7 best credit cards for groceries

Man in a grocery store holding a jarImage: Man in a grocery store holding a jar
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If you spend a lot at the grocery store, you might want to get a credit card that rewards you for these purchases.

Here’s our take on the best credit cards for groceries.


CardBest for
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American ExpressSaving money wherever you shop for groceries
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American ExpressNo annual fee
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card for StudentsStudents
American Express® Gold CardTravel rewards redemptions
Target RedCard™Target groceries
Amazon Prime VisaWhole Foods and Amazon
Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by CitiCostco members

Best for saving money wherever you shop for groceries: Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

Here’s why: The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express offers a terrific rewards rate for grocery shoppers at a wide range of stores.

You’ll earn 6% cash back on up to $6,000 in purchases each year at U.S. supermarkets, then 1%.

The card also offers 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming services, 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshares, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more), and 1% cash back on all other purchases.

You’ll earn a $250 statement credit when you spend $3,000 on eligible purchases during the first 6 months after your account opens.

Check out reviews of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express.

Best for no annual fee: Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

Here’s why: If you want to save money on groceries without paying for an annual fee, take a look at the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express.

The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express offers a solid 3% cash back on up to $6,000 in purchases a year at U.S. supermarkets, then 1%. You also get 3% back at U.S. gas stations (on up to $6,000 spent on purchases each year, then 1%), and 3% back at U.S. online retailers (on up to $6,000 in purchases each year, then 1%), and 1% cash back on everything else.

And you can earn a welcome bonus: Earn a $200 statement credit after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 6 months after opening the card.

Best of all, there’s a $0 annual fee.

Read reviews of the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express for more details.

Best for students: Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card for Students

Here’s why: The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card for Students is great for students who are living off campus and don’t have a meal plan.

You earn 2% back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, a solid rate.

Once a month, this card lets you choose from various categories, including dining, to earn 3% cash back in that category (other categories include gas, online shopping, travel, drug stores, and home improvement and furnishings). The card also gives 1% on everything else.

There’s a cap on how much you can earn at the 3% and 2% cash back rates though. Each quarter, you’ll get the bonus cash back rates on only the first $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club purchases. After you meet that quarterly cap, you’ll get 1% cash back on purchases in those categories.

The card also comes with a $200 online cash rewards bonus if you spend $1,000 on purchases during the first 90 days after opening your account.

You’ll also save on this card because it has no annual fee.

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Best for travel rewards redemptions: American Express® Gold Card

Here’s why: Even if you prefer travel rewards to cash back, the American Express® Gold Card offers a consistently high earning rate on groceries.

You’ll earn four Membership Rewards® points per $1 spent at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per year (then one point per $1 after) and four points per $1 at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S., on up to $50,000 per year (then one point per $1 after).

When you book travel, the card also offers three points per $1 on flights booked directly with airlines or at amextravel.com. Prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked through amextravel.com earn two points per $1 spent. All other purchases earn one point per $1 spent.

You’ll also get a welcome bonus of 60,000 points when you spend $6,000 on purchases with the card in your first 6 months after account opening.

The card also comes with a $325 annual fee, so you’ll need to take advantage of those points to get value.

Read more about the American Express® Gold Card for more info.

Best for Target groceries: The Target Circle™️ Card

Here’s why: If you live near a Target, you could save a lot of money on groceries with the Target RedCard™.

The Target RedCard™ offers a 5% discount on most in-store purchases, including groceries. That discount also applies to online orders, deliveries and pickups.

And depending on the item, you can receive free two-day shipping without worrying about a purchase minimum on most items. Plus, there’s a $0 annual fee.

Check out reviews of the Target Circle™️ Card.

Best for Whole Foods and Amazon: Amazon Prime Visa

Here’s why: The Amazon Prime Visa could help you earn up to 5% cash back at Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market.

As a limited-time offer, until Jan. 2, 2025, Amazon Prime members will also receive a $150 Amazon.com gift card automatically after being approved for the card — a decent amount to put toward groceries or other Amazon purchases.

The Amazon Prime Visa doesn’t charge an annual fee, but you must be an Amazon Prime member to earn 5% cash back. Prime membership costs $139 per year, essentially amounting to an annual fee.

Check out reviews of the Amazon Prime Visa.

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Best for Costco members: Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi

Here’s why: If you have a big family to feed, the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi could help you save money when you buy groceries in bulk.

The card offers 2% cash back on Costco purchases, including groceries. And if you decide you don’t feel like making dinner, you can earn 3% back for dining out at restaurants. Additionally, you’ll get 4% back on gas and electric vehicle charging purchases on up to $7,000 spent each year (1% after that). You’ll earn 1% cash back on all other purchases.

While there’s no annual fee, the catch is that you must be a Costco member to enjoy the perks this card has to offer. A basic Gold Star membership costs $65 per year.

Check out reviews of the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi.

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How we picked these cards

To pick the best credit cards for groceries, we started by putting ourselves in the carts of grocery shoppers and asking what they care about the most. That’s easy. Saving money.

But how they save money depends on where they are in life and their shopping habits. For example, a family of four will shop for groceries differently than a college student would. By answering questions like these, we were able to figure out which credit cards are best for different types of grocery shoppers.

How to make the most of your grocery credit card

To get the most out of your grocery credit card, you need to figure out what type of shopper you are and decide on the credit card that best fits your needs.

Then, make sure you use that card every time you go grocery shopping.

Depending on the credit card you select, you might be able to earn a sign-up bonus or rewards that could help pay for groceries.

Just make sure you pay off your credit card on time and in full every month. Otherwise, the interest charges will add up over time and you’ll have less money to go toward feeding yourself — or your family.


About the author: Tim Devaney is a personal finance writer and credit card expert at Credit Karma. He’s a longtime journalist who prides himself on being a good storyteller who can explain complex information in an easily digestible wa… Read more.