes the USAA card more favorable for those who may carry a balance.

    annualFee icon

    Annual Fee: USAA Preferred Cash Rewards

    The USAA Preferred Cash Rewards card is better for those seeking a no-annual fee option without additional requirements. The Costco Anywhere card also has no annual fee but requires a paid Costco membership, which starts at $60 per year.

    lowInterestAPR icon

    Introductory 0% APRs: Tie

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

    coins icon

    Rewards: Costco Anywhere

    For rewards, the Costco Anywhere card is better for individuals who spend heavily on gas and frequently shop at Costco, offering up to 4% cash back on gas and EV charging (for the first $7,000 per year, then 1% thereafter), 3% on dining and eligible travel and 2% on Costco purchases. The USAA Preferred Cash Rewards provides a flat 1.5% cash back on all purchases, appealing for its simplicity and flexibility without category restrictions.

    rewards icon

    Welcome Offers: Tie

    Neither the USAA Preferred Cash Rewards nor the Costco Anywhere offers a welcome bonus, making this feature a tie between the two cards.

    creditApproved icon

    Recommended Credit Score: USAA Preferred Cash Rewards

    The USAA Preferred Cash Rewards is more accessible, catering to a broader credit score range. Both cards require excellent credit, but the USAA card's lower rating indicates a wider acceptance range.

    autopay icon

    Penalties and Fees: USAA Preferred Cash Rewards

    The USAA Preferred Cash Rewards is better for penalties and fees, offering no late fees, penalty APRs, cash advance fees or foreign transaction fees. In contrast, Costco Anywhere imposes a late fee of up to $41, a penalty APR of up to 29.99% and a cash advance fee.

    points icon

    Issuer Satisfaction: USAA Preferred Cash Rewards

    The USAA Preferred Cash Rewards outperforms Costco Anywhere in issuer satisfaction, with a rating of 4.8 for USAA compared to Citibank's 4.1. This suggests that USAA cardholders generally have a more positive experience with their issuer.

    airplane icon

    Other Features & Perks: Tie

    Both cards offer unique perks. USAA Preferred Cash Rewards provides comprehensive travel insurance and security features, while Costco Anywhere offers damage and theft purchase protection and access to Citi Entertainment®. Each card caters to different needs, making them equally valuable depending on your priorities.

Rewards Comparison

The Costco Anywhere card outpaces the USAA Preferred Cash Rewards in terms of category-specific rewards, particularly for gas, dining and travel. With higher cash back rates in these areas, it's a strong contender for those who spend heavily on these categories and shop at Costco.

The USAA Preferred Cash Rewards provides a consistent 1.5% cash back on all purchases, making it a straightforward, no-fuss option for those who prefer simplicity and do not want to track category bonuses.

For Costco members, the additional benefits of the Costco Anywhere card, such as the higher cash back on purchases made at Costco and Costco.com, can add substantial value. However, for individuals who value a simple and consistent rewards structure across all spending, the USAA Preferred Cash Rewards may be more appealing. The table below outlines bonus categories to help you compare the rewards programs of both cards at a glance.

Category
USAA Preferred Cash Rewards
Costco Anywhere

Gas

1.5% Cash Back

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

Restaurants

1.5% Cash Back

3% Cash Back

Travel

1.5% Cash Back

3% Cash Back

Costco Purchases

1.5% Cash Back

2% Cash Back

All Other Purchases

1.5% Cash Back

1% Cash Back

Redeeming Rewards

The USAA Preferred Cash Rewards card allows for flexible redemptions without expiration concerns.

The Costco Anywhere card offers an annual distribution of rewards with specific redemption conditions, including an expiration date.

Methodology

MoneyGeek evaluates credit cards like the USAA Preferred Cash Rewards and Costco Anywhere based on their performance in various use cases. For this comparison, each card is assessed in the category where it scores highest, which is cash back for both. The factors influencing their scores are the value of the rewards program and the benefits of the card's offers. To understand our process, you can review our ranking methodology.

FAQ: USAA Preferred Cash Rewards vs. Costco Anywhere

What are the cash back rates for each card?
Do either of the cards have an annual fee?
Are there foreign transaction fees associated with these cards?
Is a Costco membership required for the Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi?
What are the introductory APR offers for each card?
*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.
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses and recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. Learn more about our editorial policies and expert editorial team.
Advertiser Disclosure: MoneyGeek has partnered with CardRatings.com and CreditCards.com for our coverage of credit card products. MoneyGeek, CardRatings and CreditCards.com may receive a commission from card issuers. To ensure thorough comparisons and reviews, MoneyGeek features products from both paid partners and unaffiliated card issuers that are not paid partners.
Insurance
Mortgage
Credit Cards
Loans
About MoneyGeekPressPrivacy PolicySitemap
Copyright © 2024 MoneyGeek.com. All Rights Reserved Terms of Use