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Best credit cards for groceries in 2021

See the cards that maximize rewards for how you spend now.

Kevin Joey Chen
Kevin Joey Chen

Updated . What changed?

Fact checked

Our pick for the best grocery rewards: Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express logo

Up to 6%

Cash back

  • Industry-leading cash back on everyday purchases
  • Large welcome offer for a cashback card
  • Intro APR on purchases
Apply now
See rates & fees
Are you cooking at home more often lately? If you’re spending more on groceries these days, you’re not alone. It might be time to get a card that maximizes rewards for your new spending habits. Below, we’ve selected 10 of the best cards for grocery shopping to narrow your selection to the top picks.

Quick look at the best credit cards for groceries

Best for cash back on groceries with moderate spending
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express logo
Finder Rating: 4.6 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (670-850)
Apply now
on American Express's secure site
Rates & fees
670
Min. credit score
$0
Annual fee
Up to 20%
Cash back
$100
Welcome offer
If you want cash back and spend less than $3,167 each year on groceries, or about $263 or less each month, strongly consider this card. You won't earn as high of a cashback rate as you would with the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, but you won't have to deal with an annual fee.
  • No annual fee. This is a good pick if you want a card that's lighter on the budget.
  • Welcome offer. Earn $100 once you spend $1,000 within the first 6 months of card membership. Plus, earn 20% back on Amazon.com purchases on up to $200 back within your first 6 months.
  • Cash back. 3% cash back at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 in purchases per year, then 1%. Earn 2% cash back at US gas stations and eligible US department stores, and 1% back on other purchases.
  • Intro APR. Enjoy a 0% intro APR on purchases for 15 months following your account opening, and 13.99% to 23.99% variable after that. This is a good intro APR, one of the best you'll find for a grocery card.
Annual Fee $0
Purchase APR 0% intro for the first 15 months (then 13.99% to 23.99% variable)
Balance transfer APR N/A
Welcome offer 20% at Amazon.com up to $200 back in the first 6 months, plus $100 after spending $1,000 in the same timeframe
Rewards 20% at Amazon.com up to $200 back in the first 6 months, 2% at US gas stations and select US department stores, 3% at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year, then 1% after that and on all other purchases

Best for cashback rewards on groceries
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express logo
Finder Rating: 4.3 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (670-850)
Apply now
on American Express's secure site
Rates & fees
670
Min. credit score
$95
Annual fee
Up to 6%
Cash back
$250
Welcome offer
If you're looking to get the highest rewards rate on groceries without too much hassle, then this is the way to go. With this card, you also get to earn the highest rewards rate on US streaming services, and you get high cash back on purchases at US gas stations and transit purchases.
  • Welcome offer. Earn $250 when you spend $1,000 within the first 3 months of your account opening.
  • Cash back. Earn 6% cash back at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 in purchases per year and 1% after. This is a stellar cashback rate on groceries, the best on the market. You will also earn 3% cash back at US gas stations, 6% on select US streaming services, 3% on transit purchases and 1% back on other eligible purchases.
  • Intro APR. Enjoy a 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months following your account opening and 13.99% to 23.99% variable after. This is a decent intro APR for purchases, though you'll find better promotional rates with other cards.
Annual Fee $95
Purchase APR 0% intro for the first 12 months (then 13.99% to 23.99% variable)
Balance transfer APR N/A
Welcome offer $250 after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months
Rewards 6% on select US streaming services, 3% on transit and US gas stations, 6% at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 annually, then 1% after that and on all other purchases

Best for shopping at Costco
Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi

Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi logo
Finder Rating: 3.6 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (740-850)
Apply now
on Citi's secure site
740
Min. credit score
$0
Annual fee
Up to 4%
Cash back
n/a
Welcome offer
The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi isn't just a great card for Costco purchases. It's also an excellent card on everyday purchases, including gas, dining and travel. What's more, this card works as your Costco ID. There's no annual fee besides the cost of your Costco membership.
  • No annual fee. This card is technically 'free' with the cost of a Costco membership.
  • Earn rewards. Earn 4% cash back on gas on up to $7,000 each year. Earn 3% back on restaurant and travel, 2% back on Costco purchases, and 1% back on everything else.
  • Purchase protection. Enjoy extended warranties on eligible purchases.
  • Limited redemption options. You'll receive your awards as a Costco coupon or cashback at the end of each year.
  • Small balance transfer window. You have just 2 months to perform your balance transfer.
Annual Fee $0
Purchase APR 15.24% variable
Balance transfer APR 15.24% variable
Welcome offer N/A
Rewards 4% at gas stations on up to $7,000 annually (then 1%), 3% at restaurants and on travel, 2% at Costco and 1% on all other purchases

Best for grocery rewards with travel credits
American Express® Gold Card

American Express® Gold Card logo
Finder Rating: 4.6 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (680-850)
Apply now
on American Express's secure site
Rates & fees
680
Min. credit score
$250
Annual fee
Up to 4x
Points
60,000
Points welcome offer
If you spend more than $10,000 annually on groceries, this may be a card worth considering. Though it costs a hefty $250 a year, this card has two especially valuable benefits: a $120 annual dining credit and a $100 airline fee credit. This is almost enough to offset the annual fee. On top of that, you'll enjoy the card's excellent rewards on dining and eligible travel.
  • Welcome offer. Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after you make $4,000 in purchases with your card within the first 6 months of your account opening.
  • Rewards. Earn 4x points at restaurants. And earn 4x points at US supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1x. On flights booked directly with airlines or on American Express Travel, earn 3x points. And on everything else, you'll earn 1x points.
  • Dining and airline fee credit. After enrolling, use your American Express® Gold Card at participating restaurants and earn $10 in statement credits each month. You could earn up to $120 in statement credits every year. Also, get a $100 airline fee credit per calendar year on one qualifying airline of your choice. You can use it for charges such as in-flight meals and checked bags.
  • Benefits for The Hotel Collection. When you use your card to book The Hotel Collection properties on American Express Travel, you'll receive benefits on eligible bookings, including up to a $100 hotel credit and room upgrade if available.
Annual Fee $250
Purchase APR See pay over time APR
Balance transfer APR See pay over time APR
Welcome offer 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months
Rewards 3x points on directly-booked flights; 4x at restaurants; 4x at US supermarkets on up to $25,000 annually (then 1x points)

Best for potentially the highest grocery rewards
Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card

Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card logo
Finder Rating: 4.1 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (670-850)
Read review
Rates & fees
670
Min. credit score
$95
Annual fee
Up to 3x
Points
15,000
Points welcome offer
If you spend up to $6,000 annually on groceries and if you're willing to do some work with your points, you can potentially get the highest rewards rate on groceries equivalent to a 9% return on your purchases.
  • Welcome offer. Earn 15,000 points when you make $1,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of card membership.
  • Reward points. Earn 3x points at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, and then 1x points after that. Earn 2x points at US gas stations and 1x points on all other purchases.
  • Rewards points boost. Earn 50% extra points when you use your card 30 or more times on purchases in a billing period. Leverage it and you could find yourself with an attractive haul of Membership Rewards points.
  • Intro APR. Enjoy a 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months following your account opening, and 12.99% to 22.99% variable after that.
Annual Fee $95
Purchase APR 0% intro for the first 12 months (then 12.99% to 22.99% variable)
Balance transfer APR N/A
Welcome offer 15,000 points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months
Rewards 3x points at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 annually (then 1x), 2x points at US gas stations and 1x points on all other purchases
Disclaimer
Please note: All information about Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card has been collected independently by Finder and this card is not available through this site.

Best for cash back versatility
U.S. Bank Cash+™ Visa Signature® Card

U.S. Bank Cash+™ Visa Signature® Card logo
Finder Rating: 4.4 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (670-850)
Read review
Rates & fees
670
Min. credit score
$0
Annual fee
Up to 5%
Cash back
$200
Welcome offer
This card can be an excellent addition to your wallet if you want a slightly higher cashback rate on groceries and one of the highest cashback rates on two categories that you choose each quarter. These categories include home utilities, electronic stores, furniture stores, ground transportation and more.
  • Cash back. Earn 5% cash back on two categories you choose on up to $2,000 in combined purchases each quarter. After that, earn 1% cash back. Earn 2% cash back on gas purchases or groceries, whichever you choose, and 1% cash back on everything else.
  • Signup bonus. Earn a $200 cash bonus once you spend $500 in your first 90 days of card membership.
  • Intro APR. Use 12 months of 0% intro APR period on balance transfers you make within your first 60 days when you open your account. After the intro period expires, your rate reverts to variable 13.99% to 23.99%.
Annual Fee $0
Purchase APR 13.99% to 23.99% variable
Balance transfer APR 0% intro for the first 12 months (then 13.99% to 23.99% variable)
Welcome offer $200 after spending $500 in the first 90 days
Rewards 5% on up to $2,000 each activated quarter on two categories combined (1% after), 2% on one everyday category and 1% on all other purchases

Best for shopping at Target
Target REDcardâ„¢ Credit Card

Target REDcardâ„¢ Credit Card logo
Credit recommended (580-850)
Read review
580
Min. credit score
$0
Annual fee
Up to 5%
Cash back
n/a
Welcome offer
Target may be your all-in-one-stop for groceries, household supplies and apparel. If that's the case, the Target REDcardâ„¢ Credit Card is a smart choice with its 5% discount on Target purchases.
  • No annual fee. You get all the card's perks and features without paying an annual fee.
  • 5% discount on Target purchases. 5% cash back on every Target purchase online and in stores, a superb rate for groceries and gifts.
  • Free shipping on most items when you shop at Target.com. Normally, orders under $35 come with a $5.99 flat fee for shipping, with this card you'll get free shipping. Plus, eligible orders over $35 will get free two-day shipping.
  • Extended returns. On qualifying purchases at Target stores or Target.com, you'll get an extra 30 days to make returns.
  • Receive your Target REDcardâ„¢ Credit Card discount on top of Cartwheel and Target Subscriptions savings. You can stack multiple discounts on your Target and Target.com purchases.
  • Target REDcardâ„¢ Credit Card perks. Get early access to products, promotions, special items and events, offers and a 10% off coupon on your Target REDcardâ„¢ Credit Card anniversary.
Annual Fee $0
Purchase APR 22.9% variable
Balance transfer APR N/A
Welcome offer N/A
Rewards 5% discount at Target stores and Target online

Best for shopping at Whole Foods
Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card

Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card logo
Credit recommended (670-850)
Read review
Rates & fees
670
Min. credit score
$0
Annual fee
Up to 5%
Cash back
$100
Welcome offer
The Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card offers 5% back — an excellent rate — at Whole Foods Market. You must have an eligible Prime membership to apply.
  • No annual fee. You won't pay an annual fee, but you need an Amazon Prime membership to apply for the card.
  • Signup bonus. Get a $100 Amazon.com gift card immediately upon approval. A fairly competitive signup bonus given you don't have to spend anything to get it.
  • Cash back. Earn 5% back at Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market. Earn 2% back at restaurants, gas stations and drugstores. And earn 1% back on all other purchases.
Annual Fee $0
Purchase APR 14.24% to 22.24% variable
Balance transfer APR 14.24% to 22.24% variable
Welcome offer $100 Amazon Gift Card instantly upon approval
Rewards 5% back at Amazon.com, Whole Foods Market and Zappos, 2% back at restaurants, gas stations and drugstores and 1% back on all other purchases
Disclaimer
The information about Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card has been collected independently by Finder and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer.

How we selected the best cards

When comparing the best credit cards for groceries, we looked at a number of features across eligible cards, including which grocery stores were eligible, points or cash back earned per dollar spent, limitations on cashback percentages, annual fees, introductory APRs and other reward perks a consumer might consider.

The cards that stood out above the rest in one or several of these categories, or fulfilled a certain niche, earned a spot on our list.

What’s changed in 2021?

The American Express® Gold Card has grown into a stellar choice for US supermarket purchases, with Membership Rewards points that can be highly valuable when transferred to travel partners. More generally, Amex continues its dominance in the grocery space, offering cards with excellent rewards on everyday purchases.

The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express and Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express have lost their intro APRs on balance transfers. This may not be a deal breaker — especially as the cards still have purchase intro APRs — but the changes still weaken these products. Note that at this time, the cards don’t allow balance transfers at all for new applicants.

How to choose the best credit card for grocery stores

Choosing the right card can get confusing — especially with so many products from one provider. Here are a few factors to consider that might help you pick the winner.

  • Annual fee.
    Consider whether you want to pay an annual fee for your card. For some, an annual fee is a dealbreaker. If this is the most important factor for you, you could narrow your options very quickly.
  • How much you spend on groceries.
    If you spend little on groceries, lean toward the no-annual-fee cards. If you spend up to $6,000 on groceries each year, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express would earn the most rewards.
  • Where you shop.
    The Target REDcard™ Credit Card is a formidable contender, but only if you use it at its designated store. Take a serious look at the card if you’re willing to do all of your grocery shopping at Target. If you like to shop for groceries outside of Target, one of the American Express cards will likely be a better fit.
  • Whether you want an intro APR.
    Most of Amex’s grocery cards offer decent intro APRs on purchases and balance transfers. The American Express® Gold Card doesn’t have an intro APR.
  • Welcome offer.
    Annual-fee cards tend to have more valuable welcome offers than no-annual-fee cards — though you’ll likely have to spend more to qualify. The Target REDcard™ Credit Card doesn’t have a welcome offer.

What does the best credit card for groceries look like?

The best credit card should meet your financial needs and have the following perks:

  • Low or no annual fee
  • High rewards rate on groceries
  • High rewards rate on other categories
  • Additional perks

Alternatives to credit cards for grocery shopping

This kind of credit card is useful if you have several credit cards for different purposes. But if you want a simple credit card to use on all purchases, consider the following alternatives:

  • Flat cashback cards. There are several credit cards that earn unlimited cash back on everything you buy. For example, the Citi® Double Cash Card lets you earn 2% back — 1% when you make the purchase and 1% when you pay off your balance — on everything you buy.
  • Rotating category cards. Some cards let you earn a massive 5% cash back on select categories that rotate each quarter. Sometimes this could be groceries, other times gas or department stores.

Compare credit cards for grocery shopping

Name Product Filter values Rewards Purchase APR Annual fee
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
6% on select US streaming services, 3% on transit and US gas stations, 6% at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 annually, then 1% after that and on all other purchases
0% intro for the first 12 months (then 13.99% to 23.99% variable)
$95
Apply now
View details
Perfect for families: Get up to 6% on everyday purchases and a welcome offer worth $250. This heavy-hitter rewards card has uncontested value. Rates & fees
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
20% at Amazon.com up to $200 back in the first 6 months, 2% at US gas stations and select US department stores, 3% at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year, then 1% after that and on all other purchases
0% intro for the first 15 months (then 13.99% to 23.99% variable)
$0
Apply now
View details
This everyday cashback card is ideal for Black Friday and holiday shopping with 20% back at Amazon.com up to $200 back in the first 6 months. Rates & fees
Chase Freedom Flexâ„ 
Chase Freedom Flexâ„ 
5% back in rotating categories up to $1,500 combined each activated quarter (then 1%), 5% on travel purchased through Chase, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 1% on all other purchases
0% intro for the first 15 months (then 14.99% to 23.74% variable)
$0
Apply now
View details
Get up to 5% cashback in rotating and newly added everyday categories. The refreshed Freedom Flex card has lots of earning potential.
Citi® Double Cash Card
Citi® Double Cash Card
Up to 2% cash back on purchases (1% when you buy plus 1% as you pay)
13.99% to 23.99% variable
$0
Apply now
View details
Earn up to 2% on every purchase with no annual fee. This is the highest flat-rate cashback card on the market.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
5x points on Lyft, 2x points on travel and dining and 1x points on all other purchases
15.99% to 22.99% variable
$95
Apply now
View details
Earn a signup bonus worth $750 with this popular travel card. Combine with other Chase Ultimate Rewards cards for even greater value.
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Compare up to 4 providers

Bottom line

The two most important factors to consider may be each card’s annual fee and how much you spend on groceries. If you’re thinking about an American Express card, consider which type of rewards you want: cash back or membership rewards points. Points can be more valuable, but cash back is simpler.

For excellent options for rewards cards, check out our cashback credit card finder.

Frequently asked questions

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