You can basically get a Costco membership for $20 right now — but this deal ends soon

Costco is home to so many wonderful things: tiramisu cheesecake, $0.79 soda, and even hot-dog-inspired bourbon. But the most exciting Costco find this month is actually hiding at Groupon, where new members can get a $45 Costco gift card when they sign up for a membership. Since the membership itself costs $65, that’s basically paying $20 for your year-long Costco membership.

I professionally deal hunt for a living, and this is one of the best Costco deals I’ve ever seen. The catch? It ends on May 10, so you only have a few days to sign up before this one disappears.

Sign up for Costco, get a $45 gift card

If you sign up for a Costco membership through Groupon, you can get a free $45 digital Costco Shop Card, which will be emailed to you within two weeks of your purchase.

The deal is available for new Costco members or former Costco members whose memberships have been expired for 18 or more months. Shoppers must be 18 years or older, and you can’t combine this promotion with any other.

The $45 Costco Shop Card works both online and in-person, you just can’t use it at the food court (which is fine, because the food court is notoriously cheap).

What’s included in a Costco membership?

I joined Costco as a Gold Star member back in 2021, then upgraded to an Executive Membership in 2025 to take advantage of those sweet early shopping hours. The Executive Membership is more expensive ($130 a year), but offers the same $45 Shop Card through Groupon, as well as a host of other great perks.

Costco Gold Star Membership perks

The Gold Star Membership is the standard Costco membership, offering entry into the warehouse and access to the merchant’s incredible discounts across the board. Perks include:

• $0.25 - $0.50 gas discount at Costco gas stations
• Entry to all Costco warehouses in the US and abroad
• Access to killer Costco deals (including the $1.50 hotdog and $4.99 rotisserie chicken people wait in line for)
• Free food samples

Costco Executive Membership perks

The Costco Executive Membership includes all perks the Gold Star tier provides, as well as a few notable extras, such as:

• Early shopping hours (an hour earlier every day than Gold Star members)
• Annual 2% reward (up to $1,250 a year)
• $10/month Instacart delivery credit
• Costco Travel savings and discounts

Don’t forget the gas savings

All Costco membership levels include gas savings, a massively appealing perk right now. With the average gas price at $4.16, any amount of savings makes a big difference.

Here's how to find cheaper gas with retail programs and memberships

Most Costco stores have a standalone gas station nearby, where members can scan their cards and access those lower prices. These lines tend to get long, so try to plan your visit for a quieter time. Avoid peak shopping hours (notably the weekends) and commuting times (the end-of-day rush).

Bottom line: Jump on this deal before it’s gone

This Costco membership deal is extremely rare, so if you’ve been considering a membership, it’s hard to pass this one up. You pay the same fee for a membership as you would on the Costco website, but gain access to $45 to spend as you see fit, essentially slashing your membership price to just $20 for the year.

Do you need this deal? Absolutely, just shop fast — it ends May 10.