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Using the best credit card for groceries can help you earn lots of extra points or cash back each year. Many of the top rewards cards earn extra points when you spend money with specific types of merchants. For many, groceries are one of the most useful of these bonus categories. After all, we all buy food! In this post, we've assembled the contenders for the best grocery credit card.
If you're looking for information about whether you'll earn a bonus for purchases at a specific store, we'll discuss how to find out later in the article. Now, let's look at why each card made our list.
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Our Top 7 Card Picks for Grocery Spending
Here is a comparison of our top seven picks for credit cards to use at the supermarket. You'll find options to fit any budget or grocery spending amount, so you can find the right card that works for you.
| Credit Card | Points Earned on Groceries | Other Bonus Categories | Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Express® Gold Card | 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X). | • 4X points at restaurants (on up to $50,000 per year, then 1X) • 3X points on airfare on a scheduled flight charged directly with the airline or amextravel.com (charter flights/private jet flights excluded) | $325 (Rates & Fees) |
| Citi Strata Premier℠ Card | Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Supermarkets | • 10X points per $1 on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through CitiTravel.com • 3X points per $1 spent on airfare and other hotels, gas stations, EV charging stations, and restaurants | $95 |
| Citi Custom Cash® Card | Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent (categories include grocery spending) | Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent (other bonus categories include Restaurants, Gas Stations, Select Travel, Select Transit, Select Streaming Services, Drugstores, Home Improvement Stores, Fitness Clubs and Live Entertainment) | $0 |
| Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express | 6% at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%). Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout. | • 6% back on select US streaming services • 3% back on transit, including trains, taxi cabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways • 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations. Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout. | $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 (Rates & Fees) |
| Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express | 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%. | • 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%. • 3% Cash Back with U.S. online retailers (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%) | $0 (Rates & Fees) |
| Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card | 6X Points at U.S. supermarkets | • 12X at Hilton properties • 6X at U.S. restaurants and U.S. gas stations • 4X on U.S. online retail purchases • 3X Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card | $150 (Rates & Fees) |
| Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card | 3% Cash Back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services | 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, and popular streaming services. | $0 |
The Best Credit Cards for Groceries
Those looking to maximize returns for the long run will want a card with a permanent bonus on groceries. The ideal pick depends on your budget and whether you prefer points or cash back.
For most people, it's hard to do better than the American Express® Gold Card, which provides an excellent return:
- Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That's up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made at restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- Rates & Fees
- 4X Membership Rewards® Points at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S. (on up to $50,000 per year in purchases, then 1X)
- 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per year in purchases, then 1X)
- 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com
- 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotels and other eligible travel booked on amextravel.com
- 1X on other eligible purchases
Best grocery card for families
If your grocery budget is $500 or more per month, there is a clear choice for the best grocery card. The American Express® Gold Card earns 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X). While this card has a $325 annual fee (Rates & Fees), it comes with a great lineup of benefits that will justify the cost for many.
This also earns 4X on up to $50,000 spent each calendar year at restaurants worldwide (plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and includes up to $120 in Uber Cash credits for rides and Uber Eats orders in the U.S. each year, plus up to $120 in dining credits each year with select merchants. Both of these are issued as up to $10 per month in statement credits, helping to offset the card's annual fee if you use both benefits. Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.
Amex Disclosure: To receive $10 monthly credits (up to $120 per year) in Uber Cash, you must add the American Express® Gold Card to your Uber account and select it as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction.
Related: Amex Gold Full Review
Best grocery credit card for modest spending
The Citi Custom Cash® Card is a great fit for anyone who spends up to $500 per month on groceries.
Unlike similar no-annual-fee cards in the same category, which typically feature rotating bonus categories, the Citi Custom Cash earns 5% cash back (issued as 5x ThankYou® points) on the eligible category in which you spend the most each month, including grocery purchases.
- Sign-up bonus of $200 in cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening, issued as 20,000 ThankYou® Points
- 5% cash back in your top eligible spend category on up to $500 of purchses each billing cycle
- No rotating bonus categories to sign up for--the top earning category adjusts automatically each month to the eligible category in which you spend the most.
- Excellent intro APR offer on purchases and balance transfers
- No annual fee
- Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent
- 1% cash back thereafter, plus, you'll earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases
- No rotating bonus categories to sign up for – as your spending changes each billing cycle, your earn adjusts automatically when you spend in any of the eligible categories.
- Special Travel Offer: Earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2025.
- Eligible spending categories are: Restaurants, Gas Stations, Grocery Stores, Select Travel, Select Transit, Select Streaming Services, Drugstores, Home Improvement Stores, Fitness Clubs and Live Entertainment.
If you spend ~$500 per month on groceries, you can earn 5X ThankYou® points per $1 spent at supermarkets up to the monthly $500 cap. If you also hold a Citi Strata Premier℠ Card or Citi Prestige® Card, you could combine points across cards and transfer them to any one of Citi's 21 airline or hotel transfer partners, making this one of the best earning rates available for grocery spending.
Related: Citi Custom Cash Full Review
Best grocery credit card for cash back
If you prefer cash back, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is our top recommendation, earning 6% at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%). Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout. This card's simplicity is its most attractive feature.
- Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
- $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
- Buy Now, Pay Later: Enjoy $0 intro plan fees when you use Plan It® to split up large purchases into monthly installments with a fixed fee. Pay $0 intro plan fees on plans created during the first 12 months from the date of account opening. Plans created after that will have a monthly plan fee up to 1.33% of each eligible purchase amount moved into a plan based on the plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the purchase, and other factors.
- Low Intro APR: 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening. After that, your APR will be a variable APR of 20.24% - 29.24%.
- 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%).
- 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions.
- 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more).
- 1% Cash Back on other purchases.
- Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
- $84 Disney Bundle Credit: With your enrolled Blue Cash Preferred® Card, spend $9.99 or more each month on an auto-renewing Disney Bundle subscription, to receive a monthly statement credit of $7. Valid only at Disney Plus.com, Hulu.com or Plus.espn.com in the U.S.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- Rates & Fees
- 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions
- 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%)
- 3% Cash Back on transit including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more
- 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations
- 1% Cash Back on other purchases
- Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
Cash back gives you maximum flexibility. But unfortunately, you cannot combine the rewards earned on this card with Amex points earned through a Membership Rewards-earning card. Still, the bonus categories on offer make the Blue Cash Preferred difficult to ignore.
Related: Blue Cash Preferred Full Review
Best grocery store credit cards with no annual fee
It doesn't always make sense to choose a premium card that charges an annual fee. If your monthly budget is small, the best card for groceries may be one without a fee that cancels out some of the rewards you earn throughout the year.
In addition to the Citi Custom Cash, top no-annual-fee cards for groceries include:
- Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express: 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%.
- Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card: 3% Cash Back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services.
(Terms apply)
- 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%)
- 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations (on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%)
- 3% cash back with U.S. online retailers (on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%)
- 1% back on other purchases
- Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
- 8% cash back on purchases made via the Capital One Entertainment ticketing platform
- 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply)
- 3% cash back on dining and entertainment
- 3% at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®)
- 3% on popular streaming services
- 1% on all other purchases
Which Stores Earn a Grocery or Supermarket Category Bonus?
One of the main challenges with all bonus categories is predicting whether a merchant will qualify before you swipe your card to make a purchase. You won't find a complete list of Amex supermarkets or Chase grocery stores from either card issuer. However, you can type a local business name into AwardWallet's merchant lookup tool to see which rewards cards earned bonus points on recent transactions.
Our reverse lookup tool takes the opposite approach. Start with a card and choose a category; then, you'll see a list of merchants that should qualify for the bonus. The data for both tools is crowdsourced from AwardWallet members, so it isn't perfect.
But, if you pick the Amex Gold and “Grocery Stores” in the reverse lookup, you'll get a much more detailed list of Amex supermarkets than you'll find on the American Express website.
Here are the specific exclusions noted by each bank:
- Amex: “Superstores, convenience stores, warehouse clubs, and meal-kit delivery services are NOT considered supermarkets.”
- Chase: “…larger stores that sell a wide variety of goods and groceries, such as warehouse clubs, discount stores and some smaller merchants such as drugstores, and merchants that specialize in only a few grocery items. Purchases made at gas stations from merchants who also operate grocery stores are not included in this category. Delivery service merchants will be included if they classify as a grocery store merchant.”
- Citi: “Excludes purchases at general merchandise/discount superstores; wholesale/warehouse clubs; candy, nut and confectionery stores. Purchases made at online supermarkets or with grocery delivery services also do not qualify if the merchant does not classify itself as a supermarket by using the supermarket merchant category code.”
- Capital One: “Excludes superstores like Walmart® and Target®.”
Final Thoughts
For most people, the Amex Gold offers the best return on groceries. It's even one of the best cards for dining at restaurants, to boot. But any of the top cards on our list will return a handy sum of points or cash back on grocery spending, depending on your budget and spending needs.
- Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That's up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made at restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- Rates & Fees
- 4X Membership Rewards® Points at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S. (on up to $50,000 per year in purchases, then 1X)
- 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per year in purchases, then 1X)
- 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com
- 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotels and other eligible travel booked on amextravel.com
- 1X on other eligible purchases
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card (Rates & Fees), Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express (Rates & Fees), Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express (Rates & Fees), and American Express® Gold Card (Rates & Fees)
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