Grocery shopping is a great equalizer. Rich and poor, adventurous cooks and microwave-only eaters — pretty much everyone knows what it’s like to browse supermarket shelves. By now, most know how to play the grocery delivery game too.
So it’s no surprise that supermarket credit card offers are so popular up and down the income scale.
From entry-level spending aids like the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express to prime products like the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card, there’s almost certainly a rewards card tailored to your grocery shopping habits and credit score.
Best Credit Cards for Groceries
These are among the best grocery credit cards to use for grocery store and supermarket purchases. Each one does at least one thing really well, whether it’s delivering unlimited cash back at impressive rates or offering unique value-adds users can’t find anywhere else.
Just be aware that unless otherwise noted, these credit cards exclude grocery purchases made at superstores like Walmart, Target, and Meijer and warehouse clubs (wholesale clubs) like Sam’s Club and Costco from their supermarket rewards categories.
Blue Cash Preferred® Card From American Express
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card
Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card
American Express® Gold Card
Blue Cash Everyday® Card From American Express
Citi Double Cash® Card
Methodology: How We Choose the Best Grocery Credit Cards
We use several important factors to assess supermarket credit cards and present the very best to our readers.
These include factors related to the credit cards’ rewards and return on spending, value-added benefits, cost, versatility, and overall usability.
Supermarket Rewards
When it comes to this all-important category, we’re looking at the type of rewards earned by supermarket spending, the rate at which that spending earns rewards, and the overall value of those rewards. The best cards earn supermarket rewards at high rates via a versatile loyalty currency — preferably cash back or high-value travel rewards.
Caps & Restrictions on Supermarket Rewards
Unrestricted is better, but we recognize that credit card issuers have to cut their losses. Still, we try to avoid credit cards with tight caps on grocery store reward earnings or other restrictions that limit user value.
Other Rewards
Most grocery store credit cards earn bonus points or cash back on other purchases as well. We prefer cards with multiple nongrocery bonus categories — the higher the earning rate, the better.
Welcome Offer (Sign-Up Bonus)
Most of the credit cards on this list have generous sign-up bonuses (also known as welcome offers or early spend bonuses) for new cardholders. These offers come and go, so their presence isn’t required, but the more generous offers tend to get higher billing.
0% APR Offer
Some of the cards on this list also have nice 0% APR introductory offers for purchases or balance transfers. If you’re planning a big purchase — perhaps an unusually large trip to the grocery store — or need to pay down high-interest credit card debt, these offers can save you a ton of interest.
Annual Fee
No credit card user likes paying an annual fee. That said, sometimes, you have to spend money to make money. And some of the most generous supermarket credit cards charge annual fees.
We prefer credit cards without annual fees, though, so we’ve done our best to weed out the substandard ones.
Grocery Store Credit Card FAQs
Still have questions about the best credit cards to use at the supermarket? Find answers to some of the most common queries about this credit card category.
Do Rotating-Category Credit Cards Earn Rewards at the Supermarket?
It’s worth calling out the sometimes-supermarket credit cards that didn’t make this list. It’s not that they’re never worth using at the grocery store. Rather, they only perform from time to time.
Take the Chase Freedom Flex Credit Card, for instance. Freedom reliably earns 5% cash back on grocery store purchases for one quarter per year, up to $1,500 in quarterly category spending. The catch: Grocery store earnings drop to just 1% the other nine months of the year, supplanted by another favored category.
Cards like Chase Freedom Flex are fine for cardholders who can adjust their spending as the opportunity arises. Those who sideline their primary grocery card during Chase Freedom’s bonanza quarter can earn impressive average rates of return on grocery store spending throughout the year. But it’s also understandable if you don’t want to juggle two supermarket credit cards.
Do the Best Grocery Credit Cards Charge an Annual Fee?
Not all of them. In fact, the majority of the cards on this list don’t charge annual fees. It’s possible to earn an impressive rate of return on supermarket spending without paying annually for the privilege.
Of course, annual-fee cards tend to be more generous overall. If you like luxe travel and shopping perks, you’ll probably find yourself gravitating toward these premium products.
Do Supermarket Credit Cards Work at Walmart & Target?
If the card has a Visa, Mastercard, or American Express logo, it should physically work at superstores like Walmart and Target.
The catch is that it probably won’t earn bonus points or cash-back dollars. That’s because most supermarket credit cards specifically exclude superstore grocery purchases from bonus eligibility. You might still earn base rewards — typically no more than 1 point per $1 spent — but nothing more.
Can You Link Your Supermarket Credit Card & Store Loyalty Account?
Usually not. You still have to scan your physical store loyalty card or give your phone number at the register to take advantage of member-only pricing or rewards.
The good news is your store loyalty membership status won’t impact your supermarket credit card earnings. You can double dip on store discounts and credit card rewards, also known as stacking.
Final Word
There’s something for everyone on this list. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, take a step back and consider what you’re really looking for in your supermarket credit card.
Ask yourself:
- Whether you’d prefer to avoid paying an annual fee
- Which other spending categories you’d like to earn rewards in
- Your annual grocery budget — some cards cap rewards at specific annual spending thresholds
- Whether you want a sign-up bonus or 0% APR introductory promotion
- How loyal you are to specific supermarket chains, like Whole Foods
Answer each of these questions and you should be left with just a few options. Consider each in turn and choose the one with the best mix of features and rewards for your needs.
