Costco Is Great, But These 8 Retail Chains Might Be Even Better

When it comes to warehouse chains, Costco is one of the most popular selections, and with 914 locations worldwide as of October 2025, people have plenty of opportunities to take advantage of what the retail giant has to offer. Costco is well-known for many of its high-quality products, most notably its famous Kirkland brand that sells more than 350 different products.

According to the National Retail Federation, Costco made $234.20 billion in sales worldwide in 2023. However, it isn't the only store worth shopping at, and others offer similar or better products and services. In this slideshow, we've included 8 retail chains that might be even better than Costco and some of the perks of shopping at each one.

This post was updated in October 2025 to include new images and updated information about some of the most popular retail chains.

If you're looking for another wholesale store to shop at other than Costco, Sam's Club is one of the best options. While these two stores have a lot in common, Sam's Club has some different offerings as well. The prices are often cheaper at Sam's Club, and they also have a wider selection of name-brand products. However, those aren't the only perks of shopping at Sam's.

Another perk of shopping at Sam's Club is the option for curbside pickup. Club members receive free curbside pickup on eligible $50 orders. Plus members can now get free curbside pickup, and they will even load your car.

Are you running late and want to avoid the queue? You can now scan your items, pay in the app, and head straight out the door. In addition, if you have a budget, you can see your total as you go along. Don’t forget to save even more by looking for extra savings items in the Scan & Go app.

BJ's is another popular wholesale store that you might choose as an alternative to Costco. One hangup you might have about Costco is that the store doesn't accept certain cards, like Mastercard. BJ's, on the other hand, accepts all major credit cards. BJ's also has a different product selection, and the cost of membership is different from Costco.

According to Mass Live, as of January 2025, membership fees will increase at BJ's. The Club level fees begin at $60 per year, and Club+ fees start at $120 per year. However, that’s still cheaper than Costco’s. The Gold Star Membership at Costco is $65/yr, and the Executive Membership is $130/yr.

Another reason to shop at BJ’s is that it has two different house brands, Berkley Jensen and Wellsley Farms. Costco only has one house brand. The quality is as good or better than other national brands, with big savings.

Most people don't go to Whole Foods Market to save money since many of the items can be pricier than stores like Costco. However, there are plenty of other reasons to shop at Whole Foods. Also, you can get certain items at an affordable price, especially if you shop the sales.

Fruits and vegetables have a short life span, so it would be better to buy these items at Whole Foods Market. But unless you have a few meals worked out for a 20 lb bag of potatoes from Costco, you will be more likely to waste some of them.

Dollar Tree, also known by many as the Dollar Store, may not be the place you shop for food (although they do have many food items,) but it's useful for many other items such as batteries and glassware. You'll also find an assortment of toiletries, household essentials, and decor.

Sometimes you find yourself in a situation where you haven’t got any more batteries. This can be quite frustrating. The dollar store is a great place to buy them! You can pick up a pack for $1 at Dollar Tree as opposed to paying $15 or more at Costco.

Dollar Stores have a wide variety of glassware, whereas at Costco, there is a limited selection, and you’ll probably be paying a lot more. For example, a set of 8 wine glasses at Costco can cost you about $68.99, whereas at the Dollar Store, you’ll be paying about $1.25 each. Which means you’ll only be paying $10 for a new set.

There are what seems like a million reasons to shop at IKEA. But anyone who has gone to this furniture store before knows that it's more of an experience than a shopping trip. Whether you're shopping for a new couch or just there for a quick lunch, there are no shortage of things to look at.

Loft beds are great if your child has a small room. Your kid can do homework or play underneath and sleep on top. Costco’s loft bed is $429.99; however, IKEA can beat that for $349, and it has a built-in desk surface.

Signing up for IKEA Family is free, and customers can reap the following great benefits:

• Free shipping on small orders over $50
• Members-only offers
• Access to exclusive national offers
• Free coffee and tea. Try their Swedish meatballs for lunch
• Surprises, rewards, and more
• Free workshops and events
• 90-day price protection
• Buyback and resell

Most Ace Hardware stores offer services such as acrylic cutting, screen repair, glass cutting, plumbing, electrical, handyman, and heating and cooling that can help save you a bundle of cash. But that's not all they offer.

All Ace Hardware stores are privately owned and often rent out their tools. The upside to this is that their rentals are not used as much as bigger stores. So, if you don’t want to buy a new floor sander or another power tool, you can find a deal to rent one at Ace.

You can sign up for free to Kohl’s reward system. Reward members can earn up to 5% cash rewards and 7.5% when they use a Kohl’s card. You also receive a birthday gift, other personalized perks, and more.

Customers have said that they often find 50% off deals for clothing at Khol’s and have found that the quality of the material is much better and they have a larger collection than Costco’s.

While Costco members can benefit from car services at great prices, they do not offer some services. If you need to replace your car battery, AutoZone will gladly do it. Furthermore, they also offer free battery testing, recycling, and charging.

The services AutoZone offers isn't the only reason to shop there. Vehicle parts can be costly, and it is best to shop around. You can find better deals at AutoZone than Costco. While shopping for certain things at Costco may be convenient, you may find a better deal on car parts at AutoZone.