The Best Credit Cards for Buying Groceries [November 2023]

Groceries are a huge expense for most families, which also makes them a prime opportunity for earning credit card rewards. You could be getting valuable cashback rewards just for spending money on food you’d buy anyway, which is a total win. 

The best credit cards for groceries have either a grocery-specific reward category or a good overall rewards rate. Some cards give you a special cashback rate on groceries for a limited period of time or have a higher grocery rewards rate under a certain spending cap. Other cards offer grocery-related perks, like free memberships with delivery services.  

Here are the best credit cards for groceries and what you should know to get the most bang for your buck. If you're looking for a new card with higher rewards for your grocery spending (potentially including online grocery delivery), this list has your answer.

The best grocery credit cards

• Best overall: Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express
• Best for groceries and restaurants: Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
• Best for travel rewards: American Express^® Gold Card
• Best for rotating categories: Chase Freedom Flex℠
• Best for customized rewards: Bank of America^® Customized Cash Rewards credit card
• Best for Target: Target RedCard
• Best for Amazon: Prime Visa
• Best for Costco: Costco Anywhere Visa^® Card by Citi
• Best for Walmart: Capital One Walmart Rewards^® Card

Compare the best credit cards for groceries

Card	Reward rate	Spending cap on grocery rewards	Annual fee
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express	6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (for first $6,000 per year, after that 1%) and on select U.S. streaming services, 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and on eligible transit, and 1% cash back on other eligible purchases	Up to $6,000 spent per year	$0 intro annual fee for the first year, $95 per year thereafter (Terms apply)
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card	10% cash back on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats (through 11/14/2024); 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment; 4% cash back on dining, entertainment, and select streaming services; 3% at grocery stores (excluding superstores such as Walmart® and Target®), and 1% cash back on all other purchases	Unlimited	$95
American Express® Gold Card	4X Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year, after that 1X) and at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., 3X on flights booked directly with airlines or on Amextravel.com, and 1X on all other eligible purchases	Up to $25,000 each year	$250 (Terms apply)
Chase Freedom Flex℠	5% cash back on rotating quarterly categories you activate (on up to $1,500 spent) and travel purchased through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery service); and 1% cash back on all other purchases	Up to $1,500 spent during applicable bonus quarter	$0
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card	3% cash back on the category of your choice - now with expanded categories; 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (on the first $2,500 spent each quarter in the 2% and 3% categories combined); and 1% cash back on all other purchases	Up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club purchases each quarter	$0

Best overall: Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express

With the Amex Blue Cash Preferred, you’ll earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (for first $6,000 per year, after that 1%) and on select U.S. streaming services, 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and on eligible transit, and 1% cash back on other eligible purchases. 

If you spent $5,000 at U.S. supermarkets, you’d earn $300 in cashback rewards (in the form of statement credits) each year. 

Plus, this card’s welcome offer is a $250 statement credit bonus if you spend at least $3,000 on purchases within the first 6 months after account opening.

While the card has a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, $95 per year thereafter, the potential cashback rewards significantly outweigh its cost. You’ll earn:

• 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (for first $6,000 per year, after that 1%) and on select U.S. streaming services
• 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and eligible transit
• 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases

The Blue Cash Preferred card is perfect for those who spend a lot on groceries each calendar year and who want to redeem their rewards for statement credits. This card used to have a $25 minimum to redeem your cashback rewards, but Amex ditched that rule in 2022. You can now redeem your rewards at any amount. And you can earn the highest rewards rate even if you shop for your groceries on Instacart.

The Blue Cash Preferred also features an intro APR on purchases of 0% for 12 months (then 19.24% - 29.99% Variable).

However, if you do most of your shopping at specialty shops or superstores, this card may not be for you. Groceries purchased at Amazon, Walmart, Target, or warehouse stores aren’t eligible for the 6% cashback rate. And you’ll need to have good-to-excellent credit to qualify for this card. 

If your credit isn’t quite that high yet, you may need to look for a different card. Or if you prefer to pay no annual fee and don't mind earning only 3% at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, and U.S. online retail purchases (up to $6,000 per year on purchases in each category, then 1%), you could opt for the Blue Cash Everyday^® Card from American Express. (Those rewards rates are still quite good.) 

Best for groceries and restaurants: Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

While it does have a $95 annual fee, the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Card gives you 3% on grocery stores (excluding superstores such as Walmart® and Target®), and there is no limit on how much you can earn. If you spend $5,000 on groceries in a year, you could earn $150 in bonus cash back. That amount is significantly less than you’d earn with the Blue Cash Preferred card, but the Savor’s other benefits may make it worth the difference.

With the Capital One Savor Card, you'll earn:

• 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment
• 4% cash back on dining, entertainment, and select streaming services
  
• 3% cash back on grocery stores (excluding superstores such as Walmart® and Target®)
  
• 1% cash back on all other purchases
  

Dining out is likely a significant expense for you. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average household spends $3,365 on food away from home each year. If you spent that amount and used the Savor card to pay for it, you’d earn $134.60 in additional cash rewards. If you eat at restaurants often, the Savor card can be a great option. And you can redeem your rewards for statement credits or even a check.

As an added perk, you can earn a $300 cash bonus after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months after opening an account. However, you typically need good-to-excellent credit to qualify, so the Savor card isn’t for everyone.

Note that if you want to open up your options and avoid the $95 annual fee, the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card could make more sense. The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card doesn't have the same earning potential as the Capital One Savor, but it has a low $0 annual fee.

Best for travel rewards: American Express^® Gold Card

If you're looking for a rewards card that earns on groceries, but is also more versatile in earning you travel rewards, then you might consider checking out the American Express Gold Card. 

This card earns cardmembers 4X Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year, after that 1X) and at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., 3X on flights booked directly with airlines or on Amextravel.com, and 1X on all other eligible purchases. It also has no foreign transaction fees.

With this card, you'll earn:

• 4X Membership Rewards at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year, after that 1X) and restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
• 3X Membership Rewards at flights booked directly with airlines or on Amextravel.com
  
• 1X Membership Rewards at all other eligible purchases
  

Other Amex Gold benefits include an annual dining credit. You can earn up to $10 in statement credits each month at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar, and participating Shake Shack locations for an annual savings of up to $120. You also earn up to $10 of Uber Cash each month for Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, which is another annual savings of up to $120. Select benefits require enrollment.

Best for rotating categories: Chase Freedom Flex℠

The Chase Freedom Flex is a $0 annual fee card that provides lucrative rewards on your purchases. You’ll earn 5% cash back on rotating quarterly categories you activate (on up to $1,500 spent) and travel purchased through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery service); and 1% cash back on all other purchases. Although this isn’t a powerful card all year round for groceries, when that 5% rotating category includes grocery stores or supermarkets, it can be a smart move to have this card on hand.

There’s also a 0% introductory APR on purchases for 15 months (then 20.49%-29.24% Variable) and a $0 annual fee. And after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months, you’ll earn a $200 bonus.

The cash back you earn will actually be in the form of Chase Ultimate Rewards and these can become especially valuable if you transfer them to a Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card, where they’ll be worth 25% more if used toward travel redemptions in the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, or a Chase Sapphire Reserve^®, where they’ll be worth 50% more toward travel in the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal. As such, this card is an awesome choice for people who spend a lot on groceries and also have a Chase Ultimate Rewards premium card.

Best for customized rewards: Bank of America^® Customized Cash Rewards credit card

The Bank of America^® Customized Cash Rewards credit card is another $0 annual fee card that offers a generous bonus offer of $200 after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days of account opening.

You can also earn 3% cash back on the category of your choice - now with expanded categories; 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (on the first $2,500 spent each quarter in the 2% and 3% categories combined); and 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Having some control over the card’s bonus categories could help you earn more rewards if your expenses tend to vary. Your selection of cashback categories includes:

• Gas
• Online shopping
• Dining
• Travel
• Drugstores
• Home improvement and furnishings

This card also offers an intro balance transfer offer as well as a intro APR on purchases:

• 0% APR on purchases for 15 billing cycles (then 18.24% - 28.24% Variable).
  
• 0% APR for 15 billing cycles for any qualifying balance transfers made in the first 60 days (then 18.24% - 28.24% Variable) 

Note there is also a balance transfer fee of 3% of the amount of each transaction.

Best cards for buying groceries at specific stores

Target RedCard

If you do most of your grocery shopping at Target, signing up for the Target REDcard may be a good choice. You’ll get a 5% discount on every purchase you make at Target and Target.com (that means for both in-store and online shopping). If you spent $4,363 on groceries each year, you’d save $218.15 with the REDcard. That’s a great offer from a credit card without an annual fee.

The card does charge a higher-than-average APR (annual percentage rate), so make sure you pay off your balance in full each month to avoid costly interest fees. Plus, the card is a store card, meaning it can only be used at Target stores and Target.com. But because it’s a store card, you may be more likely to qualify for it than other cards. The REDcard requires you to have a “fair” credit score.

Check out our full Target REDcard review.

Prime Visa

Is shopping on Amazon one of your spending habits? If you buy groceries at Whole Foods Market, with AmazonFresh, or with Amazon Prime Pantry, consider the Prime Visa. 

With an eligible Amazon Prime membership, cardholders can earn 5% cash back at Amazon.com, Whole Foods Market, and on Chase Travel purchases; 2% cash back at restaurants and gas stations, and on local transit and commuting; 1% cash back on all other purchases. There’s no cap on how much you can earn, so if you spent $4,363 on groceries at Whole Foods, you’d earn $218.15 in rewards. Those are excellent rewards for a card with no annual fee.

If you are not an Amazon Prime Member, there is also the option of the Amazon Visa, but it only earns 3% on Amazon.com, Whole Foods Market, and Chase Travel purchases.

Check out our full Prime Visa review.

Costco Anywhere Visa^® Card by Citi

If you have a big family or like to shop at Costco, the Costco Anywhere Visa card may be for you. You’ll earn 2% cash back on Costco and Costco.com purchases. If you spend $8,000 per year on groceries, that means you’ll earn $160 in rewards.

You’ll also earn:

• 4% cash back on eligible gas and EV charging purchases (on up to $7,000 per year, then 1% thereafter)
• 3% cash back on restaurants and eligible travel purchases
• 1% cash back on all other purchases

Unlike most store-branded credit cards, the Costco Anywhere Visa card has strict credit requirements; your credit score will need to be in the “excellent” range to qualify.

And while it has no annual fee, you should be aware that you’ll need to have a Costco membership to apply. A basic membership costs $60 per year.

Check out our full Costco Anywhere Visa card review.

Capital One Walmart Rewards^® Card

If you like the convenience of Walmart’s grocery pickup service, consider applying for the Capital One Walmart Rewards Mastercard. You’ll earn 5% back at Walmart.com, on the Walmart app, and on Walmart pickup and delivery; 2% back in Walmart stores, at Walmart and Murphy USA gas stations, on gift cards at Walmart, and on restaurant and travel purchases; and 1% back on everything else. 

That means, if you ordered all $4,363 worth of groceries on Walmart.com, you’d earn $130.89 in rewards. This card has a $0 annual fee, so the rewards you earn are all cash in your wallet.

Check out our full Capital One Walmart Rewards Mastercard review.

Why using multiple credit cards could earn you the most rewards

Instead of using one credit card for all of your grocery purchases, it might make sense to use several cards to maximize the rewards programs each card offers.

For example, let’s say you have a big family and spend $10,000 per year on groceries. If you used the Blue Cash Preferred Card, you’d earn 6% cash back on the first $6,000 you spent at U.S. supermarkets, then 1% cash back after that. That means you’d earn $360 at the 6% cash back rate and $40 at the 1% cash back rate, for a total of $400.

While that’s a decent amount of cash, you could earn more rewards by using the Blue Cash Preferred along with other cards. Once you hit the $6,000 spending limit, you could switch to a different card with a good rewards rate.

Juggling multiple credit cards requires you to be organized, as you may need to keep track of your spending toward the cards’ limits; you’ll also need to remember to sign up for rotating spending categories. But the payoff in bonus rewards could be worth the extra effort.

An important detail: What’s considered a “grocery store?”

When thinking about which card is best for you, it’s important to remember how companies typically define a “grocery store" as "supermarket purchases." In most cases, companies consider grocery stores to be supermarkets that primarily sell food, such as Giant Food, SuperFresh, Whole Foods, or Winn-Dixie.

Wholesale clubs and superstores, like Target or Walmart, don’t usually count as grocery stores, but this is not a hard-and-fast rule. For example, a Walmart might be considered a grocery store depending on the grocery offerings it has. As always, be sure to read the details on your particular card before you create your spending plan.

Methodology

We selected these credit card offers based on their value to consumers. When evaluating each cash rewards credit card, we looked at their earning rate on grocery store purchases, their spending limits to earn cash back, their total possible rewards, redemption methods, and annual fees.

FAQs

Bottom line

Putting food on the table is likely one of your biggest expenses as a family. However, finding the best cashback credit cards for buying groceries can help you earn valuable rewards and even discounts, softening the impact on your budget — and saving you money on food.

If you apply for a new credit card, be sure to read the fine print on all the card details. Also, make sure you can afford to spend the minimum required to earn the welcome bonus. These bonuses can be a significant reward, putting hundreds of dollars back in your pocket. How much you have to spend and how many bonus points you can earn will vary by card and credit card issuer.

To avoid costly interest fees, make sure you pay your statement balance in full each month. By using the best rewards credit cards for groceries wisely, you can maximize your rewards without carrying a balance.

Lucrative, Flat-Rate Cash Rewards

Wells Fargo Active Cash^® Card

5.0

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

Wells Fargo Active Cash^® Card

Apply Now

Rates and fees

Current Offer

$200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months

Annual Fee

$0

Rewards Rate

Earn 2% cash rewards on purchases

Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits

• $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months
• Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases
• Intro APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers
• $0 annual fee

Drawbacks

• Has foreign transaction fee
• No bonus categories

Card Details

• Select “Apply Now” to take advantage of this specific offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
• Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
• Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
• 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5.
• $0 annual fee.
• No categories to track or remember and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
• Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
• Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.

Author Details

Kat Tretina Kat Tretina is a personal finance expert focusing on practical financial matters, including student loans, debt repayment, side hustles, insurance, and healthcare. Drawing from her personal experience, she aims to simplify complex financial topics and provide individuals with the information they need to make informed decisions.

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