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December 18, 2024: Chase announced its Freedom Flex® bonus categories for the first quarter of 2025. From January-March 2025, you can get 5% on groceries with the card, which means that it earns a temporary spot on our list.
There’s a new best card for groceries for most people: The AAA Daily Advantage Visa Signature® Credit Card. The card offers up to 5% cash back rewards at grocery stores, plus up to 3% back at wholesale clubs, all for no annual fee.
Of course, that’s not the only grocery credit card out there and it may not be the best for your situation. Here’s our take on the best cards to use for groceries.
The best cards to use for groceries
Highest rate of cash back on groceries with no annual fee: AAA Daily Advantage Visa Signature® Credit Card
5% cash back on grocery store purchases until you earn $500 in a year across all of the card’s bonus categories, then 1%. Annual fee: $0
Best card for Q1 2025 cash back: Chase Freedom Flex®
5% cash back on up to $1,500 spent each quarter in the card’s rotating bonus categories. Q1 2025 bonus categories include groceries. Annual fee: $0
Highest rate of cash back at U.S. supermarkets: Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%.). Annual fee: annual_fees (See Rates and Fees)
Best for flexible categories: Citi Custom Cash® Card
5% cash back on the first $500 you spend each statement cycle in your top eligible category, including groceries. Annual fee: annual_fees
Highest uncapped cash back at grocery stores: Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
Unlimited 3% cash back at grocery stores. Annual fee: annual_fees
Best for online grocery purchases: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
3x Ultimate Rewards® points for online grocery purchases. Annual fee: annual_fees
Best for Target: Target Circle™ Mastercard
5% instant discount on most items at Target. Annual fee: $0- Best for Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods: Prime Visa
5% cash back at Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods. Annual fee: annual_fees
Editor’s pick: AAA Daily Advantage Visa Signature® Credit Card
The AAA Daily Advantage Visa Signature® Credit Card is an often-overlooked card that can get you up to 5% cash back on your groceries, and up to 3% cash back at a variety of useful places, including wholesale clubs, gas stations, and pharmacies. The card has no annual fee.
And, no, you don’t need to be a AAA member to get the card.
The card’s increased rewards are capped at $500/year of cash back, but we think that’s reasonable for most families since that represents a $10,000 annual grocery budget. And anything you spend beyond that will earn 1% cash back.
You won’t see much about this card online though—the card is issued through Comenity Capital Bank, which (to our knowledge) doesn’t pay publishers commissions, so it is conspicuously absent from most sites that publish about credit cards.
The biggest downsides of the AAA Daily Advantage Visa Signature® Credit Card are its lack of any sort of consumer insurance benefits like extended warranty or purchase protection. This won’t matter much for what you’re buying at grocery stores, but you’ll probably want to use a card with those benefits to buy expensive electronics and durable goods.
Honorable mention: Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express was previously our pick for the best card for groceries, and it still deserves an honorable mention.
The card earns 6% cash back on groceries at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 in purchases each calendar year, then 1%. That’s a better rate than the AAA card, but the downside is that the Blue Cash Preferred has an annual fee (annual_fees — See Rates and Fees)
Where the card excels is in what it offers in addition to its grocery rewards. It offers the trifecta of consumer insurance benefits: purchase protection, return protection, and extended warranty. And if you subscribe to Disney+, the card’s $7 monthly credit for U.S. subscriptions to The Disney Bundle will largely offset the card’s annual fee. Terms apply to all benefits.
Learn more about the card and its benefits in our review of the Blue Cash Preferred.
AAA Daily Advantage Visa Signature® Credit Card
Who it’s best for: People who buy groceries at both grocery stores and wholesale clubs. The AAA Daily Advantage Visa Signature® Credit Card earns 5% cash back on grocery stores purchases and 3% cash back at wholesale clubs until you’ve earned a total of $500 in the card’s bonus categories during the year.
Welcome offer: Receive a $100 statement credit after you spend $1,000 on your card in the first 90 days of account opening. Learn how to apply.
Annual fee: $0.
Rewards:
- 5% cash back* on grocery store purchases.
- 3% cash back* on gas and electric vehicle charging, wholesale clubs, streaming services, pharmacy, and AAA purchases.
- 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- * You’ll earn 5% and 3% cash back in bonus categories until you’ve earned $500 of cash back during the calendar year, then 1%.
All information about the AAA Daily Advantage Visa Signature® Credit Card has been collected independently by cardsandpoints.com.
Chase Freedom Flex
Who it’s best for: Chase Ultimate Rewards® collectors. In Q1 2025, you can earn 5% cash back (5x Ultimate Rewards® points) with the Chase Freedom Flex®. Groceries are included in the card’s quarterly bonus categories this time around, so the card gets a spot on this list… at least for the next few months.
Welcome offer: Earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Learn how to apply.
Annual fee: $0
Rewards:
- 5% on up to $1,500 spent each quarter in the card’s rotating quarterly bonus categories. In Q1 2025, the category bonuses include groceries.
- 5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠.
- 5% on Lyft rides through March 31, 2025.
- 3% on dining at restaurants, including eligible takeout and delivery.
- 3% on drugstore purchases.
- 1% cash back on other purchases.
Rewards are marketed as cash back, but earned as Chase Ultimate Rewards® points.
Learn more: See the Freedom Flex’s historical and current bonus categories, learn about Ultimate Rewards®, or check out our review of the Freedom Flex.
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Who it’s best for: People who buy groceries at traditional grocery stores. The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express earns 6% cash back at U.S. Supermarkets on up to $6,000 of spending per year in purchases, then 1%. For most families, that likely means you can get 6% cash back on most, if not all, of your grocery purchases.
Welcome offer: bonus_miles_full Learn how to apply.
Annual fee: annual_fees (See Rates and Fees)
Rewards:
- 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%.
- 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions.
- 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and on transit.
- 1% cash back on other purchases.
Learn more: The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is one of our favorite cards. Read why in our review of the Blue Cash Preferred.
Citi Custom Cash® Card
Who it’s best for: Grocery shoppers who purchase less than $500 of groceries each month and want flexibility in earning rewards in categories. The Citi Custom Cash® Card is a flexible category card that earns 5% cash back in the eligible category in which you spend the most each month. If you use the card exclusively for groceries, you’ll earn 5% on the first $500 you spend on groceries each month.
Welcome offer: bonus_miles_full Learn how to apply.
Annual fee: annual_fees.
Rewards:
- 5% cash back on your top eligible spending category on up to $500 each statement cycle, then 1%.
- 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- Rewards are marketed as cash back, but earned as Citi ThankYou Points.
Learn more: The Citi Custom Cash® Card is an incredibly flexible cash back card that earns ThankYou Points. Read our review of the Citi Custom Cash.
All information about the Citi Custom Cash® Card has been collected independently by cardsandpoints.com.
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
Who it’s best for: People who spend a lot on groceries. Most other cards with greater grocery rewards cap the bonus rewards you can earn on groceries. In contrast, the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card earns unlimited 3% cash back on groceries. If you’re spending a lot—think north of $20,000/year—you’ll come out ahead by earning unlimited 2% cash back.
Welcome offer: bonus_miles_full Learn how to apply.
Annual fee: annual_fees.
Rewards:
- 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
- 3% cash back on grocery stores, dining, entertainment, and popular streaming services.
- 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Who it’s best for: Online grocery shoppers. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is one of the few cards that offers bonus rewards specifically for online grocery purchases. And the card’s rewards are Ultimate Rewards® points which can be redeemed for cash back or used for various travel bookings for more value.
Welcome offer: bonus_miles_full Learn how to apply.
Annual fee: annual_fees.
Rewards:
- 5x Ultimate Rewards® on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠.
- 3x Ultimate Rewards® on online grocery purchases.
- 3x Ultimate Rewards® on dining purchases.
- 2x Ultimate Rewards® on all other travel purchases.
- 1x Ultimate Rewards® on other purchases.
Target Circle™ Mastercard
Who it’s best for: Target shoppers who buy groceries at Target. The Target Circle™ Mastercard will get you a 5% discount on most items you purchase at Target, including groceries.
Welcome offer: Target changes its promotions frequently, but you can often get $50 off a future qualifying purchase of $50 or more. Click through for the current offer for details. Learn how to apply.
Annual fee: $0.
Rewards:
- 5% instant discount on most items at Target and Target.com
- 2% rewards as a Target gift card on dining and gas purchases.
- 1% rewards as a Target gift card everywhere else outside of Target.
Learn more: We cover the best cards to use at Target and also have a review of the Target Circle Mastercard.
All information about the Target Circle Card has been collected independently by cardsandpoints.com.
Prime Visa
Who it’s best for: Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods shoppers. The Prime Visa earns unlimited 5% cash back at a variety of Amazon brands, including Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, and Whole Foods Market.
Welcome offer: bonus_miles_full Learn how to apply.
Annual fee: annual_fees. Card requires a paid Amazon Prime membership, currently $139/year.
Rewards:
- 5% cash back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market, and Chase Travel.
- 2% cash back at gas stations, restaurants, and local transit and commuting.
- 1% cash back on all other purchases..
Learn more: Read our review of the Prime Visa or check our our article on the best cards to use for Amazon.com.
Our perspective: Cards we use for groceries
While our best card lists are based on our methodology, the members of our team often sometimes have different perspectives.
While I picked the AAA card as the best card for groceries, that’s not actually the card I use for my grocery purchases.
The groceries I buy at U.S. supermarkets all go on my Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express and everything that I buy at Costco goes on the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card.
As I mentioned in the “honorable mentions” section, it’s really the Blue Cash Preferred’s other benefits that make this card better. I mention elsewhere on this site how the return protection benefit really comes in useful for online purchases of clothing (I’m tall and can rarely find clothes that fit me in-store).
Another way the Blue Cash Preferred wins for me is because my family subscribes to Disney+. We’d pay for that whether or not we had a credit for The Disney Bundle, so the Blue Cash Preferred’s Disney+ credit is as good as cash for us—effectively negating the card’s annual fee for me.
Bottom line: You can easily get 5% cash back on groceries.
There are plenty of great credit cards for groceries. In most cases, if you have one or two of the cards on our list, you should be able to get 5% cash back on your grocery store purchases year-round, even without paying an annual fee.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get 5% on groceries with no annual fee?
Yes. When you use the Citi Custom Cash, you earn 5% on your top category on up to $500 in spending each month. You can also get 5% on groceries using rotating category cards which have no annual fee.
Do grocery store purchases at Walmart or Target earn extra cash back?
The cash back you earn with a grocery credit card depends on how the merchant processes the transaction. Typically, big box retailers that also sell groceries like Target and Walmart will not be processed as a grocery store transaction. The Target Red Card gives you a 5% discount on all your Target purchases, making it a great option for Target shoppers.
Can I get a Chase Freedom Flex℠ card if I have a Chase Freedom Unlimited®?
Yes. You can have both the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and Chase Freedom Unlimited® cards. If you already have one, you can get the other card with the 5% gas and grocery welcome offer.
What is the best card for groceries at Target?
The Target RedCard is the best card for groceries at Target. Using the Target RedCard, you’ll get at 5% discount on your groceries, excluding some items like alcohol. No other card can get you uncapped 5% rewards on all of your groceries at Target.
What happened to the Walmart card for 5% back on groceries?
In mid 2024, Capital One and Walmart ended their partnership and they are no longer issuing the Walmart credit card.
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 Purchase Protection (standard) 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 (premium) 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 Trip Delay Insurance (standard) 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.
