Sam’s Club vs. Costco vs. BJ’s: Which Warehouse Credit Card Wins?

By Bryce Casson, Founder · Cardocrat · Updated July 2026

The short answer: Each warehouse credit card is best for a different shopper. The Costco Anywhere Visa earns 4% on gas and 3% on dining and travel anywhere; the Sam’s Club Mastercard has the highest gas rate at 5%; and the BJ’s One+ Mastercard earns the most, 5%, inside BJ’s. All three require a paid club membership and pay rewards you can generally only spend at that warehouse, so the real winner is whichever club you already shop at.

The quick verdict

If you fill up a lot, the Sam’s Club Mastercard has the best gas rate at 5% on the first $6,000 a year. If you want strong rewards you can use everywhere, the Costco Anywhere Visa earns 4% on gas, 3% on dining and travel, and 2% at Costco. And if most of your spending happens inside the club, the BJ’s One+ Mastercard earns 5% on BJ’s purchases. There is no single best card, only the best card for where you actually shop.

Costco Anywhere Visa

The Costco Anywhere Visa by Citi earns 4% on gas on the first $7,000 a year then 1%, 3% on restaurants and travel, 2% at Costco and Costco.com, and 1% everywhere else. It is a Visa, so it works anywhere, and it has no separate card fee, though you do need a Costco membership. The catch is redemption: your cash back arrives once a year as a certificate you can only use at Costco, the least flexible setup of the three. See our full take on whether the Costco card is worth it.

Sam’s Club Mastercard

The Sam’s Club Mastercard by Synchrony earns 5% on gas on the first $6,000 a year then 1%, 3% on dining and takeout, 3% at Sam’s Club for Plus members (1% for Club members), and 1% on everything else. That 5% gas rate is the highest of the three warehouse cards. Rewards come as Sam’s Cash, which you redeem at Sam’s Club, with a $5,000 annual cap most people never reach. See whether the Sam’s Club card is worth it.

BJ’s One+ Mastercard

The BJ’s One+ Mastercard by Capital One flips the formula, earning the most inside the club: 5% back on most BJ’s purchases, plus a discount at BJ’s gas, and 2% on everything else. To get the full 5% you need the higher-tier BJ’s Plus membership. It is the best warehouse card if the bulk of your spending is at BJ’s itself, but the weakest for gas and for spending outside the club.

How to choose

Start with the club you already belong to, since each card pays rewards you can only spend at that warehouse. Among them, pick Sam’s for the top gas rate, Costco for the most useful everyday categories (gas, dining, and travel anywhere), or BJ’s if you buy most things in-club. One honest caveat: because the rewards are locked to each warehouse, a general gas rewards card or a flat cash-back card can beat all three if you do not shop the club heavily. Compare any of them against a general card in our rewards calculator, and see the full lineup of warehouse club cards.

Frequently asked questions

Which warehouse card has the best gas rewards?

The Sam’s Club Mastercard, at 5% on the first $6,000 of gas each year. The Costco Anywhere Visa is next at 4% on the first $7,000. The BJ’s card gives a per-gallon discount at BJ’s gas rather than a percentage.

Do you need a membership for these cards?

Yes. All three require a paid membership to the matching warehouse club, Costco, Sam’s Club, or BJ’s. The cards themselves have no separate annual fee, so the membership is the real cost.

Can you use the warehouse rewards anywhere?

Generally no. Sam’s Cash is spent at Sam’s Club, BJ’s rewards redeem at BJ’s, and the Costco card pays out once a year as a certificate usable at Costco. The cards work everywhere, but the rewards are tied to the club.

Which warehouse credit card is best overall?

Whichever club you already shop at. If you want flexible rewards you can spend anywhere, a general cash-back or gas card may beat all three, since warehouse rewards are locked to the store.