Costco and Verizon do not have the same deals. If you want to buy a smartphone at Costco, you will also need to purchase a cell phone plan from Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile. The prices for the plans are identical to those offered by the carriers, even if you pay less for the phone at Costco. However, buying a phone from Costco does have its benefits. One advantage is that there are no upgrade fees. Most cellphone providers charge a one-time upgrade fee for buying a new phone or connecting a new device, but when you buy a phone from Costco, the upgrade fee is waived. So, if you're looking to save on upgrade fees, buying a smartphone at Costco can be a good idea.