How To Shop At Costco Without Having A Membership

For many shoppers, Costco is an awesome, one-stop solution. You can buy clothes, electronics, toys for the kids, bulk paper towel, even a 208-liter barrel of olive oil if you feel so inclined. You can find just about anything you need at Costco in bulk, and probably at a discount.

However, in order to shop at Costco, you need a Costco membership. The Costco Gold Star membership costs $60 a year, while the Costco Executive membership costs $120 a year (via Costco). While paying a membership fee may be well worth it for someone who shops at Costco regularly, some customers may only visit the store a couple of times a year.

So what can you do if you want to shop at Costco from time to time but don't want to commit to purchasing a membership? Sure, you can accompany a Costco card-carrying friend or use a Costco gift card, but there is another way.

Yep, you read that correctly. Another way to buy Costco items without being a member is to shop via the Instacart app. Unlike Costco's membership card, which costs $60 a year, Instacart is free to download and use.

According to Eat This, Not That!, you can get your Instacart order same-day, with delivery fees starting at $3.99. However, Instacart+ members can get their orders delivered for free. Pretty sweet deal, right?

If you decide to shop at Costco via Instacart, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, your order must be at least $35. Second, per Costco Customer Service, the prices you see on Instacart may be slightly higher than they would be in-store. All in all, Instacart is a good way to get around the Costco membership fee if you don't shop at Costco often, but for regular shopping trips, you might be better off just committing to a membership.