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 at a flat $15.99 per tape; iMemories is a separate company charging $29.99 list — though its ever-present promo pricing usually lands around $14.99 — plus a SafeShip mailing kit. At promo prices they cost about the same per tape, so the decision comes down to what's bundled in and how you want your files back. 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 list · ~$14.99 with current promo | $15.99 flat (up to 2 hours) |
| Getting tapes there | SafeShip kit — $29.99 list, often $14.99 — with FedEx shipping covered | UPS label + return shipping included |
| Digital files | Downloads free | Digital copy + MemoryCloud access included |
| Physical copies | DVD/Blu-ray from $9.99–19.99 per disc · USB drives from $19.99 | $3.79 per DVD · $7.99 per USB (whole order) |
| Cloud plan | $7.99/month or $49.99/year (30-day trial included) | MemoryCloud access included |
| Requirement | None | Costco membership |
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 is a flat number with more bundled in — but it needs the membership.
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 card. $15.99 flat with repair, PAL support, digital delivery, and two-way shipping included is a clean, no-surprises rate.
- You want cheap physical backups — $3.79 DVDs and one $7.99 USB for the whole order.
- You dislike promo-code pricing and just want the same number every time.
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?
The list price is $29.99 per videotape, but iMemories promotes discount pricing more or less continuously — commonly around $14.99 per tape with their current code. Add the SafeShip kit (regularly $29.99, often $14.99) 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) cost extra.
Which is cheaper for a big box of tapes?
At promo pricing they land close: roughly $15–16 per tape either way. The differences are at the edges — Costco/Capture includes shipping both ways, tape repair, and a digital copy in its flat $15.99, while iMemories' total depends on catching the promo, the SafeShip kit, and which delivery options you add. At iMemories' full $29.99 list price, the Costco route is clearly cheaper.
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 — Legacybox's prepaid kit bundles the box, shipping, and digitizing into one price. Ask for digital files, then come back to make them watchable.
Get a Legacybox kit →Get Our Free Home Video Preservation Checklist
One page: what to do before you digitize, what to ask a transfer service for, and what to do with the files when they come back. No spam — one-click unsubscribe on every email.
No spam, unsubscribe anytime.