Best credit cards for Groceries
Who doesn’t spend money on groceries? That’s one of the most popular spending categories offered by many rewards cards. To make things easier for you, we’ve come up with a list of the best credit cards for groceries. Here everyone can find its perfect grocery credit card match.
Short Review of Best Credit Cards for Groceries
Name | Best for | Rewards Rate | APR | Apply |
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Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card | Cash Back, 0 APR, No Annual Fee, Restaurants, Entertainment, Daily use | 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.1% Cash Back on all other purchases.3% Cash Back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores. | 19.99% - 29.99% Variable | Learn more on our partner’s site |
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card | Cash Back, No Annual Fee, Daily use | 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.1.5% Cash Back on every purchase. | 19.99% - 29.99% Variable | Learn more on our partner’s site |
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card | Fair credit | 1.5% Cash Back on every purchase. | 29.99% Variable | Learn more on our partner’s site |
Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card | | 5% Cash Back on hotel and rental car purchases through Capital One Travel.1.5% Cash Back on every purchase. | 29.99% Variable | Learn more on our partner’s site |
Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card | International students | 1.5% Cash Back on all purchases. | 19.99% - 29.99% Variable | Learn more on our partner’s site |
Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa® | Good credit score | 1.5% Cash Back on payments. | 14.99% - 29.99% Regular | Apply now On Upgrade‘s website |
Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card | International students | 8% Cash Back on Capital One entertainment purchases.5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.3% Cash Back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services & at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®).1% Cash Back on all other purchases. | 19.99% - 29.99% Variable | Learn more on our partner’s site |
Upgrade Triple Cash Rewards Visa® | Low income | 3% Cash Back on Home, Auto and Health categories.1% Cash Back on everything else. | 14.99% - 29.99% Regular | Apply now On Upgrade‘s website |
Applied Bank® Secured Visa® Gold Preferred® Credit Card | 18 year old | This card doesn't offer cash back, miles or points. | 9.99% Fixed | Apply now On Applied Bank®‘s site |
First Progress Platinum Prestige Mastercard® Secured Credit Card | | 1% Cash Back rewards on payments. | 14.49% Variable | Apply now On First Progress’s site |
First Progress Platinum Select Mastercard® Secured Credit Card | | 1% Cash Back on payments made to your First Progress Secured credit card account. | 18.49% Variable | Apply now On First Progress’s site |
First Electronic Bank Destiny® Mastercard® | Unsecured | This card doesn't offer cash back, miles or points. | 35.90% | Apply now On First Electronic Bank‘s site |
Capital One Spark Cash Plus | | 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.2% Cash Back for your business on every purchase. | None * | Learn more on our partner’s site |
Capital One Spark Cash Select for Excellent Credit | | 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.1.5% Cash Back for your business on every purchase, everywhere, no limits or category restrictions. | 18.49% - 24.49% Variable | Learn more on our partner’s site |
| | 2x - 7x:Points on restaurants.2x - 5x:Points on hotels.1.5x - 2x:Points on recurring software subscriptions.1x - 1.5x:Points on everything else. | None | Apply now On Cross River Bank‘s site |
American Express Blue Cash Preferred | Gas, Groceries, Streaming services, Daily use | 6% Cash Back at U.S. Supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%).6% Cash Back on streaming (select U.S. streaming subscriptions).3% Cash Back on transit. Transit includes taxis, rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses, and more.3% Cash Back at U.S. Gas Stations.1% Cash Back on other purchases. | 18.74% - 29.74% Variable | Learn more |
American Express® Gold Card | Cash Back | 4x Points on dining at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.4x Points on groceries at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 in purchases per year.3x Points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.1x Points on other eligible purchases. | 20.74% - 28.74% Variable | Learn more |
Chase Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature | Metal | 5% Cash Back at Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market with an eligible Prime membership.2% Cash Back at restaurants, gas stations and drugstores.1% Cash Back on all other purchases. | 20.49% - 29.24% Variable | Learn more |
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express | Cash Back, Gas, 0 APR, No Annual Fee, Families, Shopping, Groceries | 3% Cash Back on groceries at U.S. supermarkets, on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%).3% Cash Back on U.S. online retail purchases on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%).2% Cash Back on gas at U.S. gas stations on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%).1% Cash Back on other purchases. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit. | 18.74% - 29.74% Variable | Learn more |
| Entertainment | 5% Cash Back on your highest eligible spend category each billing cycle up to the first $500 spent and 1% Cash Back thereafter.1% Cash Back on all other purchases. | 19.24% - 29.24% Variable | Learn more |
| Groceries | 5% Cash Back on purchases at Target and Target.com. | 28.15% Variable | Learn more |
| Cash Back, 0 APR, No Annual Fee, Daily use | 5% Cash Back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards.3% Cash back on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services.3% Cash Back on drugstore purchases.1.5% Cash Back on all other purchases. | 20.49% - 29.24% Variable | Learn more |
| Cash Back, No Annual Fee, Daily use | 2% Cash Back on every purchase with unlimited 1% Cash Back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for purchases. | 19.24% - 29.24% Variable | Learn more |
Who should apply
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One SavorOne is for someone who wants to earn rewards on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores but is not sure they’ll be able to justify an annual fee. The low spending requirement of $500 during the first 3 months makes the $200 intro bonus easily attainable even if you don’t plan to charge much to the card.
Read more about Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
American Express Blue Cash Preferred
This card is usually an obvious choice for big households that spend a lot on groceries. However, even by spending $135 a month on groceries, you will be able to offset the $95 annual fee.
Read more about American Express Blue Cash Preferred
American Express® Gold Card
This card is a good choice for people who often dine out or spend a lot on groceries and would also like a card with travel rewards. Americans spend an average of $4,942 annually on groceries, which equals around 20,000 reward points. Depending on how you redeem, these can be worth anywhere from $100 to $200.
Read more about American Express® Gold Card
Chase Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature
The Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature card may be a good option for people who have an eligible Prime membership and often shop at Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market.
Read more about Chase Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
This card is suitable for people who spend a significant portion of their budget on groceries or gas but are not willing to commit to an annual fee. Also, it’s a great choice for those who like shopping online.
Read more about Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
Citi Custom Cash℠
This card will work for people who don’t want to think too much about rewards and bonus categories. The card will automatically pick the category in which you spend the most and you won’t have to activate rewards. Most likely, you’ll also need another card with higher cash back in other preferred categories or all purchases to maximize your rewards.
Read more about Citi Custom Cash℠
TD Bank Target Circle™️
All Target enthusiasts can greatly benefit from the Target Circle™️ credit cards. However, if you’re not careful with your balance, the interest can pile up and overshadow the benefits.
Read more about TD Bank Target Circle™️
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
If you want a simple, no-annual-fee card that has a high-earning travel category but also solid rewards in other categories, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® is worth considering.
Read more about Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Citi Double Cash
The Citi Double Cash is the perfect, laid-back card that will earn you valuable rewards each time you swipe it. But you must remember to pay off your balance each month to get its full potential.
Read more about Citi Double Cash
What are grocery credit cards
Credit cards for groceries are those that will earn you valuable rewards when you use them at grocery stores. Depending on your preferences and grocery store spending, this can be a card with high grocery rewards like the Blue Cash Preferred® from American Express® (6% at U.S. supermarkets), or simply a card with a great flat rate, like the Citi Double Cash (2% back on every purchase).
Who should apply for a grocery credit card
Well, probably almost everyone can benefit from a credit card with grocery bonus rewards. We all spend a certain amount on groceries every month with the average American household spending around $5,000 annually according to 2020 figures. For example, considering this annual grocery spending you can earn up to $150 cash back annually with the Blue Cash Everyday® from American Express® (3% at grocery stores on up to $6,000 spent annually, 1% after).
How to choose the right card for grocery shopping
In order to determine the right card to take to grocery shopping, first you must look at your grocery spending habits.
Do groceries take the largest portion of your monthly budget or are your spendings more evenly spread across several categories? – If you’re in the first group then you should definitely look for a card that has a higher rewards rate for groceries, like the American Express® Gold Card (4x points at U.S. supermarkets). And if your spending is more of a here-and-there, a good choice might be The Bank of America Cash Rewards that allows you to pick your 3% bonus category each month and it also offers 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs.
Do you cook most of your meals or do you prefer to eat out? - If you’re a bit of both, the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards will earn you 4% on dining and entertainment, as well as 3% on groceries.
How many people live in your household, can you put all your household’s grocery spending on one credit card? – If you’re part of a big household, it might be worth getting a card like the Blue Cash Preferred® from American Express®, which will earn you an outstanding 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 spent annually.
Are you willing to pay an annual fee? – If you’re reluctant to pay an annual fee or are not certain you’ll earn enough rewards to justify it, some solid choices would be Capital One SavorOne and the Citi Double Cash.
What’s your credit score? – Most of the cards on our list require a good-to-excellent credit score. However, we’ve included cards that target credit-builders as well. These are the Discover it® Secured card and the Petal® 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa®. The Petal® 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa® is also available for those with no credit history.
Those are just some of the things you need to consider that’ll help you narrow down your choices. Then you should also look at other features that are important to you like intro APRs, travel insurance, and more.
How to make the most of a grocery credit card
The first step to making the most of a grocery card would be picking the right one that’s tailored for your needs. We already discussed how to do that, so now let’s look at some other tips on how to maximize your grocery store rewards:
- Rewards cards might help you save money, but those savings can come at a cost - If you do decide to open a new card, make sure you read the fine print. To begin with, rewards cards often come with higher annual percentage rates (APRs) and annual fees as compared to other credit cards. The average APR for rewards cards is 15.82%, whereas the average APR on a low-interest credit card is 12.79%. So, when you sign up for a rewards card, check the math: If your benefits outweigh the yearly charge, the upfront cost may be worthwhile. If a high APR or annual charge cancels out your potential savings, you're better off with a no-fee card that doesn't give rewards.
- Pay off your balance in full each month - To get the most out of your rewards card, be sure you're not depleting your rewards with hefty interest payments.
- Don’t focus solely on grocery rewards – Check out other spending categories that might interest you, like travel, entertainment, dining out or gas and transit.
FAQ
Which credit cards offer the best cash-back rewards on groceries?
All of the cards on our list would make a great grocery cash-back card. To find the best one for you, you’ll have to look closer at the cards’ benefits and features.
What is the best grocery credit card with rotating categories?
One great choice would be the
no-annual-fee Chase Freedom Flex℠ which offers 5% cash back in popular quarterly rotating categories like grocery stores and gas stations (up to $1,500 spent quarterly). You’ll have to remember to activate the bonus categories each quarter.
What is the best grocery store credit card with no annual fee?
Many of the cards on the list would be a fine no-annual-fee choice, like the Blue Cash Everyday® from American Express® and the Capital One SavorOne.
Does Costco fall under the grocery category?
No, Costco is a wholesale club, therefore it won’t qualify for the grocery bonus rewards. However, there’s a co-branded credit card, the Costco Anywhere Visa® by Citi which earns you 2%
cash back on Costco purchases and it has no annual fee (but requires a Costco membership).
Does Walmart count as a grocery store for credit cards?
No, since most credit card networks consider Walmart to be a superstore. This includes Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express. Note that all of these do consider Walmart Neighborhood Markets as grocery stores. If you want to earn rewards at Walmart, we recommend taking a look at some Discover cards as they have introduced Walmart.com as a rotating bonus category. Also, there’s the Capital One Walmart Rewards® card which earns you 2% at Walmart stores, plus 5% at Walmart.com including pickup and delivery.
Which is the best small-business card for grocery shopping?
One great choice would certainly be the Capital One® Spark Business, which earns 2% cash back on all purchases and comes with a $95 annual fee that’s waived for the first year.