The best credit cards for groceries: Up to 6% cash back on groceries year-round

Advertiser disclosure: Cards and Points has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Cards and Points and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Some or all of the card offers that appear on this site are from advertisers. Compensation may affect how and where card products appear on the site. The site does not include all card companies or all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities. Terms apply to all credit card benefits.

The best credit cards for groceries can give you up to 6% cash back year-round. Here are the cards that can get you the most cash back on your grocery store purchases.

Our top pick: Blue Cash Preferred® for 6% cash back on groceries

For most people, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is the best credit card for rewards on groceries. The card offers 6% cash back rewards on the first $6,000 spent at U.S. supermarkets (1% thereafter) plus a bundle of additional benefits that most families will be able to use.

Learn more and apply for the Blue Cash Preferred®, our top pick for the best grocery credit card.

The best credit cards for groceries

While the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is our top pick for the best grocery rewards card, the best card for you will depend on your spending patterns and what benefits you will use. Here are several cards that offer excellent rewards at grocery stores.

Card	Grocery rewards
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express Annual fee: $0 intro annual fee in the first year, then $95. (See Rates and Fees)	6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 in purchases per year, then 1%. This is our favorite card for cash back on groceries at U.S. supermarkets. It’s one of our overall favorite cards and is a great choice for your first $6,000 of grocery store spending each year. More on the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express. (See Rates and Fees)
Citi Custom Cash℠ Card Annual fee: $0	5% cash back on the first $500 in your top eligible spending category each statement cycle. Eligible spending categories include groceries. The best way to use the Custom Cash for groceries is to use it only for groceries, and shift your grocery store spending to another card after you have spent $500 in groceries during the month. More on the Citi Custom Cash℠ Card.
. Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card Annual fee: $0	3% cash back at grocery stores. The Capital One Savor One Cash Rewards Credit Card offers uncapped 3% cash back rewards at grocery stores. This card is a great choice if you spent a lot on groceries and don’t want to worry about bonus reward caps. More on the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card.
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express Annual fee: $0 (See Rates and Fees)	3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%. The Blue Cash Everyday Card’s grocery rewards alone aren’t exciting, but when you consider that the card gives you additional rewards for gas and online retail, plus a statement credit for The Disney Bundle (enrollment required) the total package becomes compelling. More on the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express.
American Express® Gold Card Annual fee: $250 (See Rates and Fees)	4x Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per year in purchases. If you’re collecting Membership Rewards® points, the Amex Gold Card is the card you want to use for your grocery store purchases. The annual fee is a bit high to justify the card solely for grocery rewards, but between rewards at restaurants, on flights, and the card’s statement credits, many can find enough value to make the card worthwhile. More on the American Express® Gold Card.
Target RedCard™ Mastercard Annual fee: $0	5% discount on all purchases at Target and Target.com, including groceries. The Target RedCard Mastercard is a must-have card if your primary grocery store is Target. Unfortunately, the card doesn’t offer compelling rewards elsewhere and there are better options for non-grocery purchases at Target when you want benefits like purchase protection and extended warranty. More on the Target RedCard™ Mastercard.
Prime Visa Annual fee: $0 Requires Amazon Prime membership	5% cash back on Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market, and Amazon.com purchases. If your primary grocery store is Amazon Fresh or Whole Foods Market and you have a Prime subscription, you’ll earn more rewards on your grocery purchases with the Prime Visa than you will with any other card. More on the Prime Visa.
Capital One Walmart Rewards® Card Annual fee: $0	5% cash back on Walmart.com, including pickup and delivery. The Capital One Walmart Rewards Card is a good option if you’re ordering groceries at Walmart for pickup and delivery, since you’ll get 5% cash back on those purchases. In-store, it will only earn 2% cash back rewards on your purchases. More on the Capital One Walmart Rewards® Card.

Other ways to earn rewards on groceries.

Here are some other options for earning the most possible rewards on groceries:

• Consider using rotating category cards. Rotating category cards offer increased rewards in categories that change, usually quarterly. Most rotating category cards offer 5% cash back on a limited amount of groceries at least once during the year.
• If you get your groceries delivered, use a card that offers increased rewards on grocery delivery. Most of the cards on this list won’t give you additional rewards on purchases from delivery services like Instacart.
• Consider your grocery store’s branded card. The vast majority of grocery stores are regional. If you shop at a regional grocery store, chances are your store offers a co-branded rewards credit card that can give you rewards on groceries.
• Grocery store rewards and fuel points programs. Many grocery stores participate in some sort of fuel points or rewards program. Be sure that you sign up for this program in addition to using the best credit card to earn additional rewards on your groceries.
• Use grocery store spending for welcome bonuses. Your grocery store spending is probably fairly consistent, which means that you can easily use it to earn a credit card welcome bonus. Consider if you can use your grocery store spending for one of our best cash back welcome bonuses or any of the other bonuses that you’ll find on the menu at the top of this site.

My take on grocery rewards credit cards

When it comes to selecting a card to use at grocery stores, the only thing that matters for most people is the amount of the reward or discount you get on your groceries. You’re not going to need to make a return protection claim on tomatoes, there’s no warranty on milk, and travel benefits are largely irrelevant. So that’s what we’ve focused our list on: rewards.

For most people buying groceries at traditional grocery stores, picking up the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express and/or the Citi Custom Cash℠ Card will be the easiest path to maximizing grocery store rewards.

• If your monthly grocery bill is under $500, pick up one of these cards and just use it for groceries.
• If your monthly grocery bill is over $500 and under $1,000, use the Custom Cash for the first $500 of grocery store purchases each month, and the Blue Cash Preferred for the rest.
• If your monthly grocery bill is >$1,000 consider adding the Capital One SavorOne card to the mix.

Personally, grocery store spending is one of the easiest categories to earn extra rewards on because it’s a type of purchase that you’re going to consistently make.

My grocery credit card cash back strategy

If you spend a lot on groceries, you might want to carry multiple grocery store credit cards. The best cards for groceries often have caps on the amount of rewards you can earn. Plus, rotating category cards only offer grocery rewards during certain times of the year. Here’s how I use my grocery store credit cards.

Keep in mind that your grocery card strategy may be different due to your spending patterns. For example, if you buy groceries at Target or Whole Foods, you’ll almost certainly want the Target Red Card or the Prime Visa in the picture.

Here’s how I use my credit cards for grocery store purchases.

My grocery store credit card strategy summarized

Generally, I allocate my grocery store spending to credit cards that offer 5% cash back rewards or more on a time-limited basis first. Then, I use up grocery store category rewards that have annual limits. Then I go to my Citi Custom Cash and my everyday cash back card.

Use rotating category cards for groceries first.

I hold the trifecta of rotating category cards, so half the year, I can get 5% cash back on groceries through a bonus category on one of these cards. Since rotating categories are time-limited and dollar-limited offers, I usually have these cards at the top of my wallet for grocery store spending.

Put the next $6,000 of groceries on my Blue Cash Preferred® Card.

If I don’t have a rotating category card I can use, the next card I’ll pull out of my wallet is my Blue Cash Preferred® Card. I can spend up to $6,000 at U.S. supermarkets and get 6% rewards, but the limit on that category resets annually. I’ll continue to use my Blue Cash Preferred® Card until I’ve spent $6,000 on groceries.

Use my Citi Custom Cash Card

I like to reserve my Citi Custom Cash℠ Card for other categories like dining, home improvement store purchases, and live entertainment. But if I’ve maxed out the bonus category on my Blue Cash Preferred®, I’ll switch up to $500 of grocery store spending to the Citi Custom Cash℠ Card to earn 5% rewards.

Use a 2% card as a last resort

Finally, I’ll use a 2% cash back credit card if none of the above options are available.

More on the best credit cards for groceries.

Here’s a bit more on the best cards for rewards on grocery purchases.

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express: 6% cash back on your first $6,000 of grocery store spending annually

The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is our top pick because of its market-leading cash back earnings at U.S. supermarkets.

The card will give you 6% back on your first $6.000 of purchases at U.S. supermarkets each year (then 1%.) In addition to cash back, you’ll get an easy-to-use extended warranty benefit.

Learn more about the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express.

Citi Custom Cash℠: 5% on your top eligible spending category, including groceries, with no annual fee

The Citi Custom Cash℠ earns 5% cash back on the first $500 of your top eligible spending category each statement cycle. Grocery stores is included in the list of eligible 5% categories.

The best way to use the Custom Cash is to pick a single eligible category (such as groceries) and spend at most $500 on the card each month. Purchases beyond $500 a month and outside your top eligible spending category earn 1%. Use another card, such as a 2% cash back card for other spending.

Learn more about the Citi Custom Cash℠ and how to use the ThankYou® Points you earn with the card.

Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card: Unlimited 3% cash back on groceries with no annual fee

The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card gives you simple, unlimited cash back rewards on groceries.

The card earns unlimited 3% rewards on groceries, dining, entertainment and popular streaming services with no annual fee. The card doesn’t offer many additional benefits, but in the categories where it earns the most rewards, card benefits are largely moot.

Learn more about the SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card from our overview of the card.

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express: 3% cash back on $6,000 of groceries at U.S. supermarkets with no annual fee

The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express is a good choice if you spend a limited amount of money at U.S. supermarkets and want a card with no annual fee.

The Blue Cash Everyday will earn you 3% cash back on up to $6,000 of groceries at U.S. supermarkets, then 1%. It also offers increased rewards on gas at U.S. gas stations and at U.S. online retail merchants.

Learn more about the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express.

American Express® Gold Card – 4x Membership Rewards® points on up to $25,000 spent at U.S. supermarkets

The American Express® Gold Card is the best grocery rewards card if you’re collecting Membership Rewards® points. Membership Rewards are a great choice if you want transferrable points that you can use for travel rewards.

The card earns 4X on up to $25,000 of purchases at U.S. supermarkets, then 1X. It also earns 4X at restaurants worldwide and 3X on flights booked directly with airlines or at amextravel.com.

Learn more about the American Express® Gold Card.

Target RedCard™ Mastercard: 5% discount at Target, including on groceries

If you buy groceries at Target, the Target RedCard™ Mastercard should be in your wallet.

The RedCard will give you a 5% on most purchases at Target and at Target.com. The Target RedCard is also available as a credit card or debit card.

Learn more about the Target RedCard™ Mastercard or check out our article on the best cards to use at Target.

Amazon Prime Visa: 5% back at Whole Foods for Prime members

If you buy your groceries at Whole Foods or Amazon Fresh and are an Amazon Prime member, the Prime Visa will get you the most rewards on your groceries.

You’ll earn 5% back on your grocery store purchases at Whole Foods and Amazon Fresh, plus you’ll have one of the best cards for purchases at Amazon.

Learn more about the Amazon Prime Visa.

Capital One Walmart Rewards® Card: 5% on groceries when you order online at Walmart.com for in-store pick-up

Walmart shoppers who order groceries for in-store pick-up or delivery will earn the most rewards on groceries with the Capital One Walmart Rewards® Card.

The card earns 5% cash back on orders placed online at Walmart.com, including orders for in-store pick-up. Be aware that the Capital One Walmart card will only give you 2% cash back rewards for in-store purchases.

Learn more about the Capital One Walmart Rewards® Card.

Frequently asked questions

American Express disclosures

• For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, please visit this link: See Rates and Fees
• For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, please visit this link: See Rates and Fees
• For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, please visit this link: See Rates and Fees

Amex Basic Purchase Protection benefit disclosure: When an American Express® Card Member charges a Covered Purchase with their Eligible Card, Purchase Protection can help protect their Covered Purchases for up to 90 days from the Covered Purchase date if it is stolen or accidentally damaged. The coverage is limited to up to $1,000 per occurrence, up to $50,000 per Card Member account per calendar year.   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.

Amex Premium Purchase Protection benefit disclosure: Purchase Protection is an embedded benefit of your Card Membership and requires no enrollment. It can help protect Covered Purchases made on your Eligible Card when they’re accidentally damaged, stolen, or lost, for up to 90 days from the Covered Purchase date. The coverage is limited to up to $10,000 per occurrence, up to $50,000 per Card Member account per calendar year. Coverage Limits 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.

Amex Extended Warranty benefit disclosure: When an American Express® Card Member charges a Covered Purchase to an Eligible Card, Extended Warranty§ can provide up to one extra year added to the Original Manufacturer’s Warranty. Applies to warranties of five (5) years or less. Coverage is up to the actual amount charged to your Card for the item up to a maximum of $10,000; not to exceed $50,000 per Card Member account per calendar year.   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.

Amex Return Protection benefit disclosure: With Return Protection, you may return eligible purchases to American Express if the seller won’t take them back up to 90 days from the date of purchase. American Express may refund the full purchase price excluding shipping and handling, up to $300 per item, up to a maximum of $1,000 per calendar year per Card account, if you purchased it entirely with your eligible American Express® Card. Purchases must be made in the U.S. or its territories.   Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.

Amex Basic Trip Delay Insurance benefit disclosure: Up to $300 per Covered Trip that is delayed for more than 12 hours; and 2 claims per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period.   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.

Advertiser disclosure: Cards and Points has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Cards and Points and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Some or all of the card offers that appear on this site are from advertisers. Compensation may affect how and where card products appear on the site. The site does not include all card companies or all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities. Terms apply to all credit card benefits.