Best Grocery Credit Cards of 2024
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ExpertiseTrevor Mahoney is a financial services writer and content creator based out of Los Angeles, California. He holds a Bachelors of Science in Finance from Santa Clara University. In his free time, he enjoys hiking and lounging on the beach.
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For most people, there are staple expenses every month that cannot be avoided, with the most common being housing costs and food. Finding the best credit card for groceries is important given just how common and large this expense category is. To that end, consider some of the following when looking for the best credit card for buying groceries.
In this article, you’ll learn:
Comparing the best credit cards for groceries
Below is a high-level overview of the best grocery credit card options that a person can consider adding to their wallet today:
Credit Card | Rewards Rate | Welcome Offer |
---|---|---|
Amex Gold Card | 4x membership rewards points at restaurants (including takeout and delivery) and at U.S. supermarkets | 60,000 Rewards Points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases within the first 6 months. |
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card | 3x on dining purchases. | Earn 60,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening. |
Citi Custom Cash Card | 5% cash back on your top eligible spend category up to $500 spent each month. 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases. | Earn $200 in cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases within the first 6 months of account opening. |
Target RedCard Credit Card | 5% off every day at Target and Target.com | None |
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card | Unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, and at grocery stores. | Earn $200 cash bonus once you spend $1,000 within the first 3 months of account opening. |
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card | 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs. | Online $200 cash rewards bonus after making at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening. |
Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express | 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year then 1% thereafter. | Earn $250 back after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new card within 6 months from account opening, received in the form of a statement credit. |
A closer look at the best grocery credit cards
When it comes to the large amount of credit cards on the market, understanding which are the best for specific spend categories such as groceries can be challenging. Fortunately, the following breakdown will outline the best cash back credit cards for groceries to consider adding to your existing cards:
Amex Gold Card
Rewards on groceries: 4x membership rewards points at restaurants (including takeout and delivery) and at U.S. supermarkets.
Intro APR: None.
Regular APR: 20.99% to 28.99%
Signup bonus: 60,000 Rewards Points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases within the first 6 months.
Our verdict: For those who are seeking a travel and food card all in one, the Amex Gold Card is the best choice. It’s 4x membership rewards points on both grocery purchases and takeout or delivery means a person is always earning when they eat. There are additional spend categories which secure the Amex Gold Card a place on the list of best credit card for cash back on groceries.
Pros:
- Extremely high welcome offer that is worth hundreds of dollars redeemed.
- Large rewards rate applicable to both grocery stores and general food.
- Low starting APR.
Cons:
- High annual fee
- No intro APR
Apply now: American Express® Gold Card
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
Rewards on groceries: 3x on dining purchases.
Intro APR: None.
Regular APR: 21.24% to 28.24% variable APR
Signup bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.
Our verdict: In regard to the best credit card for grocery rewards, the Chase Sapphire Preferred should certainly be a contender. The 3x on dining purchases is a reasonably high rewards rate for those who eat out all of the time, and gaining access to the Chase rewards portal is never a bad side effect.
Pros:
- High welcome bonus equivalent to hundreds of dollars.
- Access to the robust Chase travel portal.
- Large 3x points on all dining-related purchases.
- Bonus rewards categories including 5x on travel.
Cons:
- No intro APR.
- APR can get quite high if you don’t have a good credit score.
- Hard to qualify for without a prior history with Chase.
Apply now: Chase Sapphire Preferred®
Citi Custom Cash Card
Rewards on groceries: 5% cash back on your top eligible spend category up to $500 spent each month. 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases.
Intro APR: 0% Intro APR for 15 months.
Regular APR: 18.99% to 28.99%
Signup bonus: Earn $200 in cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases within the first 6 months of account opening.
Our verdict: The Citi Custom Cash Card is an absolute must-add to the wallet for anybody whose largest expense category is grocery purchases in a month. This is because their large 5% cash back category will be applied to the largest spend group that you have, which means using this card only for groceries will reap many benefits.
Pros:
- Large rewards category of 5% on your top spend category.
- Introductory APR that lasts for 15 months.
- Reasonable welcome bonus.
Cons:
- There is a cap of only $500 on the 5% back in a monthly period.
Apply now: Citi Custom Cash℠ Card
Target RedCard Credit Card
Rewards on groceries: 5% off every day at Target and Target.com
Intro APR: None.
Regular APR: 27.65%
Signup bonus: None.
Our verdict: Serving as a unique best rewards credit card for groceries, the Target RedCard doesn’t give you money back, but actually saves you money on your purchase. There is a daily 5% discount off all Target and Target.com daily purchases, meaning those who only shop at Target for everything they own should consider this card.
Pros:
- Large discount for those with major expenses at target.
Cons:
- No sign-up bonus
- No introductory APR
- High standard APR
Apply now: Target RedCard Credit Card
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
Rewards on groceries: Unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, and at grocery stores.
Intro APR: 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers.
Regular APR: 19.74% to 29.74% variable APR.
Signup bonus: Earn $200 cash bonus once you spend $1,000 within the first 3 months of account opening.
Our verdict: The SavorOne card is an excellent catch-all spend card for those who are always on the move. With an unlimited 3% cash back on dining and entertainment, this credit card issued by Capital One ensures you are always earning the most.
Pros:
- Easy welcome bonus to hit if this card is used as a daily driver.
- Long introductory APR period is perfect for debt consolidation.
- Strong and unlimited rewards earnings rate in more categories than just groceries.
Cons:
- Welcome bonus could be higher.
- Excellent credit score is required for approval.
Apply now: Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Card
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card
Rewards on groceries: 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs.
Intro APR: 0% Intro APR for the first 18 billing cycles for purchases and balance transfers made within 60 days of account opening.
Regular APR: 17.99% to 27.99% variable.
Signup bonus: Online $200 cash rewards bonus after making at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
Our verdict: The Customized Cash Rewards credit card is unique in that it allows you to choose which category you earn the majority of your spending in. However, you also get a blanket 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, meaning stores like Costco will also count.
Pros:
- Multiple earnings categories beyond the standard 2% cash back.
- Long introductory APR period.
- Reasonably easy to achieve welcome bonus.
Cons:
- Welcome bonus amount is not as high as some others on the list.
Apply now: Bank of America® Customized Cash Back Rewards
Learn more: Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Card Review
Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express
Rewards on groceries: 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year then 1% thereafter.
Intro APR: 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening.
Regular APR: 18.99% to 29.99%.
Signup bonus: Earn $250 back after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new card within 6 months from account opening, received in the form of a statement credit.
Our verdict: Finally, the Blue Cash Preferred Card offers an outstanding 6% cash back at supermarkets, making it easily the best credit card for gas and groceries to consider. However, there is a $6,000 yearly cap which means those with large families may max out their rewards and only earn 1% thereafter quite quickly.
Pros:
- Incredibly high 6% cash back on grocery store purchases that continues, albeit at a lower percentage, after the cap is hit.
- Introductory APR lasts for a year.
Cons:
- Welcome back offer requires high expenses for low reward.
- Card has a $95 annual fee after the first year.
Apply now: Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Learn more: Blue Cash Preferred Card Review
How to pick the right credit card for groceries?
Even with all of the above best credit card for grocery shopping options, determining which is right for you can be a challenge. Therefore, using the following tips to guide your choice should be the first course of action:
- Consider the required credit score for the card and see if you meet the requirement.
- Check if rewards are only earned if you shop at certain stores.
- Look into whether or not there is a cap on the rewards you can earn from the card.
- Think about whether there is an annual fee and if you can afford it.
As a person considers each of the above points, they should also evaluate their current wallet to determine whether or not taking on a new credit card is truly something they should be doing.
How to maximize rewards while grocery shopping?
The best way to maximize rewards while you are grocery shopping is to use the best credit cards for grocery items as opposed to a general credit card. This allows you to earn more points back on foods which can be redeemed for cash back or points depending on the card. Additionally, if you have a grocery card that only offers rewards at certain stores, consider switching your shopping to those stores so you can actually earn points back.
Methodology
The methodology used in calculating the best credit cards for grocery stores was thorough and evaluated many different factors. The most important of these factors included:
- The required credit score to apply for the card.
- Whether or not the credit card had an annual fee.
- The rewards rating for the credit score.
- Whether the card offered rewards for all grocery stores or only a select few.
- The number of additional benefits offered by the credit card.
- The introductory APR and standard APR offered by the card.
- Any potential welcome bonus offered by the card.
The product information provided here is based on research conducted up to a specific date and may have changed. For the latest and most accurate information, we recommend you to visit the respective card’s website before proceeding.