Costco Vs Sam's Club: What Are The Main Differences?

If there is anything we should take away from the great steak debate between Costco and Sam's Club, it is that both warehouse stores have features, products, and practices that set them apart from each other. Still, it is easy to take a look at the options, bargains, and membership systems and feel that these warehouses are more similar than they are different.

While the vibes of these stores are certainly similar, there are a few key differences to keep in mind that might affect which warehouse store an individual champions over the other. Some shoppers may appreciate the membership perks one warehouse offers over the other, while others might be loyal to a brand name solely carried by one warehouse. Regardless of what point sways a shopper towards one warehouse chain, the different international locations, memberships, check-out methods, brand names, and food court items at Sam's Club and Costco are worth knowing about. 

As a whole, the shopping experience has changed dramatically from what it was like to shop at the first Costco; with changing inventory, membership guidelines, and so much more, Costco has certainly evolved as it has expanded to a global phenomenon. Currently, Costco has locations in 14 countries across the world. Its reach extends from the United States and Puerto Rico to Spain, China, Taiwan. Costco's presence in so many different countries and continents is one of the most visible differences between this warehouse chain and Sam's Club.

While Sam's Club has international locations in China, Brazil, Mexico, and Puerto Rico, its international reach is not as expansive as Costco's. Similarly to Costco, you can still shop in person at any Sam's Club location, regardless of the country it is in, with an active membership. When it comes to ordering online, however, only U.S. memberships work on the U.S. website and Sam's Club will not ship orders to international addresses. Costco's shipping is similarly limited to the same country, with exceptions between the U.S. and Canada.

Both Costco and Sam's Club require proof of membership to enter a warehouse, but their tiers and benefits vary between memberships. Costco offers Gold Star memberships, Business memberships, and Executive memberships. While Gold Star and Business memberships both cost $65 a year, Business memberships allow for members to purchase for resale. Executive memberships are an upgraded plan priced at $135 annually; this membership includes more rewards and savings opportunities.

Sam's Club offers Club and Plus memberships. Club memberships offer saving for fuel, free curbside pickup, Scan & Go, and a handful of other features at the price of $50 annually. Plus memberships include these perks while also providing additional savings and rewards, especially for pharmacy, optical, and automotive services, at a rate of $110 annually.

While some of these tiers have similar perks across warehouse stores, not all perks are identical. A key difference between upgraded membership plans is the cashback limit. The Executive Membership at Costco offers an annual 2% reward for qualifying purchases with a maximum limit of $1,250 for any 12-month period. In contrast, Sam's Club's Plus Membership also offers 2% Sam's Cash on qualifying purchases but has an annual cap of $500.

The sight that might come to mind most easily to a Costco member is not the sales or sample stands, but the lines. The checkout lines at Costco warehouses across the world are all but unavoidable, oftentimes winding in between the shopping aisles on busier weekends. Sam's Club has seen this plague upon warehouse club stores and adapted.

There is a Scan & Go feature available to members in the Sam's Club mobile app that allows you to scan items as you shop and pay through the app itself. Once you have grabbed and paid for all you need you only have to show your digital receipt at the door and you are free, having avoided the lines wrapping through the store with ease. This time-saver is a lifesaver, so long as you don't forget to scan everything you put into the cart and remove everything you decide to return to the shelves.

Kirkland-brand items have a long history with Costco, and the current private label available at Costco is called Kirkland Signature; Sam's Club, on the other hand, sports store-brand products under the Member's Mark name. While both of these products are similarly sold at low prices, the specific prices will vary between locations. The main point that sets these two private labels apart is the approach to variety and quality these two warehouse chains prefer.

Sam's Club and Costco both offer a variety of goods under their respective labels. But while the labels are different, shoppers have a tough time noticing the difference. Some will argue that Kirkland Signature is the superior brand while Member's Mark focuses on affordability, but shoppers on the r/samsclub subreddit are more mixed, saying that Costco's better reputation has caused the Kirkland Signature brand to gain more recognition. Some outright believe they're the same products from the same factories, just sold with different labels. Regardless of the quantity or quality of items that line the shelves of these two warehouses, both Costco and Sam's Club are constantly rotating their inventory ensuring new and familiar products alike get their spotlight in the warehouse.

While Costco's $1.50 food court hot dog combo has become an iconic part of the Costco image, it should be noted that Sam's Club has a similar combo that features a larger drink for 12 cents less. While Sam's Club emerges victorious with this bargain, it is hardly worthy competition in the realm of pizza. The reason why Costco's pizza tastes so good has plagued the minds of countless consumers, but Sam's Club pizza has not yet reached such levels of notoriety.

Even though hot dogs and pizzas are menu mainstays at these warehouse stores, other items on the food court menu are likely to rotate. The joy that comes with the return of a Chicken Bake at the Costco food courts is worth saying goodbye to various sandwich, smoothie, and salad options. In contrast to the frequent rotations at Costco, Sam's Club usually has fewer options; one bonus, though, is that this menu features gems like soft, gooey cheese-covered Pizza Pretzels.