Basic expenses like groceries can add up quickly, especially if you live with a partner or have a family. If you spend three figures at the supermarket every year, it makes sense to have a credit card that brings rewards for groceries. That’s because spending on groceries alone can translate into thousands of points that can help you get a free flight, hundreds of dollars in cash rewards, and more.
In this guide, we list six of the best credit cards that are best for maximizing your grocery shopping trips. We’ll assume you’re spending roughly $300/month (or $3,600/year) at the supermarket to get an idea of how much rewards you can get from groceries alone. Of course, you should adjust these numbers according to your monthly budget.
Best credit cards for groceries
Best Grocery Store Credit Card: American Express® Gold Card
- year: 18.99% – 25.99% (Variable)
- Annual fee: $250
- Product Awards: 4 points per dollar at US supermarkets up to $25,000 per calendar year (then 1 point per dollar)
- Estimated profitability of grocery expenses: 7.2%
The American Express® Gold Card tops our list—and for good reason. While the $250 annual fee may seem expensive, Amex Gold is by far the best value card for groceries, as cardholders earn 4x more points for every dollar spent in US supermarkets, up to the first $25,000. spent per year.
Since Amex Membership Rewards® points cost an average of 1.8 cents per trip, Amex Gold cardholders earn a staggering 7.2% on products.
($3,600 per year * 4 credits * 0.018 cost / $3,600)
In a year, you can earn 14,400 Membership Rewards® points for grocery shopping, which is about $259.20 (or more) for travel. This can effectively negate the cost of the annual fee, and that’s before you even consider the card’s other great benefits:
- 4 points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, 3 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or through amextravel.com, and 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
- Uber Cash up to $120 per year. You’ll receive $10 monthly in Uber Cash that can be used to pay for UberEats orders or Uber rides in the US.
- Up to $120 annual food credit. You will receive $10 credit in qualifying restaurants including Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar, and select Shake Shack restaurants.
The only downside to the Amex Gold Card is that the 4x earning rate only applies to purchases made in US supermarkets. Although you will not be charged any foreign transaction fees with this card, for all your trips to the grocery store while traveling abroad, you may want to consider using a different card.
Read more: Amex Gold Card or Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Which is Right for You?
Second Place: American Express Blue Cash Preferred® Card
- year: 16.99% – 27.99% (Variable)
- Annual fee: $95
- Product Awards: 6% cashback at US supermarkets – but only on the first $6,000 spent per year, then 1% cashback is returned.
- Estimated profitability of grocery expenses: 6%
The Blue Cash Preferred® card from American Express offers a whopping 6% cashback at US supermarkets for the first $6,000 spent in a year, followed by a 1% cashback. If your monthly grocery budget drops below the maximum limit (approximately $500 per month), you can earn $360 cashback on your grocery expenses each year.
Unfortunately, you will only earn reward points at US supermarkets, and warehouse clubs and supermarkets such as Target and Walmart are also excluded. However, the American Express Blue Cash Preferred® Card remains one of the best cashback options for products with a fantastic 6% return.
In addition, cardholders receive a 6% cashback on select U.S. streaming subscriptions and a 3% cashback at U.S. gas stations and public transit purchases.
Read more: Amex Blue Cash Preferred® Review: Earn more cash on groceries and gas
Other Best Credit Cards for Products
Best for grocery delivery and grocery shopping: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- year: 20.24% – 27.24% Variable
- Annual fee: $95
- Product Awards: 3 points per dollar in online grocery services
- Estimated profitability of grocery expenses: 5.1%
Throughout the pandemic, grocery delivery services (such as FreshDirect and Instacart) and meal kit delivery boxes (such as Blue Apron and HelloFresh) have become incredibly popular. If you spend most of your supermarket spending on these services, Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card specifically offers unlimited points at 3x the dollar on purchases at online grocery stores, but excludes purchases at Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs.
Since Chase Ultimate Rewards® points cost 1.7 cents per point, this equates to a 5.1% return on online purchases. It is estimated that by spending $300 monthly on online grocery services, you can earn 10,800 points per year, which is about $184 for travel.
Not to mention, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® card also offers a 5x point increase on trips booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, a 3x point increase for restaurants and select streaming services, and a 1x point increase for every dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
Apply for a Chase Sapphire Preferred® card or read our full review.
Best Travel Rewards Solution: Citi Premier® Card.
- year: 20.24% – 28.24% (variable)
- Annual fee: $95
- Product Awards: 3x unlimited points per dollar at supermarkets
- Estimated profitability of grocery expenses: 4.8%
If you’re looking for travel rewards, Citi Premier® Card great choice for everything $95 in year. You will earn 3x the Reward Points on purchases at hotels and airlines, as well as supermarkets (excluding warehouses), gas stations and restaurants, and 1x the Reward Points on all other purchases.
When you redeem your travel rewards, Citi ThankYou® Points are worth approximately 1.6 cents each. With approximately 900 points earned per month, or 10,800 points per year, you will receive approximately $173 in credit card rewards.
Apply for a Citi Premier® card or read our full review.
Card information has been compiled by MoneyUnder30 to help consumers better compare cards. The financial institution did not provide or approve the card details.
Best No Annual Fee: Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
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- year: 19.24% – 29.24% (variable)
- Annual fee: $0
- Product Awards: 3% unlimited cashback at grocery stores (excluding supermarkets like Walmart® and Target®)
- Estimated profitability of grocery expenses: 3%
The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card is one of our favorite cash back cards with no annual fees. Cardholders receive unlimited 3% cash back at grocery stores, including supermarkets (both in the US and overseas), meat cabinets, freezers and dairy stores, and specialty markets. However, you won’t get reward points at supermarkets like Target or Walmart.
On a $300 monthly product spend, you’ll earn $108 in cash rewards with your Capital One SavorOne Rewards credit card. In addition to earning Points at grocery stores, cardholders receive 3% cashback on restaurants, entertainment and popular streaming services, and 1% cashback on all other eligible purchases.
Finally, this card is exempt from all foreign transaction fees for purchases made outside of the US.
Apply for a Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards credit card.
Best for Bulk Purchases: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
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- year: 20.24% – 28.24% (variable)
- Annual fee: $95
- Product Awards: 2 miles per dollar on all qualifying purchases
- Estimated profitability of grocery expenses: 2%
Let’s say you spend most of your groceries at warehouse clubs like Costco or Sam’s Club, or even big-box stores like Target or Walmart. Unfortunately, many credit cards that offer bonus rewards for products (including those listed above) specifically exclude spending at these stores.
If so, you may want to consider applying for a credit card that rewards you for Everybody general spending. The Capital One Venture Rewards credit card is a great option as it gives you unlimited 5 miles per dollar on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel and 2 miles per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
With an estimated $300 monthly groceries budget, you’ll earn 600 miles per month, or roughly 7,200 miles per year, which you can use for travel, gift cards, cashback, and more.
With maximum simplicity, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is great for grocery shopping, no matter which supermarket you shop at.
Apply for a Capital One Venture Rewards credit card or read our full review.
Summary
When it comes to choosing the right credit card for groceries, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. While some cards can offer up to 7.8% returns on products, you first need to evaluate where you do most of your shopping.
If the bulk of your grocery shopping is done at a warehouse club, you might want to consider a card instead that offers reward points on all general spending.
Meanwhile, large families may justify an annual fee to get a higher return on supermarket shopping, while others may want to open a card without the annual fee.