Best credit cards for groceries and grocery delivery in 2022

The USDA estimates that the average U.S. family of four on a moderate budget spends up to $1,128.20 per month on groceries. That works out to $13,538 in spending in this category alone each year, which is enough to literally “eat up” quite a bit of the average family’s budget.

The best credit cards for groceries, however, can help households get something in return—that is, if they manage to avoid paying credit card interest. At that rate, earning 2 percent back in rewards would net the average family a little more than $270 in cash back within a year.

Depending on your biggest everyday expenses, the best rewards credit card for groceries might also help you rack even more cash back or miles in other parts of your budget, like gas or dining. If you’re looking for ways to maximize your rewards on everyday purchases, read on to learn how we rank the top cards for groceries and grocery delivery in 2022.

Best for cash back: Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

With 6 percent cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1 percent), the Amex Blue Cash Preferred offers one of the best cash back rate for groceries available on a cash back credit card.

It’s also one of the few cards to offer 6 percent back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions and 3 percent cash back on transit and U.S. gas station purchases, making it a front-runner for commuters and shoppers.

Even with a $95 annual fee ($0 introductory annual fee for the first year), the Blue Cash Preferred is a leading choice at its price tag.

Best for grocery delivery: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

If you’re looking for a flexible rewards card that can help you maximize points earned on grocery delivery, look no further than the Chase Sapphire Preferred.

This card lets you rack up 3X points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs), 3X points on dining (including takeout and eligible delivery services) and 3X points on select streaming services. Plus, you’ll earn 5X points on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards and on Lyft rides (through March 2022) and 2X points on general travel.

This card even gives you a 10 percent bonus on the points you earn within a year. According to Chase, this means $25,000 in spending will earn an additional 2,500 bonus points.

As a final incentive to sign up, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is offering a pretty generous sign-up bonus right now. You’ll earn 60,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 within three months of account opening. A $95 annual fee applies.

Best for rotating categories: Chase Freedom Flex℠

The Chase Freedom Flex edges out other rotating category cards like the Discover it® Cash Back because of its extra ongoing reward categories.

In addition to the 5 percent cash back you can receive on activated bonus category purchases each quarter (up to $1,500 in purchases, then 1 percent), you can earn an unlimited 5 percent back on Lyft purchases (through March 2022) and on Chase Ultimate Rewards travel. You also get 3 percent back on dining and drugstore purchases and 5 percent back on grocery store purchases (not including Target or Walmart) on up to $12,000 spent in the first year. For a welcome bonus, you have the chance to earn $200 in bonus cash when you spend just $500 within three months of account opening.

The main drawback is that Chase Freedom Flex bonus categories are only announced one quarter in advance.

Best for wholesale clubs: Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card

If you value versatility but want a higher rewards rate than a flat-rate cash back credit card, the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards card is your safest bet. It earns 3 percent cash back on category purchases of choice and 2 percent back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined 3 and 2 percent category purchases each quarter, then 1 percent). Additionally, if you’re a Bank of America Preferred Rewards member, you can earn 75 percent more cash back on all purchases.

This card is a great choice for those whose budgets are more flexible, as it comes with 3 percent back in one category of your choice (from six options) that you can change once per month. That way, you can pair your grocery earnings with rewards on purchases such as travel, home improvement, gas, online shopping, drugstores or dining based on what matches your spending.

Just keep in mind that your 2 percent and 3 percent rewards categories share a $2,500 in combined purchases per quarter spending limit (then 1 percent back).

Best for superstores: Discover it® Cash Back

Besides the usual October to December rewards offerings for purchases at Walmart.com, Target.com and Amazon.com, Discover’s rotating cash back categories consistently provide grocery and superstore coverage throughout the year.

The Discover it Cash Back card offers 5 percent cash back on activated, rotating categories each quarter (up to $1,500 in quarterly purchases, then 1 percent). In addition to groceries and superstores, PayPal purchases typically earn rewards in the third quarter (which extends to online superstore and grocery orders).

As a welcome bonus, Discover will match all the cash back rewards you earn with this card after the first year—and there’s no annual fee, either.

Best for travel rewards: American Express® Gold Card

Amex Membership Rewards are treasured as some of the most valuable credit card points on the market due to the many ways you can redeem them.

The American Express Gold Card’s 4X points on up to $25,000 in U.S. supermarket purchases per year (then 1X points) and monthly statement credits toward delivery services like Boxed could give you a massive head start toward your next getaway—if you can justify the $250 annual fee.

Fortunately, this card’s potential for up to $120 in Uber Cash per year ($10 monthly credits) helps recoup part of the annual fee on its own.

These perks and 4X points on Uber Eats orders also make the Amex Gold a solid choice for your supermarket list since Uber Eats may also deliver groceries in your area.

Other great cards for grocery shopping

• Best for online grocery shopping: Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card
• Best for Walmart delivery and pickup: Capital One Walmart Rewards® Mastercard®

The Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature is a must-have for frequent Amazon Prime and Amazon Fresh users. You’ll earn an unlimited 5 percent back on Amazon.com purchases (including grocery deliveries). If you prefer in-store pickup, you’ll also get 5 percent back at Whole Foods Market, along with 2 percent back on other essential categories—restaurants, gas stations and drugstores.

The Capital One Walmart Rewards Mastercard could also be a useful addition to your wallet if you like to one-stop-shop or if Walmart is the main grocer in your area.

5% cash back at Walmart.com, including pickup & delivery; 2% cash back in Walmart stores & fuel stations, at restaurants and on travel; 1% cash back everywhere else Mastercard is accepted

You can earn 2 percent cash back on in-store Walmart purchases (plus 5 percent back on in-store purchases at Walmart using Walmart Pay for the first 12 months after approval), but the unlimited 5 percent back on Walmart.com purchases (including pickup and delivery) is the main appeal.

Comparing the best grocery cards

How to maximize your cash back on groceries

If your goal is to maximize cash back on groceries, you should make sure to read your card’s terms carefully to understand which purchases are eligible for rewards. Once you know the ins and outs of your card and its features, here are a few starter tips for making the most of your grocery rewards card:

• Consolidate your spending and shop outside the box. Take the time to learn your favorite retailers’ merchant category codes, and try to do as much of your shopping at these locations that fit inside your bonus categories. This step will help you find a few creative rewards opportunities.
• Use grocery delivery services at stores that don’t earn rewards. Services like Instacart will sometimes count as grocery merchants on your card, so use them to buy from superstores and wholesale clubs that wouldn’t normally collect cash back. This trick offers another layer of savings since you don’t even need a wholesale club membership to get big-box discounts.
• Keep an eye out for limited-time promotions. Some credit cards may cycle in special deals that can earn you more cash back. For instance, the Chase Freedom Flex offers three months of DoorDash DashPass membership as a cardholder perk with a lower subscription fee period afterward.

How to pick the best credit card for groceries

Finding the best grocery credit card for you comes down to three key considerations:

• Can you take advantage of the reward categories, redemption options and benefits?
• Are you getting enough value to offset the rates and fees?
• Which card complements your shopping habits the most?

Footing the bill for a premier card like the Amex Gold is pouring cash back down the drain if you can’t take full advantage of its features. Make sure to plug each card’s fees and potential reward earnings into your budget so you can compare the returns you’d get with every option you’re considering. Then, you can develop a game plan for how to maximize your rewards.

All information about the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card and Capital One® Walmart Rewards® Card has been collected independently by Bankrate.com and has not been reviewed or approved by the issuer.