It’s no secret that grocery shopping is expensive. Whether you live alone or are shopping for a large family, your weekly grocery bill might end up being hundreds of dollars. What if you could offset that cost? Enter grocery credit cards.
The best grocery credit cards should offer lucrative points or cash back at supermarkets and, ideally, offer statement credits that help with dining or grocery spending. Here are our picks for the best credit cards for groceries:
- Blue Cash Preferred® Card: Best overall
- American Express® Gold Card: Best for frequent travelers
- Prime Visa: Best for Amazon Prime members who shop at Whole Foods.
- Savor Rewards from Capital One: Best for unlimited earnings
- Blue Cash Everyday® Card: Best for no annual fee
Best Credit Cards for Groceries Overview
| Best Credit Cards for Groceries Overview | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Annual fee | Rewards rate | ||
| Blue Cash Preferred Card | Overall | $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 (Terms apply, see rates & fees) | 6% cash back on groceries (Up to $6,000 per year in purchases at U.S. supermarkets) 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions 3% cash back on transit (includes taxis, rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses, and more) 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations 1% cash back on other eligible purchases | Learn more |
| American Express Gold Card | Frequent travelers | $325 (Terms apply, see rates & fees) | 4X at restaurants worldwide (up to $50,000 in purchases each year, then 1X) 4X on groceries at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 in purchases each year, then 1X) 3X on flights booked directly with an airline or at AmexTravel.com 2X on prepaid hotels and other eligible travel purchases booked through AmexTravel.com 1X on other eligible purchases | Learn more |
| Prime Visa | Bonus categories | No credit card annual fee with an eligible Prime membership | 5% cash back on Amazon.com purchases 5% cash back at Amazon Fresh online or in-store 5% cash back at Whole Foods Market 5% cash back on Chase Travel purchases 2% cash back at gas stations 2% cash back at restaurants 2% cash back on local transit and commuting, including rideshare 1% cash back on other eligible purchases | Learn more |
| Savor Rewards from Capital One | Unlimited earnings | $0 | 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel 3% cash back at grocery stores 3% cash back on dining 3% cash back on entertainment 3% cash back on popular streaming services 1% cash back on all other purchases | Learn more |
| Blue Cash Everyday Card | No annual fee | No Annual Fee (Terms apply, see rates & fees) | 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, on (up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%) 3% cash back on U.S. Online Retail Purchases (up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%) 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations (up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%) 1% cash back on other eligible purchases | Learn more |
Best Credit Cards for Groceries
Best overall: Blue Cash Preferred® Card
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Card details
The Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express is the most well-rounded option among grocery credit cards. Although it has an annual fee of $95 (after a $0 introductory annual fee), it’s partially offset by a Disney bundle credit. Cardholders receive $7 back monthly, or up to $84 each year, after spending $9.99+ each month on an eligible auto-renewing subscription to the Disney Bundle (enrollment required). If this is something you’re already paying for, it would be nice to get a statement credit each month.
The 6% cash back on groceries is only valid at U.S. supermarkets and has a spending cap of $6,000 per year. This comes out to around $500 per month in grocery spending, so you likely won’t earn the full 6% back on every purchase you make throughout the year. Still, if you maximize this category, you’ll earn $360 in cash back, plus your earnings from streaming, transit, gas, and other purchases.
Note that cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit. You can also redeem your earnings on Amazon.com at checkout.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- High earning rates on grocery purchases
- Disney bundle credit
- Introductory APR offer
Cons:
- Charges foreign transaction fees
- Cap on bonus cash back on grocery purchases
- Annual fee after the first year cuts into earnings
Who should apply
If you tend to spend around $500 per month on grocery purchases, and already subscribe to a Disney Bundle, you can more than justify the annual fee on the Blue Cash Preferred card.
Learn more about the Blue Cash Preferred Card including how to apply.
Best for frequent travelers: American Express® Gold Card
American Express Gold Card
Card details
The American Express Gold Card is the only rewards credit card on the list, and also the only one with such a high annual fee. Still, it’s a worthy contender, especially for high spenders. The opportunity to earn four points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 in spending each year is unmatched. That means you can earn four points per dollar on a little over $2,000 spent on groceries each month.
- $10 in Uber Cash each month when you add your Gold Card to your Uber account (up to $120 annually) to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction.
- Up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations (Up to $84 annually). Enrollment required.
- Up to to $50 in statement credits semi-annually after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases (up to $100 annually) Enrollment required.
- Up to a total of $10 when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys (up to $120 annually). Enrollment required.
- Up to $100 annual credit for a minimum two-night stay with The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Fantastic earning potential
- Suite of statement credits for foodies
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons:
- High annual fee
- Some statement credits are difficult to use
- Low earning potential on non-bonus category purchases
Who should apply
Anyone who can take advantage of all statement credits without going out of their way should seriously consider applying for the Amex Gold card. The earning potential and statement credits makes it a very lucrative card for the right traveler.
Learn more about the American Express Gold Card including how to apply.
Best for bonus categories: Prime Visa
Amazon Prime Visa
Card details
You might not think of Amazon when you’re working on your monthly grocery budget. However, the Amazon Prime Visais actually a fantastic grocery credit card thanks to the 5% cash back on Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods purchases. If you have an Amazon Visa without a Prime membership, you’ll earn a lower 3% cash back. However, if you’re loyal enough to these brands to apply for a credit card, an Amazon Prime membership is a worthy investment.
The card is issued by Chase, so you’ll earn 5% cash back on Chase Travel℠ purchases. Purchases at gas stations, local transit and commuting, and restaurants earn 2% cash back. It’s a Visa Signature card, so it comes with some built-in benefits like auto rental coverage and baggage delay insurance. The cost of groceries is high, especially at Whole Foods, so the opportunity for 5% cash back shouldn’t be missed.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Solid earning potential on Amazon and Whole Foods
- No annual fee outside Prime membership
- Visa Signature benefits
Cons:
- Low earning potential at other grocery stores
- Must have Prime membership to get full benefits
Who should apply
If you already have an Amazon Prime membership and frequently order items from Amazon, it makes a lot of sense to apply for the Prime Visa. It’s an added bonus if you regularly shop at Whole Foods.
Learn more about the Prime Visa including how to apply.
Best for unlimited earnings: Savor Rewards from Capital One
Savor Rewards from Capital One
Card details
The Savor Rewards is my personal favorite card on this list and one that I’m eager to apply for. Here’s why — you can earn an unlimited 3% cash back at grocery stores, on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services.
There’s no foreign transaction fees, which means you can earn 3% cash back on grocery purchases abroad. That alone makes this card stand out from the competition for fellow digital nomads or frequent travelers. Most cash back cards limit bonus cash back to U.S. grocery stores, which is very frustrating if you spend extended time abroad.
With no annual fee, it’s affordable to keep in your wallet and provides a decent number of benefits.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Unlimited earning potential
- Low APR period
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons:
- Requires excellent credit
- Limited additional cardholder benefits
Who should apply
Anyone who frequently travels abroad and wants to earn rewards on international grocery purchases should consider the Savor Rewards card.
Learn more about the Savor Rewards Card including how to apply.
Best for no annual fee: Blue Cash Everyday® Card
Blue Cash Everyday
Card details
If you prefer a card without an annual fee, Blue Cash Everyday from American Express could be a solid option. Even without an annual fee, cardholders can take advantage of the following statement credits:
- Receive $7 back monthly (up to $84 each year) after spending $9.99+ each month on an eligible auto-renewing subscription to the Disney Bundle
- Get up to $15 in statement credits back per month (up to $180 each year) on a Home Chef subscription
You’ll earn 3% cash back on groceries at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. online retail purchases, and gas stations, up to $6,000 spent each year in each category. Then, you’ll earn 1% cash back. Like the Blue Cash Preferred, all cash back earnings are in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Disney Bundle and Home Chef statement credits
- No annual fee
- Lucrative cash back
Cons:
- Charges foreign transaction fees
- Spending caps on bonus cash back
Who should apply
If you aren’t a heavy spender, the Blue Cash Everyday could be the perfect cash back card for your grocery purchases. It has unique bonus categories and allows you to earn cash rewards on both supermarket spending and online shopping, which is pretty rare.
Learn more about the Blue Cash Everyday card including how to apply.
How To Choose A Credit Card for Grocery Purchases
To decide which card is best for grocery purchases, you’ll need to look at your shopping habits. For example, if you are feeding a large family and spend hundreds of dollars per week at the store, you’ll want to avoid cards that have spending caps on bonus rewards for grocery purchases (or a very high limit). This means you’ll likely need a card with an annual fee.
Keep in mind as well that, in general, groceries sold in a separate section of a warehouse club or a store like Walmart are not going to be eligible for the bonus category which is for spending at supermarkets – not groceries themselves.
On the other hand, if you live alone somewhere affordable, you might not spend a ton each month on groceries. In that case, you’ll be better off with a card with a low annual fee that provides additional benefits outside the grocery store. As with any financial product, you’ll need to carefully weigh the benefits against the associated costs and fees before applying for a new card.
Bottom Line
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution for the perfect grocery credit card, but the five cards on this list are a fantastic first place to start. Whether you’re an avid Whole Foods shopper or you are feeding a family, these cards will give you the best yield on your grocery purchases.
Rates and Fees for the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Rates and Fees for the American Express® Gold Card
Rates and fees for the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
Frequently asked questions
Which credit card is best for grocery shopping?
There are several different credit cards that are worthy contenders based on your grocery shopping habits. The best card for you is the one that closely matches your grocery bill and your financial goals.
What credit card gives 6% on groceries?
There are a few cards that might give you 6% cash back on groceries, like the Blue Cash Preferred card from American Express which earns 6% at supermarkets.
Is it smart to buy groceries with a credit card?
Groceries are expensive, especially if you are providing for a family. If you’re spending hundreds of dollars per month at the grocery store, you should be rewarded for your purchases by using a credit card.
Are stores like Costco or Walmart eligible for bonus cash back?
Most credit card issuers have unique definitions for their grocery rewards categories, which can be a little confusing. Capital One excludes superstores like Walmart and Target from its grocery rewards category. Similarly, Chase doesn’t consider superstores or warehouse clubs eligible for grocery rewards. Bank of America does include wholesale clubs in its grocery rewards category, which is pretty rare. American Express also specifically calls out that only supermarkets are eligible.
What are cash back rewards worth?
Even when cards earn cash back, these are typically first earned as rewards points that can then be redeemed for cash back in the form of a statement credit or bank deposit. Rewards are usually worth 1 cent per point. Some cards, like the American Express Gold Card, earn points that can be redeemed for higher value.
