Shopping at wholesale club retailers like Sam’s Club can save you a bunch of money if you’re able to accommodate the purchase of items in bulk. And while savings are great, buying in bulk could also result in leaving the store having spent a great deal of money.
You can count on the team at Upgraded Points to embrace an opportunity to earn rewards on any purchase, especially large purchases. Additionally, we’re always up for the challenge of determining the best ways to accomplish this objective.
That’s where we’re headed today. We’re going to take a look at how Sam’s Club works, review which credit cards can help you earn the most rewards for your Sam’s Club purchases, whether in-store or online, and compare the options.
Let’s get started as we look at some of the best credit cards for earning rewards when shopping at Sam’s Club.
How Does Sam’s Club Work?
Sam’s Club carries a variety of products for businesses, as well as for household consumers. Image Credit: Sam’s ClubIn 1983, Sam Walton, an already successful retail entrepreneur, opened the first Sam’s Club to provide products and services for small businesses. Sam’s Club now has over 600 locations worldwide offering discounted wholesale pricing for both consumers and businesses at its retail warehouse properties and online at samsclub.com.
You must purchase an annual membership to shop in-store or online at samsclub.com. Depending on how much you utilize the club, however, the opportunity to save by purchasing in bulk may well offset the cost of membership. If you own a business or have a large family, the savings of purchasing wholesale and in bulk could end up being significant.
Before we explore which credit cards are best for shopping at Sam’s Club, let’s talk about the benefits of membership, the cost, and how Sam’s Club’s Rewards program works.
Comparing Sam’s Club Memberships
Sam’s Club offers 2 levels of memberships, each offering its own collection of benefits for Sam’s Club shoppers. Let’s look at the different perks offered by each type of membership.
| Benefit | Sam’s Plus Membership – $100 per Year | Sam’s Club Membership – $45 per Year |
| Cash-back earnings | Earns 2% cash-back rewards, up to $500 cash-back per year | NO |
| Free shipping | YES | NO |
| Early shopping | 8 a.m. Monday to Saturday | NO |
| Free select prescriptions, discounted prescriptions, and discounts on optical | YES | NO |
| Tire Center — Free flat tire repair, battery testing, and wiper blade install | YES |
| Discounted fuel at Sam’s Club gas stations | YES |
| Member-only pricing | YES |
| Free membership for 1 household member | YES |
| Add-on memberships at $40 each | YES, up to 16 | YES, up to 8 |
If you own a business, the Sam’s Plus membership with 2% cash-back rewards, free shipping, early shopping, and the ability to add up to 16 memberships may provide value.
Sam’s Club Rewards Program — How it Works
Sam’s Club has its own rewards program for Sam’s Plus members only. Each qualifying purchase made at Sam’s Club or samsclub.com earns 2% cash-back, up to a maximum of $500 in cash-back each year.
Cash rewards are accumulated throughout the year and loaded to your membership card by the end of February. Once the rewards are loaded to your card, the funds are available for use.
Redemption options include purchasing items at Sam’s Club or cashing out the funds at a sales register. You can also allow the funds to accumulate in your account or use the funds to make a payment on a Sam’s Club credit card.
Rewards do not expire but a maximum of $2,000 is allowed to accumulate in your account.
Payment Options Accepted at Sam’s Club
Unlike its competitor Costco, Sam’s Club in-store and online accepts most major credit cards, including American Express, Visa, Mastercard, and Discover.
Forms of payment accepted at Sam’s Club and samsclub.com:
- Sam’s Club credit cards
- Walmart and Sam’s Club gift cards
- American Express
- Mastercard
- Visa
- Discover
- Debit cards
- Prepaid credit cards
Sam’s Club in-store accepts these additional forms of payment:
Samsclub.com also accepts Visa Checkout digital wallet service.
Bottom Line: Sam’s Club has 2 levels of memberships. The Sam’s Plus membership that costs $100 per year has additional benefits over the base Sam’s Club Membership ($45), including cash-back rewards earning, free shipping, early shopping hours, free select prescriptions, and the ability to add up to 16 additional memberships at $40 each. Both Sam’s Club in-store and online accept most major credit, debit, and prepaid cards.
Best Overall Credit Cards for Shopping at Sam’s Club
In addition to saving money when shopping at Sam’s Club, you can also be earning rewards. Image Credit: Sam’s ClubWhile you’ll be able to use just about any credit card at Sam’s Club in-store and online, several cards earn more rewards than others. The cards in this collection will ensure that you’re earning well on those purchases and more.
Sam’s Club® Mastercard®
To be eligible for the Sam’s Club card, you must have either a Sam’s Plus or Sam’s Club membership.
Why We Like the Card for Shopping at Sam’s Club
First, elevated earnings on the Sam’s Club card are restricted to only Plus Members. They’ll earn an impressive total of 5% cash-back at Sam’s Club gas stations and other U.S. gas stations, including Puerto Rico, up to $6,000 in purchases each year. Purchases made at restaurants also earn 3% cash-back.
Travel purchases, excluding Sam’s Club travel services, also earn 3% cash-back. Travel services offered by other wholesale clubs are excluded. Purchases made at Sam’s Club and samsclub.com, earn 3% cash-back.
Sam’s Club also offers a Sam’s Club® Store Credit Card that does not earn rewards. Both cards qualify the cardholder for special no-interest financing options on larger Sam’s Club purchases.
Neither card charges an annual fee.
Drawbacks of the Sam’s Club Card
While the Sam’s Club card does offer stellar earnings at gas stations, restaurants, and travel purchases, earnings of 3% on Sam’s Club purchases are restricted to Sam’s Club Plus members only. All other members will earn just 1% on Sam’s Club purchases. If you have not paid for the upgraded membership, you could receive better earnings using an alternative credit card for Sam’s Club shopping. Additionally, the card comes with high interest rates, late fees, and cash advance fees. Bottom Line: If you shop a lot at Sam’s Club gas stations and want a card that additionally rewards dining and travel, the Sam’s Club card could work for you. It is not, however, the best card for shopping at Sam’s Club in-store or online if you have not paid for the upgraded Plus membership, due to just 1% earnings on those purchases.
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Why We Like the Card for Shopping at Sam’s Club
The card earns 5% back on travel purchases through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3% back on dining and drugstores, and every other purchase, including your purchases at Sam’s Club in-store and online, earns 1.5% cash-back. We also like that the card comes with an introductory 0% APR period for purchases and balance transfers, making it an excellent card choice for a major purchase, or purchases, at Sam’s Club. This 0% APR period is valid for 15 months from card approval and allows you to pay back the purchase over that period of time without interest charges; as always, regular APR applies after the introductory period.
Additional Card Benefits
Chase Freedom Flex℠
Why We Like the Card for Shopping at Sam’s Club
Each quarter, the Freedom Flex card offers bonus earnings for specific merchant categories. Cardholders earn 5% cash-back when warehouse clubs are a quarterly bonus category merchant and registration is required.
The card could also be beneficial if you need to make a large purchase at Sam’s Club such as appliances or office furniture. The card comes with an introductory 0% APR period for 15 months from card approval that allows you to pay back the purchase over time without incurring interest charges.
Additional Card Benefits
- No annual fee
- Earns cash-back in the form of Ultimate Rewards points which can be transferred to premium Chase credit cards, then redeemed for up to 50% more in value using the Chase travel portal, or transferred to airline and hotel partners for potentially even greater value.
- Purchase protection and extended warranty
Bank of America® Cash Rewards Credit Card
Why We Like the Card for Shopping at Sam’s Club
The Bank of America Cash Rewards card offers 3 ways to earn at Sam’s Club. First, you can earn 3% cash-back at all U.S. gas stations, including Sam’s Club, when selecting that category as your quarter bonus earning choice. You could also select online purchases as your bonus category and earn 3% for samsclub.com purchases. Additionally, you will earn 2% cash-back at wholesale clubs which includes Sam’s Club in-store and online purchases, up to $2,500 in purchases per quarter.
Additional Card Benefits
- Welcome bonus
- No annual fee
- Additional 3% cash-back category options include dining, travel, drug store, and home improvement or furnishings
- 2% cash-back at grocery stores
- 1% cash-back on every other purchase
- Bank of America Preferred Rewards members receive additional bonus earnings
Get rewarded for both in-store and online Sam’s Club purchases. Image Credit: Sam’s ClubCapital One® Venture® Rewards Card
Why We Like the Card for Shopping at Sam’s Club
Every purchase you make, including Sam’s Club purchases, will earn 2 miles per dollar spent.
Additional Card Benefits
- Welcome bonus
- Simple earnings structure
- Transfer miles to travel partners or redeem for travel with Capital One
- Purchase protection and extended warranty
Learn more about Capital One miles- and rewards-earning cards in our article on the best Capital One cards for travel and cash-back.
Hot Tip: Combining a Sam’s Plus membership that earns 2% cash-back rewards with a rewards-earning credit card could make for elevated additional earnings on your purchases.
Best Business Credit Cards for Shopping at Sam’s Club
Business owners will find a large variety of needed products available at Sam’s Club. Image Credit: Sam’s ClubInk Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Why We Like the Card for Shopping at Sam’s Club
You’ll be earning 1.5% cash-back on every purchase with the Ink Business Unlimited card, including Sam’s Club in-store and online, but that is not where the value ends. Establishing a business banking relationship with Chase is a smart move that can reap future rewards.
The card also comes with an introductory 0% APR period on purchases for 12 months after card approval.
Additional Card Benefits
- Welcome bonus
- Earn rewards on every purchase
- Earn cash-back in the form of Ultimate Rewards points that can be transferred to premium Chase personal or business credit cards and redeemed for travel for up to 1.5 cents per point. Points can also then be transferred to travel partners for even greater potential value.
- Visa Signature benefits
Capital One® Spark® Miles for Business
Earn 2 miles per dollar spent on every purchase you make, including Sam’s Club in-store and online, with the CapOne Spark Miles card.
Additional Card Benefits
- Generous welcome bonus
- No annual fee
- 5x miles for hotel and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Transfer miles to travel partners for even greater potential redemption value
- TSA PreCheck or Global Entry fee reimbursement
If you’d rather earn cash-back, the Capital One® Spark® Cash for Business card earns 2% cash-back on every purchase, including Sam’s Club.
American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
Use your Amex Blue Business Cash card for your Sam’s Club purchase and earn 2% cash-back. The card earns 2% on every eligible purchase you make, up to $50,000 per calendar year; after that, then earn 1%.
The card also comes with an introductory 0% APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of card approval and features purchase protection and extended warranty coverage. Regular APR, as shown in the table above, applies after the introductory period ends.
Bottom Line: If your business spends a lot at Sam’s Club, it makes sense to be earning points, miles, or cash-back using a rewards-earning credit card for those purchases. Rewards can help to add revenue to your bottom line, offset business expenses, or even fund an annual family vacation.
The Best Credit Cards for Shopping at Sam’s Club — Summary
We’ve talked about a lot of credit cards that earn rewards when shopping at Sam’s Club so it’s time to summarize our findings.
| Card | Sam’s Club-Related Benefits |
| Sam’s Club card | - 5% cash-back at Sam’s Club gas stations and U.S./Puerto Rico gas stations, up to $6,000 in purchases per year
- 3% cash-back at Sam’s Club in-store and online for Plus members only, all others earn 1% on these purchases
- Special financing options on Sam’s Club purchases
|
| Freedom Unlimited card | - 5% cash-back on travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards
- 3% cash-back on dining and drugstore purchases
- 1.5% cash-back on every purchase, including Sam’s Club
|
| Freedom Flex card | - 5% cash-back when wholesale clubs are a quarterly bonus category, up to $1,500 in purchases per quarter
|
| Bank of America Cash Rewards card | - 3% cash-back at gas stations, including Sam’s Club gas stations, when selecting gas stations as a quarterly bonus category
- 3% cash-back for online purchases, including samsclub.com when selecting online purchases as a quarterly bonus category
- 2% cash-back at wholesale clubs, up to $2,500 in purchases per quarter
|
| Venture card | - 2 miles per dollar spent on every purchase, including Sam’s Club
|
| Ink Business Unlimited card | - 1.5% cash-back on every purchase, including Sam’s Club
- Introductory 0% APR on purchases for 12 months from card approval
|
| CapOne Spark Miles card | - 2x miles per dollar spent on all purchases, including Sam’s Club
|
| Amex Blue Business Cash card | - 2% cash-back on every purchase, including Sam’s Club, up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1%
- Terms apply
|
Hot Tip: Wholesale warehouse clubs, like Sam’s Club, sell various retail gift cards you can use for other purchases such as gas, dining, streaming services, and more. Use your rewards-earning credit card to maximize earnings by purchasing gift cards you can use for non-bonus earning purchases.
Final Thoughts
Very few credit cards offer stellar rewards earning for Sam’s Club purchases. The best card for shopping at Sam’s Club, whether in-store or online, could be the card that aligns best with your mix of spending.
If you purchase a lot at Sam’s Club both in-store and online, for example, you might consider the Bank of America Cash Rewards card as it ensures you can earn 2% to 3% cash-back on those purchases.
If you value the ability to redeem points for travel, the Ink Business Unlimited card, Freedom Unlimited card, or the Freedom Flex card allow you to transfer valuable Ultimate Rewards points to premium Chase credit cards where you can receive up to 50% more in value when redeeming for travel. Plus, you would have the option to then transfer to airline and hotel partners.
Our list of cards that earn rewards when shopping at Sam’s Club is not all-inclusive. Any credit card that delivers greater than 1% on your Sam’s Club purchases, matches your tolerance for paying an annual fee, has reward redemption options you can utilize, and other benefits for which you find value, has the potential to be your go-to card for shopping at Sam’s Club.
The information regarding the Sam’s Club® Mastercard®, Bank of American® Cash Rewards Credit Card, Capital One® Venture® Rewards Card, and Capital One® Spark® Miles for Business was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
For rates and fees of the American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card, click here.
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