iMemories vs Costco Video Transfer
Quick answer: these two aren't connected. Costco's video transfer is fulfilled by Capture (formerly YesVideo) through the members-only Costco Next marketplace. Capture is from $19.99 for a videotape ordered direct; retail partners set their own price. Costco: set on the Costco Next listing — check the listing for the current member rate. iMemories is a separate company: $29.99 per tape at list, ~$14.99 with the current promo, plus a SafeShip kit, plus a SafeShip mailing kit. The decision comes down to what's bundled in, how you want your files back, and what the listing actually says on the day you order. Here's the line-by-line.
The 2026 numbers, side by side
Published prices as of August 2026:
| iMemories | Costco Next (Capture) | |
|---|---|---|
| Per videotape | $29.99 per tape at list, ~$14.99 with the current promo, plus a SafeShip kit | set on the Costco Next listing — check the listing for the current member rate; Capture direct is from $19.99 for a videotape ordered direct; retail partners set their own price |
| Getting tapes there | SafeShip kit, $29.99 list and often $14.99, FedEx shipping covered | UPS label + return shipping included |
| Digital files | Downloads free | Digital copy + MemoryCloud access included |
| Physical copies | DVDs, Blu-rays and USB drives are priced per item at checkout — confirm before ordering | Priced on the listing — confirm before ordering |
| Cloud plan | $7.99/month or $49.99/year, 30-day trial included | MemoryCloud access included |
| Requirement | None | Costco membership |
Competitor prices and turnaround checked September 2026 from each company's own published pages. All of these services discount frequently and re-quote by project — confirm your total at checkout.
The pattern: iMemories' headline rate depends on a promo code that is almost always running, and the extras (kit, discs, cloud) are where the total grows. The Costco route needs the membership, and its member rate is the one number here you have to read off the listing yourself.
When iMemories fits better
- No Costco membership, and the promo price is live (it usually is).
- You want to review before you buy extras. iMemories' app and portal let you watch everything digitized before deciding on discs or drives.
- Fragile originals.The SafeShip kit's padded, tracked handling is genuinely reassuring for one-of-a-kind tapes.
One caution that applies to any cloud-first service: download your files and keep your own copies. Our iMemories download guide shows exactly how.
When the Costco route fits better
- You already have the cardand the member rate on the listing beats iMemories' promo on the day you order. Check it; don't assume it.
- You want the digital copy first — Capture includes one and prices discs and drives separately.
- You dislike promo-code pricing and just want a listed rate you can read before you commit.
Weighing Legacybox too? The same member math applies — see Legacybox vs Costco.
Either way, the files need one more step
Both services hand back one long file per tape. That's an archive, not something your family will watch — two unlabeled hours of 1997 gets opened once, skimmed for three minutes, and closed forever.
TapeSave splits those long files into short, dated, labeled clips automatically — the format that actually gets shared in the family group chat. The full post-digitizing path is in our "now what?" playbook.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Costco use iMemories?
No. Costco's video transfer is fulfilled by Capture — the digitizing company formerly branded YesVideo — sold through Costco Next, Costco's members-only marketplace. iMemories is a separate company; it's the partner behind Walgreens' home movie service, which is why the two names often get mixed up.
What does iMemories really cost per tape?
iMemories is $29.99 per tape at list, ~$14.99 with the current promo, plus a SafeShip kit, and it promotes discount pricing more or less continuously. Add the SafeShip kit, $29.99 list and often $14.99, FedEx shipping covered to send your media in. Digital downloads of your finished files are free; DVDs, USB drives, and the optional cloud plan ($7.99/month or $49.99/year, 30-day trial included) cost extra.
Which is cheaper for a big box of tapes?
It depends on a number one of them won't publish. iMemories is $29.99 per tape at list, ~$14.99 with the current promo, plus a SafeShip kit, plus the kit and whatever delivery options you add. Costco is set on the Costco Next listing — check the listing for the current member rate, and Capture — which fulfils it — is from $19.99 for a videotape ordered direct; retail partners set their own price. Price the listing yourself rather than trusting a per-tape figure from a blog.
Is iMemories or Costco/Capture better quality?
Both are established, high-volume professional shops digitizing standard-definition tape, and the tape itself is the quality ceiling. Pick based on price, workflow (iMemories has a strong app and review portal), turnaround, and delivery format — not on quality claims.
What do I do with the files once they arrive?
Download them immediately and back them up in two places — don't leave your only copy inside any service's cloud. Then split each long tape file into short, dated, labeled clips so the footage actually gets watched. That splitting step is what TapeSave automates for $9.99 per video.
Got your files back from iMemories or Capture?
Upload them and TapeSave turns each long tape file into dated, labeled clips. Starting at $9.99 per video.
Get startedStill deciding, with tapes on the shelf?
If neither option above fits — no membership, no promo patience — there are prepaid kits, retail counters, and local shops that will. Ask for digital files, then come back to make them watchable.
Compare every transfer option →Get Our Free Home Video Preservation Checklist
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