Can you buy groceries online with a credit card?

Yes. If your store offers it, you can purchase groceries online for pickup or delivery using a credit card. Online purchases made directly through a grocery store typically earn the same rewards rate as when shopping in-store. Third-party delivery services like Instacart may also count as grocery store purchases and should earn rewards at the same rate as in-store purchases. Some cards even offer bonuses specifically for online grocery purchases. However, always check with the issuer to make sure online grocery purchases earn the same bonus rates as in-store purchases.

Does buying groceries with a credit card build credit?

Yes. In addition to helping you earn rewards on grocery store purchases, these cards can also help you build credit. Just make sure you’re making on-time payments and keeping your monthly balances low, though paying in full can help you avoid interest charges and enjoy the full value of the rewards you earn.

What counts as a grocery purchase on a credit card?

Whether an issuer considers a purchase a “grocery purchase” depends on what four-digit merchant category code (MCC) is listed next to the purchase on your card statement. Each major credit card network has its own MCC list, but the main Visa or Mastercard MCC you’ll want to look for is “5411: Grocery Stores and Supermarkets.” Purchases on a Visa or Mastercard credit card that are assigned this MCC should be eligible for rewards as part of a grocery store or supermarket bonus category. Products bought at supermarkets, orders from certain grocery delivery services and bakery or deli purchases could all meet the criteria for this distinction.

8 best credit cards for groceries for May 2025

Compare Bankrate's best credit cards for groceries

Card name	Best for	Card highlights	Learn more
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express Apply now on American Express's secure site See Rates & Fees, Terms Apply	Grocery rewards rate	Intro Offer: Earn $250 Regular APR: 20.24%-29.24% Variable	Apply now on American Express's secure site See Rates & Fees, Terms Apply
American Express® Gold Card Apply now on American Express's secure site See Rates & Fees, Terms Apply	Travel rewards on groceries	Intro Offer: Earn 60,000 points Regular APR: See Pay Over Time APR	Apply now on American Express's secure site See Rates & Fees, Terms Apply
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express Apply now on American Express's secure site See Rates & Fees, Terms Apply	Everyday expenses + no annual fee	Intro Offer: Earn $200 Regular APR: 20.24%-29.24% Variable	Apply now on American Express's secure site See Rates & Fees, Terms Apply
Citi Strata Premier℠ Card Apply now on Citi's secure site See Rates & Fees	Everyday expenses + travel	Intro Offer: Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points Regular APR: 20.24% - 28.24% (Variable)	Apply now on Citi's secure site See Rates & Fees
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card Apply now on Capital One's secure site See Rates & Fees	Food + entertainment	Intro Offer: Earn $200 Cash Back Regular APR: 19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)	Apply now on Capital One's secure site See Rates & Fees
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card Apply now on Bank of America's secure site	Wholesale clubs	Intro Offer: $200 Regular APR: 18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers	Apply now on Bank of America's secure site
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card Offer ends 5/15 at 9 AM EST Apply now on Chase's secure site See Rates & Fees	Online grocery purchases	Intro Offer: 100,000 bonus points Regular APR: 19.99% - 28.24% Variable	Apply now on Chase's secure site See Rates & Fees
Citi Custom Cash® Card	Customizable rewards	Intro Offer: $200 Regular APR: 18.24% - 28.24% (Variable)

On This Page

Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.

Researching the best credit cards for groceries

150+

cards rated

50+

rewards programs valued

1800

data points analyzed

40+

perks evaluated

We thoroughly rate and research the best grocery cards based on key criteria to help you make confident decisions when choosing your next credit card. Learn more about our methodology below.

What is a grocery store credit card?

Grocery rewards cards earn cash back or points on purchases at eligible grocery stores. Groceries are often one of the most lucrative bonus categories for consumers, considering food and household products are the backbone of most budgets.

Typically, only purchases at traditional grocery stores and supermarkets earn bonus rewards, so you may need to explore more options if you mostly shop at superstores like Walmart and Target, wholesale clubs, online retailers or specialty food stores.

Types of grocery store credit cards

Although many popular grocery rewards cards are general-purpose cards with multiple bonus categories, some of the top options are co-branded with a particular retailer or will only work or earn rewards at specific stores. Here’s a look at the different types of grocery cards and which option will be the best fit for various cardholders.

Bonus category cards offer higher rewards rates in select categories — typically anywhere from 3 percent to 6 percent back in rewards. Cards that offer bonus grocery rewards earn cash back, points or miles on purchases at stores classified as supermarkets based on their merchant category code. That includes favorites like Safeway, Albertsons, Kroger, Publix and many other local grocery stores.
Co-branded cards carry the name of a retailer and a credit card issuer. Like traditional credit cards, you can use a co-branded grocery rewards card wherever credit cards are accepted, but they tend to earn the best rewards at the retailer, hotel or airline named on the card. These differ from store cards which are "closed loop," meaning you can only use them at a specific retail or grocery store.

Bankrate Insight

Superstores like Walmart and Target and wholesale clubs like Costco, Sam’s Club and BJ’s are separate merchant categories from grocery stores and don’t typically qualify for bonus grocery category rewards. Consider store credit cards like the Target RedCard™ if you want rewards for your purchases at your go-to wholesale club and superstores.

How much could you save with a grocery credit card?

According to the most recent data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual cost of household groceries in 2023 was around $6,000. That averages out to about $500 a month spent on groceries — a big chunk of the average person’s budget.

When used responsibly, grocery rewards cards can help you save money by giving you back a percentage of your grocery spending in the form of cash back, points or travel miles. How much you can earn depends on your spending habits and the type of grocery rewards card you choose. Take a look at the examples below to see how much you could save each year depending on the credit card.

Payment method	Rewards rate	Estimated rewards earned	Annual fee
Cash or card with no rewards	N/A	$0	$0
Flat-rate 2% cash back card	2% back on eligible purchases	$120	$0
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card	3% back on grocery store purchases (excluding Target & Walmart)	$180	$0 (See Rates & Fees)
Citi Custom Cash Card	5% back in your top spending eligible category (includes grocery stores, on up to $500 per billing cycle, then 1%)	$300	$0
Blue Cash Preferred from American Express	6% back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%)	$360	$95 ($0 intro annual fee for the first year)

How to choose a grocery credit card

Finding the right grocery credit card can help you earn maximum rewards on purchases you frequently make. Here’s some advice from our top credit card experts to help you in your search.

See where you shop the most

A general-purpose credit card that offers grocery rewards is a good pick if you want the flexibility to shop at a broad mix of grocery stores and supermarkets. But if you are loyal to a specific store or brand, a co-branded credit card or a flat-rate rewards card may offer the best value.
Note how much you spend on groceries

Not everyone will spend enough to offset the annual fee of some of the most lucrative grocery store credit cards. Luckily, some of the best grocery rewards cards come with no annual fee, making them a great option for people who don’t spend enough at the grocery store to justify the annual cost.
Decide how you want to earn rewards

To earn as many rewards as possible with a grocery rewards card, you may have to track spending categories or have multiple credit cards. A grocery rewards card with a simple rewards structure or a flat-rate credit card may work better if you want an easier way to earn rewards. You likely won’t earn as many rewards, but you won’t have to jump through so many hoops, either.
Understand what short- and long-term benefits matter most to you

The right grocery rewards card can offer standout perks that increase the card’s value for you in the short- and long-term. These may include a generous sign-up bonus, introductory APR offer, purchase protections, no foreign transaction fees and annual credits.

Tips for maximizing a grocery store credit card

Once you’ve chosen the right grocery store credit card, you can start planning to get the most out of your new card. Here are some tips to help you get the most satisfying experience out of your grocery rewards card.

Lean into co-branded store cards

Many stores like Sam's Club, BJ's and Costco use cost-first strategies that offer shoppers the best prices, rewards and promotions. However, they are often excluded as a bonus category on most rewards cards. If you shop frequently at a grocery store that offers a co-branded card, you may want to consider it in order to get the maximum return on your grocery spending.

Save more with cash back apps

Coupons and cash back apps can sprinkle even more savings on top of the rewards you earn with a grocery rewards card. Bankrate experts recommend Ibotta if you’re paying with a grocery rewards card since they find its grocery-related offers are better than what competing apps and browser extensions provide.

Here’s how Bankrate experts maximize grocery card rewards

Groceries are a huge portion of many household budgets. Here's how Bankrate staff take advantage of their regular grocery spending to get plenty of rewards.

Bankrate staff insights

I never go grocery shopping without this card. Membership Rewards points are very valuable to me, and this card earns a lot of them. I easily offset the annual fee with Uber Cash credits, which I use regularly. The return on this card is as high as you can get with groceries and restaurants, so it’s a great choice for those frequently used categories. This card is my main vehicle for generating tons of Amex points, which helps me go on all sorts of great travel adventures using all their different travel partners.

Ryan Flanigan, Bankrate credit cards writer

My Citi Custom Cash and Chase Sapphire Preferred cards are my main grocery-shopping tools. I use the Citi Custom Cash for all in-store shopping at Kroger and Aldi and the Sapphire Preferred for my online grocery orders, which includes Krogery pickup and delivery. This strategy has net me a few hundred in cash back over the past couple years from the Citi Custom Cash and tens of thousands of points with the Sapphire Preferred.

Courtney Mihocik, Bankrate credit cards senior editor

Frequently asked questions about grocery rewards cards

Yes. If your store offers it, you can purchase groceries online for pickup or delivery using a credit card. Online purchases made directly through a grocery store typically earn the same rewards rate as when shopping in-store. Third-party delivery services like Instacart may also count as grocery store purchases and should earn rewards at the same rate as in-store purchases. Some cards even offer bonuses specifically for online grocery purchases. However, always check with the issuer to make sure online grocery purchases earn the same bonus rates as in-store purchases.
Yes. In addition to helping you earn rewards on grocery store purchases, these cards can also help you build credit. Just make sure you’re making on-time payments and keeping your monthly balances low, though paying in full can help you avoid interest charges and enjoy the full value of the rewards you earn.
Whether an issuer considers a purchase a “grocery purchase” depends on what four-digit merchant category code (MCC) is listed next to the purchase on your card statement.

Each major credit card network has its own MCC list, but the main Visa or Mastercard MCC you’ll want to look for is “5411: Grocery Stores and Supermarkets.” Purchases on a Visa or Mastercard credit card that are assigned this MCC should be eligible for rewards as part of a grocery store or supermarket bonus category. Products bought at supermarkets, orders from certain grocery delivery services and bakery or deli purchases could all meet the criteria for this distinction.

How we assess the best grocery store credit cards

When evaluating the best grocery store credit cards, we consider a mix of factors, including how cards score in our proprietary card rating system and whether cards offer features that fit the priorities of a diverse group of cardholders, from earning rewards in popular categories to scoring a large sign-up bonus or high-value perks. Whenever possible, we also feature cards that are available at various credit levels and price points.

We analyzed over 150 of the most popular cash back and rewards cards and scored each based on its rewards rate, estimated annual earnings, welcome bonus value, APR, fees, perks and more to determine whether it belonged in this month’s roundup of the best grocery store cards.

Here’s a quick look at the factors that make up our card scoring methodology for rewards and cash back cards (the card types most likely to earn rewards on groceries).

Rewards & cash back card scoring factors

Overall Score

Value 65%
Flexibility 15%
Perks 15%
Customer experience 5%

The primary criteria for a rewards-earning card’s rating is its rewards value. This includes the card’s average rewards rate, estimated annual rewards earnings, sign-up bonus value and reward redemption value.

To estimate a card’s average annual rewards earnings, we first calculate its average rewards rate based on how much it earns in different bonus categories and how closely its categories align with the average person’s spending habits. In other words, we assess whether the card earns rewards at a high rate in the most popular spending categories.

We use consumer spending data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to get a reliable third-party measure of people’s spending habits. The most recent BLS data estimates average total spending in 2023 was $77,280 per consumer. From here, we determine a “chargeable” spend (which purchases are likely to be put on a credit card and earn rewards). After subtracting expenditures like housing, vehicle purchases, education and healthcare, we get a total “chargeable” annual spend of around $22,500.

This includes the following spending by category:
- Groceries: $6,000
- Dining out: $3,900
- Entertainment: $2,500
- Gas: $2,400
- Apparel and services: $2,000
Using this data, we are able to assign a weighting to each of a card’s bonus categories. For example, a card’s grocery rewards rate receives a 26 percent weighting based on how much of the average person’s budget is spent on groceries.

We also estimate the redemption value of points or miles from various issuer, airline and hotel rewards programs.

This weighting and rewards valuation allows us to estimate a card’s average annual rewards earnings — how many points or miles you’d earn with a given card if your spending was about average and you used the card for all of your purchases — as well as what those points are worth. We also use point valuations to determine a card’s sign-up bonus value

With these calculations complete, we assign each card a score based on how its average rewards earnings, sign-up bonus value, rewards rate and redemption value stack up against other rewards cards.

The better these values, the higher its score will be, making it more worthy of inclusion in our list and increasing its potential ranking.

Here’s a deeper look at the factors considered as part of a rewards card’s “Value” rating:
5
Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Overall Score
- Ongoing rewards value 30%
- Sign-up bonus value 25%
- Annual fee & average APR 20%
- Rewards rate 15%
- Annual bonus value 10%
We also score cards based on how much it costs to keep them in your wallet or carry a balance.

To start, each card is scored based on whether it offers an intro APR and how its ongoing APR compares to the rates available on other rewards cards. However, the latter rating only has a slight influence on the card’s score and whether the card is included in our list, since rewards card users generally try to avoid carrying a balance.

More important to both a card’s score and its inclusion in our list is how its annual fee influences its overall value. We consider a card’s annual fee in two ways — how it ranks relative to the fees you’ll find on other cards in the category and how it impacts a card’s overall rewards value.

Cards with an annual fee will always be at a slight disadvantage in our scoring system since annual fees inherently cut into your rewards value. However, if a card offers terrific value via its ongoing rewards and perks, it can earn a high score and a spot in our list even if it carries a high annual fee. After all, the highest rewards rates and most valuable perks are often found on cards with annual fees.

With this in mind, we rate a card based primarily on how its ongoing rewards value and ongoing perk value (such as annual credits or bonuses) stack up against those of other cards in the category when you subtract annual fees.

That said, we strive to include as many no-annual-fee options in our list as possible since many people would rather not worry about offsetting fees, even if a card carries impressive rewards and perks.
Rewards cards may make it easy to earn a lot of points, miles or cash back, but how easy is it to use those rewards? After all, if it takes a ton of effort to redeem rewards or you can only redeem rewards in a couple of ways, a card may be more trouble than it’s worth.

As such, we rate each card’s flexibility based on the restrictions it imposes on earning and redeeming rewards. We factor this rating into a card’s overall score and consider it when deciding on a card’s inclusion in our list.

Flexibility factors include whether a card only allows you to earn a high rewards rate on only a small amount of spending or requires you to meet a certain earning threshold before you can redeem rewards. We also examine whether your points are worth less when you opt for some redemption options over others and whether a card gives you the flexibility to transfer rewards to travel partners.
We also score each card’s set of features – its perks and benefits — against five tiers of features to provide a rating.

We break down these tiers as follows:
- Tier 1 includes fewer features than even standard credit cards (for example, an ultra-streamlined card that offers basic utility and next to nothing in the way of ancillary benefits).
- Tier 2 includes the benefits you’d expect on standard Visa or Mastercard credit cards, such as free access to your credit score, car rental insurance and $0 liability for fraudulent charges.
- Tier 3 includes “prime card” or better-than-average card features like cellphone insurance, lost luggage insurance, concierge services and purchase protection.
- Tier 4 includes luxury features such as airport lounge access, elite status with an airline or hotel and credits for expedited security screening membership programs.
- Tier 5 includes the sort of exemplary benefits you’ll find on top-tier luxury cards, such as high-value travel credits, cardholder memberships and other unique and valuable perks.
In evaluating the best cards, we tend to favor cards that offer at least Tier 3 benefits, unless they include other unique features that could make up for less-impressive perks.

*Information about the Target RedCard™has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.

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.

We use primary sources to support our work. Bankrate’s authors, reporters and editors are subject-matter experts who thoroughly fact-check editorial content to ensure the information you’re reading is accurate, timely and relevant.
1. “Consumer Expenditures 2023.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Accessed on May 5, 2025.

Garrett Yarbrough Writer, Credit cards

Bankrate expert Garrett Yarbrough strives to make navigating credit cards and credit building smooth sailing for his readers. After regularly featuring his credit card,…

Courtney Mihocik Senior editor, credit cards

Courtney Mihocik is an editor at Bankrate Credit Cards and CreditCards.com specializing in credit card news and personal finance advice. Previously, she led insurance content at…

* See the online application for details about terms and conditions for these offers. Every reasonable effort has been made to maintain accurate information. However all credit card information is presented without warranty. After you click on the offer you desire you will be directed to the credit card issuer's web site where you can review the terms and conditions for your selected offer.

Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. The information, including card rates and fees, is accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank’s website for the most current information.

8 best credit cards for groceries for May 2025

+ Show Summary

Compare Bankrate's best credit cards for groceries

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

American Express® Gold Card

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Citi Custom Cash® Card

Researching the best credit cards for groceries

What is a grocery store credit card?

Types of grocery store credit cards

Bonus category rewards cards

Co-branded rewards cards

How much could you save with a grocery credit card?

How to choose a grocery credit card

See where you shop the most

Note how much you spend on groceries

Decide how you want to earn rewards

Understand what short- and long-term benefits matter most to you

Tips for maximizing a grocery store credit card

Lean into co-branded store cards

Save more with cash back apps

Here’s how Bankrate experts maximize grocery card rewards

Bankrate staff insights

Frequently asked questions about grocery rewards cards

Can you buy groceries online with a credit card?

Does buying groceries with a credit card build credit?

What counts as a grocery purchase on a credit card?

How we assess the best grocery store credit cards

Rewards & cash back card scoring factors

Great rewards value

Reasonable rates and fees

Redemption flexibility

Valuable perks

Article sources