Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
If you're finding your grocery bills are higher than you'd like, you might want to consider having a dedicated card to maximize your spending. The best grocery rewards cards offer up to 6% cash back at supermarkets, and others earn valuable travel rewards.
CNBC Select dug into each card's perks and drawbacks to find the best grocery store rewards cards based on your spending habits. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best cards.
Best credit cards for groceries
- Best for cash back: Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
- Best for lifestyle spending: Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
- Best for no annual fee: Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express (see rates and fees)
- Best for flat cash back: Citi Double Cash® Card
- Best for online grocery shopping: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees)
- Best for travel rewards: American Express® Gold Card
- Best for Whole Foods and Amazon Fresh: Prime Visa (see rates and fees)
- Best for Costco: Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
Best for cash back
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is a low-fee card with generous cash-back rewards and useful ongoing benefits, such as a monthly Disney Bundle credit. (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- High cash-back earnings for U.S. supermarkets and streaming services
- Intro-APR offer for purchases and balance transfers
- No annual fee for the first year
- It's less rewarding after the first year because of the annual fee
- Bonus rewards for U.S. supermarkets are capped
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Apply and find out your welcome offer. As High As $300 cash back* after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply, and if approved: 1. Find out your offer amount 2. Accept the Card with your offer 3. Spend $3,000 in 6 months 4. Receive the cash back. *Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed for a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
- $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
- Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening. After that, your APR will be a variable APR of 19.49%-28.49%.
- Plan It®: Buy now, pay later with Plan It. Split purchases of $100 or more into equal monthly installments with a fixed fee so you don't have the pressure of paying all at once. Simply select the purchase in your online account or the American Express® App to see your plan options. Plus, you'll still earn rewards on purchases the way you usually do.
- Earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in eligible purchases (then 1%), 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% cash back at eligible U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more) purchases and 1% cash back on other purchases. Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit and at Amazon.com checkout.
- Get up to a $10 monthly statement credit after using your enrolled Blue Cash Preferred® Card for a subscription purchase, including a bundle subscription purchase, at DisneyPlus.com, Hulu.com, or Stream.ESPN.com U.S. websites. Subject to auto-renewal.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Foreign transaction fee
2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars
Who's this for? The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is ideal if you want to earn cash back on your grocery purchases. It offers the highest cash-back rate at U.S. supermarkets at 6% (on up to $6,000 per year in eligible purchases, then 1%), up to $360 each year just on eligible supermarket purchases.
Standout benefits: This card is not only rewarding for groceries. It also earns 6% cash back on select streaming subscriptions, 3% cash back at eligible U.S. gas stations, 3% cash back on transit including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more, plus 1% cash back on all other purchases. Terms apply.
Best for lifestyle spending
The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card is one of the most rewarding options for earning cash back in categories such as entertainment and dining without paying an annual fee.
- One of the most rewarding cash back cards for entertainment and streaming services
- No annual fee
- Easy-to-earn welcome bonus
- High APR
- Requires a good to excellent credit score
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
- $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
- Earn unlimited 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services, plus 1% on all other purchases
- Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus cash back won't expire for the life of the account, and there's no limit to how much you can earn
- 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months; 18.49% - 28.49% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
- Top-rated mobile app
Balance transfer fee
3% for the first 12 months; 4% at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you at any other time
Who's this for? The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card is a good fit for those who favor everyday spending because you earn 3% cash back on not only groceries but a handful of other useful categories.
Standout benefits: The card also earns you 3% cash back on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services, making it a well-rounded card for people who value spending in those areas.
Best for no annual fee
The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express has no annual fee and you may be eligible for bonus rewards on a wide range of common expenditures.
- Up to $264 in streaming service and meal kit credits every year (subject to auto renewal)
- High cash-back rates in popular spending categories
- No annual fee
- The best bonus cash-back categories are capped
- Has a foreign transaction fee
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Apply and find out your welcome offer. As High As $200 cash back* after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply, and if approved: 1. Find out your offer amount 2. Accept the Card with your offer 3. Spend $2,000 in 6 months 4. Receive the cash back. *Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed for a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.Â
- No Annual Fee.Â
- Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from the date of account opening. After that, your APR will be a variable APR of 19.49%-28.49%.
- Plan It®: Buy now, pay later with Plan It. Split purchases of $100 or more into equal monthly installments with a fixed fee so you don't have the pressure of paying all at once. Simply select the purchase in your online account or the American Express® App to see your plan options. Plus, you'll still earn rewards on purchases the way you usually do.Â
- Earn 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, 3% cash back on U.S. online retail purchases, 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations, on eligible purchases for each category on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%). Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit and at Amazon.com checkout.
- Get up to a $7 monthly statement credit after using your enrolled Blue Cash Everyday® Card for a subscription purchase, including a bundle subscription purchase, at DisneyPlus.com, Hulu.com, or Stream.ESPN.com U.S. websites. Subject to auto-renewal.Â
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Foreign transaction fee
2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars
Who's this for? The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express is ideal if you don't want to pay an annual fee (see rates and fees). It earns 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, on up to $6,000 per year in eligible purchases (then 1%), in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit and at Amazon.com checkout.
Standout benefits: Beyond cash back, the card offers a low intro APR on purchases and balance transfers. (see rates and fees)
Best for flat cash back
The Citi Double Cash® Card is one of the best no-annual-fee cash-back cards thanks to its straightforward rewards structure.
- Long intro-APR for balance transfers
- High flat-rate cash-back rewards structure
- No annual fee
- Has a foreign transaction fee
- Intro APR doesn't apply to purchases
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
- Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel.
- Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 17.49% - 27.49%, based on your creditworthiness.
- Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
- If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
- There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
Balance transfer fee
There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. A balance transfer fee of 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum) applies if completed after 4 months of account opening.
Foreign transaction fee
3%
Who's this for? The Citi Double Cash® Card is a great fit if you're looking to keep your purchases simple and only use one or two main credit cards, as it offers unlimited cash back with no enrollment needed. Cardholders earn 2% cash back: 1% on purchases and an additional 1% when paying their bill.
Standout benefits: The card offers an intro APR period of 18 months on balance transfers, which could make it a favorable second card for those with any credit card debt.
Best for online grocery shopping
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card packs a punch for a $95 annual fee card, offering annual travel credits, comprehensive travel protections and more.
- You can transfer rewards to all of Chase's travel partners including World of Hyatt, Southwest Rapid Rewards and many more
- Long list of travel and shopping protections
- $50 annual Chase Travel hotel credit
- Has an annual fee
- Requires a high credit score
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Enjoy beneï¬ts such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
- Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase TravelSM
- 10% anniversary points boost - each account anniversary you'll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
Who's this for? If you like to order groceries online and want to earn travel rewards, then the Chase Sapphire Preferred may be for you. It earns 3X points on online grocery purchases and you can transfer those points to 14 travel partners.
Standout benefits: With your Sapphire Preferred, you may be able to receive even more value by transferring your points to Chase's hotel and airline partners, such as United MileagePlus, Southwest Rapid Rewards, World of Hyatt and more.
Best for travel rewards
The American Express Gold Card is great for earning valuable Membership Rewards® points at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets.
- You can earn $400+ in dining and rideshare credits every year (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- Exceptionally rewarding for eligible restaurant and U.S. supermarket purchases
- No foreign transaction fees
- Larger annual fee
- Credits are more complicated, you earn them monthly or semi-annually
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.  Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you're approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you're approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold:  Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That's up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Foreign transaction fee
None
Who's this for? The American Express® Gold Card is a perfect fit if you're a foodie who wants to earn transferable travel rewards. The card earns 4X back on groceries from U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 in purchases per year (then 1x), earning valuable Membership Rewards® Points.
Standout benefits: You can still earn rewards for the times you don't feel like cooking, as the Amex Gold also earns 4X back on restaurants, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X.
Best for Whole Foods and Amazon Fresh
The Prime Visa is only available to Amazon Prime members ($139 for an annual membership and $14.99 for a monthly membership) but is very rewarding for Amazon purchases.
- High rate of return at Amazon and Whole Foods
- Easy-to-earn welcome bonus
- Requires an Amazon Prime membership
- If you choose the promo APR you won't earn rewards on those purchases
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Get a $150 Amazon Gift Card instantly upon approval exclusively for Prime members
- Earn unlimited 5% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market and on Chase Travel purchases with an eligible Prime membership
- Prime Card Bonus: Earn 10% back or more on a rotating selection of items and categories on Amazon.com with an eligible Prime membership
- Earn unlimited 2% back at gas stations, restaurants, and on local transit and commuting (including rideshare)
- Earn unlimited 1% back on all other purchases
- No annual credit card fee
- No more waiting. Redeem daily rewards at Amazon.com as soon as the next day
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 4% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
Who's this for? If you find yourself primarily grocery shopping at Whole Foods or Amazon.com, then you should consider the Prime Visa. Cardholders earn 5% back on those purchases, which is hard to beat.
Standout benefits: This card is also a decent choice for unlimited 2% back at gas stations, restaurants and on local transit and commuting (including rideshare). You can redeem your points for Amazon purchases, travel booked through Chase TravelSM, cash or gift cards.
Best for Costco
The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi is a valuable card to pair with a Costco membership, but the rewards program is more restrictive than what you get with a typical cash-back card.
- High rewards rates for gas/EV charging and travel
- No foreign transaction fees
- Restrictive rewards that you can only cash out once per year
- Requires a paid Costco membership
- No welcome bonus
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Discover one of Citi's best cash back rewards cards designed exclusively for Costco members
- Earn 5% cash back rewards on gas at Costco and earn 4% cash back on other eligible gas and electric vehicle (EV) charging purchases for the first $7,000 combined spend per year, and then 1% thereafter.
- 3% cash back on restaurants and eligible travel purchases and eligible travel, including Costco Travel.
- 2% cash back on all other purchases from Costco and Costco.com
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
- No annual fee with your paid Costco membership and enjoy no foreign transaction fees on purchases
- Receive an annual credit card reward certificate, which is redeemable for cash or merchandise at U.S. Costco warehouses, including Puerto Rico
Balance transfer fee
5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum
Foreign transaction fee
None
Who's this for? The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi is a great fit for Costco members because there's no additional fee (outside of the membership) and you'll earn at least 2% cash back on all Costco spending.
Standout benefits: The Costco Anywhere Visa Card isn't just great for Costco purchases, but it also makes sense as a gas credit card and can even find space in your wallet for dining. It earns 5% cash back rewards on gas at Costco and earns 4% cash back on other eligible gas and electric vehicle (EV) charging purchases for the first $7,000 combined spend per year, and then 1% thereafter.
More on our best grocery credit cards
Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express
Rewards
- 6% back on up to $6,000 per year in eligible purchases at U.S. supermarkets (then 1%)
- 6% back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions
- 3% back on transit
- 3% back at eligible U.S. gas stations
- 1% back on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
Apply and find out your welcome offer. As High As $300 cash back* after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply, and if approved: 1. Find out your offer amount 2. Accept the Card with your offer 3. Spend $3,000 in 6 months 4. Receive the cash back. *Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed for a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
Annual fee
$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 (see rates and fees)
Notable perks
With the Blue Cash Preferred Card, you can save money in other ways besides earning cash back. This card has ongoing statement credit offers for Equinox and Disney. You can receive up to $120 back each year in Disney bundle credit ($10 statement credit a month after purchasing an eligible subscription, enrollment required; subject to auto-renewal. Valid only at Disney Plus.com, Hulu.com or Stream.ESPN.com in the U.S.). Plus, you can take advantage of Amex Offers to earn statement credits or additional cash back at select retailers (enrollment required).
You'll also receive *return protection, rental car insurance, extended warranty coverage and purchase protection.
*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. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
Rewards
- 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
- 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target)
- 3% cash back on dining
- 3% cash back on entertainment and popular streaming services
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
Annual fee
$0
Notable perks
With Capital One Savor Cash Rewards, you'll receive several protections for eligible purchases with perks like extended warranty and price protection. The card also comes with some protections for those on the move, with travel accident insurance and 24-hour travel assistance.
Other benefits include access to premium reservations with Capital One Dining, exclusive events and experiences through the Capital One Entertainment portal and 50% off beverages at Capital One Cafés.
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
Rewards
- 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in eligible purchases, then 1% cash. back
- 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations, on up to $6,000 per year in eligible purchases, then 1% cash back
- 3% cash back on U.S. online retail purchases, on up to $6,000 per year in eligible purchases, then 1% cash back
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit and at Amazon.com checkout.
Welcome bonus
Earn as high as $200 cash back* after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. *Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed for a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
Apply, and if approved:
- Find out your offer amount
- Accept the Card with your offer
- Spend $2,000 in 6 months
- Receive the cash back.
Annual fee
$0 (see rates and fees)
Notable perks
The Blue Cash Everyday Card's intro APR offer could be more valuable than the rewards for some people, allowing cardholders additional time before interest charges start piling up.
The Blue Cash Everyday also offers useful statement credits, with up to $84 back per year for Disney Bundle subscriptions ($7 monthly statement credit after using your enrolled Blue Cash Everyday® Card for a subscription purchase, including a bundle subscription purchase, at DisneyPlus.com, Hulu.com, or Stream.ESPN.com U.S. websites. Subject to auto-renewal). You can also save up to $180 on meal kit delivery with Home Chef: $15 back per month with enrollment required and subject to auto-renewal.
Citi Double Cash Card
Rewards
- 5% total cash back on hotel, car rental and attractions when booked on the Citi Travel® portal
- 2% unlimited cash back every purchase (1% when you buy, 1% when you pay)
Welcome bonus
Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening; this bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back
Annual fee
$0
Notable perks
The main strength of the card is its flexibility to earn rewards on any purchase, but the card also offers a low intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months to help manage your purchases.
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
Rewards
- 5X points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase Travel
- 5X points per dollar on Lyft rides (benefit valid through Sep. 30, 2027)
- 3X points per dollar on dining
- 3X points per dollar on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs)
- 3X points per dollar on select streaming services
- 2X points per dollar on all other travel purchases
- 1X points per dollar on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Annual fee
$95
Notable perks
The Chase Sapphire Preferred has a $95 annual fee, but carries several benefits to offset that cost. You'll receive a 10% anniversary points boost every year based on your spending for the previous year, plus an annual hotel credit worth up to $50 when you book hotels through Chase Travel.
You'll also appreciate the peace of mind and additional savings from this card's built-in insurance benefits. When you book travel with the card, you'll have access to primary rental car insurance, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, trip delay reimbursement and baggage insurance. Eligible items can also qualify for purchase and extended warranty protections.
When it comes to redemptions, you can keep it simple by redeeming Chase points for cash back, gift cards and other options at a rate of one cent per point. To boost the value of your rewards, this card also unlocks access to all of Chase's travel partners, and you can convert Chase points to airline or hotel rewards at a 1:1 ratio.
American Express Gold Card
Rewards
- 4X points per dollar spent at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S. (on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X)
- 4X points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X)
- 3X points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com
- 1X point per dollar spent on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new card in your first 6 months of card membership
Annual fee
$325 (see rates and fees)
Notable perks
The American Express Membership Rewards points you earn with the Amex Gold Card are flexible and valuable. You can redeem them for gift cards, statement credits and travel you book through the Amex Travel Portal. To unlock greater value, you can transfer Membership Rewards points to a variety of airline or hotel partners, including Delta SkyMiles, JetBlue TrueBlue, Emirate Skywards, ANA Mileage Club and more.
In addition to rewards, you can receive over $400 in annual statement credits. This includes up to $120 in dining statement credits every year (up to $10 in statement credits a month, enrollment required) at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Plus, receive up to $120 in Uber Cash every year, up to $10 per month (you must have downloaded the latest version of the Uber App and your eligible American Express Gold Card must be a method of payment in your Uber account. The Amex Benefit may only be used in the United States; enrollment required). An Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.
This card also has no foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees) and several insurance benefits; Rental car bookings are covered by secondary loss and damage insurance and you'll also receive *trip delay insurance and baggage insurance on travel you pay for with your Amex Gold Card. Eligible items are covered by this card's extended warranty and purchase protections.
*Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card.Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
Prime Visa
Rewards
- 5% cash back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods
- 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel
- 2% cash back at gas stations
- 2% cash back at restaurants
- 2% cash back on local transit
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
Get a $150 Amazon Gift Card instantly upon approval exclusively for Prime members
Annual fee
$0, but an Amazon Prime membership is required
Notable perks
The Prime Visa is exceptionally rewarding for all sorts of Amazon purchases, but it's only available to you if you have an Amazon Prime membership ($139 for an annual membership and $14.99 for a monthly membership). If you're not a member, you can get the Amazon Visa, which offers 3% cash back at Amazon and Whole Foods.
This card has no foreign transaction fees and a variety of useful shopping and travel insurance perks, including:
- Purchase protection
- Extended warranty protection
- Baggage delay insurance
- Lost luggage reimbursement
- Travel accident insurance
- Rental car coverage (secondary in the U.S.)
Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi
Rewards
- Earn 5% cash back rewards on gas at Costco and earn 4% cash back on other eligible gas and electric vehicle (EV) charging purchases for the first $7,000 combined spend per year, and then 1% thereafter
- 3% cash back on restaurants and eligible travel purchases and eligible travel, including Costco Travel
- 2% cash back on all other purchases from Costco and Costco.com
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
None
Annual fee
$0, but it does require a Costco membership
Notable perks
While the Costco Anywhere Visa Card is a cash-back card, how you receive your rewards differs from most other rewards cards. Instead of being able to redeem rewards as you earn them, you'll receive a credit card reward certificate after your February billing statement. You'll have until Dec. 31 of the year the reward certificate is issued to redeem it at Costco and it can only be used for a single transaction.
Outside of the cash back you earn with this card, it also has no foreign transaction fees.
How to choose a grocery credit card
Picking the best grocery credit card for your spending depends a lot on how you prefer to shop. Are you someone who grocery shops in person or do you buy online and have your groceries delivered?
If it’s the latter, you’ll probably be best off with the Chase Sapphire Preferred, which offers 3X points on online grocery purchases, or the Prime Visa, which offers 5% cash back at Amazon.com, plus grocery delivery services through Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods.
To help you choose a generic grocery credit card, look at the reward rates and associated costs. While the best grocery rewards cards offer up to 6% cash back at supermarkets, many come with annual fees. The Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express has no annual fee (see rates and fees), making it a smart choice if you’re cash-strapped and every dollar counts.
It's worth noting that wholesale clubs, like Costco and BJs, or big box stores like Target and Walmart, are often excluded from grocery store rewards categories. Frequent shoppers of similar stores might consider applying for a store credit card, just make sure you're watching out for high credit card interest rates.
Types of credit cards for groceries
The main types of grocery credit cards are cash-back cards and rewards credit cards.
Cash back cards are straightforward and offer cash rewards or points that can be redeemed for cash and cash-like rewards. These cards can be generous and simple, but you're always earning a fixed value.
There are several different types of rewards credit cards, including airline cards, hotel cards, store cards and travel cards. Co-branded cards (i.e. airline, hotel and store cards) typically offer perks and rewards you can redeem with that specific company. These cards can be valuable for your grocery spending, but your redemption options tend to be more limited.
Grocery store credit cards pros and cons
Everyone has to eat, so having a credit card that earns you rewards on your grocery shopping makes sense for most people. However, not every card that earns rewards for groceries will be ideal for other types of purchases such as travel, dining or entertainment.
- Earn rewards on the money you're already spending
- You can often redeem rewards for travel and other non-grocery purchases, which can boost the value you receive
- Many grocery cards have no annual fee
- Could earn fewer rewards on other purchases
- You may have limited redemption options
FAQs
Who should apply for a grocery credit card?
Anyone who enjoys maximizing rewards should consider applying for a grocery credit card. A card that earns extra rewards on groceries can be a great supplement to other types of cards you may have.
Does buying groceries with a credit card build credit?
Paying for everyday expenses like groceries with a credit card can help you build credit. However, to improve your credit score, you must remember to pay your bills on time and in full each month.
How can I save more on groceries?
Using a credit card for groceries instead of a debit card enables you to earn cash back or points at supermarkets and save money. Beyond that, you can save on groceries by joining a supermarket's loyalty program and by clipping coupons for additional discounts. There are also rebate apps, such as Ibotta and Rakuten, that may give you cash back for buying groceries.
How much should I spend on groceries?
The average American spends about $6,801 a year, or roughly $431 a month, on groceries, according to a sample budget based on the latest spending data available from the location intelligence firm Esri. That's more than Americans spend on dining out ($3,723 annually).
Why trust CNBC Select?
At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card list is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best grocery credit cards.
Money matters — so make the most of it. Get expert tips, strategies, news and everything else you need to maximize your money, right to your inbox. Sign up here.
Our methodology
To determine which cards offer the best value for grocery purchases, CNBC Select analyzed credit cards issued through FDIC-insured banks and NCUA-insured credit unions that are widely available in the U.S. Â
We compared each card on a range of features, including rewards (e.g., cash back, points and miles), annual fees, welcome bonuses, introductory and standard APR and balance transfer fees and foreign transaction fees. We also considered additional perks (e.g., ongoing travel or merchant statement credits), cardholder protections (e.g., purchase protection, $0 liability protection and travel insurance), the application process when available (e.g., is there a credit pull or required credit score) and how easy it is to redeem points (e.g., are rewards are tied to a specific brand; if transferable, to how many/which partners, can you redeem for straight cash back).Â
Â
We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools.
For the cards that offered a rewards program, we considered consumer spending data forecasts from location intelligence firm Esri to determine where U.S. consumers are spending the most money, like on dining and travel. We used this to help determine what bonus categories are most useful for consumers. Since the value of a point or mile varies based on what they can be redeemed for, we also considered things like transferability and the ability to redeem for cash-back.Â
When choosing the best grocery credit cards the rewards rates for grocery store or supermarket purchases are factored more heavily.
Catch up on CNBC Select's in-depth coverage of credit cards, banking and money, and follow us on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date.
Read more
For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, please click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, please click here.
Information about the Amazon credit cards has been collected independently by CNBC Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer prior to publication; if you purchase something through Select links, we may earn a commission.
