United℠ Gateway vs Costco Anywhere Visa®

United℠ Gateway
VS
Costco Anywhere Visa®
The short answer: The Costco Anywhere Visa® delivers a bit more value for most spenders.

Side-by-side comparison

United℠ GatewayCostco Anywhere Visa®
Annual feeNo annual feeNo annual fee
Welcome offerUp to 40,000 bonus milesNo current offer
Dining1x3x
Groceries1x1x
Gas2x4x
Travel1x3x
Streaming1x1x
Everything else1x1x
Est. yearly rewards*$320$452
Points typeLocked to United MileagePlusCash back only
NetworkVisaVisa

*Estimated yearly rewards on typical household spending, every point valued at a flat 1 cent. Verified June 2026. See your own numbers in the calculator.

The verdict

On a typical year of household spending, the United℠ Gateway earns about $320 a year in rewards and the Costco Anywhere Visa® about $452, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The United℠ Gateway has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. The Costco Anywhere Visa® has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. Counting rewards and any credits, the Costco Anywhere Visa® delivers more total value, about $132 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on dining and gas. Neither leans on transferable points, so the deciding factors are the welcome offer, the card network, and which everyday perks you will actually use. On the sign-up bonus, the United℠ Gateway currently has the larger welcome offer. A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.

Pick the Costco Anywhere Visa® if your spending leans toward dining, gas, travel.

Read the full reviews

Frequently asked questions

Is the United℠ Gateway or the Costco Anywhere Visa® better?
On typical household spending, the Costco Anywhere Visa® comes out ahead, by roughly $132 a year with every point valued at a flat 1 cent. But the United℠ Gateway can be the better fit if your spending lines up with its stronger categories. Run both through the Cardocrat calculator to see your own numbers.
Can I have both the United℠ Gateway and the Costco Anywhere Visa®?
In most cases yes, as long as you meet each issuer's approval rules (for example Chase's 5/24 rule). Many people hold complementary cards to cover more bonus categories, then pool or redeem the rewards together where the program allows.
Which has the better welcome bonus, the United℠ Gateway or the Costco Anywhere Visa®?
As of June 2026, the United℠ Gateway offers up to 40,000 bonus miles and the Costco Anywhere Visa® offers no current offer. Welcome offers change often, so confirm the current offer on each card's page before applying.