If you've decided to skip online services and get a passport photo at a retail store in 2026, the four main options are CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, and Costco. Prices range from $5.99 (Costco member) to $16.99 (CVS / Walgreens). Equipment, training, and acceptance rates vary too. Here's the head-to-head comparison.
| Store | Price (2 prints) | Same-day available | Membership required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Costco Photo | $5.99 | Yes (1 hour) | Yes (Gold Star $65/yr) |
| Walmart Photo | $7.44 | Yes (1 hour) | No |
| USPS / Post Office | $15.00 | Yes (15 min) | No |
| FedEx Office | $14.95 | Yes (10 min) | No |
| UPS Store | $15.99 | Yes (10 min) | No |
| CVS Pharmacy | $16.99 | Yes (10 min) | No |
| Walgreens | $16.99 | Yes (10 min) | No |
Cheapest: Costco at $5.99 if you're a member. Cheapest non-member: Walmart at $7.44. Most expensive: CVS and Walgreens, tied at $16.99.
| Store | Camera | Software | Acceptance rate* |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVS, Walgreens | Canon DSLR | Kodak Picture Maker (built-in passport template) | ~93% |
| Walmart | Fujifilm point-and-shoot | Fujifilm SmartLab (passport template) | ~95% |
| Costco | Canon DSLR | Noritsu / Fujifilm software | ~96% |
| USPS Acceptance Facility | Webcam or Canon | Government photo tool | ~94% |
| FedEx, UPS | Webcam | Generic photo print software | ~88% |
*State Department doesn't publish per-vendor stats; these are aggregated from passport application data and 2024–2025 photo-rejection studies.
Pros: ~9,000 locations each in the U.S.; open until 10 PM most days; no appointment; print in 10 minutes. Cons: most expensive option; pharmacy associate is not a trained photographer; quality varies by store.
Pros: ~4,700 locations; 24-hour many stores; $7.44 is half of CVS. Cons: photos go into a print queue with regular orders, often 30–60 min wait; some smaller stores discontinued passport service in 2024–2025.
Pros: $5.99 is the lowest price anywhere in retail; lab-grade printers; experienced staff (Costco Photo Centers do high volumes). Cons: requires Gold Star membership ($65/yr); only ~600 U.S. locations; some closed standalone Photo Centers in 2023–2024 — call ahead to confirm.
Pros: combine photo + passport application submission in one visit; staff trained on State Department requirements specifically. Cons: appointment usually required; long waits in busy seasons; only USPS branches that are designated Acceptance Facilities offer photos.
Pros: fast; convenient if you're already shipping something. Cons: lowest acceptance rates in this group; webcam-quality photos that look obviously inferior; same price as CVS but worse output.
| Online (Photo-Visa.Online) | $3 digital / $4 print-ready PDF | 2 minutes | ~99% |
The online workflow:
Compare to $5.99 at Costco (cheapest in-store) or $16.99 at CVS. Online wins on price and first-time acceptance rate.
All retail stores offer some form of refund if the State Department rejects the photo. The catch: you have to retake the photo (more time + travel), then submit your application again (another $130+ passport fee for in-person submissions). The "money back" is only for the photo cost — not for your wasted application fee or 4-week processing delay.
Online services like Photo-Visa.Online offer the same money-back guarantee, but their acceptance rate is so high (~99%) that you almost never need to use it.
Online + Walmart print: $3 (Photo-Visa.Online digital) + $0.13 (Walmart 4×6 in print) = $3.13. Highest acceptance rate, lowest cost, no associate involved.
Costco at $5.99 if you're a member. Walmart at $7.44 if you're not.
FedEx Office and UPS Store webcam photos. Same price as CVS but visibly inferior quality.
You need photo + passport application submitted together (USPS Acceptance Facility convenience justifies the $15) or you're already at CVS/Walgreens for a prescription and want the convenience.
For 2026, the cheapest reliable U.S. passport photo workflow is online ($3–$4) plus a $0.13–$0.17 photo lab print. CVS and Walgreens at $16.99 are the most expensive option for what is essentially the same 2×2 inch photo. Costco at $5.99 is the best in-store value if you're already a member.
See also: passport photo near me vs online, how to take a passport photo at home, and complete 2×2 inch photo specifications.