Best credit cards for groceries for August 2022

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.

Compare Bankrate’s top grocery rewards cards

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’ll earn 5 percent back in your top eligible spending category each billing cycle (on up to $500 in spending each billing cycle, then 1 percent). Grocery store purchases are just one of many eligible everyday bonus categories, and 5 percent back is one of the best rates you can get on this spending without paying an annual fee.
• Who this card is good for: Cash back fans looking for a supplemental rewards card. The Custom Cash card only you to earn rewards in one high-earning category each billing cycle, so to get the best value, it’s best to 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 key everyday categories including U.S. supermarkets, select streaming services, U.S. gas stations and transit.

Read our full Citi Custom Cash℠ Card review.

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

• What we love about the Blue Cash Preferred: From U.S. supermarket and select streaming service purchases to gas and transit, this card gives you plenty of chances to earn high cash back rewards on your routine spending. U.S. supermarket purchases earn 6 percent cash back (on up to $6,000 in purchases each year, then 1 percent)—perhaps the highest cash back rate available in this category. 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 everyday bonus categories to justify the annual fee. If you only used the card at U.S. supermarkets, you’d need to spend about $300 a month to both 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 is worth a look. It offers 3 percent cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year, then 1 percent) and also rewards the same 3 percent cash back on your spending at U.S. gas stations and U.S. online retail purchases (also up to $6,000 per year on each category, then 1 percent). This card may be a better fit for people who spend an average of less than $300 a month on groceries since there is no annual fee to worry about.

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. Many other rewards cards offer bonus rewards in just one popular food category (grocery stores or dining, not both) and typically reduce your cash back rate after you’ve reached a spending cap.
• 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 in which you’ll earn 5 percent cash back (on up to $2,000 in combined purchases each quarter, then 1 percent), including everyday expenses like fast food, home utilities, department stores and more. Plus, you can still earn unlimited 2 percent back in an everyday category of your choice, with grocery stores and restaurants included as options— perfect for those times you spend more in a category like fast food than you do on groceries.

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 the bonus category that fits you best from a long list of popular categories but also swap your choice category once per calendar month if you realize that you’re going to spend more in another eligible category.
• Who this card is good for: Since you can earn 2 percent cash back at both wholesale clubs and grocery stores (on up to $2,500 in purchases made in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club categories quarterly , then 1 percent), this card is a solid option if you frequent both. Most rewards cards exclude wholesale clubs from their grocery store bonus category, so this card may offer unique value for household shoppers.
• 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. This flexibility could make the card a terrific fit if you do most of your grocery shopping online and want to stockpile rewards for your next big trip.
• 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 quickly rack up points than it would be with one of the many travel cards that only reward airfare and hotel bookings. Plus, your points are worth 25 percent more when you redeem points through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal.
• Alternatives: Depending on your spending habits, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express may be a better fit. For the same ongoing $95 annual fee, you get double the rewards rate at U.S. supermarkets—an impressive 6 percent cash back on up to $6,000 in purchases per year, then 1 percent back (versus the Sapphire Preferred card’s 3X points on select online grocery store purchases). 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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Chase Freedom Flex℠: Best for backup grocery rewards

• What we love about the Chase Freedom Flex: The Freedom Flex has both high-earning fixed- and rotating-bonus categories that cover travel and everyday purchases. The card’s rotating cash back calendar typically features a great mix of popular and niche categories, including grocery stores, wholesale clubs, gas stations, Amazon.com purchases and more. 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. Since many of the Freedom Flex card’s most rewarding categories only earn at a high rate for three months out of the year, you’ll need to track spending and plan out purchases in advance to maximize your rewards. The card’s rewards program also makes it great for pairing with a no-annual-fee rewards card that earns consistently in one of your key spending categories. For example, if you already have a card that offers bonus rewards on groceries and it has a spending limit, the Freedom Flex could give you three more months to earn rewards in that category without worrying about exceeding your spending limit.
• 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.

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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. If you can take advantage of all the card has to offer, it could be well worth the $250 annual fee.
• 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 a variety of redemption options best suited to frequent travelers, including booking trips directly with Amex or transferring to partner loyalty programs, the latter of which could increase the value of your points.
• 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. For example, 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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How do grocery reward credit cards work?

Grocery rewards cards earn cash back or points on purchases made at eligible grocery stores. But the best grocery cards 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

General-purpose grocery cards earn bonus rewards for 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.

Unfortunately, not every store that sells groceries is considered a grocery store. Most card issuers exclude superstores like Walmart and Target as well as wholesale clubs like Costco, Sam’s Club and BJ’s from their grocery store bonus category. To earn elevated rewards at these chains, you’ll need to sign up for a co-branded store credit card or a card that specifically lists these stores as eligible for bonus rewards, as most general-purpose rewards credit cards will only earn 1 point or 1 percent back at these stores.

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 2020 to $4,942. That averages out to $411.83 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:

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.

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. 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.

Who should skip a grocery store credit card?

Depending on where you shop and how you manage your budget, a grocery rewards card may not be the right fit for you. Here are two types of people who may get better value with a different type of credit card.

• Wholesale club and superstore shoppers. Most grocery rewards cards exclude wholesale clubs and superstores from their grocery store bonus category. If you get more value from shopping at stores like Walmart, Target, Sam’s Club or BJs, a flat-rate rewards card or a co-branded credit card from that store may be a better fit. Examples include the Capital One Walmart Rewards® Mastercard®*, the Sam’s Club® Mastercard®* and the Wells Fargo Active Cash card.
• Balance carriers. Carrying a credit card balance each month will cost you since interest charges eat away at the rewards you earned. If you tend to not pay your balance in full each month, a low-interest credit card may be a better fit, at least in the short term.

How to choose a credit card for groceries

Before making a decision, it’s a good idea to compare credit cards to make sure you’ve found the option that best fits your needs. Here are some questions to ask yourself before deciding on a grocery rewards card.

• Where do you shop the most? Your shopping habits will play a large role in the type of grocery rewards card that works best for you. 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 wholesale club or superstore, a co-branded credit card or a flat-rate rewards card may offer the best value.
• How much do you spend on groceries? To get the most value out of a grocery rewards card, you’ll need to consider your spending habits. Some of the best grocery rewards cards come with no annual fee, which makes them a great option for people on a budget who don’t spend enough at the grocery store to justify an annual fee. However, a grocery rewards card with an annual fee may offer higher rewards rates. This means if you spend heavily at grocery stores and are able to rack up a lot of rewards, you should have no trouble offsetting an annual fee and even enjoying more value than you would with a no-annual-fee card. Annual fee cards may also offer a wider variety of bonus categories and plenty of additional benefits to help you save money.
• Are you a minimalist or a rewards maximizer? If you’re looking for a grocery rewards card with high rewards earning potential, keep in mind that it can take some work to earn as many rewards as possible. You may have to track spending categories, watch out for spending caps or juggle multiple credit cards to avoid earning only 1 percent cash back on your purchases. If you value simplicity, the extra rewards may not be worth the trouble.A grocery rewards card with a simple rewards structure or a flat-rate credit card are solid picks if you’re looking for an easier way to earn rewards. You likely won’t earn as many rewards, but compared to grocery cards with multiple high-earning bonus categories and complicated rewards programs, you won’t have to jump through so many hoops to earn rewards.
• What short- and long-term benefits matter most to you? The right grocery rewards card can do more than just earn cash back or points. Be on the lookout for 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, valuable travel and consumer protections, complimentary concierge servies, or no foreign transaction fees.

Additional features to look out for with grocery rewards cards

On top of the rewards you can earn, most grocery rewards cards include a number of features and benefits that increase the card’s value even further. Here’s a look at some of the additional perks you might find with a grocery rewards card.

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.

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.

Extended warranty. If your credit card offers extended warranty, you get peace of mind that your purchase is covered beyond the original manufacturer’s warranty in the event it breaks or stops working.

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.

Car rental insurance. Your card may offer primary or secondary car rental coverage. This saves you from having to purchase collision coverage each time you rent a car. This is especially useful if you don’t already have auto insurance.

Travel accident insurance. In the event of accidental death or dismemberment, your grocery rewards card may provide travel accident insurance at no additional charge when you pay for your travel fare using the credit card.

Complimentary concierge service. If you need help finding or planning travel, shopping, dining or entertainment experiences, concierge service provides personalized assistance 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

*Information about the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card, the Capital One Walmart Rewards® Mastercard® and the Sam’s Club® Mastercard® has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.