The best credit card for groceries depends on how much you spend, whether you prefer cash back or travel points, and where you shop. For straightforward cash back, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express offers a high supermarket rate with an annual spending cap. The Citi Custom Cash® Card is a strong no-annual-fee option for shoppers who spend no more than $500 per billing cycle in a bonus category, while the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card offers a lower rate without a grocery spending cap.
Those rates apply only when a purchase qualifies under the card’s grocery category. Big-box stores, warehouse clubs, and some delivery services may be classified differently from traditional supermarkets. Before choosing a card, compare its fee and cap with your actual spending—and check the issuer’s current terms, since rewards and eligibility rules can change.
Best grocery credit cards at a glance
| Card | Grocery rewards described in the source | Annual fee | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express | 6% at eligible U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year, then 1% | $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95 | Cash back on moderate supermarket spending |
| American Express® Gold Card | 4 Membership Rewards points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per year, then 1 point per dollar | $325 | Travelers who use points and card credits |
| Citi Custom Cash® Card | 5% in the top eligible spending category each billing cycle, on up to $500 in purchases; groceries can qualify | $0 | No-fee rewards on spending within the monthly cap |
| Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card | 3% at eligible grocery stores, with no stated grocery cap | $0 | No-fee grocery rewards for larger or variable spending |
| Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express | 3% at eligible U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year, then 1% | $0 | No-fee supermarket cash back |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | 3 points per dollar on eligible online grocery purchases | $95 | Online grocery shoppers who value travel points |
| Citi Strata Premier® Card | 3 ThankYou points per dollar on eligible grocery purchases, as described in the source | $95 | Shoppers looking to earn points across categories |
| Prime Visa | 5% at Whole Foods Market and Amazon Fresh for eligible Prime members | $0 card annual fee; an Amazon Prime membership is required for the stated rate | Existing Prime members who shop in the Amazon ecosystem |
Rates, fees, caps, credits, and application offers can change. Treat this comparison as a starting point, not a substitute for the current card agreement and issuer disclosures.
How to choose a grocery rewards card
Start with three pieces of information: your average monthly grocery spending, the merchants where you shop, and the kind of reward you will actually use. A high advertised rate can be less valuable than a lower one if you pay a fee you cannot offset, exceed a spending cap, or shop at places that do not qualify for the bonus.
How much do you spend on groceries each month?
Monthly spending determines how quickly a capped card reaches its limit. The Blue Cash Preferred’s 6% rate applies to the first $6,000 in eligible U.S. supermarket purchases per year—equivalent to $500 a month on average. The Citi Custom Cash offers 5% in the top eligible category on up to $500 in purchases per billing cycle. Spending above those limits generally earns the card’s lower rate, so a second card may make sense for the overflow.
For shoppers who want to avoid tracking a category cap, the Capital One Savor offers 3% at eligible grocery stores without a stated grocery cap. That simpler structure can be useful for households whose supermarket spending varies month to month.
Do you want cash back or travel points?
Cash back is easier to evaluate: a percentage reward gives you a direct return under the card’s redemption terms. Travel points may be more valuable to someone who can use an issuer’s airline or hotel transfer options, but their practical value depends on availability, redemption choices, and the traveler’s plans. Do not compare four points per dollar with 6% cash back as if the numbers were the same unit.
The Amex Gold earns Membership Rewards points at eligible U.S. supermarkets, while the Chase Sapphire Preferred earns points on qualifying online grocery purchases. The Citi Strata Premier earns ThankYou points on eligible grocery purchases. These cards are most relevant when you already understand and plan to use their points programs. If you mainly want a predictable grocery rebate, a cash-back card may be a better fit.
Will the annual fee pay for itself?
Compare the value of the rewards you expect to earn with the fee and with what a no-fee alternative would return. The Blue Cash Preferred has a $95 annual fee after its first-year introductory period, while the Blue Cash Everyday has no annual fee and earns a lower supermarket rate. Based only on the 3-percentage-point difference in their grocery rates, $95 divided by 0.03 gives a rough break-even point of about $3,167 in eligible annual grocery spending. This simplified comparison assumes the purchases qualify, ignores other card benefits, and does not account for spending above the Preferred’s cap.
The Amex Gold has a substantially higher annual fee. Its dining, Uber, Resy, and Dunkin’ credits may offset some or all of that cost for cardholders who can use them naturally and meet the applicable terms. A credit that requires spending you would not otherwise make should not be counted as dollar-for-dollar savings.
Cash-back cards for supermarket shopping
Blue Cash Preferred: high rewards up to a cap
The Blue Cash Preferred is aimed at shoppers who want elevated cash back at traditional U.S. supermarkets and expect to spend enough in the category to justify the fee. It earns 6% on up to $6,000 in eligible supermarket purchases per year, then 1%. The source also describes rewards on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, eligible U.S. gas stations, and transit, plus an introductory annual-fee period and other benefits. Check current terms for category definitions, benefit enrollment requirements, and exclusions.
The cap is central to the decision. A household spending more than $500 a month at qualifying supermarkets will eventually earn the lower rate on additional purchases after reaching the annual limit. One practical approach is to use a different card for spending beyond the cap, provided that card earns more on those transactions. The card also has a foreign transaction fee in the source’s terms, so it is not a natural choice for purchases abroad.
What might the grocery rewards look like? At $6,000 in eligible annual supermarket spending, 6% would produce $360 in rewards before the annual fee. For a cardholder paying the $95 fee, that leaves $265 from this category before considering any other rewards or benefits. Spending above the cap changes the calculation because the additional purchases earn at the lower rate.
Citi Custom Cash: 5% without an annual fee, within a limit
The Citi Custom Cash automatically applies its top-category rate to the eligible category where you spend the most during a billing cycle. Groceries are among the eligible categories described in the source. The 5% rate applies to up to $500 in purchases per billing cycle; spending beyond that limit earns a lower rate. If groceries remain your top category and your qualifying purchases stay within the cap, the card can produce up to $25 in rewards for that category in a billing cycle at the stated rate.
Its strengths are the absence of an annual fee and automatic category selection. Its limitation is that the cap applies each billing cycle and the bonus depends on which eligible category is your highest. It may suit a smaller household or work as a secondary card, but it is not an uncapped 5% grocery card.
Capital One Savor: a lower rate with no grocery cap
The Capital One Savor earns 3% at eligible grocery stores without a stated grocery spending cap. It also covers categories such as dining, entertainment, and select streaming services, according to the source. That broader mix can make the card useful for people who prefer one no-fee card across several everyday expenses rather than rotating between category cards.
Its grocery definition excludes superstores such as Walmart and Target, so the 3% rate should not be assumed to apply to every retailer that sells food. A shopper who spends less than $500 per billing cycle at supermarkets may earn more with a capped 5% card, while a high spender may value Savor’s simpler uncapped structure.
Blue Cash Everyday: a no-fee alternative
The Blue Cash Everyday earns 3% at eligible U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 in annual purchases, then 1%, with no annual fee. The source also lists rewards for eligible U.S. gas station and online retail purchases. Its supermarket rate is lower than the Blue Cash Preferred’s, but there is no annual fee to offset.
For a lighter spender, avoiding a fee may matter more than maximizing the headline rate. For someone with higher eligible grocery spending, compare the Preferred’s additional cash back against its annual fee and cap. The break-even calculation above offers a useful starting point, but the best result depends on actual eligible spending and current terms.
Cards that may suit grocery shoppers who travel
Amex Gold: supermarket points plus credits
The Amex Gold earns 4 Membership Rewards points per dollar at eligible U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per year, then 1 point per dollar, according to the source. Its higher cap may appeal to households with substantial grocery spending, particularly if they also use the card’s dining-related benefits and redeem points for travel through options they value.
The annual fee is $325, so the earning rate alone does not determine whether the card is worthwhile. The source lists monthly credits tied to dining, Uber, Resy, and Dunkin’, with eligibility and enrollment conditions. Calculate the value of only the credits you can use without changing your normal habits. Membership Rewards points can also have different values depending on redemption; statement-credit value may be lower than value achieved through an eligible transfer, but transfer options are not guaranteed to produce a particular return.
This card is a poor fit if you want simple cash back, will leave the monthly credits unused, or do not want to manage a points program. It may be more appealing to a traveler who can use the benefits and understands how to redeem points.
Chase Sapphire Preferred: a narrower online grocery bonus
The Sapphire Preferred’s grocery reward is limited to qualifying online grocery purchases in the source’s description. That can include orders through eligible grocery websites or apps, but the merchant’s classification determines whether a transaction qualifies. The source excludes Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs from this category.
It is not a broad bonus for in-store supermarket shopping. The card may nevertheless be relevant if you already hold it for travel-related reasons and regularly place qualifying grocery orders online. Check both the issuer’s definition and how the payment is processed before directing substantial spending to the category.
Prime Visa and Whole Foods or Amazon Fresh
The Prime Visa is a specialized option for shoppers who already have an eligible Amazon Prime membership and regularly buy groceries at Whole Foods Market or through Amazon Fresh. The source lists 5% rewards at those merchants for eligible Prime members. The card itself has no annual fee in the source, but the required Prime membership has a separate cost.
If you would keep Prime regardless of the card, the membership cost may not be an additional expense caused by applying. If you would subscribe only to access the card’s grocery rate, compare the membership cost with the rewards you expect to earn and with alternatives available at the supermarkets you use.
Why Walmart, Target, and Costco may not earn grocery bonuses
Card issuers generally determine bonus eligibility from the merchant category code attached to a transaction, not simply from the products in your cart. A retailer can sell groceries without being classified as a supermarket for rewards purposes. The source says Walmart, Target, and warehouse clubs such as Costco, BJ’s, and Sam’s Club are commonly excluded from grocery categories on the cards discussed.
For Costco purchases, the source identifies the Costco Anywhere Visa by Citi as earning 2% at Costco and Costco.com. For Walmart or Target spending, a flat-rate card may be more reliable than a card whose bonus is limited to supermarkets, but compare the specific card’s terms and overall return before deciding.
Independent grocery stores, specialty food shops, butchers, ethnic markets, and delivery services can also be classified differently from one issuer or transaction to another. An order placed directly through a supermarket’s website may be treated differently from the same order processed by a third-party delivery app. When the category matters to your choice, verify eligibility with the issuer or test a small purchase before relying on the bonus.
Ways to get more value from a grocery card
- Track caps by calendar or billing period. Note whether the limit resets annually or each billing cycle, and switch cards when you have reached it.
- Use a backup card for overflow. If your primary grocery card drops to 1% after a cap, another card may earn more on additional eligible purchases.
- Check merchant coding before changing your routine. Do not assume a big-box purchase, delivery order, or specialty-market transaction qualifies as supermarket spending.
- Combine card rewards with store savings. A supermarket’s loyalty program, member pricing, or digital coupons may be used alongside credit card rewards, subject to each program’s terms.
- Evaluate credits conservatively. Count statement credits only when you can meet the requirements and would use the service or merchant anyway.
- Pay attention to interest. Rewards do not compensate for carrying a balance at a high interest rate. A card’s APR and payment terms matter as much as its bonus categories if you may not pay the statement balance in full.
Which grocery credit card should you choose?
For high cash back on traditional supermarket purchases, consider the Blue Cash Preferred if your eligible spending can justify its annual fee and you can manage the $6,000 yearly cap. For a no-fee card with a high rate on a limited amount of spending, the Citi Custom Cash is worth comparing. The Capital One Savor may be simpler for shoppers who want an uncapped grocery rate and rewards across dining and entertainment. The Blue Cash Everyday is a straightforward no-fee alternative.
If you travel and are comfortable using transferable points, compare the Amex Gold, Chase Sapphire Preferred, and Citi Strata Premier according to where and how you shop. For Whole Foods or Amazon Fresh purchases, the Prime Visa is most relevant to existing Prime members. In every case, confirm the current issuer terms and the merchant’s category treatment before applying or making a spending plan. This article is for general educational purposes and is not individualized financial advice.
Preguntas frecuentes
What is the highest grocery cash-back rate among the cards listed?
The Blue Cash Preferred offers 6% at eligible U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 in purchases per year, then 1%, according to the source. The rate applies only to qualifying purchases, and the card has an annual fee after its introductory first year.
Does Walmart count as a grocery store for credit card rewards?
Often it does not qualify for supermarket bonuses on the cards covered here. Walmart’s merchant classification and each issuer’s exclusions matter, so check the card terms rather than assuming grocery products will earn the grocery rate.
Does Costco count as a grocery store for credit card rewards?
Warehouse clubs are commonly excluded from supermarket bonus categories. The source identifies the Costco Anywhere Visa by Citi as earning 2% at Costco and Costco.com; verify the current card terms before applying.
What is the best no-annual-fee grocery card?
It depends on your spending. The Citi Custom Cash can earn 5% in the top eligible category on up to $500 per billing cycle, while the Capital One Savor offers 3% at eligible grocery stores without a stated grocery cap. The Blue Cash Everyday offers 3% at eligible U.S. supermarkets up to its annual limit.
Do grocery delivery orders earn supermarket rewards?
They may, but eligibility depends on how the order is processed and how the merchant is classified. Orders placed directly with a supermarket may code differently from orders routed through a delivery platform. Check issuer terms and consider testing a small purchase before counting on the bonus.
