Amazon is a global e-commerce and cloud services giant with 798 million products and digital-first delivery model, while Costco is a membership-based warehouse retailer with 870 physical locations focused on bulk purchasing and lower per-unit costs. Amazon dominates online retail; Costco dominates in-person bulk buying with higher customer loyalty scores.
Amazon vs Costco — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Choose Amazon if you value convenience, product variety, fast delivery (same-day in many cities), and digital integration with Prime Video and Music benefits. Choose Costco if you prioritize bulk purchasing savings, personalized member service, higher-quality food selections, and lower membership costs—Costco members report 82% satisfaction vs Amazon's 68%, and Costco's treasure-hunt shopping model drives 94% member renewal rates.
Global e-commerce giant offering 350+ million products with Prime fast shipping.
Membership-based warehouse club retailer focused on bulk purchasing and curated product selection.
Structured comparison data for Amazon vs Costco with 192 attributes.
Standard Non-Perishable Pet Delivery Time
2025 Pet Supplies Market Position (GMV Rank)
Specialty Pet Food Availability (Exotic/Medical Diets)
Average Product Price Index (baseline=100)
Average Price Difference on Beauty Products
Prime Eligible Items with Two-Day Shipping
Free Shipping Threshold (Standard Members)
Average Beauty Product Price Comparison (Foundation)
Customer Review Average Rating (Beauty Products)
Average Customer Visits Per Year (heavy users)
Membership Breakeven Point (Annual savings)
Average Savings on Bulk Items vs. Retail
Annual Member Savings (Frequent Shoppers)
Amazon vs Costco — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Amazon vs Costco.
Is Costco or Amazon cheaper for bulk groceries?
Costco typically offers 15-30% lower per-unit prices on bulk groceries due to high-volume purchasing and lower overhead costs. However, Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods (owned by Amazon) offer competitively priced items with delivery convenience. For non-perishables bought in bulk, Costco's Kirkland Signature brand provides best value; for fresh groceries with delivery, Amazon Fresh matches within 5-8% of Costco's warehouse prices.
Should I pay for both Amazon Prime and a Costco membership?
It depends on shopping habits. Prime ($139/year) is better for frequent online shoppers needing fast delivery and digital services. Costco ($65-$130/year) suits households buying bulk groceries, paper products, and non-perishables. A 4-person family spending $300+ monthly on groceries saves $600-$900 annually with Costco's bulk pricing—easily justifying both memberships. Single-person households typically benefit most from Amazon alone.
Which has better private-label products?
Costco's Kirkland Signature brand is widely regarded as higher quality than Amazon Basics, with 28% of Costco sales coming from private label. Kirkland products undergo rigorous quality testing and customer reviews average 4.6/5 stars. Amazon Basics focuses on commodity items (cables, batteries) at lower prices but with less differentiation. For premium household goods and food, Costco's private label wins; for tech accessories and basics, Amazon Basics offers better value.
Does Amazon or Costco have better return policies?
Amazon offers 30-day returns on most items with free return shipping for Prime members. Costco offers 100% satisfaction guarantee with no time limit on returns (excluding electronics: 90 days). Costco's unlimited return policy is more generous, though returns require in-person warehouse visits. Amazon's policy favors digital/convenience shoppers; Costco's favors bulk buyers who may need flexibility on large purchases.
Which company is more profitable and financially stable?
Amazon is larger ($575B revenue vs $253B) with higher operating margins (7.2% vs 4.1%) and dominates cloud infrastructure through AWS. Costco maintains exceptional member loyalty (94% renewal rate) and consistent profitability with lower debt. Both are financially stable; Amazon grows faster through diversification (AWS, streaming, advertising), while Costco exhibits remarkable customer retention despite slower growth.