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Best credit cards for groceries for December 2023

Updated December 06, 2023

Groceries are one of the most common recurring expenses for both families and individuals, and credit cards are a great way to earn rewards on those necessary expenses. 

The best grocery store credit cards earn a high rewards rate on grocery store purchases and offer solid rewards opportunities in other common spending categories for a minimal annual fee.

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BEST FOR CUSTOMIZABLE REWARDS
Rating: 4.4 stars out of 5
4.4
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Apply now Lock
on Citi's secure site

Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
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Recommended Credit
chance of approval
Info

Intro offer

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1% - 5%

Rewards rate

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Annual fee

Regular APR

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BEST FOR EVERYDAY VALUE
Rating: 4.4 stars out of 5
4.4
Info
Apply now Lock
on American Express's secure site
See Rates & Fees , Terms Apply

Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info
Recommended Credit
chance of approval
Info

Intro offer

Info

1% - 6%

Rewards rate

Info

Annual fee

Regular APR

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BEST FOR FOOD + ENTERTAINMENT
Rating: 5 stars out of 5
5.0
Info
Apply now Lock
on Capital One's secure site

Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
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Recommended Credit
chance of approval
Info

Intro offer

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1% - 8%

Rewards rate

Info

Annual fee

Regular APR

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BEST FOR WHOLESALE CLUBS
Rating: 4.3 stars out of 5
4.3
Info
Apply now Lock
on Bank of America's secure site

Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
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Recommended Credit
chance of approval
Info

Intro offer

Info

1% - 3%

Rewards rate

Info

Annual fee

Regular APR

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BEST FOR ONLINE GROCERY PURCHASES
Rating: 4.9 stars out of 5
4.9
Info
Apply now Lock
on Chase's secure site

Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info
Recommended Credit
chance of approval
Info

Intro offer

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$1200

Offer valuation

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2x - 5x

Rewards rate

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Annual fee

Regular APR

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BEST FOR TRAVEL REWARDS ON GROCERIES
Rating: 5 stars out of 5
5.0
Info
Apply now Lock
on American Express's secure site
See Rates & Fees , Terms Apply

Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info
Recommended Credit
chance of approval
Info

Intro offer

Info

$1200

Offer valuation

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3X - 4X

Rewards rate

Info

Annual fee

Regular APR

Info
Best for groceries and gas
Rating: 4.6 stars out of 5
4.6
Info
Apply now Lock
on American Express's secure site
See Rates & Fees , Terms Apply

Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info
Recommended Credit
chance of approval
Info

Intro offer

Info

1% - 3%

Rewards rate

Info

Annual fee

Regular APR

Compare Bankrate's best credit cards for groceries

Card name Best for Rewards highlights Bankrate review score

Customizable rewards

5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle (can include grocery stores) up to the first $500 spent, then 1% back

Apply now Lock
on Citi's secure site

4.4 / 5

Info

(Read card review)

Everyday value

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

Apply now Lock
on American Express's secure site

4.4 / 5

Info

(Read card review)

See Rates & Fees , Terms Apply

Food + entertainment

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

10% cash back on Uber and Uber Eats purchases, including grocery deliveries (through Nov. 14, 2024)

Apply now Lock
on Capital One's secure site

5.0 / 5

Info

(Read card review)

Wholesale clubs

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.

Apply now Lock
on Bank of America's secure site

4.3 / 5

Info

(Read card review)

Online grocery purchases

5X points on travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards 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

Apply now Lock
on Chase's secure site

4.9 / 5

Info

(Read card review)

Travel rewards on groceries

4X points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 purchases per calendar year, then 1X) and restaurants, including Uber Eats and other eligible delivery services
 
3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or American Express Travel
Apply now Lock
on American Express's secure site

5.0 / 5

Info

(Read card review)

See Rates & Fees , Terms Apply

Groceries and gas

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)

Apply now Lock
on American Express's secure site

4.6 / 5

Info

(Read card review)

See Rates & Fees , Terms Apply

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.

A closer look at our top-rated grocery rewards cards

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Citi Custom Cash® Card

Best for customizable rewards

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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.

The Custom Cash is worth it for cash back fans who need a supplemental rewards card. Since it only earns rewards at a high rate in your biggest spending category each billing cycle, you’ll want to combine it with a flat-rate rewards card or a card that offers bonus rewards in other categories that fit your spending habits.

If you only want to carry one credit card in your wallet, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express may be a better option. It comes with an annual fee, but its high rewards rate at U.S. supermarkets can easily offset this cost. In fact, the card carries perhaps the highest rewards rate available at U.S. supermarkets.

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Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

Best for everyday value

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It earns the highest cash back rate available at U.S. supermarkets. 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. 

Families and other big grocery spenders who can also take advantage of all the card’s categories to make up for the annual fee. You’d only 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.

If you only spend modestly at U.S. supermarkets, the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express is a great option. It carries a less impressive rewards rate, but could be more lucrative than the Preferred card since it carries no annual fee and comes with a versatile U.S. online retail category.

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Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

Best for food + entertainment

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You can earn unlimited 3 percent cash back in a number of food and entertainment categories — including both grocery store and restaurant purchases (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®) — with no spending caps and no annual fee (See Rates and Fees). Few cards reward both grocery and dining purchases, let alone entertainment purchases.

People who want to stick with one card that earns rewards on grocery shopping, dining, entertainment and more while avoiding an annual fee.

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.

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Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card

BEST FOR WHOLESALE CLUBS

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It offers more flexibility than traditional rewards cards. You can not only choose your bonus category and change your choice category once per calendar month, but also earn rewards at wholesale clubs like Costco and Sam’s Club — an especially hard-to-find bonus category.

Since you can earn bonus rewards at both wholesale clubs and grocery stores, this card is a solid option for household shoppers. The choice categories also make the card an excellent fit if you need flexibility with where you earn rewards.

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.

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Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Best for online grocery purchases

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It’s easy to quickly rack up travel rewards thanks to this card’s solid rewards rate in a variety of everyday spending categories. Plus, the Sapphire Preferred card’s perks could provide enough value to more than make up for the $95 annual fee.

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.

Depending on your spending habits, the Blue Cash Preferred card 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’s 3X points, which only applies to online grocery purchases (excluding purchases at Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs).

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American Express® Gold Card

Best for travel rewards on groceries

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Its high rewards rate at both U.S. supermarkets and restaurants, combined with valuable benefits like annual dining credits and enhanced travel benefits, make the Amex Gold a powerful mid-level travel card for foodies and household shoppers.

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.

You don’t need to pay a $250 annual fee to earn rewards on dining and groceries. 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 rewards at a terrific rate in a variety of categories, including dining, grocery store and entertainment purchases.

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Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

Best for groceries and gas

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This is one of the only no-annual-fee cards that offers high rewards rates year-round in a variety of popular everyday categories like groceries and gas. It’s also one of the few cards with no annual fee to carry perks as valuable as credits for the Disney Bundle and Home Chef meal kits (subject to auto-renewal).

This is a solid pick if your top spending areas include groceries, gas and online shopping. But if you have an especially high grocery budget, you may earn more with the Blue Cash Preferred, despite its annual fee.

Thanks to its unique rewards program, which earns a high rewards rate in your top eligible spending category, the Citi Custom Cash can offer one of the best grocery rewards rates available. Pair it with another rewards card for your gas purchases, like the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card, and you could rake in more cash back than you would with a single card that rewards both gas and groceries. 

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Chase Freedom Flex℠

Best for backup grocery rewards

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It has high rewards rates in both fixed and rotating bonus categories. This gives you a variety of ways to quickly earn cash back — even if the Freedom Flex isn’t your main grocery card. Chase’s list of categories often includes grocery stores, wholesale clubs or grocery superstores like Walmart or Target.

The Freedom Flex is a good fit for rewards strategists since its bonus categories rotate, and you need to track spending and plan out purchases in advance to maximize your rewards. 

If you don’t want to track categories or worry about spending limits, the Wells Fargo Active Cash is a solid choice since it earns a single flat rate on all purchases. The Chase Freedom Unlimited® could also be a more rewarding option since it not only earns at least 1.5 percent back on all purchases, but also carries the same 3 percent bonus categories as the Freedom Flex.

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Capital One Walmart Rewards® Mastercard®

Best for budget shoppers

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The rewards on in-store and online Walmart purchases is solid, especially considering most cards only earn 1 percent cash back on purchases at superstores like Walmart. This card is also open to people with fair credit, which is helpful since nearly all the best grocery rewards cards require good to excellent credit.

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.

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 card, which is one of the only cash back cards versatile enough to get you a nice rewards rate at a variety of wholesale clubs.

What to know about grocery store credit 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 and travel. 

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

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.

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 2021 was $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 $105 $0  $5,154
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card 3% back on grocery store purchases (excluding Target & Walmart) $157 $0 (See Rates and Fees) $5,102
Citi Custom Cash Card 5% back in your top spending eligible category (includes grocery stores, on up to $500 per billing cycle, then 1%) $262 $0 $4,997
Blue Cash Preferred from American Express 6% back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%) $315 $95 ($0 intro annual fee for the first year) $5,039

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.

Pros and cons of grocery credit cards

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. Some grocery cards come with intro APR offers that 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

  • Rewards rate limits. Cards may come with monthly, quarterly, or annual caps that limit the amount of 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.

Tips on choosing the best grocery credit card for you

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, superstore or online grocery retailer or delivery service, 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.

A travel credit card with a solid rewards rate on grocery purchases may offer better perks and rewards value than cash back cards provide if you enjoy traveling and don’t mind putting in a little extra effort to redeem toward options like transfer travel partners.

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, purchase protections, no foreign transaction fees, annual credits or complimentary grocery or food delivery service subscriptions.

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.

Expert advice for grocery store credit cards

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% cash back everywhere else Mastercard is accepted
$0
(See Rates and Fees)
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)
  • 3% cash back on Sam’s Club purchases for Plus members.
  • 1% cash back on other purchases
$0 annual fee with paid membership ($50 for Club, $110 for Plus)
BJ's One+™ Mastercard®*
  • 5% cash back on eligible purchases at BJ’s (online and in-store)
  • 2% cash back on other eligible purchases
  • $0.15 off each gallon of gas purchased at BJ’s gas stations
$0 annual fee with paid membership ($60)
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
$0 annual fee with paid membership ($60)
Prime Visa
  • 5% back on eligible Amazon.com, Whole Foods Market and Chase Ultimate Rewards travel purchases
  • 2% back on restaurant, gas station plus local transit and commuting purchases (including rideshares)
  • 1% back on all other purchases
$0 annual fee with paid membership ($139)

How we assess the best grocery store credit cards

Document
150+
cards rated
Congrats
50+
rewards programs valued
Search
1800
data points analyzed
Credit Card Reviews
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 are some of the key factors that we considered:

*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 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