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8 best credit cards for groceries for October 2024

Updated October 06, 2024

Advertiser Disclosure: The listings that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which Bankrate receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Here's an explanation for and how we rate our cards.

8 best credit cards for groceries for October 2024

Updated October 06, 2024

Advertiser Disclosure: The listings that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which Bankrate receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Here's an explanation for and how we rate our cards.

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Best for rewards on everyday purchases

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

Bankrate score

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4.4
Bankrate review
Recommended credit score:(670 - 850)
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on American Express's secure site
See Rates & Fees, Terms Apply

Intro offer

Earn $250

Rewards rate

1% - 6%

Annual fee

$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.

APR

18.74%-29.74% Variable

Why you'll like this: It offers the most generous rewards rate you can get on supermarket purchases, plus a solid rate in other key spending categories.

BEST FOR TRAVEL REWARDS ON GROCERIES

American Express® Gold Card

Bankrate score

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4.9
Bankrate review
Recommended credit score:(670 - 850)
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on American Express's secure site
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Intro offer

60,000 points + earn up to $100 back

Rewards rate

1X - 4X

Annual fee

$325

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Why you'll like this: It not only earns valuable, flexible points on groceries, but also offers a ton of value with its dining and travel credits.

Best for groceries and no annual fee

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

Bankrate score

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4.6
Bankrate review
Recommended credit score:(670 - 850)
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on American Express's secure site
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Intro offer

Earn $200

Rewards rate

1% - 3%

Annual fee

$0

APR

18.74%-29.74% Variable

Why you'll like this: It boasts a solid rewards rate on groceries, gas and online shopping, making it an ideal standalone option for everyday rewards.

BEST FOR CUSTOMIZABLE REWARDS

Citi Custom Cash® Card

Bankrate score

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4.4
Bankrate review
Recommended credit score:(670 - 850)
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on Citi's secure site
See Rates & Fees

Intro offer

$200

Rewards rate

1% - 5%

Annual fee

$0

Regular APR

18.74% - 28.74% (Variable)

Why you'll like this: It allows you to earn cash back on your top eligible spending category each billing cycle, which is ideal if you have varied spending habits.

Best for everyday purchases

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

Bankrate score

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4.6
Bankrate review
Recommended credit score:(670 - 850)
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on Citi's secure site
See Rates & Fees

Intro offer

70,000 bonus points

Rewards rate

1X - 10X

Annual fee

$95

Regular APR

20.74% - 28.74% (Variable)

Why you'll like this: You’ll earn top reward rates in multiple everyday categories, including groceries.

Best for food + entertainment rewards

Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

Bankrate score

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5.0
Bankrate review
Recommended credit score:(670 - 850)
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on Capital One's secure site
See Rates & Fees

Intro offer

$200

Rewards rate

1% - 8%

Annual fee

$0

Regular APR

19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)

Why you'll like this: It rewards foodies of all stripes since it offers a high cash back rate on both dining and grocery store purchases.

Best for wholesale club rewards

Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card

Bankrate score

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4.1
Bankrate review
Recommended credit score:(670 - 850)
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on Bank of America's secure site

Intro offer

$200

Rewards rate

1% - 3%

Annual fee

$0

Regular APR

18.74% - 28.74% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers

Why you'll like this: It’s uniquely flexible. You can choose which bonus category earns a top rate each month, including gas, online shopping, travel and more.

BEST FOR ONLINE GROCERY PURCHASES

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Bankrate score

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5.0
Bankrate review
Recommended credit score:(670 - 850)
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on Chase's secure site

Intro offer

$300 Chase Travel℠ Credit + 60,000 bonus points

Rewards rate

1x - 5x

Annual fee

$95

Regular APR

21.49% - 28.49% Variable

Why you'll like this: Its flexible rewards program offers great value whether you redeem for cash back, book travel through Chase Travel or transfer points to airline and hotel partners.

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Compare Bankrate's best credit cards for groceries

Card name Best for Rewards highlights Bankrate review score

Rewards on everyday purchases

6% cash back on U.S. supermarket purchases (up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%) and select U.S. streaming subscriptions

3% cash back on U.S. gas station and transit purchases

4.4 / 5

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(Read card review)
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on American Express's secure site
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Travel rewards on groceries

4X points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 purchases per calendar year, then 1X) and restaurants (on up to $50,000 purchases per calendar year, then 1X), including Uber Eats and other eligible delivery services
 
3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or Amex Travel

4.9 / 5

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Groceries and no annual fee

3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations and on U.S. online retail purchases (up to $6,000 per calendar year in each category, then 1 percent)

4.6 / 5

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(Read card review)
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on American Express's secure site
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Customizable rewards

5% cash back on your top eligible spending category each billing cycle (on up to $500 each billing cycle, then 1%)

4.4 / 5

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Rewards on everyday purchases

Earn 10 points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on CitiTravel.com

Earn 3 points per $1 on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases, at Restaurants, Supermarkets, Gas and EV Charging Stations.

Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases

4.6 / 5

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Food + entertainment rewards

3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and grocery store purchases (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®)

1% cash back on all other purchases

5.0 / 5

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on Capital One's secure site

Wholesale club rewards

3% cash back in one of the available choice categories: gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drugstores or home improvement

2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs

Up to $2,500 in combined choice category and 2% category purchases per quarter, then 1% back.

4.1 / 5

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Online grocery purchases

5X points on travel through Chase TravelSM and on Lyft rides (Lyft offer through March 31, 2025)

3X points on dining (including eligible delivery services), select streaming services and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs)

2X points on other travel purchases

5.0 / 5

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(Read card review)
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on Chase's secure site

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. 

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 on the market, considering food and household products are the backbone of most budgets. 

However, only purchases at traditional grocery stores and supermarkets typically 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.

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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 qualify for bonus grocery category rewards. Consider co-branded cards 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 2022 was around $5,700. That averages out to about $475 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 Estimated total cost
Cash or card with no rewards N/A $0 $0 $5,700
Flat-rate 2% cash back card 2% back on eligible purchases $114 $0  $5,586
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card 3% back on grocery store purchases (excluding Target & Walmart) $171 $0 (See Rates & Fees) $5,529
Citi Custom Cash Card 5% back in your top spending eligible category (includes grocery stores, on up to $500 per billing cycle, then 1%) $285 $0 $5,415
Blue Cash Preferred from American Express 6% back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%) $342 $95 ($0 intro annual fee for the first year) $5,453

 

Expert advice on grocery store credit cards

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.

How to choose a grocery store credit card

  • 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.

Here’s how a Bankrate expert uses his grocery card

Bankrate credit cards writer Ryan Flanigan uses his American Express® Gold card for groceries and restaurants to rack up tons of points for travel.

“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 to generate tons of Amex points, which helps me go on all sorts of great travel adventures using all their different travel partners.”

— Ryan Flanigan, Writer, Credit Cards

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. 

  • Credit Card Reviews Icon

    Lean into co-branded store cards

    According to dunnhumby’s seventh annual Retailer Preference Index, Market Basket, Winco and Aldi are among the top grocery stores that provide the best prices, rewards and promotions for shoppers. These stores use cost-first strategies that offer shoppers the best base prices on most of their groceries. 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.

  • Savings Icon

    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.

Frequently asked questions about grocery rewards cards

How we assess the best grocery store credit cards

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150+
cards rated
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50+
rewards programs valued
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1800
data points analyzed
Credit Card Reviews Icon
40+
perks evaluated

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

5
Rating: 5 stars out of 5
Overall Score
  • Value 65%
  • Flexibility 15%
  • Perks 15%
  • Customer experience 5%

*Information about the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card, the Capital One Walmart Rewards® Mastercard® , the Sam’s Club® Mastercard®,Target RedCard™, BJ's One+™ Mastercard®, and Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi 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.