Walmart Card vs. Costco Anywhere Credit Card Comparison

Name: Capital One Walmart Rewards® Mastercard® vs. Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
Item: Capital One Walmart Rewards® Mastercard® vs. Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
Author: Doug Milnes, CFA

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NOTE

As of May 2024, the Capital One Walmart Rewards® Mastercard® is no longer available for new applicants. Existing Walmart cardholders can continue using their cards, and rewards earned will be transferred to the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card at a rate of one cent per point. Cardholders will keep their rewards and any balances will automatically move to the Quicksilver card, which offers 1.5% cash back on all purchases.

Both the Capital One Walmart Rewards® Mastercard® and Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi cater to savvy shoppers looking for cash back rewards without the burden of an annual fee. The Costco Anywhere edges ahead with a slightly higher cash back score, particularly benefiting those who spend heavily on gas, travel and dining.

However, the Walmart Card offers high cash back rates on Walmart.com, which benefits frequent Walmart online shoppers and those with lower credit scores. The card is a strong contender for those who prefer shopping with the retail giant.

Capital One Walmart Rewards® Mastercard®

Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi

MoneyGeek Rating

3.6/ of 5

MoneyGeek Rating

3.8/ of 5

Rates & Fees

REVIEW & APPLY

On Issuer's Site

REVIEW & APPLY

On Issuer's Site

Regular APR
19.48%, 19.48%, or 29.99% variable
19.74% - 27.74% variable
0% APR Offer
-
-
Intro Offer
Earn 5% Cash Back
No current offer
Rewards Summary
Earn 1% – 5% cash back
Earn 1%–4% cash back
Balance Transfer Offer
-
-
Balance Transfer Fee
3% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that we may offer you
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
Annual Fee
$0
$0
Recommended Credit
580-740 (Fair to Good)
740-850 (Excellent)
Penalty APR
-
Up to 29.99%
Not sure?
The Walmart Card is a strong choice for those who shop online at Walmart.com. It offers 5% cash back on these purchases. In contrast, the Costco Anywhere is better suited for individuals who spend more on gas, travel and dining, providing up to 4% cash back in these categories.
Both cards have no annual fee, but the Costco Anywhere card requires a Costco membership. The Walmart Card's APR can be as high as 29.99% variable, while the Costco Anywhere has a 20.49% variable APR. Choosing the right card depends on where you shop more frequently and which categories you spend the most on.

Which Card Is Better for You?

You might prefer the Walmart Card if you frequently shop online at Walmart.com or in Walmart stores and value a variety of reward categories. This card is also more accessible if your credit score is in the fair to good range and you're looking for a card with no annual fee.

You might prefer the Costco Anywhere if you are a Costco member who spends significantly on gas, travel and dining. This card maximizes rewards in these categories and offers a substantial cash back rate on Costco purchases, making it a strong choice for dedicated Costco shoppers with excellent credit.

Head-to-Head Comparison: Card Details and Features

Evaluating APRs, fees, credit requirements, rewards, introductory offers and other features will explain the strengths of the Walmart Card and Costco Anywhere. Use the specifics, like the Walmart Card's higher online cash back vs. Costco Anywhere's gas rewards, to guide your choice.

Regular APR: Walmart Card

The Walmart Card has a lower starting APR at 19.48%, compared to the Costco Anywhere's flat 20.49% variable APR. This makes the Walmart Card better for those who may qualify for the lower rates.

Annual Fee: Walmart Card

Both cards have no explicit annual fee, but the Costco Anywhere card requires a Costco membership, starting at $60 annually. Therefore, the Walmart Card is better for those seeking to avoid additional fees.

Introductory 0% APRs: Tie

Neither the Walmart Card nor the Costco Anywhere offers introductory 0% APRs on purchases or balance transfers. For those specifically seeking cards with introductory APR offers, consider exploring great cards with 0% introductory APRs.

Rewards: Costco Anywhere

For rewards, the Costco Anywhere edges out slightly due to its higher cash back on gas and travel. The Walmart Card excels in online shopping rewards and offers more flexible redemption options. Both cards cater well to their respective store's shoppers, making your preference between Walmart and Costco a significant deciding factor.

Welcome Offers: Walmart Card

The Walmart Card is better for welcome offers, allowing you to earn 5% cash back on purchases in Walmart stores for the first 12 months when using Walmart Pay. In contrast, the Costco Anywhere does not offer a welcome bonus.

Recommended Credit Score: Walmart Card

The Walmart Card is more accessible, requiring a credit score range of 580 to 740 (fair to good), compared to the Costco Anywhere's requirement of 740 to 850 (excellent).

Penalties and Fees: Walmart Card

The Walmart Card is better for penalties and fees, with lower late and cash advance fees and no penalty APR.

Issuer Satisfaction: Walmart Card

The Walmart Card edges out slightly in issuer satisfaction with a rating of 4.2 for Capital One, compared to Citibank's 4.1. Both cards come from reputable issuers known for customer satisfaction.

Other Features & Perks: Tie

Both the Walmart Card and Costco Anywhere offer unique perks related to their co-branded stores. The Walmart Card provides $0 Fraud Liability. The Costco Anywhere card provides damage and theft purchase protection and access to Citi Entertainment®.

Rewards Comparison

The Costco Anywhere card edges out the Walmart Card with a higher expected reward value and better cash back rates on gas, dining and travel. If your spending aligns with these categories, the Costco Anywhere card may be the more lucrative option.

However, the Walmart Card stands out with 5% cash back on Walmart.com, including pickup and delivery, which is ideal for frequent online Walmart shoppers. It also offers a solid 2% back on in-store Walmart purchases, making it a strong contender for those who prefer shopping at Walmart locations.

For those who fill up their tanks often or dine out regularly, the Costco Anywhere card's 4% cash back on gas and EV charging (up to $7,000 per year, then 1%) and 3% on dining and travel can add up quickly. Conversely, the Walmart Card does not have a standout category outside of Walmart-related purchases.

The table below details the bonus categories for both cards, helping you compare their rewards programs at a glance.

Category	Walmart Card	Costco Anywhere
Online Purchases	5% on Walmart.com	2% on Costco.com
Gas	2% at Walmart fuel stations	4% for the first $7,000 annually/1% thereafter
Groceries	1% at Walmart stores	2% at Costco and Costco.com
Restaurants	2%	3%
Travel	2%	3%
All Other Purchases	1%	1%

Redeeming Rewards

The Walmart Card offers flexible redemption options, including statement credits, for purchases on Walmart.com, travel and gift cards. Rewards do not expire as long as your account is active.

The Costco Anywhere card's rewards are issued annually after your February statement and must be redeemed at Costco warehouses by December 31 of the same year.

Methodology

MoneyGeek evaluates credit cards like the Walmart Card and Costco Anywhere using a scoring system tailored to specific use cases such as cash back. This comparison assesses both cards based on their highest-scoring use case. The most significant factors influencing their scores include the cash back value of the rewards program and the return on investment for card offers. For a deeper understanding of our ranking process, you can explore our ranking methodology.

FAQ: Walmart Card vs. Costco Anywhere

What are the annual fees for the Walmart Card and the Costco Anywhere card?

Both cards have a $0 annual fee. However, the Costco Anywhere card requires a paid Costco membership.

Which card offers better cash back rewards for online shopping?

The Walmart Card offers 5% back on Walmart.com.

Can I earn rewards on gas purchases with both of these credit cards?

Yes, both cards offer rewards on gas, with the Costco Anywhere offering up to 4%.

Are there foreign transaction fees associated with either card?

No, both cards come with no foreign transaction fees.

What credit score is required for each card?

The Walmart Card recommends a credit score of 580 to 740, while the Costco Anywhere card requires 740 to 850.

About Doug Milnes, CFA

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.

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*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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Capital One Walmart Rewards® Mastercard®
vs. Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi