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Best credit cards for groceries for June 2023

Updated May 30, 2023

With food prices still on the rise, many people are looking for ways to save money wherever they can. Using a rewards credit card is one of the best ways you can save money on groceries.

Grocery rewards cards offer anywhere from 3 percent to 6 percent cash back on your grocery store purchases, often one of the biggest everyday spending categories. The best grocery cards also help you earn cash back on other household expenses like gas, transit and even streaming services.

Whether you enjoy roaming the aisles of traditional supermarkets, the convenience of shopping online for groceries or the cost-saving benefits of warehouses or superstores, there’s a grocery rewards card for you. Check out our top picks for best grocery cards and tips on how to save money on groceries.

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BEST FOR CUSTOMIZABLE REWARDS

Citi Custom Cash℠ Card

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Rating: 4.4 stars out of 5
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Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
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Rating: 4.4 stars out of 5
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Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
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Rating: 4.9 stars out of 5
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Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
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Rating: 4.3 stars out of 5
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Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
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BEST FOR TRAVEL REWARDS ON GROCERIES

American Express® Gold Card

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Rating: 5 stars out of 5
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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. The information about the Chase Freedom Flex℠ has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.

Compare Bankrate's best credit cards for groceries

 

Card name Best for Rewards highlights Bankrate review score
Citi Custom Cash Card Customizable rewards 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter. Unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. 4.4 / 5 (Read full card review)
Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express Everyday value 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%)

6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions

3% cash back on transit

3% cash back at U.S. gas stations

4.4 / 5 (Read full card review)
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card No-annual-fee food + entertainment rewards 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and grocery store purchases (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®) plus 1% cash back on all other purchases 4.9 / 5 (Read full card review)
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card Wholesale clubs 3% in choice category (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases)

2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs

4.3 / 5 (Read full card review)
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card Online grocery purchases 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3X points on dining and 2X points on all other travel purchases, plus more 5.0 / 5 (Read full card review)
American Express Gold Card Dining and travel rewards 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 purchases per calendar year, then 1X) and restaurants 5.0 / 5 (Read full card review)
Chase Freedom Flex Backup grocery rewards 5% cash back on activated bonus category purchases each quarter (up to $1,500 in purchases, then 1 percent) and on Chase Ultimate Rewards travel purchases 4.8 / 5 (Read full card review)
Capital One Walmart Rewards® Mastercard® Budget shoppers 5% cash back at Walmart.com, 2% cash back in Walmart stores, at restaurants and on travel, then 1% on other eligible purchases 4.0 / 5 (Read full card review)
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express Groceries and gas 3 percent cash back at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations and U.S. online retail purchases on up to $6,000 per calendar year in purchases in each category (then 1 percent), and 1 percent cash back on other purchases 4.6 / 5 (Read full card review)

A closer look at our top-rated grocery rewards cards

Citi Custom Cash Card: Best for customizable rewards

  • What we love about the Custom Cash Card:  It’s one of the only rewards cards that adapts to fit your spending habits. You earn one of the highest rates around in the eligible category you spend the most in, which could be grocery store purchases.
  • Who this card is good for: Cash back fans looking for a supplemental rewards card. The Custom Cash card only lets you earn rewards in one high-earning category each billing cycle, so to get the best value, combine it with a flat-rate rewards card or a card that offers bonus rewards in other categories that fit your spending habits.
  • Alternatives: If you only want to carry one credit card in your wallet, a general-purpose rewards card with multiple bonus categories may offer better value. The Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express comes with an annual fee, but the cost can easily be offset thanks to the card’s high rewards rates in U.S. supermarkets, select U.S. streaming services, U.S. gas stations and transit.

Read our full Citi Custom Cash℠ Card review.

Jump back to offer details.

Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express: Best for everyday value

  • What we love about the Blue Cash Preferred: It earns the highest cash back rate available in U.S. supermarket purchases. Spending $500 per month in that category alone will earn you $360 cash back per year—enough to cover the card’s annual fee three times over.
  • Who this card is good for: Big grocery spenders who can also take advantage of the card’s other bonus categories to cover the annual fee. You need to spend about $300 a month at U.S. supermarkets to cover the annual fee and get better value than you would with a card that earned 3 percent back but charged no annual fee.
  • Alternatives: If you spend modestly at U.S. supermarkets and want to avoid a card with an annual fee, the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express offers triple points in multiple categories, including U.S. supermarket purchases.

Read our full Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express review.

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Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for food + entertainment

  • What we love about the SavorOne Cash Rewards card: You can earn unlimited 3 percent cash back in a number of food and entertainment categories — including both grocery store and restaurant purchases — with no spending caps and no annual fee.
  • Who this card is good for: People who want to stick with one card that earns rewards on grocery shopping, dining, entertainment and more while avoiding an annual fee.
  • Alternatives: The U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card gives you the freedom to pick two categories — from fast food, home utilities, department stores and more — that earn high cash back rates. Plus, you can still earn unlimited 2 percent back in an everyday category of your choice, including grocery stores and restaurants.

Read our full Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card review.

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

  • What we love about the Customized Cash Rewards card: This card offers more flexibility than traditional rewards credit cards. You can not only choose your bonus category from a long list, but also swap your choice category to another eligible one each calendar month.
  • Who this card is good for: Since you can earn bonus rewards at wholesale clubs and grocery stores, this card is a solid option for household shoppers who frequent both. Most rewards cards exclude wholesale clubs from their grocery store bonus category.
  • Alternatives: Big spenders may get better value out of a flat-rate card like the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card. It’s a low-maintenance rewards card that earns unlimited 2 percent cash rewards on purchases. There are no spending caps and no categories to track, making it a more convenient option if you’re looking for a simple way to earn rewards.

Read our full Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card review.

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Chase Sapphire Preferred Card: Best for online grocery purchases

  • What we love about the Sapphire Preferred Card: This versatile card makes it easy to quickly rack up travel rewards thanks to its solid rewards rate on a variety of everyday purchases, including dining, select online grocery purchases and select streaming services.
  • Who this card is good for: Frequent travelers who want to earn rewards on more than just travel purchases. The card’s bonus rewards rate on online groceries and dining should make it easier to rack up points than it would be with a travel card that only rewards airfare and hotel bookings.
  • Alternatives: Depending on your spending habits, the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express may be a better fit. For the same annual fee, you get double the rewards rate at U.S. supermarkets compared to the Sapphire Preferred card. Plus, your rewards rate applies to all U.S. supermarket spending, not just online groceries.

Read our full Chase Sapphire Preferred Card review.

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American Express Gold Card: Best for travel rewards on groceries

  • What we love about the Amex Gold Card: Its high rewards rate at both U.S. supermarkets and restaurants, combined with annual dining credits and enhanced travel benefits, make the Amex Gold a powerful mid-level travel card for foodies and household shoppers.
  • Who this card is good for: Big spenders who want to turn their food, dining and airfare purchases into travel rewards. As part of the American Express Membership Rewards program, the Amex Gold offers various redemption options best suited to frequent travelers.
  • Alternatives: If you’re just looking for a way to earn rewards on dining and grocery purchases, you don’t need to pay a $250 annual fee. The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card doesn’t come with perks like dining credits, but it still packs a punch. For a $95 annual fee, you earn bonus rewards in a variety of categories, including an unlimited 4 percent cash back on dining and entertainment purchases and 3 percent cash back at grocery stores.

Read our full American Express Gold Card review.

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Chase Freedom Flex: Best for backup grocery rewards

  • What we love about the Chase Freedom Flex: It has high earning rates in fixed and rotating bonus categories. This unique combination of year-round and seasonal categories gives users a variety of ways to quickly earn cash back.
  • Who this card is good for: Rewards strategists. Many of the Freedom Flex card’s most rewarding categories only earn at a high rate for three months out of the year, and you need to track spending and plan out purchases in advance to maximize your rewards. 
  • Alternatives: If you don’t want to activate and track so many rewards categories or worry about spending limits, the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card is a solid choice. It earns a flat rate on purchases, which will appeal to people who don’t want to jump through so many hoops to earn rewards.

Read our full Chase Freedom Flex review.

Capital One Walmart Rewards Mastercard: Best for budget shoppers

  • What we love about the Walmart Rewards Mastercard: It can help make Walmart’s low prices even more affordable, especially if you order groceries online for pickup or delivery. The card’s 2-percent flat rate on in-store purchases isn’t too shabby either, considering most rewards cards only earn 1 percent cash back on purchases at superstores like Walmart. This card is also open to people with fair credit — another perk not typically found with rewards cards.
  • Who this card is good for: Budget shoppers looking for the best deals or people impacted by the rising costs of groceries can make this card part of an effective strategy to combat inflation.
  • Alternatives: If Walmart isn’t for you, a store card that offers high bonus rewards for shopping at your local superstore like Target or at a wholesale club could help keep the cost of groceries down. Consider the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card, which is one of the only cash back cards versatile enough to get you a nice flat rate at a variety of wholesale clubs.

Read our full Capital One Walmart Rewards Mastercard review.

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express: Best for groceries and gas

  • What we love about the Blue Cash Everyday card: This is one of the only no-annual-fee cards that offers rewards in popular everyday categories like groceries and gas, as well as valuable perks like credits for the Disney Bundle and Home Chef meal kits.
  • Who this card is good for: This is a solid pick if your top spending areas are groceries, gas and online retail purchases. Just watch out for the spending caps on the highest cash back rates.
  • Alternatives: If you want maximum value and no annual fee, the Citi Custom Cash Card earns one of the highest rates around in one eligible category, which includes groceries. Use the Custom Cash card for your supermarket purchases and pair it with another cash back card for your gas purchases, like the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card (earns points). Together, these two cards could help you rake in more cash back than your average credit card for gas and groceries. 

Read our full Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express review.

What are grocery store cards?

Grocery rewards cards earn cash back or points on purchases made at eligible grocery stores. But the best credit card for groceries will go even further, offering up valuable rewards for other major spending categories, including everyday staples like:

  • Dining
  • Gas
  • Transit
  • Travel
  • Select streaming services
  • Online purchases
  • Home improvement stores

Types of grocery store credit cards

Bonus category rewards cards

Bonus category cards are rewards cards that offer higher rewards rates in select categories — typically anywhere from 3 percent to 5 percent. Cards that offer bonus grocery rewards offer cash back, points or miles on purchases made at retail stores with a merchant category code that classifies them as grocery stores and supermarkets. That includes favorites like Safeway, Albertsons, Kroger, Publix and many other local grocery stores.

Co-branded rewards cards

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 named on the card.

These cards are helpful because not every store that sells groceries is considered a grocery store by issuers. Superstores like Walmart and wholesale clubs like Costco, Sam’s Club and BJ’s are often excluded from earning grocery store rewards on bonus category rewards cards. Co-branded rewards cards give you a chance to earn elevated rewards at these chains instead of the 1 point or 1 percent cash back typically offered by bonus category rewards cards when shopping at these stores.

Store credit cards

Store credit cards like the Target RedCard™ are closed-loop cards, which can only be used at the retail store that issues them. These store-only cards tend to carry higher APRs than other types of grocery store cards and may have deferred-interest promotions that can wreak havoc on your finances if you make a late payment or can’t pay off your balance before the promotion period ends.

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Bankrate Insight

You’ll need to have good or excellent credit to qualify for most grocery rewards cards. If you have fair credit and want to earn cash back for your grocery purchases, take a look at cards from retailers like Amazon, Walmart and Target. Many retail credit cards are open to people with lower credit scores and can be worthwhile as long as you can pay your balances in full and avoid the typically high interest rates.

Pros and cons

Pros

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    Cost-saving features. The chance to earn rewards on all of your purchases can help cut down on the costs of inflation.

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    Intro APR Offer. Need to pay down debt or chip away at a large purchase over time? Intro APR offers let you make interest-free payments on purchases and balance transfers for a select period of time, typically 12 to 15 months.

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    Welcome offer. Credit cards that come with a sign-up bonus give you a chance to quickly earn a one-time lump-sum bonus worth hundreds of dollars after spending a certain amount of money within the first few months of account opening.

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    Return protection. This perk extends the return policy normally found with retailers. With return protection, you may be eligible for a refund on purchases made with the rewards card even if the retailer refuses to accept the return.

Cons

  • Spending limits. Bonus category rewards cards may come with monthly, quarterly, or annual spending caps that limit the amount of bonus rewards you earn.

  • Limited redemption options. Some grocery rewards cards only let you redeem your rewards for cash options like statement credits. If you’re interested in travel, they may not be the best fit.

  • High variable APRs. Rewards cards tend to carry high variable APRs. If you can’t pay your balances in full each month, the interest charges could cost more than the rewards you earn and make it harder to pay off your debt.

  • Fees. You’ll need to pay your balance in full each month to avoid interest charges. If you’re not careful, you could also get stuck paying late payment fees, cash advance fees or penalty APRs.

How much could you save with a grocery credit card?

According to data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual cost of household groceries increased in 2021 to $5,259. That averages out to $438.25 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 these examples to see how much you could save each year depending on which card type, rewards rate and annual fee you choose:

Payment method Rewards rate Estimated rewards earned Annual fee Estimated total cost
Cash or card with no rewards N/A $0 $0 $5,259
Flat-rate 2% cash back card 2% back on eligible purchases $99 $0 $4,843
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card 3% back on grocery store purchases (excluding Target & Walmart) $148 $0 $4,794
Citi Custom Cash Card 5% back in your top spending eligible category (includes grocery stores, on up to $500 per billing cycle, then 1%) $247 $0 $4,695
Blue Cash Preferred from American Express 6% back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%) $297 $95 ($0 intro annual fee for the first year) $4,740

As you can see, even a grocery rewards card with an annual fee can provide plenty of value. The trick is to take advantage of the available rewards categories enough to offset the annual fee and continue earning more cash back so you don’t just break even.

Best budget-friendly store cards

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

Amazon, Target and wholesale clubs like Sam’s Club also fared well with customers. They may not offer the lowest possible price on every item, but they tend to have store cards that come with benefits and rewards that can help drive down grocery prices and provide exceptional value to savvy budget shoppers.

Here’s a look at the rewards cards offered by some of the best and cheapest grocery stores.

Card name Rewards Annual fee
Capital One Walmart Rewards Mastercard*
  • 5% cash back at Walmart.com (including pickup & delivery)
  • 2% cash back in Walmart stores & Walmart fuel stations, at restaurants and on travel
  • 1 percent cash back everywhere else Mastercard is accepted
$0
Target RedCard™*
  • 5% off at Target and Target.com
  • 2% for gas and dining purchases
  • 1% on all other eligible purchases
$0
Sam’s Club® Mastercard®
  • 5% cash back on gas (up to $6,000 per year, then 1 percent)
  • 3% cash back on dining and takeout ($5,000 cash rewards maximum per year)
  •  Earn 3% back in Sam’s Cash on Sam’s Club purchases for Plus members.
  • 1% cash back on other purchases
No annual fee with paid membership ($45 for Club, $100 for Plus)
BJ's Perks Plus® Mastercard® Credit Card*
  • 3% cash back on eligible purchases at BJ’s
  • 2% cash back on dining and gas stations outside BJ’s gas locations
  • 1% cash back on other eligible purchases
  • $0.10 off each gallon of gas purchased at BJ’s gas stations
No annual fee with paid membership ($55)
Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi*
  • 4% cash back on eligible gas and EV charging purchases including gas at Costco (for the first $7,000 per year, then 1 percent)
  • 3% cash back on restaurant and eligible travel purchases
  • 2% cash back on all Costco and Costco.com purchases
  • 1% cash back on all other purchases
No annual fee with paid membership ($60)

Who should get a grocery store credit card?

Since the best grocery rewards credit cards are versatile and provide plenty of value even outside the supermarket, they’re ideal for just about anyone with a grocery budget. That includes college students, as well as small and large households that spend a lot on gas and groceries. Here’s a look at two of the key types of shoppers who can benefit from a grocery rewards card.

  • Budget shoppers. Are you always on the lookout for a deal when you shop? If you like to use coupons and cash back apps when you shop, the rewards you earn with a grocery rewards card can also help you keep more of your hard-earned money.
  • Food lovers. Some grocery rewards cards also double as the best credit cards for restaurants. So whether you cook at home, dine out or order in, your everyday food spending could earn you valuable cash back.

How we chose our best grocery store cards

To select the best grocery rewards credit cards, we evaluated each card using a 5-star scoring system, focusing on the following key features:
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    Rewards rates
    The best grocery rewards cards earn rewards in multiple consumer-friendly categories that fit the shopping habits of various consumers. Top rewards programs earn high bonus rewards to help justify the amount of effort needed to earn and redeem rewards or offer hassle-free earning and redemption options to justify the lower rewards rates.
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    Short- and long-term value
    We compared the features and benefits of each card, evaluating short-term features (like welcome offer and intro APR) and long-term features (like rewards program and purchase and travel protections) to ensure the card provided enough value to justify any rates and fees.
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    Benefits and perks
    Many of our top-rated grocery cards come with additional features that give the card better value compared to alternative payment methods like cash or debit card.
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    Annual fees
    We considered the annual fees to ensure our page offered a broad mix of cards to suit a variety of budgets.

*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 Perks Plus® Mastercard® Credit Card, 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 above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply

Frequently asked questions about grocery rewards cards