Best credit cards for groceries and grocery delivery in 2020

In addition to the mortgage or rent payment, one of the most costly regular expenses all families face is the monthly grocery bill.

According to data from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the average family of four with two kids ages 6 to 11 spends anywhere from $653.80 to $1,297.60 per month at the supermarket. And that’s only accounting for the costs of food prepared at home and not on dining out.

Fortunately, several rewards credit cards make it easy to rack up cash back, points and miles on grocery spending. Many of these even include grocery delivery or pickup services.

If you’re eager to rack up rewards on your grocery bill — and potentially earn a big sign-up bonus on money you’d spend anyway — here are some cards to consider.

Best credit cards for groceries at the supermarket

• Best for rewards at U.S. supermarkets: Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
• Best for rotating bonus categories: Chase Freedom®
• Best for cash back: Capital One® Savor® Cash Rewards Credit Card
• Best for travel rewards: American Express® Gold Card

Certain grocery rewards credit cards offer more at physical stores versus grocery delivery, which makes them a good deal if you’re someone who likes to get out of the house to do your shopping yourself.

Keep in mind that many rewards credit cards offering bonus rewards at grocery stores exclude big box “superstores” like Target or Walmart. To make the most of credit cards for groceries at the supermarket, you’ll want to read over each card’s terms and conditions to check for exclusions.

Also, if you order groceries through a service like Instacart or Shipt, these purchases typically do code as groceries on your credit card statement. However, results may vary depending on the card issuer.

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

• Earn 6 percent back on up to $6,000 spent each year at U.S. supermarkets (then 1 percent) as well as on select U.S. streaming services, 3 percent back on U.S. gas stations and transit and 1 percent back on other purchases
• Limited Time Offer: Earn a $300 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months. Offer Expires 12/10/2020
• Limited Time Offer: $0 introductory annual fee for one year, then $95. Offer Expires 12/10/2020
• Zero percent APR on purchases for 12 months, followed by a variable APR of 13.99 to 23.99 percent

Why it’s best for rewards at U.S. supermarkets

The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is ideal for U.S. supermarket shopping based on the fact you earn 6 percent back on up to $6,000 spent in this category each year, then 1 percent.

You could earn $360 in rewards within a year if you maxed out this category alone, on top of the initial welcome bonus, the 3 percent back at U.S. gas stations, parking, tolls and other transit and the 1 percent back you’ll get on everything else you buy.

To sweeten the pot even further, you’ll get 12 months earning zero percent APR on purchases (13.99 – 23.99 percent variable APR thereafter) . That makes this card a solid option if you want to make a large purchase and pay it down without interest over time. This card does charge a $95 annual fee (Limited Time Offer: $0 introductory annual fee for one year, then $95. Offer Expires 12/10/2020), but its considerable rewards can more than offset that fee in a hurry.

Chase Freedom®

• Earn 5 percent back on up to $1,500 in combined spending in quarterly bonus categories after you activate (then 1 percent) and 1 percent back on other purchases
• Earn a $150 cash bonus when you spend $500 within three months of account opening
• No annual fee
• Zero percent APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, followed by a variable APR of 16.49 to 25.24 percent

Why it’s best for rotating bonus categories

The Chase Freedom® makes earning rewards easy all year long, but it can be especially lucrative for grocery spending due to its 5 percent back on up to $1,500 in spending categories that rotate each quarter, then 1 percent.

For April through June 2020, for example, you’ll earn 5 percent back after you activate on up to $1,500 on grocery spending, fitness clubs and gym memberships and select streaming services (1 percent thereafter). While upcoming categories haven’t been announced yet, common categories based on previous quarters include gas, home improvement stores and department stores.

This card can earn a generous welcome bonus, and offers zero percent APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months (variable APR of 16.49 to 25.24 percent thereafter). You won’t pay an annual fee either, and you can redeem your rewards for cash back, statement credits, travel, gift cards and more.

The information about the Chase Freedom® has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.

Capital One® Savor® Cash Rewards Credit Card

• Earn 4 percent back on dining and entertainment, 2 percent back at grocery stores and 1 percent on all other purchases
• Earn a $300 cash bonus when you spend $3,000 on your card within three months of account opening
• $0 the first year, then $95

Why it’s best for cash back

The Capital One® Savor® Cash Rewards Credit Card is a lucrative option among cash back credit cards because you can earn both an unlimited 4 percent back on dining and entertainment and 2 percent back at the grocery store. Like other credit cards that offer grocery rewards, big box stores like Target and Walmart won’t code as groceries and can’t rack up extra rewards in this category.

Once you sign up for the Savor, you’ll also earn a $300 bonus after spending $3,000 within three months of account opening. You won’t pay any foreign transaction fees, and the $95 annual fee is even waived the first year.

The information about the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.

American Express® Gold Card

• Earn 4X Membership Rewards on restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets each year (up to $25,000 in purchases, then 1X points), 3X points on flights booked with airlines or on AmexTravel.com and 1X points on other purchases
• Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new card within the first 6 months.
• $250 annual fee
• Qualify for up to $100 airline fee credit and up to $120 dining credit annually

Why it’s best for travel rewards

The American Express® Gold Card is perfect for grocery shopping, and for those who spend a lot on food generally each month. You’ll earn 4X Membership Rewards points at restaurants worldwide and 4X points on up to $25,000 spent at U.S. supermarkets each year. If you maxed the grocery category out, that would total 100,000 American Express Membership Rewards earned on groceries alone.

You’ll also earn 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or with AmexTravel.com, plus 1X points on all your other spending. Cardholder benefits include an up to $100 airline fee credit for an airline of your choosing and up to $120 dining credit you can use toward Grubhub, Seamless, The Cheesecake Factory, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Boxed and participating Shake Shack locations.

This card is best for travel rewards because of the flexibility of American Express Membership Rewards points. You can redeem these rewards for gift cards or merchandise, but you can also cash them in for travel through AmexTravel.com or transfer them 1:1 to Amex airline and hotel transfer partners.

Best credit cards for grocery delivery

• Best for Walmart grocery pickup and delivery: Capital One® Walmart Rewards™ Card
• Best for Whole Foods delivery: Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card

Some cash back and rewards credit cards are better suited for grocery delivery or pickup, although cards in this category tend to limit you to a single type of delivery service or store.

If you’re someone who likes to order online and pick up your groceries or have them delivered to you, here are some options to consider.

Capital One® Walmart Rewards™ Card

• Earn 5 percent back at Walmart.com or with the Walmart app, including grocery delivery and pickup; earn 2 percent back at Walmart stores, Walmart & Murphy USA Fuel Stations, restaurants & travel and 1 percent back on other purchases
• For the first 12 months, earn 5 percent back in Walmart stores when you use Walmart Pay
• No annual fee

Why it’s the best for Walmart grocery pickup and delivery

This card lets you earn 5 percent back on Walmart.com purchases or purchases made with the Walmart app, which includes grocery delivery and pickup from Walmart. You also earn 5 percent back in physical Walmart stores for the first 12 months when you use Walmart Pay (unlimited 2 percent back in-store thereafter), which can add up fast if you shop Walmart for essentials.

Earning 2 percent back on regular Walmart store purchases (not with Walmart Pay) and on gas at Murphy USA Fuel Stations, dining and travel can also help you rack up rewards fast. You won’t pay an annual fee, and you can cash in your rewards for statement credits, gift cards and even travel.

Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card

• Earn 5 percent back on Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market purchases, 2 percent back at gas stations, restaurants and drugstores and 1 percent back on other purchases
• Qualify for a $70 Amazon.com gift card instantly upon card approval
• No annual fee

Why it’s the best for Whole Foods delivery

Amazon Prime Members can shop Amazon.com for free two-hour delivery or pickup in select markets Whole Foods serves. Not only that, but Amazon.com itself offers a wide range of grocery and food options you can purchase and have delivered, often with free two-day delivery.

You do need to be an Amazon Prime member to sign up for the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card, but 5 percent back on Whole Foods Market and Amazon.com purchases can help offset the $99 membership. Since you’ll also earn 2 percent back at gas stations, restaurants and drugstores, you could easily make this your go-to rewards credit card.

This card also comes with some useful consumer protections including auto rental insurance, purchase protection against damage or theft, extended warranties and roadside dispatch.

The information related to Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card has been collected independently by Bankrate.com and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card.

How to select the best grocery store credit card

There are some important details you’ll want to consider before signing up for a new grocery rewards card. Here are some tips that can help you select the best card for your needs.

• Decide how you want to redeem your rewards. While some grocery credit cards let you cash in points for travel, gift cards or merchandise, others only let you redeem rewards for statement credits on your account. Make sure the card you sign up for has a rewards program that offers the type of rewards you value most.
• Compare annual fees. Paying an annual fee on a credit card can make sense if you’re getting enough value in return. Compare cards with annual fees to other rewards credit cards with no annual fee to see which option might leave you better off.
• Consider where you shop the most. Do you do most of your shopping in big box stores, or do you order your weekly groceries through Instacart? Maybe you shop at the corner market most of the time. Make sure any rewards credit card you choose offers bonus points in the type of store you frequent most. If you do most of your food shopping in superstores like Walmart or Target, you may get more value from a general rewards credit card that offers rewards on every purchase.