Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi Card Review: A Surprisingly Good Travel Card

The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi caters to Costco members who want high cash back from their everyday purchases, earning a Cash Back Score of 4.0 out of 5. Your Costco and Costco.com purchases earn unlimited 2% cash back, but true to its name, you can use the card anywhere. It offers 4% cash back on gas and EV charging (up to $7,000 annually) and unlimited 3% on travel and dining. All other purchases earn 1%.

Despite its great cash back rates and no annual fee, you need a Costco membership to get the card — the cheapest is $60 per year. Unlike other cash back cards, the Costco Anywhere lacks a 0% intro APR period and a welcome bonus. Its rewards can only be redeemed once a year and require you to go to a Costco store.

If you already pay for a Costco membership and frequently go there, it’s hard to find a card that can match the cash back you get from this card. However, if Costco is not part of your routine, the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express offers more flexible cash back on gas and groceries.

The rewards program for the Costco Anywhere offers high cash back on a broad range of spending categories, earning a Cash Back Score of 3.6 out of 5. With this card, you’ll earn:

• 4% cash back on gas and EV charging (up to $7,000 annually, then 1%)
• 3% cash back on dining and eligible travel purchases
• 2% cash back on Costco and Costco.com purchases
• 1% cash back on all other purchases

Redeeming rewards with Costco Anywhere is somewhat restrictive. Cardholders receive their cash back annually as a credit card reward certificate after their February billing statement closes. These certificates can be redeemed for merchandise or cash at any U.S. Costco warehouse, including Puerto Rico, but they must be redeemed in a single transaction by December 31 of the year they are issued.

The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card does not offer introductory APR offers or a welcome bonus — features commonly found in other cash back cards. This omission makes the card less appealing to prospective cardholders, especially those managing debt, seeking to finance a large purchase or looking for immediate financial benefits.

The Costco Anywhere card offers a mix of valuable perks, which is notable since cash back cards don’t typically come with perks. Here’s a quick overview:

• No Foreign Transaction Fees: Avoid additional charges on international purchases
• Worldwide Car Rental Insurance: Covers theft or damage for rentals paid in full with the card, with primary coverage internationally
• Travel Accident Insurance: Provides up to $250,000 in coverage for accidental death or dismemberment on common carriers
• Roadside Assistance Dispatch Service: Offers 24/7 help for towing, jump-starts and other roadside services at set rates
• Travel and Emergency Assistance: Provides 24/7 referrals for medical, legal and travel-related services (third-party costs apply)

The Costco Anywhere offers a mixed bag when it comes to penalties and fees. While it doesn’t charge annual and foreign transaction fees, it has a high penalty APR. Here's a closer look at the card's cost structure:

• Penalty APR: Up to 29.99%
• Late Fee: Up to $41
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None
• Annual Fee: None (but requires Costco membership)

Note that an active Costco membership is required to hold the card, with the cheapest membership costing $60 annually.

The Costco Anywhere card is moderately difficult to obtain. It requires excellent credit with a score between 740 and 850. 

User feedback from Reddit suggests that Citi is conservative with credit limits, often assigning lower-than-expected limits even to applicants with high credit scores. Some users report challenges with customer service and the approval process, particularly for those with thin credit files. If you're considering this card, be prepared for a potentially conservative credit limit and ensure your credit profile is robust.

Customer satisfaction with the Costco Anywhere card is mixed. Users on Reddit appreciate the card's 4% gas rewards and its convenience for Costco shopping, since you can also present the card as proof of membership. However, users also express frustration with Citi's customer service, the card’s limited 2% cashback at Costco and the inconvenience of once-a-year reward redemption.

We compare the Costco Anywhere with similar cash back cards to help you determine whether it is the best card for your needs.

You can maximize your rewards by finding a complementary card to pair with the cash back offered by the Costco Anywhere, tailoring another card to the categories you spend the most in.

We evaluated the Costco Anywhere using our Cash Back Score, reviewing 78 cards in total. The evaluation considered several factors:

• Effective Reward Rate (50%): Measures how rewarding the card's cash back program is.
• Annual Fee (10%): Rates the annual fee, with 5 indicating no fee.
• Intro Purchase Offer (5%): Rates the 0% APR offer on purchases.
• Recommended Credit (5%): Rates the accessibility based on credit score.
• Issuer Satisfaction (5%): Based on JD Power issuer satisfaction study.
• Penalties (5%): Rates penalty rates and fees.
• Regular APR (5%): Rates the regular APR.
• Foreign Transaction (5%): Rates foreign transaction fees.
• Offer ROI (5%): Rates the return on introductory bonus offers.

We respond to some frequently asked questions about the Costco Anywhere to help you decide if it’s right for you.