Sam’s Club vs Costco: Which Membership Actually Saves More in 2026?
Sam’s Club and Costco both promise big savings on bulk groceries, electronics, and household staples, but the real answer to “which one saves you more” depends on what you buy and how you shop. This guide breaks down current Sam’s Club membership pricing and the specific member deals we’ve tracked this summer so you can judge the actual math for your household. TL;DR: for most families, the $50 Plus membership pays for itself fastest when it’s used to grab big-ticket markdowns like the ones below, not just weekly groceries.
Quick Picks (TL;DR)
- Best Overall Value: Sam’s Club Plus Membership (new members) — $50/year unlocks 2% rewards and early shopping hours on top of every Instant Savings deal below.
- Best Budget Entry: Sam’s Club Club Membership (new members) — $15/year gets full warehouse and fuel-savings access with no frills.
- Best Big-Ticket Deal: 65” LG OLED evo AI C5 4K 120Hz Smart TV — $1,100 with a 5-year warranty, the largest single markdown we’ve verified this cycle.
- Best for Home Cooks: KitchenAid 5.5-Qt Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer w/ Attachments — $188 for Plus members, a workhorse appliance at a real discount.
- Best for Backup Power: EcoFlow Delta 3 Classic 1024Wh Portable Power Station + 10k Power Bank — $340 with free shipping, useful for storms and road trips alike.
How We Chose These Picks
We track live Sam’s Club Instant Savings events and member-only markdowns as they post, then weigh each one against two questions: is the discount real relative to the item’s normal club price, and does it actually offset the cost of membership within a reasonable time. A $15 or $50 annual fee only “saves you money” if what you buy with it beats retail elsewhere.
Every deal in this guide comes from listings we’ve personally logged this season, not aggregated or estimated pricing. We favored items that suburban and rural families actually buy repeatedly — appliances, electronics, gift cards for dining out, and preparedness gear — over novelty items that rarely repeat.
We also weighted membership tier fit. Some deals here (like the KitchenAid mixer) are gated to Plus members, while others are open to any Club member. That distinction matters more than the sticker price of the membership itself, since paying for Plus only makes sense if the Plus-exclusive deals you want are worth the extra $35 a year over Club.
Sam’s Club vs Costco: What We Can (and Can’t) Tell You
Here’s the honest version: we don’t have current, verified Costco membership pricing or Costco-specific deal data to cite in this guide, so we’re not going to guess at numbers or make up a side-by-side fee comparison. What we can tell you with confidence is what Sam’s Club is actually charging and discounting right now, based on deals we’ve directly tracked.
If you’re cross-shopping the two clubs, the practical move is to price out your own real basket at both — bulk groceries, gas, and any big-ticket item you’re eyeing — rather than trusting a generic “Club X saves more” claim. Membership price alone rarely decides the winner; what’s on sale when you need it does.
For new members specifically, Sam’s Club’s current entry pricing is straightforward: $15 for a Club membership or $50 for Plus. That low a barrier to entry means it’s easy to test the club for a year against whatever you’re currently paying at Costco or Walmart before committing further.
The Best Sam’s Club Picks for 2026 — Full Comparison
| Product | Price | Best For | Key Feature | Where to Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sam’s Club Club Membership (New Members) | $15/year | First-time budget shoppers | Full warehouse and fuel-savings access | Sam’s Club (in-club or online) |
| Sam’s Club Plus Membership (New Members) | $50/year | Families who shop often | 2% back on qualifying purchases, early hours | Sam’s Club (in-club or online) |
| 65” LG OLED evo AI C5 4K 120Hz Smart TV | $1,100 | Home theater upgrades | 4K 120Hz OLED panel + 5-year warranty | Amazon |
| KitchenAid 5.5-Qt Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer w/ Attachments | $188 | Home bakers, Plus members | Bowl-lift design with included attachments | Amazon |
| EcoFlow Delta 3 Classic 1024Wh Power Station + 10k Power Bank | $340 | Storm prep, camping, road trips | 1024Wh 1800W LFP battery, free shipping | Amazon |
| $50 IHOP eGift Card (Email Delivery) | $32.50 | Family dining on a budget | 35% off face value, instant email delivery | Sam’s Club (online) |
Detailed Reviews
Sam’s Club Club Membership (New Members)
The base-tier membership at $15/year for new members. It’s the cheapest way to get in-club and online warehouse access, fuel savings at Sam’s Club gas stations, and eligibility for Instant Savings events.
Pros:
- Lowest-cost entry point at $15 for new members
- Full access to Instant Savings pricing and warehouse inventory
- Includes fuel savings where Sam’s Club gas is available
Cons:
- No 2% back rewards like Plus tier
- No early shopping hours
- Some deals (like the KitchenAid mixer above) are Plus-exclusive
Why we picked it: For someone who just wants warehouse prices without paying for extras they won’t use, $15 is a low-risk way to test whether Sam’s Club fits your shopping habits for a year.
Sam’s Club Plus Membership (New Members)
The upgraded tier at $50/year for new members, adding 2% back on qualifying purchases and early shopping access on top of everything Club members get.
Pros:
- 2% back rewards on qualifying purchases
- Early shopping hours before regular members
- Unlocks Plus-exclusive deals, including appliance markdowns
Cons:
- $35/year more than the base Club tier
- 2% back only pays off with consistent, higher spending
- Early hours only matter if your schedule allows it
Why we picked it: If you’re already planning to buy a Plus-gated deal like the KitchenAid mixer at $188, the membership upgrade essentially pays for itself in a single big-ticket purchase.
65” LG OLED evo AI C5 4K 120Hz Smart TV w/ 5-Year Warranty
A 65-inch 4K OLED television with a 120Hz panel, currently listed at $1,100 for Sam’s Club members with free shipping and a 5-year warranty included.
Pros:
- OLED panel with 4K resolution and 120Hz refresh rate
- 5-year warranty included at no extra cost
- Free shipping on a large, heavy item
Cons:
- $1,100 is still a significant single purchase
- OLED panels carry burn-in risk with static content over years of use
- Best suited to members who already plan a TV upgrade, not an impulse buy
Why we picked it: This is the largest verified markdown in our current Sam’s Club tracking, and the bundled 5-year warranty adds real value on top of the sale price.
KitchenAid 5.5-Qt Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer w/ Attachments
A 5.5-quart bowl-lift stand mixer with included attachments, priced at $188 with free shipping for Plus members.
Pros:
- Bowl-lift design handles heavier, stiffer doughs than tilt-head models
- Comes with attachments included in the $188 price
- Free shipping for Plus members
Cons:
- Requires a Plus membership to access this specific price
- Large countertop footprint
- Attachments included may not cover every accessory a serious baker wants
Why we picked it: For households that bake regularly, a bowl-lift KitchenAid at $188 with attachments bundled in is the kind of appliance deal that justifies the Plus membership upgrade on its own.
EcoFlow Delta 3 Classic 1024Wh 1800W LFP Portable Power Station + 10k Power Bank
A 1024Wh, 1800W LFP portable power station bundled with a 10,000mAh power bank, priced at $340 with free shipping for members.
Pros:
- 1024Wh capacity with 1800W output covers most home backup needs
- LFP battery chemistry for longer cycle life
- Bundled 10k power bank adds portable charging on top
Cons:
- Not a whole-home backup solution — sized for essentials, not everything at once
- Recharge time matters if you’re relying on it during extended outages
- Bulkier than a simple power bank if you only need phone charging
Why we picked it: With summer storm season underway, a bundled power station and power bank at $340 covers both emergency prep and everyday portable charging in one purchase.
$50 IHOP eGift Card (Email Delivery)
A $50 IHOP gift card priced at $32.50, delivered by email, for members who eat out regularly.
Pros:
- 35% discount off face value
- Instant email delivery, no shipping wait
- Works for a chain most families already visit
Cons:
- Only useful if you actually dine at IHOP
- Gift cards don’t stack additional discounts on top
- Email delivery means no physical backup if lost
Why we picked it: Discounted restaurant gift cards are one of the simplest ways to stretch a family dining budget, and 35% off is a straightforward, easy-to-verify saving.
Buying Guide — What to Look For
Match your membership tier to what you’ll actually buy. If the deals you want are Plus-exclusive — like the KitchenAid mixer above — the $35 upgrade from Club to Plus pays for itself quickly. If you mostly want basic warehouse and fuel pricing, stick with the $15 Club tier.
Watch for Instant Savings events, not just everyday prices. The biggest markdowns, like the $1,100 LG OLED TV, tend to appear during limited Instant Savings windows rather than as permanent pricing.
Use Scan & Go to track what you’re actually saving. It’s easier to compare a deal against a normal club price when you’re scanning items yourself rather than relying on memory at checkout.
Check whether free shipping is included. Several deals here, including the EcoFlow power station and the LG TV, include free shipping, which matters for large or heavy items that would otherwise carry a delivery surcharge.
Do the membership math before you renew. A $15 or $50 annual fee is only worth it if what you buy across the year beats what you’d pay without it — track a few purchases against non-member pricing to confirm.
FAQ
Q: How much does a new Sam’s Club membership cost in 2026? A: New members can join for $15/year for the base Club tier or $50/year for the Plus tier, based on current new-member pricing.
Q: Is Sam’s Club Plus worth the extra cost over Club? A: It depends on what you buy. Plus adds 2% back on qualifying purchases and early shopping hours, and unlocks Plus-exclusive deals like the KitchenAid mixer at $188. If you’re already planning a Plus-gated purchase, the $35 upgrade over Club pays for itself.
Q: Does Sam’s Club actually save more than Costco? A: We don’t have verified current Costco membership or deal pricing to compare directly, so we can’t make that call for you. The reliable approach is to compare your own typical basket — groceries, gas, and any big-ticket item — at both clubs before deciding.
Q: Is the $1,100 LG OLED TV deal worth it? A: If you were already planning a 4K OLED TV purchase, the bundled 5-year warranty adds meaningful value on top of the $1,100 price, making it one of the stronger big-ticket deals we’ve tracked this cycle.
Q: What’s the best Sam’s Club deal for emergency preparedness this summer? A: The EcoFlow Delta 3 Classic power station bundle at $340 covers both backup power essentials and everyday device charging, which fits the storm season many regions are in right now.
Bottom Line
Sam’s Club’s current new-member pricing — $15 for Club or $50 for Plus — is low enough that the real decision comes down to whether the live deals fit your household, not the membership fee itself. If you’re going to use a Plus-exclusive deal like the $188 KitchenAid mixer, the Plus membership is the clear pick; otherwise, the $15 Club tier covers the basics. Check current Instant Savings listings before you buy to make sure the deal is still live.