Memberships
Costco or Sam's Club: fees and upgrades compared
Independent site, not affiliated with any service listed. No affiliate links.
The two warehouse club memberships compared on their fees, their upgrade tiers and the spending at which each upgrade pays for itself.
Does the Costco Executive upgrade pay for itself?
Executive reward minus the extra fee
You gain $55
| 2% reward (capped at $1,250) | $120 |
| Extra fee over Gold Star | $65 |
| Break-even spending | $3,250 a year |
Fees and the $1,250 cap from Costco's July 10, 2024 release. Some purchases do not earn the reward.
A basic Costco membership costs $65 a year and a Sam's Club Club membership $60. The upgrades cost $130 for Costco Executive and $120 for Sam's Club Plus. Costco Executive returns a 2% reward on qualified purchases, capped at $1,250 a year; it pays for its extra $65 from $3,250 of qualified spending. Sam's Club's join page lists up to 2% back in Sam's Cash for Plus, free delivery and shipping, and Walmart+ included; at the full 2% rate, Plus pays for its extra $60 from $3,000. Costco raised its fees on September 1, 2024; Sam's Club raised its fees in 2022 and again in 2026. Costco's fees are from its press release of July 2024 and its annual report of October 2026, both filed with the SEC; Sam's Club's from its join page read on November 1, 2026.
Is Sam's Club Plus worth the extra fee?
Plus at the full 2% rate, minus the extra fee
Up to $20 ahead
| Sam's Cash at 2% | up to $80 |
| Extra fee for Plus | $60 |
| Break-even at 2% | $3,000 a year |
The join page says "up to 2%"; the rate and any cap depend on the purchase. Plus also includes Walmart+, not counted here.
Prices read by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · Method and sources
Fees side by side
| Costco | Sam's Club | |
|---|---|---|
| Basic membership | Gold Star or Business, $65 | Club, $60 |
| Upgrade | Executive, $130 | Plus, $120 |
| Extra for the upgrade | $65 | $60 |
| Reward | 2% of qualified purchases, up to $1,250 a year | Up to 2% in Sam's Cash |
| Break-even at 2% | $3,250 | $3,000 |
| Last increase | September 1, 2024 | May 2026 |
The Sam's Club Plus calculator
The tool at the top of this page covers Costco Executive; the one below does the same for Sam's Club Plus. Neither counts the other benefits, such as Walmart+ inside Sam's Club Plus, worth $98 a year to someone who would pay for it anyway.
Is Sam's Club Plus worth the extra fee?
Plus at the full 2% rate, minus the extra fee
Up to $20 ahead
| Sam's Cash at 2% | up to $80 |
| Extra fee for Plus | $60 |
| Break-even at 2% | $3,000 a year |
The join page says "up to 2%"; the rate and any cap depend on the purchase. Plus also includes Walmart+, not counted here.
How the fees moved
Costco's July 2024 release raised the basic fee from $60 to $65 and Executive from $120 to $130, with the reward cap going from $1,000 to $1,250. Sam's Club went from $45 to $50 for Club in late 2022 and to $60 between April 1, 2026 and May 6, 2026; Plus went from $100 to $110 and then to $120. The Costco page and the Sam's Club page date each step.