4 ways to shop at Costco without a membership

Quick facts:

Non-members can shop at Costco by accompanying a member, using a Costco Shop Card, or ordering from Costco on Instacart.Shop Cards allow non-members store access, but they must be purchased by a member and have other limitations.Anyone can use Costco's pharmacies, but only members receive exclusive prescription discounts.

Costco, like its biggest rival, Sam's Club, is a members-only warehouse club, which means that only paying members can shop at its stores-or on its app or website. That being said, there are a few exceptions and loopholes to this rule.

For those who aren't quite ready to commit to spending $65 for an annual Costco Gold Star membership or $130 for an Executive membership, but want to explore what America's most popular warehouse club has to offer, here are four simple ways to shop some of Costco's inventory without your own membership.

1. Accompany a current member

If you happen to have a friend or family member with a current Costco membership, the easiest way to experience the inside of one of the company's iconic warehouse clubs is to ask them to accompany you for a shopping trip.

Can Costco members bring guests to stores?

Costco members are allowed to bring up to two non-member adult guests with them each time they visit the store. There's just one caveat-only Costco members can make purchases at the store's checkout counters, food court, and gas station.As you've likely already imagined, this is an easy issue to get around. If you find something you'd like to purchase, you can simply give the Costco member you've accompanied the cash necessary to cover the cost of your items. Alternatively, you can pay them back afterward using cash, Venmo, PayPal, or another payment application.

Related: Costco vs. Sam's Club: Memberships, prices & perks compared

2. Use a Costco Shop Card

The next easiest way to experiment with Costco shopping without a membership is to obtain a Costco Shop Card.

Costco Shop Cards are essentially gift cards that can be used-by members and non-members alike-to pay for purchases at Costco stores or online. Just scan your shop card when you enter the store or show it to the greeter.

These cards are a great way for non-members considering a Costco membership to experience shopping at the bulk retailer without committing to an annual membership, but they do come with a couple of important restrictions.

First, they can only be purchased from Costco by current Costco members. If you have a friend who is a member, asking them to snag one for you on their next visit (or order you one online) is an easy way to get your foot in the door. Alternatively, if you don't know any current members, Costco Shop Cards are often sold on third-party websites like eBay by resellers, but if you choose to go this route, it's important to be wary of possible scams.

Do Costco Shop Cards work at food courts and gas stations?

Another important restriction is that Costco Shop Cards cannot be used at Costco's food courts, so if you're hoping to try the brand's famous $1.50 hot dog and soda combo, you may be out of luck.

When it comes to fueling up after you shop, physical Costco Shop Cards can be used at the brand's gas stations, whereas digital Shop Cards cannot. That being said, a digital Shop Card can be used to purchase a physical Shop Card, which can then be used to pay for gas.

3. Shop Costco on Instacart

Instacart users can order groceries and other items for delivery from Costco, including Costco's store-brand Kirkland Signature products. Unfortunately, Costco and Instacart charge higher prices for non-members who use this service.For this reason, ordering from Costco on Instacart without a membership isn't usually a great idea in the long term, but it can be a good way to sample one or two of the brand's exclusive products before deciding to buy a membership.

Related: Every payment method Costco accepts: From EBT to Apple Pay

4. Shop Costco's pharmacy

Anyone, including non-members, can purchase prescription drugs at Costco pharmacies. Because most states have laws that require pharmacies to be open to the general public, Costco has made public access to its pharmacies an official policy nationwide.

Are prescriptions cheaper at Costco than at other pharmacies?

While Costco members get exclusive lower drug prices through the Costco Member Prescription Program, non-members do not. For non-members, prescription prices at Costco pharmacies are likely to be comparable to those at grocery store pharmacies, and in some cases, they may be higher.

With a membership, Costco's prices for common generic medications tend to be significantly lower than those of its competitors', so for someone who has a lot of prescriptions, the savings offered by the CMPP could justify the cost of a membership.

Related: How much is a Sam's Club membership? Club vs. Plus explained

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This story was originally published November 25, 2025 at 6:04 PM.