Does Costco Accept Google Pay?
We get the question "Does Costco take Google Pay" and here's what you need to know!

does costco accept google pay
Avatar photo

Digital Consumer

Why you can trust Digital Consumer

More info

While We follow stringent , this article may have links or references to services and products from our partners. See our explanation for .

Does Costco Accept Google Pay in 2023?

Yes, Costco Does Accept Google Pay.

In fact, they accept Google Pay at all of their warehouse locations.

The business actively encourages contactless payments enabling customers to use many mobile payment options.

Costco.com, gas stations, and car washes do not accept google pay; there doesn’t seem to be any imminent plans to change.

does costco take google pay

Costco is a membership-only warehouse outlet that enables its customers to purchase large box items, groceries, and everything in between, at wholesale prices.

There are more than 800 Costco warehouses worldwide; most are focused in the US, Canada, and Mexico.

There are 29 to be found in the UK and, in 2023 the first operations will open in Sweden and New Zealand.

The success and growth from the first store in 1983 to the present day, must surely be attributed to listening to customers’ needs and keeping up with the advances in technology.

Safe and efficient ways to pay for shopping are paramount, especially in the current climate.

Does Costco accept Google Pay is one of the questions this article answers?

Discover all of the payment methods the giant retail outlet accepts across all of its operations.

Ways to Pay at Costco

Costco has cut affiliation with American Express in recent times and might not take all of the payment methods you might assume.

Before heading out, check this list to ensure you can settle the bill at checkout.

In-Warehouse Payment Methods

  • Cash
  • Mobile wallet applications, Apple, Samsung, and Google Pay
  • Visa credit cards
  • Most debit/ATM cards with PIN verification
  • Costco Anywhere Visa
  • Personal Checks – members only
  • Business checks – business members only
  • Traveler’s checks
  • EBT – Electronic Benefit Transfer
  • Costco Shop Cards with available balance

If American Express, Discover, or Mastercard credit cards offer you superior, hard to resist cash rewards – all is not lost.

Simply save them to your Google Pay Wallet and use them at the checkout in any Costco warehouse

Costco Gas Stations and Car Washes

If you only have cash or Google Pay to hand, drive on and find a different gas station.

Costco accepts the following payment methods in their fuel stations;

  • Visa
  • Anywhere Visa
  • Debit/ATM cards with PIN verification
  • Costco Shop Cards with available balance

Costco does not accept checks for fuel payment regardless of your membership level. EBT is also not taken.

Acceptable Payment Methods at Costco.com

Shopping online on the Costco app is very customer-friendly.

It is easy to navigate and very easy to fill a virtual cart (or three) before heading to the checkout.

Tap the PayNow button to arrange delivery and see the following payment options;

  • Visa Credit cards
  • Costco Anywhere Visa
  • Visa click-to-pay
  • MasterCard
  • Discover
  • JCB
  • Diners Club
  • Most Debit/ATM cards
  • Costco Shop Cards

Costco takes a wider range of credit and debit cards for online payment, however, American Express or PayPal are not accepted across any part of the business.

The company’s deal with Visa might have come at the cost of American Express business, but it also opened up sales to a potential extra 250-million American Visa users.

A savvy business deal we think!

does costco accept google pay

Using Google Pay at a Costco Warehouse

Google Pay is a digital wallet platform that securely stores all your payment and loyalty cards.

It was formally known as Android Pay and is the rival to Apple and Samsung’s electronic payment apps.

It relies on NFC (Near Field Communication) technology installed on payment readers at checkouts.

A wireless signal is sent from the device – Android, in the case of Google Pay – to the terminal to enable contactless payment.

Download Google App from the Play Store on your device; tablet, phone, or smartwatch.

Save all your store cards, credit, and debit cards, along with transport and event tickets, health records, and key cards.

Select the card you prefer as the primary payment option. It takes seconds to scroll through should you need to use a different card.

Approach the checkout and have your items scanned. Check the amount on the reader, if agreeable, follow these short steps to complete payment:

If using a phone;

  1. Unlock the phone – there is no need to enter the Google Pay app
  2. Hold the back of the phone close to the reader
  3. Wait for the blue checkmark to appear on the screen
  4. All done!

If using a Smartwatch;

  1. Open the Google Pay app on the watch
  2. Hold the watch near to the reader
  3. If prompted, tap the ‘Credit’ option – this applies whether the default payment card is debit or credit
  4. Listen for the beep or feel the vibration when the transaction is verified
  5. All done!

In both the above instances, some stores may still ask for a PIN if the primary payment method in your Google Wallet is a debit card.

Does Costco Take QR Payment Solutions?

The checkout terminals in Costco warehouses have the latest NFC technology installed.

This enables them to support mobile contactless payment applications, such as Apple, Samsung, and Google Pay.

QR (Quick Read) codes rely on a phone’s camera to read and determine an encrypted code displayed on a screen.

Costco doesn’t support payment methods that rely on this type of technology.

Conclusion

Paying for bulk shopping is fast and efficient, as Costco accepts Google Pay in all of its warehouse operations.

The digital wallet isn’t a viable payment option on Costco.com, in Costco gas stations, or at car washes.

There are several other ways to pay as Cost online or for fuel.