Sam’s Club vs Costco 2026: Which Membership Actually Saves More Money
Warehouse memberships aren’t cheap, and picking the wrong one means paying an annual fee for a card that sits in your wallet. This guide breaks down what Sam’s Club actually costs, what you get for it, and how to decide if it beats the alternative for your household. We built it around real Sam’s Club pricing and markdowns we’ve tracked this summer, not marketing copy.
TL;DR: For most value-conscious families, the Sam’s Club Plus Membership is the stronger pick — the $50 new-member rate pays for itself fast once you factor in free shipping on big-ticket items and the Instant Savings events Sam’s Club runs throughout the year.
Quick Picks (TL;DR)
- Best Overall: Sam’s Club Plus Membership (New Members, $50/year) — unlocks free shipping and early access to markdowns like the ones below.
- Best Budget: Sam’s Club Club Membership (New Members, $15/year) — the cheapest way to get a warehouse card and test Scan & Go before upgrading.
- Best Premium: 65” LG OLED evo AI C5 4K 120Hz Smart TV w/ 5-Year Warranty — $1,100 with free S&H for Plus members, a real warehouse markdown on a flagship OLED.
- Best for Kitchen Upgraders: KitchenAid 5.5-Qt Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer w/ Attachments — $188 with free S&H for Plus members.
- Best for Everyday Value: $50 IHOP eGift Card (Email Delivery) — $32.50, a 35% discount redeemable at a chain most families already visit.
How We Chose These Picks
We don’t rank memberships on brand loyalty. We track what a membership actually unlocks week to week — Instant Savings events, surprise markdowns on big-ticket items like TVs and appliances, and the everyday value of Scan & Go checkout that lets you skip the register line entirely. A membership is only worth its fee if the deals flowing through it are real and recurring, not a one-time promo.
For this guide, we weighed three things: the upfront cost of joining, the size of the discount on featured items relative to normal retail pricing, and whether the deal required the higher-tier Plus membership to unlock perks like free shipping. That last point matters more than shoppers expect — several of the deals below only include free shipping if you’re a Plus member, which changes the math on whether the $50 tier beats the $15 tier.
We also prioritized deals that hit categories families actually shop for repeatedly: electronics, kitchen appliances, and gift cards for restaurants they already frequent. A markdown on a niche item nobody buys isn’t useful; a markdown on a mixer or a TV that people were already planning to buy is.
The Best Sam’s Club Membership & Deals for 2026 — Full Comparison
| Product | Price | Best For | Key Feature | Where to Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Sam’s Club Members: 1-Year Membership (Club) | $15 | First-time shoppers testing the club | Entry-level warehouse access including Scan & Go | Sam’s Club Membership |
| New Sam’s Club Members: 1-Year Membership (Plus) | $50 | Households planning to buy big-ticket items | Free shipping on qualifying items plus 2% back on purchases | Sam’s Club Plus Membership |
| 65” LG OLED evo AI C5 4K 120Hz Smart TV w/ 5-Year Warranty | $1,100 | Home theater upgraders | 4K 120Hz OLED panel with a bundled 5-year warranty | LG OLED evo AI C5 65 inch TV |
| Apple TV 4K Wi-Fi Streaming Media Player (128GB) | $139 | Streaming setups needing more storage | 128GB capacity with free S&H for Plus members | Apple TV 4K 128GB |
| Apple TV 4K Wi-Fi Streaming Media Player (64GB) | $124 | Budget streaming boxes | 64GB capacity with free S&H for Plus members | Apple TV 4K 64GB |
| KitchenAid 5.5-Qt Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer w/ Attachments | $188 | Home bakers replacing an aging mixer | Bowl-lift design bundled with attachments, free S&H for Plus members | KitchenAid 5.5-Qt Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer |
| $50 IHOP eGift Card (Email Delivery) | $32.50 | Quick family dinners out | Instant email delivery, no shipping wait | IHOP eGift Card |
Detailed Reviews
Sam’s Club Membership (Club Tier, $15 New Members)
This is the entry point: full warehouse access, Scan & Go checkout, and eligibility for member-only pricing, for $15 as a new member.
Pros:
- Lowest-cost way into the club
- Still includes Scan & Go, which skips the checkout line entirely
- Enough to access every deal in this guide except free shipping perks
Cons:
- No free shipping on qualifying big-ticket items
- No 2% back on purchases
- Renewal pricing after the introductory year isn’t locked in by this offer
Why we picked it: If you’re not sure how often you’ll actually use a warehouse club, $15 is a low-risk way to find out. You still get Scan & Go, which is the single feature most Sam’s Club shoppers in the 25-55 age range say they use every trip.
Sam’s Club Membership (Plus Tier, $50 New Members)
The upgraded tier at $50 for new members, built for households that plan to make bigger purchases through the club.
Pros:
- Free shipping unlocks on items like the LG OLED TV, both Apple TV storage tiers, and the KitchenAid mixer
- 2% back on qualifying purchases
- Same Scan & Go access as the Club tier
Cons:
- $35 more upfront than the Club tier
- Only pays off if you’re buying enough shippable big-ticket items to offset the difference
Why we picked it: Three of the deals in our comparison table — the TV, both Apple TV configurations, and the stand mixer — only include free shipping for Plus members. If you’re eyeing any of those, the $35 gap closes fast.
65” LG OLED evo AI C5 4K 120Hz Smart TV w/ 5-Year Warranty
A flagship-tier OLED panel with 4K resolution and 120Hz refresh, marked down to $1,100 with a bundled 5-year warranty.
Pros:
- 120Hz refresh rate suits gaming and sports
- 5-year warranty is bundled in, not an upsell
- Free shipping for Plus members avoids freight-delivery hassle on a 65” TV
Cons:
- Still a four-figure purchase
- Only worthwhile for the size and OLED tier if you have the wall or stand space for a 65” set
Why we picked it: OLED TVs at this size rarely see markdowns this steep, and the bundled warranty removes one of the biggest hesitations buyers have about paying for OLED. See more in our electronics deals section for how this compares to other TV markdowns we’ve tracked.
Apple TV 4K Wi-Fi Streaming Media Player (128GB/64GB)
Apple’s streaming box, available at $139 for the 128GB configuration or $124 for 64GB, both with free shipping for Plus members.
Pros:
- $15 gap between storage tiers is small enough that most buyers should just get the 128GB
- Free S&H for Plus members
- Straightforward streaming hardware with no subscription required to use
Cons:
- 64GB is tight if you plan to install many streaming and gaming apps
- Doesn’t include a subscription to any streaming service
Why we picked it: For households already using other Apple devices, this is a low-friction way to add a 4K streaming box without paying full retail, and the $15 difference between tiers makes 128GB the easy upgrade.
KitchenAid 5.5-Qt Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer w/ Attachments
A bowl-lift stand mixer bundled with attachments, marked down to $188 with free shipping for Plus members.
Pros:
- Bowl-lift design handles heavier doughs better than tilt-head models
- Attachments included in the bundle instead of sold separately
- Free S&H for Plus members avoids extra cost on a heavy appliance
Cons:
- Bowl-lift mixers take up more counter clearance than tilt-head versions
- Still a bigger upfront cost than a basic hand mixer
Why we picked it: For home bakers who’ve outgrown a hand mixer, this is the kind of big-ticket appliance markdown that makes the Plus membership’s free shipping worth factoring into the decision. See more in our kitchen deals section.
$50 IHOP eGift Card (Email Delivery)
A $50 IHOP gift card priced at $32.50 with instant email delivery — no shipping wait at all.
Pros:
- 35% off face value
- Instant email delivery means no waiting
- Useful for a chain most families already visit
Cons:
- Only useful if you actually eat at IHOP
- Gift cards like this are typically limited-time offers, not permanent pricing
Why we picked it: It’s the lowest-commitment deal in this guide and a good example of the smaller, recurring markdowns Sam’s Club runs alongside the bigger appliance and electronics deals.
Buying Guide — What to Look For
Match the membership tier to your shopping habits. If you’re not planning any big-ticket purchases this year, the $15 Club tier gets you Scan & Go and warehouse pricing without paying for shipping perks you won’t use.
Check whether free shipping requires Plus. As shown above, several of the strongest markdowns we’ve tracked — the LG OLED TV, both Apple TV configurations, and the KitchenAid mixer — only include free S&H for Plus members. Factor that into whether the $35 upgrade from Club to Plus pays for itself.
Watch for Instant Savings events. These are time-limited windows where markdowns like the ones in this guide appear. The deals above were live recently, but availability and pricing can change, so confirm current pricing in-club or online before you buy.
Use Scan & Go for every trip. It’s included at both membership tiers and is one of the most-cited reasons Sam’s Club shoppers say they prefer it over standing in a checkout line.
Compare against what you already pay elsewhere. Before committing to either tier, weigh what a Sam’s Club membership actually saves you against your existing Costco or Walmart+ habits — a second membership only makes sense if the deals you’d actually use outweigh the added annual cost.
FAQ
Q: Is the Sam’s Club Plus membership worth the extra $35 over the Club tier? A: If you’re planning to buy any of the bigger items in this guide — like the LG OLED TV, an Apple TV, or the KitchenAid mixer — yes, since Plus is what unlocks free shipping on those. If you’re mainly there for groceries and Scan & Go, the $15 Club tier covers that already.
Q: Can I use Sam’s Club deals without paying for shipping? A: Some deals, like the $50 IHOP eGift Card, are delivered by email with no shipping involved. Others, like the TV and mixer, only waive shipping costs for Plus members.
Q: How much is a new Sam’s Club membership in 2026? A: New members can join at $15 for the Club tier or $50 for the Plus tier.
Q: Are these Sam’s Club prices permanent? A: No. Prices like the $1,100 LG OLED TV and $188 KitchenAid mixer reflect markdowns we’ve recently tracked, not standard year-round pricing. Confirm current pricing before purchasing.
Q: What’s the biggest reason to pick Sam’s Club over just shopping at Walmart? A: Access to markdowns on big-ticket items — like the OLED TV and stand mixer in this guide — that don’t typically show up at non-membership retailers at the same price.
Bottom Line
For most families weighing Sam’s Club membership tiers, the $50 Plus membership is the stronger buy this year given how many of the strongest markdowns — the LG OLED TV, both Apple TV configurations, and the KitchenAid mixer — require it for free shipping. If you’re only after Scan & Go and everyday grocery pricing, the $15 Club tier is the lower-risk starting point. Either way, check current in-club pricing before you commit, since Instant Savings events shift throughout the year.