Verithiathe honest score on any app
Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Costco vs Target

Costco 4.9★ · Free to download 40
Winner Target
Target 4.9★ · Free to download 75

Target is the better app overall, offering a more reliable and user-friendly experience for online shopping and in-store services, while Costco's app is plagued by frequent bugs and performance issues.

Full reviews: Costco · Target

Target's app generally provides a smoother experience for online ordering, drive-up, and in-store navigation, despite some complaints about lag and inventory accuracy. Costco's app, however, suffers from widespread reports of freezing, crashing, slow performance, and critical functionality failures, making it a frustrating experience for many users.

Head to head

Features & Functionality edge: TargetR2R10R15R24
Costco Costco users appreciate the ability to shop for bulky items online and find deals, but many report that core features like order tracking, purchase history, and account management are buggy or unusable R2R10R53. There are also requests for in-store scanning, Apple Watch integration, and Apple Wallet support R15R27R32R33. Some users find the search function poor and the UI confusing R24.
Target Target users value features like online shopping for delivery or pickup, drive-up service, and exclusive app discounts R62. However, some express frustration with the search bar's relevance, difficulty changing stores, and the cumbersome nature of the list feature . Issues with order splitting into multiple deliveries and inaccurate in-store inventory are also noted .
Ease of Use & Performance edge: TargetR1R3R4R7
Costco Many Costco users describe the app as slow, laggy, buggy, and prone to freezing or crashing R3R4R7. Recent updates have reportedly made the app unusable for some, preventing order placement or sign-in R1R53. Users also complain about needing to sign in frequently and the app being a slow mobile browser wrapper rather than a native app R53.
Target Target users generally find the app easy to use and navigate . However, a significant number of recent reviews mention the app being slow, laggy, glitchy, and freezing, especially when scrolling or building orders R72R73R75R82. Some find the UI overloaded with features, making basic functionality slow R73.
Reliability edge: TargetR8R10R19R34
Costco Costco's app is frequently described as unreliable, with issues like orders being canceled without explanation, carts clearing automatically, and account information not updating R8R10R19R34. New member sign-up also reportedly fails .
Target Target's app generally performs reliably for many users, especially for drive-up and online ordering . However, there are reports of delivery times being pushed back, items showing in stock but being unavailable, and deals not applying correctly . Some users also face issues with account creation and verification codes .
Price/Value & Deals tieR11R14R18R41
Costco Costco is praised for its quality products and good prices R11R14R41. However, some users note that online prices are not always the same as in-store prices R18.
Target Target is appreciated for good prices and deals, with some users finding online shopping cheaper with app discounts R62R77R101. However, the Target Circle loyalty program is criticized by some for offering less valuable freebies and misleading free shipping promises R66. There are also complaints about inaccurate prices when scanning barcodes .
Support & Customer Service edge: TargetR53R77R88R98
Costco Reviews for Costco's app do not directly address customer support for app issues, but one user mentions having to call to search for a purchase because the app's search function is inadequate R53.
Target Target's customer service receives mixed reviews. While some praise in-store and online support R77R98, others report negative experiences with delivery issues and unhelpful customer care, including being denied full refunds or chats being ended prematurely R88. Account issues like email changes are also difficult to resolve .
Pick Costco if

Pick Costco if you are a loyal Costco member who primarily uses the app for basic membership card access and occasionally for online shopping of bulky items, and you are willing to tolerate frequent bugs and performance issues R2R11R14.

Pick Target if

Pick Target if you frequently use drive-up or in-store pickup services, appreciate app-exclusive discounts, and want a generally smoother online shopping experience, even with occasional lag or inventory discrepancies R62.

Evidence note: Costco's lifetime rating is high, but many recent reviews indicate significant app performance and functionality issues, suggesting a decline in user satisfaction with the app itself R1R4R7. Many positive reviews for Costco refer to the store experience rather than the app R11R14. Target also has recent complaints about app performance, but they appear less severe and widespread than Costco's.

Frequently asked

Is the Costco app reliable for online shopping?
No, many Costco users report that the app is unreliable for online shopping, with issues like orders not being placed, endlessly cycling progress bars, carts clearing automatically, and frequent crashes during checkout R1R4R7R19.
Does the Target app offer good value and discounts?
Yes, the Target app offers discounts and perks that can make online shopping cheaper, and many users find good prices, but some criticize the Target Circle loyalty program for offering less valuable freebies and misleading free shipping claims R62R66R77R101.
Can I use the Costco app for in-store features?
The Costco app allows access to your membership card for entry, but users wish for more advanced in-store features like scanning items as you shop, Apple Watch integration for barcodes, and Apple Wallet support for the membership ID R15R27R32R33.
Are there common performance issues with the Target app?
Yes, while generally user-friendly, many Target users report common performance issues such as the app being slow, laggy, glitchy, and freezing, especially when scrolling or adding items to the cart R72R73R75R82.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R2] Costco 5/5 · US Costco online shopping: What a FABULOS way to shop big bulky items . Costco makes shopping fast and easy . thank You
  2. [R10] Costco 2/5 · US Orders & Purchases Do Not Work: It’s a good app when it works. You can search items well. However, if you try accessing orders and purchases section from account, it struggles. I can never access it. 2% reward does not update too. Mine is stuck since last few months. Accounts section basically is useless for many things.
  3. [R15] Costco 3/5 · US Needs work: In store use of the app isn’t nearly as helpful as the Sam’s Club app. Being able to scan with the app would be a game changer
  4. [R24] Costco 3/5 · US The app needs work: The app is confusing to use. The app hides the functions used to track packages in your settings, the information for Costco Travel is hidden, and the same day delivery takes you to a separate window instead of being in the app which makes it much more confusing to use. When adding items to cart, it should be much easier to change how you want it delivered than having a whole
  5. [R1] Costco 1/5 · US Updated App is Bricked: With the latest app update I literally can't place an order anymore. There are steps where the app progress bar just endlessly cycles and will not complete the task. Never had this problem in prior versions.
  6. [R3] Costco 3/5 · US Buggy: When the app works it's fine. However, I find that it freezes quite often.
  7. [R4] Costco 2/5 · US Store is fantastic, app is inconsistent: This app crashes, won’t load items, fails to checkout, 50% of the time I use it…very slow, laggy, and leaves much to be desired.
  8. [R7] Costco 2/5 · US What’s happening with this app?: The app has become mostly unusable. Can’t look up orders, previous purchases or even shop without it timing out before opening.
  9. [R8] Costco 4/5 · US Cancelled orders: Fix your problem with always canceling orders for no reason or explanation and it would deserve 5 stars…
  10. [R19] Costco 2/5 · US Cart getting cleared automatically: Cart is clearing out after few mins
  11. [R34] Costco 1/5 · US Work needs to be done: Lot of updates needs to be made . It doesn’t update the card info . We have to restart the app to see it updated . Need a better PO and QA
  12. [R11] Costco 5/5 · US Love: Been a member since 1996. Love this place. Quality food and prices.
  13. [R14] Costco 5/5 · US Reasonable price great things: We live Costco
  14. [R18] Costco 3/5 · US Like the app but…: Wish prices were the same as in store. It’s tricky if you don’t realize….
  15. [R41] Costco 5/5 · US Washer dryer: Best deal ever at Costco
  16. [R53] Costco 1/5 · US When the app says, I’m already signed in. Why do I gotta sign in again to do almost everything when: 👉🏻 When the app says, I’m already signed in. Why do I gotta sign in AGAIN, to do almost everything when says I’m signed in⁉️⁉️⁉️ 👉🏻 fix this, I should not have to call to have Costco search for a purchase, I should have a SEACH option, but Even though there is a SEACH next to purchases, (insinuatin
  17. [R77] Target 5/5 · US The best dept store: Target always has a good price, good customer service. Cleaner and we’ll organized than Walmart stores. Keep it up.👍
  18. [R88] Target 1/5 · US App is nice, delivery and customer care is HORRIBLE: Never really used target but recently moved next to one a few months ago and got the app. The app is nice and easy to navigate. But I used the delivery option and the driver delivered it to the wrong place, didn’t answer, and customer care did not refund the full amount spent though they had the proof. Then ended the service chat as I was still
  19. [R98] Target 5/5 · US ❣️: Love shopping here great support
  20. [R62] Target 5/5 · US Download the app: If you’re a target lover you need this app. Make sure you put in your number every time you checkout not only you get points but shopping online for delivery or pickup comes out cheaper always, there are discounts and perks on the app only.
  21. [R66] Target 3/5 · US Need more savings !: I have a lot of apps with accounts on it so I can save money used to do 5$ gift cards now nothing ??
  22. [R101] Target 4/5 · US Perfect: Very good when it comes to getting items especially if you have target 360 but sometimes its a bit expensive but yet still amazing since it has more than other stores
  23. [R27] Costco 3/5 · US Need watch app: Please make an Apple Watch component app that has barcode to scan in when arriving at the building.
  24. [R32] Costco 4/5 · US Self Checkout Needed: I love Costco but when is the brand going to update to more modern features like self checkout that I can do from my mobile phone? This is the one reason I still shop at Sam’s- you can scan as you shop and be on your way. No stressful lines overflowing with impatient people. Please please please think about implementing this feature.
  25. [R33] Costco 3/5 · US Apple wallet: Would be nice to access my Costco ID through my Apple wallet
  26. [R72] Target 3/5 · US App freezes and glitches a lot: Usage is not always smooth
  27. [R73] Target 1/5 · US Buggy and slow: I can hardly even use it anymore as Target has added so many features and overloaded the basic functionality of the app. Truly terrible UI and so slow even after update
  28. [R75] Target 3/5 · US App glitches and lags constantly: I love the convenience of doing my whole grocery order in the app for pick up, but it is CONSTANTLY lagging when I try to get my order together.
  29. [R82] Target 1/5 · US Slow and time consuming: Super slow, too many suggestion, it takes for ever to finish our edit anything

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store