March 31, 2023
Why use LendingTree?
Along with offering one of the highest cash back rates on U.S. supermarket purchases, this card earns cash back on other useful categories, like U.S. gas stations and transit, and comes with a valuable welcome offer.
If you have a large family to feed or you’re someone who prefers to cook at home instead of dining out, you likely spend a large amount on groceries each month. By using the right credit card, you can earn cash back or points on those purchases — which can help offset your monthly grocery bill.
When looking for the best grocery credit card, your goal should be to earn the highest rewards rate on grocery purchases without paying a high annual fee. If the card also lets you earn rewards in other popular spending categories, like gas, dining out and travel, that’s an added bonus.
Based on our research of cards available through LendingTree, as well as top cards offered by major issuers, these are our top picks for the best grocery rewards credit cards in 2023.
This is a well-rounded card with an exceptional cash back rate on U.S. supermarket purchases. The elevated rewards rate on select streaming services, U.S. gas station purchases and transit, as well as the intro APR on purchases make this card an even better deal.
Who’s this card best for?
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is best if you spend a lot at U.S. supermarkets each year. You’ll earn 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. Terms apply.
If you max out the $6,000 spend cap each year, you’ll get $360 in cash back rewards on U.S. supermarket spending alone.
Plus, you’ll earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
Finally, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express offers an intro APR of 0% on purchases for 12 months (then 19.24%-29.99% Variable APR), and an intro APR of 0% on balance transfers for 12 months (then 19.24%-29.99% Variable APR). This benefit makes it a solid option for people who want to consolidate debt or pay down larger purchases without interest payments for up to one year.
There is, however, a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95. annual fee.
To see rates & fees for Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express please click here.
Apply Now
This card lets you 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.
Who’s this card best for?
This Citi Custom Cash® Card is best if you spend a lot on groceries but also see your top spending categories change frequently.
Unlike cards like the Discover it® Cash Back that require you to activate bonus categories every quarter, the Citi Custom Cash® Card automatically applies its elevated cash back rate to your highest spending category. So, even if you don’t spend the most on groceries every month, you can still earn more cash back in other categories like restaurants, gas stations, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs and live entertainment.
The $0-annual-fee Citi Custom Cash® Card also comes with a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases (then 19.24% - 29.24% (Variable) APR), as well as a 0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers (then a 19.24% - 29.24% (Variable) APR).
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The Discover it® Cash Back lets you earn a generous rewards rate in categories that rotate quarterly — which sometimes includes grocery purchases.
Who’s this card best for?
If you want to maximize rewards in different earning categories, the Discover it® Cash Back could be a good choice. This card lets you earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases - automatically. As an added bonus, Discover will even double all the rewards you have earned after the first year.
The Discover it® Cash Back also offers a 0% Intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers, then a 17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR. There’s also a 0% Intro APR for 15 months on purchases, then a 17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR applies.
Also note that this is a $0 annual fee credit card, which makes it a good choice if you want to earn rewards without paying for the privilege.
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.
Who’s this card best for?
The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express is best for you if you want to earn a generous cash back rate in popular spending categories without paying an annual fee.
You’ll earn 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, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%. 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations, on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%. 1% cash back on other purchases. Terms apply.
The supermarket category includes supermarkets located within the U.S. that offer a wide variety of food and household products, such as meat, fresh produce, dairy, canned and packaged goods, household cleaners, pharmacy products and pet supplies.
Also know that you’ll get an intro APR of 0% on purchases for 15 months (then a 19.24%-29.99% Variable APR), as well as an intro APR of 0% on balance transfers for 15 months (then a 19.24%-29.99% Variable APR).
To see rates & fees for Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express please click here.
To see rates & fees for Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express please click here.
The American Express® Gold Card is ideal if you spend a lot at grocery stores each year, and on dining in general.
Who’s this card best for?
Because the American Express® Gold Card requires a $250 annual fee, this card is best if you spend enough at U.S. supermarkets and restaurants each year to justify the annual fee.
You’ll earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X), and 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com. Terms apply.
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 Amex travel portal. The fact that cardholders also earn 4X points on dining worldwide plus 3X points on airfare booked through American Express or directly with airlines means cardholders who spend a lot in these categories can rack up rewards even faster.
Also note the other benefits that help make up for the annual fee, including a dining credit worth up to $120 per year (enrollment required).
The Prime Visa offers a generous cash back rate to shoppers who make most of their grocery purchases at Amazon and Whole Foods. Plus, this card has a $0 annual fee.
Who’s this card best for?
The Prime Visa is best if you’re an Amazon Prime member, since it requires Amazon Prime membership — which runs $139 per year or $69 a year for college students.
You’ll earn 5% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market, and on Chase Travel purchases with an eligible Prime membership, 2% back at gas stations, restaurants, and on local transit and commuting (including rideshare), and 1% on all other purchases These categories make this card a solid option for regular, everyday spending in addition to online grocery purchases.
Finally, it’s important to note that rewards earned with this card are fairly flexible. In fact, 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.
If you’re a Costco member, this card is an excellent choice since it offers a solid cash back rate on those purchases, as well as on eligible gas and EV charging purchases, restaurants and travel.
Who’s this card best for?
The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi is a great option if you purchase groceries at Costco stores. The card lets you earn 4% cash back on eligible gas and EV charging purchases for the first $7,000 per year and then 1% thereafter, 3% on restaurants & travel, 2% at Costco & Costco.com, 1% on all other purchases.
Just keep in mind that a Costco membership is required, and this will set you back a minimum of $60 per year. Also be aware that rewards are only given out once per year when your February statement closes, and the rewards certificate you earn can only be redeemed for Costco purchases or cash back at physical Costco stores.
Along with charging a $0 annual fee, this card offers a high cash back rate on Instacart purchases.
Who’s this card best for?
This card is best if you regularly use Instacart to get your groceries delivered. You’ll Earn 5% cash back on Instacart app and Instacart.com purchases, and on travel purchased through the Chase Travel Center. Earn 2% cash back at restaurants, gas stations and on select streaming services. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases.
There’s a $0 annual fee, and the card offers benefits like purchase protection against damage or theft, World Elite concierge services, extended warranties, baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, travel accident insurance and more.
| Credit Cards | Our Ratings | Welcome Offer | Rewards Rate | Regular APR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
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Winner
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Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months. | 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. Terms apply. | 19.24%-29.99% Variable | |
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Discover it® Cash Back
Apply Now
on Discover's secure site Rates & Fees |
Rotating categories
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Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300. | 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases - automatically | 17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR |
Apply Now
on Discover's secure site Rates & Fees |
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Citi Custom Cash® Card
Apply Now
on Citibank's secure site Rates & Fees |
5% cash back
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Earn $200 in cash back after you spend $1500 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. | 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. | 19.24% - 29.24% (Variable) |
Apply Now
on Citibank's secure site Rates & Fees |
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
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No annual fee
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Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months. | 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, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%. 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations, on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%. 1% cash back on other purchases. Terms apply. | 19.24%-29.99% Variable | |
American Express® Gold Card
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Large grocery purchases
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60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X), and 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com. Terms apply. | See Pay Over Time APR | |
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Prime Visa
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Whole Foods and Amazon
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Get a $100 (or more) Amazon Gift Card instantly upon approval exclusively for Prime members | Earn 5% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market, and on Chase Travel purchases with an eligible Prime membership, 2% back at gas stations, restaurants, and on local transit and commuting (including rideshare), and 1% on all other purchases | 19.49%–27.49% variable APR | |
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Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
Review Coming Soon
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Wholesale clubs
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N/A | 4% cash back on eligible gas and EV charging purchases for the first $7,000 per year and then 1% thereafter, 3% on restaurants & travel, 2% at Costco & Costco.com, 1% on all other purchases | 20.49% (Variable) | Review Coming Soon |
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Instacart Mastercard®
Review Coming Soon
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Instacart shoppers
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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, and on travel purchased through the Chase Travel Center. Earn 2% cash back at restaurants, gas stations and on select streaming services. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases. | 20.24% - 28.99% Variable | Review Coming Soon |
A grocery credit card is a type of rewards card that lets you earn an elevated rewards rate on eligible grocery store purchases. These cards typically offer anywhere from 2% to 6% back on grocery purchases, as well as bonus rewards in other popular spending categories, like gas and dining. Additionally, the amount you can earn at the higher rates is often limited to a specific amount each year.
For example, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express lets you earn 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. Terms apply.
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 do not charge annual fees, there are some merchants, like Amazon and Costco, that require a membership fee.
The types of purchases that qualify for bonus rewards depends 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, only offers grocery rewards on purchases made through Instacart. Similarly, the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi only lets you earn grocery rewards on purchases made in Costco warehouse stores or on Costco.com. Some cards, like the Discover it Cash Back card, also prevent you from earning at Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs.
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, stand-alone stores.
Some types of purchases that usually don’t qualify for bonus rewards include:
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. The following factors are also worth mulling over as you search for the best credit card for groceries based on the way you shop.
Earning rate on grocery purchases. The earning rate on groceries should be one of your top considerations as you look over the best cards in this category. After all, grocery store spending is likely one of the categories you spend the most in year after year, so the rewards you earn on food spending can add up in a hurry. Ideally, you’ll find a grocery store card that offers the highest rate of rewards on the type of supermarket purchases you make, whether you shop in certain grocery stores regularly or you do all of your grocery shopping online.
Earning rate on other purchases. 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.
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 bigger rewards haul at the end of the year.
APR on purchases. Do you ever carry a balance on your card? If so, you may want to look at grocery store cards that offer 0% APR on purchases for a limited time. Some cards also offer the same introductory rate for balance transfers, which makes them a useful tool if you need to consolidate and pay down other debts. Just remember that, in either case, you’ll want to pay off your balance completely before the intro offer ends. If you fail to do so, your grocery store spending and other purchases will start racking up interest at the card’s regular variable APR.
Other benefits. Finally, check for other cardholder perks you may be interested in. These could include consumer protections like purchase protection or extended warranties or travel insurance perks.
To see rates & fees for Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express please click here.
To see rates & fees for Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express please click here.
While your earning rate will vary depending on your specific credit card and the stores where you do your grocery shopping, the credit cards on this list offer from 2% to 6% cash back on eligible purchases.
If you often buy groceries at superstores such as Walmart or Target, you should know your card might not categorize such spending as grocery store or supermarket purchases, and thus your purchases won’t be eligible for an elevated rate on grocery shopping.
Whether or not Instacart shopping and similar purchases qualify for earning an elevated rate on grocery shopping will depend on your issuer. To be sure, contact customer service by calling the number on the back of your credit card.
Almost all major grocery store brands accept major credit cards like American Express, Discover, Mastercard and Visa, but you should still check with stores you shop at for their accepted payment methods before you choose a card.
In some cases, you may find that stores only accept certain types of credit cards. For example, Costco warehouse stores only accept Visa cards as payment along with debit cards, Costco gift cards, cash, eligible mobile wallets and several other options.
The above offers and/or promotions may have since changed, expired, or is no longer available. Check the Issuers’ website for more details.
