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Warehouse clubs break the usual cashback rules. The portals you’d reach for everywhere else — Rakuten, Ibotta — mostly don’t work at Costco at all. Instead, the real cashback at Costco, Sam’s Club, and BJ’s comes from two places: the premium membership tier and the co-brand credit card. Here’s how to actually earn on bulk buying in 2026, and where the one portal exception is.
The premium membership 2% (your main lever)
Each club’s upgraded tier pays 2% back on purchases — this is the cashback that matters for bulk shoppers:
- Costco Executive — 2% annual reward on qualified purchases, capped at $1,250/year.
- Sam’s Club Plus — 2% back, capped at $500/year.
- BJ’s Club+ — 2% back, capped at $500/year.
If you spend enough to clear the ~$60–$65 upgrade cost in 2% rewards (roughly $3,000+/year of club spending), the premium tier pays for itself and then some.
The co-brand card stacks on top
The clubs’ credit cards add another layer on the same purchase: the Costco Anywhere Visa earns 2% in-warehouse plus bonus categories (gas, dining, travel) elsewhere, and Sam’s/BJ’s cards work similarly. Membership 2% + card 2% = roughly 4% on warehouse spending, before any category bonuses.
The one portal exception: BJ’s online
Here’s the exception to the no-portal rule: Rakuten offers cashback at BJ’s online — up to 8% during promotions, though usually around 1.5%. Costco and Sam’s Club online generally don’t pay through Rakuten, so don’t expect portal cashback there — lean on the membership tier and card instead.
Side-by-side comparison
| Club | Premium 2% cap | Co-brand card | Portal cashback? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Costco | Executive: $1,250/yr | Costco Anywhere Visa (2% in-store) | No (not on Rakuten) |
| Sam’s Club | Plus: $500/yr | Sam’s Club Mastercard | Generally no |
| BJ’s | Club+: $500/yr | BJ’s One Mastercard | Yes — Rakuten up to ~8% online |
Worked example: $4,000/year at Costco
On $4,000 of annual Costco spending: Executive 2% → $80 (within the $1,250 reward cap); pay with the Costco Anywhere Visa’s 2% in-warehouse → another $80. That’s roughly $160 back on groceries and bulk goods you’d buy anyway — none of it from a cashback app, all from the tier and the card.
What to expect realistically
Don’t waste time hunting portal cashback at Costco or Sam’s — it isn’t there. The membership reward caps ($500–$1,250) also mean very high spenders stop earning beyond a point. For BJ’s online, do check Rakuten before ordering.
Which should you start with?
Match the tier to your spend: upgrade to the premium membership if you’ll clear its cost in 2% rewards, add the co-brand card for the stacked 2%, and use Rakuten only for BJ’s online.
Frequently asked questions
Does Rakuten give cashback at Costco?
No — Costco doesn’t participate in cashback portals. Your cashback comes from Executive membership and the Costco Visa.
Is the Executive membership worth it?
If you spend roughly $3,000+/year at Costco, the 2% reward exceeds the upgrade cost. Below that, stick with the basic tier.
Can I stack the membership reward and the co-brand card?
Yes — the 2% membership reward and the card’s 2% are separate and combine on the same purchase.
For the stores where apps do pay, see our guides to grocery cashback apps and Walmart & Target cashback.
