Costco’s most prominent added perks are tied to its U.S. Executive membership, which costs $130 a year—$65 more than Gold Star. Executive adds a 2% reward on qualifying purchases, earlier shopping access, and a monthly Same-Day credit, plus a changing list of service offers. Some extras may be valuable, but the 2% reward has exclusions and an annual cap, and service availability depends on the offer and location.
What’s new, and who gets the perks?
Costco’s current U.S. membership and benefits pages promote early shopping access, a monthly Same-Day credit and various service-related offers for Executive members. Costco said early access and the Same-Day credit took effect June 30, 2025; the current benefits page is a live catalogue, and Costco has not established that every offer on it launched at the same time or is new in 2026.
Gold Star remains Costco’s base paid membership. The current U.S. join page lists it at $65 per year and Executive at $130 per year. Costco describes Executive as a $65 annual upgrade over the base membership. See Costco’s current U.S. membership options and its Executive Membership help page.
Compare Gold Star and Executive
| Feature | Gold Star | Executive |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee in the U.S. | $65, according to Costco’s current U.S. join page. | $130, according to Costco’s current U.S. join page; $65 more than Gold Star. |
| Annual reward | No Executive 2% reward. | 2% on qualifying Costco, Costco.com and Costco Travel purchases, subject to exclusions and a general annual maximum of $1,250, according to Costco’s 2025 annual report. |
| Promoted extras | Standard membership benefits. | Costco currently promotes early shopping access, a monthly Same-Day credit and service-specific offers; terms and availability vary. |
The 2% reward is not cash back on every dollar spent. Costco defines the reward around qualifying purchases and publishes exclusions and other terms on its Executive reward help page. Costco’s 2025 annual report states a general annual maximum of $1,250.
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To judge whether the upgrade makes sense, consider how much you spend on eligible purchases—not total household spending—and whether you will use the other offers. The $65 fee difference provides a simple reference point: the reward alone would equal that difference at $3,250 of qualifying annual spending, before accounting for exclusions and the reward’s timing or any value from other perks. This is arithmetic, not a guarantee of what a household will earn.
Shopping access and Same-Day credit
Earlier shopping access
Costco promotes earlier access to warehouses for Executive members. Hours can differ by warehouse and weekday, so check the hours for the specific location before making a trip. Costco’s U.S. membership page displays its current hours information.
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Monthly Same-Day credit
Costco lists a $10 monthly credit for an eligible Same-Day order of $150 or more through SameDay.Costco.com, a service powered by Instacart. The minimum order, eligible account requirements, linking steps and other conditions are subject to Costco’s current terms. Check the offer details before placing an order; service availability also depends on location. The credit is useful only if you make qualifying orders, and it should not be treated as an unconditional $120 annual saving.
Executive service offers beyond the warehouse
Costco’s Executive benefits page lists a mix of discounts, services and product-specific extras. These are not all equivalent to a cash reward, and the listed offer may have provider, location or eligibility conditions.
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| Offer | What Costco currently promotes | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Junk removal | 20% savings on professional, full-service junk removal. | Service area, eligible jobs and provider terms. |
| Moving and storage | PODS moving and storage service for Executive members. | Rates, availability and offer details with the provider; Costco’s listing does not establish all service terms. |
| Pet telehealth | Free, unlimited access to Vera AI, plus one complimentary VetChat with a licensed professional. | Distinguish AI access from the single professional consultation and review the service terms. |
| Pet insurance-related service | A lost-pet service with a stated value of $59.95 in the first year. | The stated value applies to the lost-pet service, not the total value of insurance. Check coverage, exclusions and policy terms. |
| RV buying | Larger discounts off the lowest advertised price on eligible new RVs through Camping World. | Eligible vehicles, inventory and purchase conditions. |
| Auto and home insurance-related benefits | The page lists 24-hour roadside assistance and lifetime renewability for auto insurance, with some exclusions, plus glass-repair reimbursement and home-lockout assistance for home insurance. | Whether a particular policy and member qualify; confirm the policy language rather than assuming these benefits are automatic. |
| Costco Auto Program | Selected manufacturer promotions may provide Executive members $250 or more in additional value. | Current promotions and eligible vehicles. This is not a guaranteed discount on every vehicle. |
| Costco Travel | Additional value on selected destinations, cruises, hotels and rental cars. | Compare the full itinerary, price and conditions. The offer applies to selected purchases. |
| Other offers | Costco also promotes life-insurance savings, payment-processing fee waivers and a level-funded employer health-plan discount for eligible employers. | These are product- or business-specific offers, not universal household perks. |
Costco Travel is for members, but the company says offerings vary across the U.S., Canada, Australia and the U.K. The available products may differ by market; check the relevant country’s site and the terms for the particular trip. Costco describes its travel offerings in its 2025 annual report.
New-member Shop Card offers are separate promotions
Costco’s join page currently displays a $40 digital Shop Card for eligible new Executive members and a $20 card for eligible new Gold Star members. The listed conditions include enrolling in auto-renewal at signup and having had no Costco membership in any capacity during the previous 18 months. The page separately displays a $65 Shop Card offer tied to applying for and being approved for the Costco Anywhere Visa Card with a new Executive membership. These are conditional signup or credit-card promotions, not permanent membership benefits; confirm the live offer and full terms on Costco’s join page before enrolling.
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How to decide whether Executive is worth the extra fee
- Estimate eligible spending: use qualifying purchases rather than total spending, and account for Costco’s reward exclusions and annual maximum.
- Value access and credits realistically: early hours matter only if your local warehouse offers them at a useful time; the Same-Day credit matters only if you meet its order requirements.
- Count services only if you would use them: a discount on moving, travel, insurance or another service is not a saving if you would not otherwise buy it.
- Verify local and provider terms: availability, eligibility and coverage can vary by offer, geography and policy.
- Compare the additional $65 with likely value: don’t treat a promotional Shop Card or an advertised service value as recurring annual savings.
Costco reported that Executive members represented approximately 73.6% of worldwide net sales in fiscal 2025. That is a share of sales, not a share of members and not evidence that Executive is the best choice for every household. Costco’s annual report also says membership fees vary by country, so the U.S. prices and terms above should not be applied elsewhere.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
