Best Credit Cards for Groceries in 2025
Our winner
Our winner
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express offers one of the highest rewards rates on U.S. supermarket purchases, as well as generous rewards for select U.S. streaming subscriptions, purchases at U.S. gas stations and transit.
Key takeaways
- The best credit cards for groceries earn up to 6% cash back at supermarkets, plus valuable rewards in a range of other everyday categories.
- Many cards in this niche have generous welcome offers worth $200 or more, which members can earn by meeting a minimum spending requirement.
- To find the best grocery credit card for your needs, you’ll want to compare options based on their rewards rates, included benefits and annual fees.
- (Winner) best credit card for groceries overall: Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
- Best 5% cash back card for groceries: Citi Custom Cash® Card
- Best Chase grocery card: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- Best credit card for groceries with no annual fee: Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express (see rates & fees)
- Best grocery card for large purchases: American Express® Gold Card
- Best credit card for dining and groceries: Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
- Best grocery credit card for Whole Foods and Amazon: Prime Visa
- Best grocery credit card for Costco: Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
- Best credit card for Instacart shoppers: Instacart Mastercard®
9 best grocery credit cards
| Credit Cards | Our Ratings | Annual Fee | Rewards Rate | Welcome Offer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
|
Winner
|
$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95. | 1% - 6% cash back
| $250 statement credit
Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
| |
Citi Custom Cash® Card*
|
5% cash back
|
$0 | 1% - 5% cash back
| $200 cash back
Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
| |
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
 Apply Now
on Chase's secure site Rates & Fees |
Best Chase card for groceries
|
$95 | 1X - 5X points
| 75,000 points
Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
|
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site Rates & Fees |
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
|
No annual fee
|
$0 | 1% - 3% cash back
| $200 statement credit
Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
| |
American Express® Gold Card
|
Large grocery purchases
|
$325 | 1X - 4X points
| As high as 100,000 points
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
| |
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
|
Groceries and dining
|
$0 | 1% - 8% cash back
| $200 Cash Back
$200 Cash Back after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
| |
Prime Visa
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site Rates & Fees |
Whole Foods and Amazon
|
$0 | 1% - 5% cash back
| $150 Amazon gift card
Get a $150 Amazon Gift Card instantly upon approval exclusively for Prime members
|
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site Rates & Fees |
Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi*
|
Costco
|
$0 | 1% - 5% cash back
| N/A | |
Instacart Mastercard®*
|
Instacart shoppers
|
$0 | 1% - 5% cash back
| $50 Instacart statement credit
Get a $50 Instacart credit automatically upon approval.
|
Methodology
We selected the best grocery cards through a review of cards available on LendingTree and from top issuers. The following factors influenced our top card picks:
- Cash back rates: We looked for cards likely to save you the most on groceries.
- Redemption options: How easy are the rewards to redeem, and how valuable are the redemption options?
- Annual fee: If the card charges an annual fee, do the rewards outweigh it?
- Sign-up bonuses: Does the card offer a large sign-up bonus?
- Introductory and regular APRs: Does the card offer a 0% intro APR to help finance a big purchase or pay off a transferred balance? Is its regular APR reasonable?
Useful benefits, such as cellphone protection and extended warranty protection, influenced our choices as well.
Winner: Best credit card for groceries (and gas)
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Grocery rewards: Earn 6% cash back* (on up to $6,000 per year at U.S. supermarkets)
Rewards rate details:
- Earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in eligible purchases (then 1%)
- Earn 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions
- Earn 3% cash back at eligible U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more) purchases
- Earn 1% cash back on other purchases
- Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit and at Amazon.com checkout
- Exceptional rewards rate at U.S. supermarkets
- Great rate on select U.S. subscriptions and at U.S. gas stations, as well as for transit
- Welcome offer
- Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers
- Bonus rewards at U.S. supermarkets capped at the first $6,000 in spending per year
- Annual fee applies after the first year
- Foreign transaction fees apply
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is our top pick as the best credit card for gas and groceries, and for good reason. This card offers an incredible rewards rate at U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations, which cardholders can use to maximize cash back* earned on these everyday purchases.
The card also offers an elevated rewards rate for select U.S. streaming services and transit, as well as an intro APR on purchases. If you max out the $6,000 spend cap at U.S. supermarkets each year, you’ll get a generous $360 in cash back* rewards on eligible spending.
You can also earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months. There is a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95. A monthly streaming subscription credit is also included with this offer (enrollment required).
- Click APPLY NOW to apply online.
- 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.
- 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%.
- Plan It®: Buy now, pay later with Plan It. Split purchases of $100 or more into equal monthly installments with a fixed fee so you don’t have the pressure of paying all at once. Simply select the purchase in your online account or the American Express® App to see your plan options. Plus, you’ll still earn rewards on purchases the way you usually do.
- Earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in eligible purchases (then 1%), 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% cash back at eligible U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more) purchases and 1% cash back on other purchases. Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit and at Amazon.com checkout.
- Get up to a $10 monthly statement credit after using your enrolled Blue Cash Preferred® Card for a subscription purchase, including a bundle subscription purchase, at disneyplus.com, Hulu.com, or Plus.espn.com U.S. websites. Subject to auto-renewal.
- 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
Best for 5% cash back
Citi Custom Cash® Card*
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Grocery rewards: Earn 5% cash back (up to $500 if groceries is your top spending category each billing cycle)
Rewards rate details:
- 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.
- Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- Special Travel Offer: Earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2026
- Elevated cash back rate in your top category each billing cycle
- Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers
- $0 annual fee
- Elevated earning rate only applies to $500 in spending per billing cycle
- Other spending earns just 1% back
- Mediocre benefits
- Foreign transaction fees apply
This Citi Custom Cash® Card can make sense if you spend a lot on groceries but also change your top spending categories frequently.
The card automatically applies its elevated cash back rate to your highest spending category each billing cycle, unlike other cards that require you to manually enroll in bonus spending categories. So even if you don’t spend the most on groceries every month, you can still earn more cash back in other categories such as restaurants, gas stations, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs and live entertainment.
New cardmembers can also earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back. The card comes with an intro APR offer for purchases and balance transfers.
- Click APPLY NOW to apply online.
- Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
- 0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. After that, the variable APR will be 18.24% - 28.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
- 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. Also, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. Special Travel Offer: Earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2026.
- 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.
- No Annual Fee
- Citi will only issue one Citi Custom Cash® Card account per person.
- Rates & Fees
Best Chase card for groceries
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here. Apply Now
Grocery rewards: Earn 3X points on online grocery purchases
Rewards rate details:
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- Earn 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries
- Earn 2x on all other travel purchases
- Earn 1x on all other purchases
- Earns bonus rewards in numerous categories
- Huge welcome offer
- Flexible, transferable rewards
- Rewards worth up to 75% more when redeemed for travel through Chase
- No foreign transaction fees
- $95 annual fee
- High APR applies
- Bonus rewards are for online grocery purchases only (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs)
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is one of the top travel credit cards available today, yet it offers bonus rewards in a range of unique categories including travel through Chase as well as other travel, dining, online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs) and select streaming services. The online grocery purchases category can be useful for consumers who order their household groceries online for delivery or pickup, especially as there are no caps on spending or bonus rewards.
The card offers a generous sign-up bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Also note that Chase Ultimate Rewards® points can be redeemed for cash back, gift cards, merchandise or up to 75% more on travel through Chase. Points also transfer 1:1 to a range of different airline and hotel partners.
- Click APPLY NOW to apply online.
- Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
- Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel℠
- 10% anniversary points boost - each account anniversary you'll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
- Member FDIC
- Rates & Fees
BEST GROCERY CREDIT CARD WITH NO ANNUAL FEE
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Grocery rewards: Earn 3% cash back* (on up to $6,000 per year on U.S. supermarket spending)
Rewards rate details:
- Earn 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, on U.S. online retail purchases, and at U.S. gas stations, on eligible purchases for each category 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 and at Amazon.com checkout.
- Rewards at U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations, plus online shopping at U.S. retailers
- Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers
- Welcome offer
- $0 annual fee
- Bonus rewards have spending caps
- Mediocre benefits
- Foreign transaction fees apply
With the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, you’ll pay a $0 annual fee and earn a solid cash back* rate on up to $6,000 spent at U.S. supermarkets per year. The supermarket category includes stores that offer a wide variety of food and household products. Meanwhile, you can earn the same elevated rewards rate for U.S. online retail purchases, and for up to $6,000 spent at U.S. gas stations each year.
This card also has a generous welcome offer and an intro APR that applies to both purchases and balance transfers. Monthly statement credits for streaming subscription purchases (enrollment required) and Home Chef meal kit purchases also apply (enrollment required).
- Click APPLY NOW to apply online.
- Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
- No Annual Fee.
- Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from the date of account opening. After that, 20.24% to 29.24% variable APR.
- Plan It®: Buy now, pay later with Plan It. Split purchases of $100 or more into equal monthly installments with a fixed fee so you don’t have the pressure of paying all at once. Simply select the purchase in your online account or the American Express® App to see your plan options. Plus, you’ll still earn rewards on purchases the way you usually do.
- Earn 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, 3% cash back on U.S. online retail purchases, 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations, on eligible purchases for each category 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 and at Amazon.com checkout.
- Get up to a $7 monthly statement credit after using your enrolled Blue Cash Everyday® Card for a subscription purchase, including a bundle subscription purchase, at Disneyplus.com, Hulu.com, or Plus.espn.com U.S. websites. Subject to auto-renewal.
- 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
BEST GROCERY CARD FOR LARGE GROCERY PURCHASES
American Express® Gold Card
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Grocery rewards: Earn 4x points (on up to $25,000 in purchases per year at U.S. supermarkets)
Rewards rate details:
- 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.
- Terms apply.
- Lucrative rewards on U.S. supermarket spending and dining worldwide
- Elevated rewards rate on airfare booked with airlines or AmexTravel.com
- Earns American Express Membership Rewards points
- Comes with generous welcome offer
- No foreign transaction fees
- $325 annual fee applies
- Annual credits can be difficult to maximize
- Can’t carry a balance on some purchases
The American Express® Gold Card is ideal if you spend a lot at U.S. supermarkets each year, and on dining in general. But because the card has a $325 annual fee, it’s best if you spend enough at U.S. supermarkets and restaurants worldwide each year to justify the cost. You should also note the other benefits that help make up for the annual fee, including a dining credit worth up to $120 per year (up to $10 monthly, enrollment required).
If you maximize your earning potential at U.S. supermarkets by spending $25,000 on those purchases each year, you’ll net 100,000 Membership Rewards points, which are worth $1,000 in airfare booked through the American Express travel portal.
Note that rewards earned with this card are incredibly flexible but best used for travel. These points can be redeemed for statement credits, gift cards, merchandise, travel through AmexTravel.com or point transfer to Amex airline and hotel partners.
- Click APPLY NOW to apply online.
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- 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 with 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. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $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.
- Terms Apply.
- Rates & Fees
Best credit card for dining and groceries
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Grocery rewards: 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®)
Rewards rate details:
- Earn 3% Cash Back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services
- Earn 5% Cash Back on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Earn 8% Cash Back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
- Earn 1% Cash Back on all other purchases
- $0 annual fee
- Intro APR offer
- High rewards on dining and entertainment in addition to groceries
- Easy-to-earn sign-up bonus
- Foreign transaction fee: None
- Excludes Walmart and Target from grocery category
- Geared for cardholders with good / excellent credit
The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card is a good choice for people who want to earn a high cash back rewards rate on dining and entertainment, as well as groceries. Unfortunately, Target and Walmart are excluded from that high cash back rate — but the card is still valuable for frequent grocery shoppers.
The card has a $0 annual fee and lets you earn $200 cash back after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening. Cardholders can also qualify for an intro APR offer that applies to purchases and balance transfers (a balance transfer fee applies).
- Click APPLY NOW to apply online.
- For a limited time, enjoy a $100 credit to use towards flights, stays and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel during your first cardholder year. Plus, earn a $200 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
- Earn unlimited 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services, plus 1% on all other purchases
- Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus cash back won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how much you can earn
- 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.24% - 29.24% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
- No foreign transaction fee
- No annual fee
- For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply
- Rates & Fees
BEST GROCERY CREDIT CARD FOR WHOLE FOODS AND AMAZON
Prime Visa
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here. Apply Now
Grocery rewards: Earn 5% back at Whole Foods and Amazon Fresh (with eligible Prime membership)
Rewards rate details:
- Earn unlimited 5% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market, and on Chase Travel purchases with an eligible Prime membership
- Earn unlimited 2% back at gas stations, restaurants, and on local transit and commuting (including rideshare)
- Earn unlimited 1% on all other purchases
- Very generous cash back rewards on Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market purchases
- $0 annual fee
- Rewards are flexible
- No foreign transaction fees
- Amazon Prime membership required
- Earns only 1% back on spending beyond the special categories
The Prime Visa has no annual fee and offers a generous cash back rate on grocery purchases at Amazon and Whole Foods. However, the card requires an Amazon Prime membership, which runs $139 per year or $69 a year for college students. Rewards earned with this card are fairly flexible. You can redeem cash back toward Amazon purchases with no minimum amount required for redemption. Other options include transfers to a bank account, gift cards, travel or merchandise.
- Click APPLY NOW to apply online.
- Get a $150 Amazon Gift Card instantly upon approval exclusively for Prime members
- Earn unlimited 5% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market and on Chase Travel purchases with an eligible Prime membership
- Prime Card Bonus: Earn 10% back or more on a rotating selection of items and categories on Amazon.com with an eligible Prime membership
- Earn unlimited 2% back at gas stations, restaurants, and on local transit and commuting (including rideshare)
- Earn unlimited 1% back on all other purchases
- No annual credit card fee
- No more waiting. Redeem daily rewards at Amazon.com as soon as the next day
- Member FDIC
- Rates & Fees
Best credit card for Costco groceries
Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi*
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Grocery rewards: Earn 2% cash back at Costco and Costco.com
Rewards rate details:
- Earn 5% cash back rewards on gas at Costco and earn 4% cash back on other eligible gas and electric vehicle (EV) charging purchases for the first $7,000 combined spend per year, and then 1% thereafter.
- Earn 3% cash back on restaurants and eligible travel purchases and eligible travel, including Costco Travel.
- Earn 2% cash back on all other purchases from Costco and Costco.com
- Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases
- Earns cash back on Costco purchases
- Also racks up generous rewards on gas, EV charging, restaurants and eligible travel
- $0 annual fee
- Costco membership required
- No welcome offer
- Rewards are given out only once per year
- Rewards are good only for Costco merchandise or cash back
If you’re a Costco member, the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi is an excellent choice — it offers a solid cash back rate on those purchases, as well as on eligible gas and EV charging purchases, restaurants and travel.
Just keep in mind that a Costco membership is required, and that’ll set you back a minimum of $65 per year. You should also know that rewards are given out only once per year, when your February statement closes. Additionally, the rewards certificate you earn can be redeemed only for Costco purchases or cash back at physical Costco stores.
- Click APPLY NOW to apply online.
- Discover one of Citi's best cash back rewards cards designed exclusively for Costco members
- Earn 5% cash back rewards on gas at Costco and earn 4% cash back on other eligible gas and electric vehicle (EV) charging purchases for the first $7,000 combined spend per year, and then 1% thereafter.
- 3% cash back on restaurants and eligible travel purchases and eligible travel, including Costco Travel.
- 2% cash back on all other purchases from Costco and Costco.com
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
- No annual fee with your paid Costco membership and enjoy no foreign transaction fees on purchases
- Receive an annual credit card reward certificate, which is redeemable for cash or merchandise at U.S. Costco warehouses, including Puerto Rico
- Rates & Fees
Best credit card for Instacart shoppers
Instacart Mastercard®*
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Grocery rewards: 5% cash back on Instacart app and Instacart.com
Rewards rate details:
- Earn 5% cash back on Instacart app, Instacart.com and Chase Travel purchases
- Earn 2% cash back at restaurants, gas stations and on select streaming services
- Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases
- Earns bonus cash back on grocery purchases made through Instacart
- $0 annual fee
- Offers a variety of benefits and protections
- Rewards can be redeemed for Instacart purchases, cash back or travel
- Doesn’t earn bonus rewards on grocery purchases made outside of Instacart
- Earns only 1% back on non-bonus spending
- No intro APR
The Instacart Mastercard® doesn’t charge an annual fee, and it offers a high cash back rate on Instacart purchases. Other categories that earn bonus rewards with this card include travel purchases through Chase, restaurants, gas stations and select streaming services.
The card also offers benefits including purchase protection against damage or theft, World Elite concierge services, extended warranties, baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement and travel accident insurance.
Users can redeem their rewards for flexible options such as statement credits for Instacart orders, cash back or travel.
- Click APPLY NOW to apply online.
- Best Offer: Get a free year of Instacart+ and a $100 Instacart credit automatically upon approval. Membership auto-renews. Terms apply.
- Earn 5% cash back on Instacart app and Instacart.com purchases
- Earn 5% cash back on Chase Travel℠ purchases, including flights, hotels, and more
- Earn 2% cash back at restaurants, gas stations and on select streaming services
- Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases
- No annual card fee
What is a grocery credit card?
A grocery credit card is a type of rewards card that lets you earn an elevated rewards rate on eligible grocery store purchases. Cards in this niche typically offer anywhere from 2% to 6% back on grocery purchases, as well as bonus rewards in other popular spending categories, such as gas and dining.
The amount you can earn at the higher rates is often limited to a specific amount each year.
Depending on the credit card, you may be able to redeem rewards for grocery and gas purchases, cash back, checks, statement credits, travel and more. While some grocery credit cards don’t charge annual fees, there are some merchants — such as Amazon and Costco — that require a membership fee.
Grocery rewards card pros and cons
- Offer elevated rewards rate on grocery purchases
- May also offer bonus rewards in everyday spending categories, such as dining and gas
- Many cards offer sign-up bonuses or welcome offers
- Many grocery cards come with no annual fee
- May offer an intro APR on purchases and balance transfers
- May limit what types of purchases qualify as eligible grocery purchases
- Many offer only 1% back on general spending
- Grocery credit cards typically don’t have many consumer protections or travel perks
- Some grocery rewards cards cap your earning potential on bonus rewards
- Often require good or excellent credit
- Interest rates can be high over the long term
What purchases earn grocery rewards?
The types of purchases that qualify for a higher earning rate on groceries will depend on the rewards credit card you sign up for. For example:
- American Express credit cards specifically offer grocery rewards on U.S. supermarket purchases, but not on grocery purchases made overseas.
- The Instacart Mastercard®, on the other hand, offers grocery rewards only on purchases made through Instacart.
- The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi lets you earn grocery rewards only on purchases made in Costco warehouse stores or on Costco.com.
With all this in mind, you’ll want to read over the fine print and terms and conditions for cards you’re considering before you apply. For the most part, though, grocery rewards can be earned on food and household purchases made at eligible standalone stores.
Types of purchases and transactions that typically don’t qualify for elevated rewards on groceries:
- Items that are returned
- Cash advances
- Balance transfers
- Travelers checks
- Gift cards (in some cases)
- Reloading of prepaid cards
- Person-to-person transactions
- Purchases covered with rewards at the point of sale
How to choose the best credit card for groceries
As you compare the best grocery store cards, you’ll want to think about where you shop the most and how much you actually spend on food each year. You’ll also want to consider some other factors, such as earning rate and annual fee, before you send in a card application.
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Earning rate on grocery purchases
How much you can earn on grocery purchases is the top consideration to keep in mind when picking the best grocery credit card. Ideally, you’ll select a card that offers the highest possible rewards rate on groceries and other food spending, but at the type of stores you frequent most often. That may include U.S. supermarkets only, or perhaps you do the bulk of your grocery shopping through Instacart. Whatever type of grocery spending is more common for you, make sure you know and understand any spending or rewards caps that apply to grocery purchases.
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Earning rate on other purchases
You should also remember to look over the other earning categories each card offers, particularly if you want to use just one cash back credit card for all your spending. While earning bonus rewards at grocery stores is always nice, the best credit card for groceries may also offer bonus points at restaurants or gas stations, or on select streaming services. Even if you don’t spend a lot on your credit card each month, the bonus rewards you earn in other categories can still add up over time.
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Annual fee
While most top grocery store cards don’t charge an annual fee, some do charge a fee in exchange for a higher rewards rate. Make sure you do the math to know if a card with an annual fee would leave you with a larger rewards haul at the end of the year.
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APR on purchases
Some of the best grocery store cards offer 0% APR on purchases, balance transfers or both for a limited time. This makes them a useful tool if you need to consolidate and pay down other debts, or if you want to pay down new purchases interest-free for a while. In either case, to avoid paying interest charges, you’ll want to pay off your balance completely before the intro offer ends.
→ Learn more: What Does 0% APR mean?
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Other benefits
Finally, check for other cardholder perks you may be interested in. These could include consumer protections such as purchase protection, extended warranties or travel insurance perks.
Frequently asked questions
The best grocery store cards earn anywhere from 2% to 6% cash back on eligible purchases at supermarkets and grocery stores, as well as rewards on other purchases. However, some of these cards limit the type of stores that qualify for an elevated rewards rate. For example, some offer bonus rewards at U.S. supermarkets only, whereas others offer more cash back on select online grocery purchases but not in-store spending.
If you frequently shop for groceries at superstores such as Walmart or Target, you should know that your card might not categorize such spending as grocery store or supermarket purchases. This means your purchases won’t be eligible for an elevated rate on grocery shopping.
Also be aware that bonus rewards rates may apply only to a certain amount of spending at grocery stores each year. In fact, our top grocery rewards credit card — the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express — earns 6% cash back 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.
Which categories count as grocery purchases depends on the card you have. If you want to earn an elevated rewards rate on Instacart purchases, for example, you can do so with the Instacart Mastercard® or even the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, as it offers a higher rewards rate on online grocery purchases.
Almost all major grocery store brands accept major credit cards American Express, Discover, Mastercard and Visa — but you should still check with your preferred stores for their accepted payment methods before you choose a card.
In some cases, you may find that stores accept only certain types of credit cards for payments. For example, Costco warehouse stores accept only Visa credit cards, along with debit cards, Costco gift cards, cash, eligible mobile wallets and several other options.
To see rates & fees for American Express cards mentioned on this page, visit the links provided below:
- Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
- Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
- American Express® Gold Card
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply
The information related to the Citi Custom Cash® Card, Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi and Instacart Mastercard® has been independently collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.
The content above is not provided by any issuer. Any opinions expressed are those of LendingTree alone and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any issuer. The offers and/or promotions mentioned above may have changed, expired, or are no longer available. Check the issuer's website for more details.
