How much is a Sam’s Club membership? Club vs. Plus explained

Sam’s Club, the second-largest members-only warehouse club in the U.S. after Costco, offers families, businesses, and other consumers a convenient way to purchase a wide range of products, often in bulk or at discounted prices compared to traditional retailers. 

Like Costco, Sam’s offers gas, groceries, prescriptions, home goods, appliances, an in-store food court, and a host of other products and services—and Sam’s Club’s membership fees, whether you choose the basic or premium tier, are cheaper than their Costco equivalents.  

Here’s everything you need to know about Sam’s Club’s membership options, how they differ, how much they cost, and how to get them at a discount. 

How much is a Sam’s Club membership? 

Sam’s Club offers two different membership tiers—Club and Plus:

• A Sam’s Club (basic) membership typically costs $50 per year (on sale for just $15 through Oct. 31).
  For comparison, the Costco equivalent (Gold Star membership) costs $60. 
• A Sam’s Club Plus membership typically costs $110 per year (on sale for just $50 through Oct 31).
  For comparison, the Costco equivalent (Executive membership) costs $60. 

Sam’s Club Basic vs. Premium memberships: What’s the difference?

All Sam’s Club members get access to Sam’s Club’s retail stores, online store, gas stations, and food courts, along with the following perks:

• Two membership cards—one for the primary cardholder, and one that can be used by any other adult member of their household 
• Free curbside pickup on most items from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. when purchased online or through the Sam’s Club app, with no order minimums
• Free shipping on select items only, as specified on the Sam’s Club website or app
• $12 deliveries from your local club ($8 extra for express delivery within 3 hours) 

Sam’s Club Plus members get all of the above, plus these additional perks: 

• 2% cash back on purchases made at Sam’s Club retail locations, including curbside pickup, capped at $500 per year (excludes gas and food court purchases)
• 3% additional cash back on purchases made with a Sam’s Club Mastercard 
• Exclusive early shopping hours from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. 
• Exclusive early pickup and delivery hours from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. 
• Free shipping on any online/app order of $50 or more
• Free delivery from your local club on any order of $50 or more
  Deliveries arrive same-day if ordered before 1 p.m. or the next day if ordered after; express delivery (which arrives within 3 hours of order) costs $8 
• $8 delivery from your local club on orders under $50
• 10 different free generic prescription medications—see the full list on the Sam’s Club website

Related: Costco vs. Sam’s Club: Memberships, prices, & perks compared

Does Sam’s Club offer discounted memberships? 

Unlike Costco, which almost never discounts its membership fees, Sam’s Club offers discounts or incentives to new members fairly frequently—often several times per year. In particular, Sam’s Club often runs new membership promotions around the fall or winter holidays.

In some cases, these discounts or incentives may be available to all new members, while in other cases, they are only available to certain groups, like seniors, military and veterans, or students. 

Currently (through Oct. 31, 2025), both tiers of Sam’s Club membership are on sale to all new members at a steep discount—just $15 for a Club membership and $50 for a Plus membership.

Related: Does Costco take Apple Pay? How to use a mobile wallet at the warehouse club

How to get next year’s Sam’s Club Plus membership for ‘free’

If you purchase a Sam’s Club Plus Membership, then spend at least $5,500 at Sam’s Club over the course of 12 months, and you save up your cash back rather than spending it on products, you’ll accumulate at least $110, which you can then use to pay for the following year’s executive membership. 

How to get a Sam’s Club membership 

• Online: You can purchase a Sam’s Club membership with a credit or debit card online at the Sam’s Club website using any internet-connected device. 
• The Sam’s Club app: If you have a smartphone, you can download the Sam’s Club app and purchase a membership there using a credit/debit card or mobile wallet. 
• In-store: You can also visit the Member Services center at your nearest Sam’s Club retail store to sign up for a membership in person. If you choose this option, you can pay for your membership with cash or a check if you don’t have (or prefer not to use) a credit card, debit card, or digital wallet. 

Related: When does Costco open & close? Everything you need to know